Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Anderson, J Saunders and L Smith. Councillor M Simon attended as a substitute.

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 declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 July 2021.

A typographical error was noted in the list of Members present. It was agreed that ‘C Clowes’ would be corrected to ‘J Clowes’.

Jacky Forster provided an update on the current Covid situation in schools and the challenges arising from the high infection rates in school age children, as well as giving assurances on the work being done to address these challenges. The committee thanked the schools and all teams involved.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2021 be approved as a correct record, subject to the above amendment.

In accordance with paragraph 2.24 of the Council’s Committee Procedure Rules and Appendix on Public Speaking, set out in the Constitution, a total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to put questions to the committee on any matter relating to this agenda. Each member of the public will be allowed up to two minutes each to speak, and the Chair will have discretion to vary this where they consider it appropriate.

Members of the public wishing to speak are required to provide notice of this at least three clear working days’ in advance of the meeting.

Heidi Thurland, Head Teacher of Middlewich High School, and Kerry Kirkwood, CEO of the Sir John Brunner Foundation, attended the meeting and spoke in respect of item 8 School Organisation: Academisation of Schools: Middlewich High School to provide their support for the academisation of this school.

To approve the draft carers strategy and the recommissioning of the All Age Carers Hub contract.

The committee considered the report which provided details of the journey so far for carers services in Cheshire East, the initial results of consultation and engagement, and the plans for further engagement and consultation for the Carers Strategy.

RESOLVED –

That the Children and Families Committee:

1. Approve the draft carers strategy as outlined in Appendix 2 for the basis of consultation.
2. Following consultation of the strategy, note that the final version of the All Age Carers Strategy will be presented for approval to the Adults and Health Committee, and Children and Families Committee.
3. Approve the recommission of the All Age Carers Hub contract which ends in December 2022, with Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority, and Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
4. Delegates authority to the Director of Commissioning to award the jointly commissioned All Age Carers Hub contract.

To consider and approve school capital/organisation plans.

The committee considered the report on the academisation of Middlewich High School which, due to the third-party interests in land which formed the school’s site and the resulting land transactions, fell outside the officer delegations and required a Committee decision.

Concerns were raised about the length of the Underlease of Middlewich Leisure Centre and the risks this may present to both parties. It was agreed that further discussions regarding the Underlease would take place post-conversion with the Director, colleagues from the Place directorate and any other relevant parties.

RESOLVED –

That the committee:

1. Notes that Middlewich High School, King Edward Street, Middlewich CW10 9BU, will be converting to Academy status on or after 1 November 2021 as per the Department for Education (DfE) Academy Order (see Appendix 1).
2. Notes that Middlewich High School will become part of the Multi Academy Trust (MAT), The Sir John Brunner Foundation.
3. Authorises the completion of a Commercial Transfer Agreement to the Sir John Brunner Foundation relating to the transfer of all staff under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, and assets to the Foundation.
4. Authorises the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer to take all steps necessary to agree and execute the Commercial Transfer Agreement.
5. Authorises the grant and completion of all transactions in relation to land, facilities or shared use agreements as are necessary in order to facilitate the conversion, including (but not limited to) the grant and completion of a lease to the Sir John Brunner Foundation for 125 years substantially in the form of the model lease produced by DfE at a peppercorn rent. The school site is identifiable as shown on the accompanying redline plan (see Appendix 2).
6. Authorise the Executive Director of Place and Chief Finance Officer to take the steps necessary to agree the required transactions in relation to land, facilities or shared use agreements to enable the Transfer, in line with the agreed heads of terms.
7. Notes that the Chief Finance Officer has authority to take all steps necessary to agree, transfer and adjust relevant budgets and allocate balances in accordance with Department for Education Guidance.

To receive the operational development plan.

The committee received the report which provided an update on progress against the recommendations from the Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) in November 2019. The report focused on the progress made since the action plan was updated in April 2021 under the leadership of the newly appointed Director of Children’s Social Care.

RESOLVED –

That the report be received and noted.

To consider key performance measures.

Councillor Addison left the meeting.

The committee received the report which set out the impact of COVID-19 on performance, the arrangements that were in place during this time and an overview of performance across the Children and Families service for quarter 1 of 2020-21.

RESOLVED –

That the Children and Families Committee notes the performance of Children’s Services for quarter 1.

The committee adjourned for a short break.

Councillor Bulman thanked Jacky Forster and her team on the transformation of the Educational Psychology service.

To note the status of academy conversions across Cheshire East Schools.

The committee received the report which summarised recently converted schools and those in process to ensure Committee Members were fully briefed on the status of ongoing conversions.

RESOLVED –

That the report be received and noted.

To receive the Corporate Parenting annual report.

The committee received the report which detailed the progress and achievements over 2020-21 against the five pledges the Council made to cared for children and care leavers in the Corporate Parenting Strategy. The report also set out the Terms of Reference for the Corporate Parenting Committee and the priorities for 2021-22.

RESOLVED –

That the report be received and noted.

To receive a presentation on the Afghan Families Resettlement scheme.

The committee received a presentation which provided an update on the Afghan Families Resettlement Scheme. It was noted that the Home Office had requested that the location of the accommodation being used was not disclosed.

The committee thanked the teams involved for their work on this scheme.

RESOLVED –

That the update be received and noted.

To consider the Work Programme and determine any required amendments.

Consideration was given to the committee’s work programme.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be received and noted.