Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Deakin and J Macrae

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no apologies for absence

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda

There were no whipping declarations

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered.

There were no members of the public present wishing to speak

To receive a presentation of the Director of Children Social Care on the outcomes of Project Crewe.

 The Committee received a presentation on Cheshire East Neglect Strategy and the next steps in its refresh. The presentation detailed:

·         The current data. As at December 2016, 117 individuals were on a plan for neglect.

·         The previous neglect strategy required refreshing and practitioners were not using the identified tools. A new strategy would be developed by March 2017.

·         The new strategy aimed to improved response to concern around neglect in a timescale that met the needs of the child and achieve positive outcomes for children.

The presentation also detailed the success of Project Crewe, which was designed to reduce the number of children escalating to Child Protection status, deliver statutory services at a lower basic operating cost and reduce the number of repeat referrals to Children in Need status. Project Crewe had been in place for 15 months and there was early evidence of a reduction in referrals, escalations and case loads. Social workers were now focussed on increasingly complex cases, this had enabled a focus on children experiencing significant harm from neglect. The timeliness of assessments, plans and visits to children had all improved, leading to improved outcomes for children as the quality of social work interventions were being enhanced.

Project Crewe would be expanded to cover the whole of the Cheshire East footprint and project Macclesfield would be established in April 2017. Funding from Cheshire East was in place for Project Crewe and Project Macclesfield which would be available until July 2018. Members were concerned about the sufficiency of funding for the expansion of Project Crewe and agreed that this should be monitored by the Committee.

It was agreed that the Committee would give consideration to the formal evaluation report of the project, which was to be produced by the DfE, once it had been completed. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the evaluation report be submitted to the Committee in due course.

2.    That the funding for the expansion of Project Crewe be monitored by the Committee.

To receive a presentation of the Director of Education and 14-19 Skills

Members received an update on the school organisation and capital services re-alignment of service delivery and clarification of policies and procedures. The purpose of which was to:

·         Have robust, transparent and effective procedures for school place planning which secured sufficiency of places through effective management of capital projects.

·         Have more strategic planning of need which combined available funding stream – basic need and section 106 monies with a 3 year overall strategy.

·         Liaise more strategically and operationally with corporate services to achieve clarity of methodologies in order to achieve consistent joint working.

·         Establish project management principles against key projects resulting in a single conversation.

Members suggested that S106 monies should also be sought from affordable housing providers and stressed the importance of having discussions with head teachers regarding local need and finding a solution to meet local need rather than providing for those living further afield.

It was noted that if an academy chose to increase its PAN, Cheshire East would not provide resources to pay for facilities as funded school expansions must be a Cheshire East Councilstrategic decision.

RESOLVED

1.    That the update be received.

2.    That the validated school results be received at a future meeting of the Committee.

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be received.

To give consideration to the work programme

Consideration was given to the work programme. Councillor S Pochin informed the Committee that further to the Call In on Available Routes to Schools, 5 Councillors had called a special Council meeting with a view to requesting Cabinet to reconsider its decision and a paper would be prepared outlining new information and evidence that had been received.

Consideration was given to the list of questions to ask CAHMs partners at the spot light review on 26 June 2017.

RESOLVED

1.    That the work programme be approved.

2.    That the questions relating to CAHMs be approved subject to questions 20 being amended to include waiting times for services.