Issue - meetings

The Committee considered a report on the current Work Programme.  Members were advised that the Work Programme was a draft document that at this stage contained a number of items that had been brought forward from the four constituent Authorities and identified as a high, medium or low priority following the Scrutiny briefing session on 27 April.

There were a number of additional items identified by Members:

      Children’s Centres – role, usage and services;

      Costs of transport for young people;

      Provision of support to families.

A meeting had been arranged between the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee, the Portfolio Holder and Head of Services for Children and Families to discuss the remit of the Committee and identify any further items considered appropriate for the Work Programme.

It was intended that a Scrutiny Toolkit would be developed to assess potential items for the Work Programme against a standard set of criteria. 

Members of the Committee then suggested a number of other potential items for the Work Programme:

      School admissions process;

      Educational attainment across the Borough (not just South of the Borough);

      Residential placements.

In relation to Residential placements, Members were advised that a decision had been made by Cheshire County Council to close Redsands Residential Children’s Home and in the meantime Ofsted approval had been sought for two replacement units in Crewe.  While this approval was awaited, a decision had been made that it was not in the Redsands’ residents best interests that they remain in the Unit.  All 5 children/young people had therefore had alternative arrangements made.  The two units in Crewe had now been approved by Ofsted and a safe recruitment process was underway to staff the units.  A review of all residential provision in Cheshire East was to take place and the Head of Services for Children and Families suggested this may be a useful area for Scrutiny to consider as part of its Work Programme.

RESOLVED:  That

(a) the current draft Work Programme as submitted be approved;

(b) the following items be added onto the Work Programme as potential items:

      Children’s Centres – role, usage and services;

      Costs of transport for young people;

      Provision of support to families;

      School admissions process;

      Educational attainment across the Borough;

      Residential placements and Review of residential provision; and

(c) the Work Programme be considered further at the next meeting.