Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the Work Programme.

The Committee considered a report on progressing the Work Programme.  A number of items had been identified from the Scrutiny Training Day held in April and further items had been suggested by Members.  There were also a number of issues highlighted following a meeting the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee had held with the Head of Services for Children and Families and the Portfolio Holder and Cabinet Support Member.

The Committee was invited to agree its Work Programme, determine a priority order and agree timescales and methodology.  Members were advised that each item should be assessed against a set of criteria including whether the issue fell within a corporate priority and was of key interest to the public.  It was also important to consider whether the issue was being addressed elsewhere so as to avoid duplication and decide whether Scrutiny’s consideration would be able to add value to the matter.

RESOLVED:  That

(a) the Committee’s Work Programme comprise the following items:

• Safeguarding – to be undertaken by the whole Committee with a small Task Group of Members to visit front line services and report back;
• Residential Placements and Review of Residential Provision – to be undertaken by a Task/Finish Panel comprising Councillors Goddard, Simon, Bailey, Beckford, Neilson and Smetham;
• Educational Attainment – to be undertaken by the whole Committee with an initial presentation on figures for 2008 and headlines for 2009 and to include the educational attainment of Cared for Children;
• Transforming Learning Communities (TLC) – this was currently being undertaken by a Task/Finish Panel who were reviewing the County Council’s TLC programme of school reorganisation and also their Scrutiny Review of the TLC process;
• Family Support Services – to be undertaken by a Task/Finish Panel to begin when the Scrutiny Review of TLC had completed its work.

(b) that the issue of Transport for Young People be classed as a Medium Priority and reconsidered at a later stage; the issue of school admissions policy be considered in due course when a policy is developed for Cheshire East and Scrutiny is a consultee and all other possible items for the Work Programme be not pursued at the moment;

(c) that a one day Training event be held in September for all Members of this Committee on Corporate Parenting, to be immediately followed by a session on the Children’s Trust subject to adequate time being available;

(d) that the draft Children’s Plan be considered by the Committee at the appropriate stage in the consultation process;

(e) that a report on the detail of the Early Years Funding Reform be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee in September;

(f) that training be provided on the role and purpose of Children’s Centres to include a visit to a Centre; and

(g) the report and recommendations of the Teenage Pregnancy National Support Team following their visit to Cheshire East in June 2009, be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.