Agenda and minutes

Children and Families Committee - Monday, 11th July, 2022 2.00 pm

Venue: Committee Suite 1,2 & 3, Westfields, Middlewich Road, Sandbach CW11 1HZ. View directions

Contact: Josie Lloyd  Tel: 01270 686466 Email:  josie.lloyd@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

18.

Apologies for Absence

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Addison, Cllr Hayes and Cllr Saunders. Cllr Bailey, Cllr Edgar and Cllr Holland attended as substitute members.

19.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

Cllr Bailey declared under item 10, Schools Catering Service External Review, that she is in a farming partnership although does not supply Cheshire East directly and is not aware of any supply to Cheshire East remotely.

20.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 137 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 23 May 2022.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 May 2022 be approved as a correct record.

21.

Public Speaking/Open Session

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.

 

Minutes:

There were no public speakers.

22.

Allocation of Additional High Needs Dedicated Schools Grant Funding pdf icon PDF 620 KB

To approve the use of the additional High Needs Grant provided by the department for Education.

Minutes:

The committee received the report which sought approval for the use of £1.8 million additional High Needs Grant provided by the Department for Education.

 

There was extensive debate and concerns were raised by some members, particularly regarding using the funding to offset overspend and the proposed percentage increase to Park Lane Special School and Springfield Special School which was felt by some to be too low.

 

Assurances were given that the recommendations in the report were in line with the government guidance and had support from the Schools Forum.

 

A motion was moved and seconded which sought to amend the permanent increase to the high needs top up rate from 2% to 3% for two of the lowest funded special schools, Park Lane Special School and Springfield Special School. The motion was declared lost.

 

RESOLVED (by majority):

 

That the Children and Families Committee approve the allocation of the additional high needs funding as set out below:

 

1.    Allocate £237,056 to maintained special schools, academy special schools, free special schools and the pupil referral unit (PRU).

2.    Increase the budget for top up funding for education placements in independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, further education colleges and other local authority special schools by £176,270.

3.    £670,000 to be used for additional support and invest to save proposals.

4.    £755,249 to contribute to the current cost pressures of educational placements for our young people, both new and historic placements.

 

 

23.

'Opportunity for All: Strong schools with great teachers for your child' The Education White Paper and Development of Local Authority-initiated Trusts pdf icon PDF 456 KB

To consider if Cheshire East want to create local authority multi-academy trusts in response to the White Paper ‘Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child’

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report which set out the key aspects of the recent White Paper ‘Opportunity for All: Strong schools with great teachers for your child’.

 

RESOLVED (by majority):

 

That the Children and Families Committee:

 

1.    Notes the new policies in the white paper and in particular the implications for councils.

2.    Provides support to explore the option of local authority-initiated trusts as outlined in the white paper through discussions with the Regional Schools Commissioner and our maintained schools to shape the possible delivery model.

3.    Agrees to submitting a ‘Registration of Interest’ to establish a new trust(s) which needs to be submitted by 31 July 2022. Proposals  developed on the delivery model of local authority-initiated trusts will be brought back to a future committee for approval.

24.

Development of Family Hubs in Cheshire East pdf icon PDF 243 KB

To receive a report on the Family Hub Bid.

Minutes:

The committee received the report regarding the proposal to develop family hubs across Cheshire East.

 

The committee thanked the team who had worked on the bid.

 

RESOLVED (unanimously):

 

That the Children and Families Committee:

 

1.    Note the approval of Cheshire East’s Family Hubs Transformation Fund bid and the intention to provide an implementation plan update to a future meeting of the committee.

2.    Approve a supplementary estimate for £985,289 and delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to incur expenditure in line with the conditions of the Family Hubs Transformation Fund.

25.

Cared for Children and Care Leavers Strategy 2022-26 pdf icon PDF 239 KB

To receive the Cared for Children and Care Leaver Strategy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report which set out the proposed new Cared for Children and Care Leavers Strategy 2022-26, previously known as the Corporate Parenting Strategy, to improve outcomes for cared for children and care leavers.

 

A query was raised regarding a reference to young people on apprenticeship programmes within the Council on page 66 of the agenda and whether this referred to all young people or was specific to cared for children and care leavers. As the Director of Children’s Social Care was not present at the meeting, a written response would be provided.

 

RESOLVED (by majority):

 

That the committee:

 

1.    Endorse the Cared for Children and Care Leavers Strategy 2022-26.

2.    Endorse the decision to take the pledges in the strategy to full Council on 19 October 2022, where members can pledge their commitments to cared for children and care leavers.

3.    Endorse the decision to change the name of our Corporate Parenting Committee, further recommendations regarding the change of name will be brought to a future committee following consultation with children and young people.

26.

Children and Young People's Plan 2022-26 pdf icon PDF 150 KB

To approve the Children and Young People’s Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report which outlined the new Children and Young People’s Plan for Cheshire East which set out the ambition of the partnerships to improve outcomes for all children and young people.

 

RESOLVED (unanimously):

 

That the Children and Families Committee endorse the Children and Young People’s Plan 2022-26.

27.

Schools Catering Service: External Review pdf icon PDF 437 KB

To receive the specification for the school catering review.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report which outlined a commissioned review into the Cheshire East schools catering service.

 

Members put forward a number of comments they wished to be considered, including:

·         The importance of using local producers

·         Ensuring good quality food in schools, particularly due to the cost of living crisis

·         Ensuring the availability of free drinking water

·         Offering separate vegetarian and vegan options instead of providing only vegan as a ‘catch all’

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the committee:

 

1.    Notes the external commissioning of a review of the schools catering service through APSE which will take place during the autumn term 2022.

2.    Notes that the outcomes of this external review are shared with committee in January for consideration of the future delivery model for the schools catering service.

28.

School Organisation: Academisation of Schools: Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 333 KB

To receive an update on the forward plan for academisation.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The committee received the report which provided information on planned schools across the borough which were seeking to move to academy status

and join a multi academy trust.

 

It was noted that this was a standing item brought to each committee meeting and that there had been no changes to the report since the previous meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the committee receives and notes the summary table (Appendix 1) showing the status of academy conversions across Cheshire East schools.

29.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 271 KB

To consider the work programme and determine any required amendments.

 

Minutes:

A query was raised regarding information on the progress of new schools in the borough and it was noted that briefing sessions would be run in the autumn. These briefings would also be open to all members who may wish to attend if relevant to their ward.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the work programme be noted.