Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Addison and Councillor Gregory. Councillor Bailey and Councillor Edwardes attended as substitutes.

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

Councillor Hayes declared an interest under item 9 as he had recently been appointed as a Local Authority Governor at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School which was referenced within the report.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

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.

There were no public speakers.

To consider a report on the Children’s Travel Support Review.

The committee received the report which set out the findings from an independent review of travel support for children and young people.

A query was raised regarding existing available walking routes which may require improvement and maintenance, particularly with regard to rural areas where some existing walking routes could cause difficulties for residents with disabilities. It was requested that input from Highways colleagues be provided in a written response.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1.    Note and agree the report contents and the underlying principles and cultural change set out in the independent review of travel support for children and young people at Appendix 1.

2.    Endorse the proposal to procure specialist professional capacity, funded  from the children and families transformation fund, to drive the initial transformation plans, achievable savings and establishment of the integrated travel support team.

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children and Families, in consultation with the Executive Director of Place, to make decisions in relation to:

·         The roll out of a three-year transformation and modernisation programme to deliver the recommendations in the report, including a new strategy and integrated travel team, supported by clear performance and budget management reporting and consultation, communication and engagement with stakeholders.

·         Proposal to streamline and revise the school transport policy and process from application to delivery, including a new application, reassessment and appeals process and the immediate, in year (2022/23) development of alternative travel solutions, such as personal budgets and independent travel training.

·         Proposals to embark on a comprehensive exercise around the operational delivery and re-procurement of school transport to improve the effectiveness of routes, encourage and support new suppliers to Cheshire East, improve value-for-money and the experiences for families.

·         Developing a business case for investment for small capital schemes to improve safe walking routes on potential high-volume routes, including the production of an agreed protocol and strategy for implementing safe walking routes and supporting the council’s priority outcomes for active travel and decarbonisation.

4.    Agree to receive interim reports around specific actions that require committee approval, along with an initial update report within six months and annually thereafter.

To consider a report on the Household Support Fund.

The committee received the report which provided an update on the household support fund 3 (HSF3) grant awarded to Cheshire East and sought agreement to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to incur expenditure in line with the HSF3 grant conditions.

Councillor Critchley attended the meeting to speak as a visiting member and seek assurances around the scheme, including the need for communication and messaging to be improved. The Director of Strong Start, Family Help and Integration gave assurances that this was being taking forward through a number of avenues to engage directly with residents and increase awareness of the scheme.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1.    Note Cheshire East’s final HSF3 grant allocation of £2,203,892.10.

2.    Endorse the proposed allocation of the grant, eligible cohorts and payment arrangements set out in this paper.

3.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children’s Services to incur expenditure in line with the HSF3 grant conditions.

To receive the Financial Review report for 2022/23.

The committee received the Financial Review report for 2022/23.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Children and Families Committee:

1.    Notes the report of the Finance Sub-Committee (Agenda for Finance Sub-Committee on Wednesday, 9th November, 2022, 2.00 pm | Cheshire East Council), specifically the recommendations of that committee.

Finance Sub-Committee recommend Service Committees to:

·         note the financial update and forecast outturn relevant to their terms of reference.

·         note that officers will seek to improve the financial outturn across all committees to mitigate the overall forecast overspend of the Council.

·         approve supplementary revenue estimates for specific grants coded directly to services up to and including £1,000,000 in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules as detailed in Appendix 2 Children and Families Committee, Section 3 Corporate Grants Register, Table 2.

2.    Notes Appendix 2 and the following sections specific to this Committee:

·         Changes to Revenue budget 2022/23

·         Action Plan 2022/23

·         Corporate Grants Register

·         Debt Management

·         Capital Strategy

·         Reserve Strategy

The committee received the report which provided an overview of performance against the core indicator set within the three directorate areas of Children’s Services.

A query was raised regarding an increase in the figures for young people not in education, employment or training. Committee were advised that this had been impacted by the time of year due to pupils leaving school and awaiting the start of training programmes or employment but that further clarification would be provided.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

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

The committee received the report which informed of planned schools across the borough which were seeking to move to academy status and join a multi academy trust.

RESOLVED:

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

Committee takeover session by children and young people for November Children’s Rights Month. To present their issues and take questions from committee.

The committee held a children’s takeover session as part of Children’s Rights Month. This involved young people attending to deliver presentations on issues that matter to them and take questions from committee.

To receive the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report 2021-22.

The committee received the report which provided an update on progress against the Cheshire East Safeguarding Children’s Partnership priorities and its plans for 2022/23.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider the work programme and determine any required amendments.

The committee considered the work programme. A suggestion was made for officers to look into scheduling an additional meeting to consider the Joint Targeted Area Inspection Update and Improvement Plan item, currently scheduled for January committee, due to the expected size of the January agenda. It was agreed that officers would consider this as part of a wider review of the work programme.

To note the minutes of the following sub committee meetings:

Local Authority School Governor Nomination Sub Committee – 8 June 2022

Corporate Parenting Committee – 6 September 2022

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the following sub committee meetings be noted:

Local Authority School Governor Nomination Sub Committee – 8 June 2022

Corporate Parenting Committee – 6 September 2022

To receive an update on progress for the development of the Crewe Youth Zone.

The committee received the report which provided an update on progress for the development of the Crewe Youth Zone.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The reports relating to the remaining items on the agenda have been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Committee may decide that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item in pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing this information.

To note the appendix to the report.

The committee received Appendix 1 for the Crewe Youth Zone Project Update report.

RESOLVED:

That the appendix be noted.

To consider the report on the closure of nurseries in Crewe.

The committee received the report on the closure of Reach for the Stars Nurseries, Crewe.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That the recommendations as set out in the report be approved.