Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

An apology for absence was received from Mr A Toole.

To report and changes to the membership of the Board

It was noted that Mr Hawkins had replaced Mr Little as Vice-Chair and as a permanent member of the Board.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1          Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for            profit or gain.

2          Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3          Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority

(a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4          Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority. 

5          Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer. 

6          Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge)

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial                                                         interest.

7          Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

(a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the    area of the authority; and

(b)       Either –

(i)      The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one            hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii)     If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest made.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED,       that the press and public be not excluded during consideration of any item on the Agenda.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 25 June 2012 (copy enclosed).

Members asked what their role in Regulation 33 Visits would now be.  Formal visits would now be undertaken by Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO’s) but members would still be encouraged to visit and talk to the young people in the homes.  Their feedback would then feed into the IRO’s report.  Training for members on how they should undertake the visits alongside the IRO’s would be provided.

Subject to Mr Bleasdale being removed from the list of those present, it was,

RESOLVED,       that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no call-in items on this occasion.

For members to be informed of any CCfA received by the County Council and consider whether any further action needs to be taken by the Advisory Board

There were no CcfA to bring to the Board’s attention on this occasion.

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Children’s Services (copy enclosed).

This report provides members with an update on issues facing Children’s Services since the last meeting.

The Board considered a report from the Corporate Director – Children’s Services which provide an update on the following issues:-

• Developments on the West coast in relation to education particularly the UTC
• An overview report and analysis of Children Looked After numbers, broken down by ages and districts
• Progress on the Ofsted Improvement Plan, Improvement Board arrangements and actions in the plan
• Performance at Early Years Foundation Stage/Key Stage1/Key Stage 2/Key Stage 4/Post 16

Developments on the West coast in relation to education particularly UTC

Predicted falling birth rates in the West over the next 5-10 years would lead to a loss of some 500 places.  If the UTC went ahead it would take 14-16 year olds out of existing schools in the area, some of which could be left with a handful of children aged 11-13.  The UTC consortium had submitted its proposal and the Baker Dearing Trust (BDT) had asked them to work on the model.  Children’s Services had made it clear that the new UTC would not attract students from Carlisle or Kendal, as it was too far away.  A better solution would be for the consortium to consider utilising the existing schools and discussions were ongoing between the parties concerned.  Members were also worried by the predicted fall in roll numbers, as any decrease could lead to school closures.  They were pleased to hear the BDT were listening to officers concerns and that talks were ongoing. 

Children Looked After Numbers

The number of Looked After Children (LAC) had continued to rise so officers were looking at how Children’s Services could work better with health and other multi-agency partners to keep children on the edge of care safe.  Members asked for figures to be produced on an individual district basis and that regional comparisons be given.  A member asked if the higher number of LAC was as a result of the bar being lowered.  He was informed that if anything, the bar had been raised.  The vast majority of LAC in Cumbria were with foster families but a number of those now needed specialist foster care as they had complex needs.  A member requested details on the number of LAC in the county with complex needs.

Ofsted Improvement Plan

Progress on the Improvement Plan had been reported to the Improvement Board on 7 September.  The recommendation that required immediate action had been carried out and these were taken off the RAG report.  The Plan itself would be an evolving rolling plan.  Once the improvement notice was lifted responsibility would be handed back to the Children’s Trust Board and the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

Performance at EYFS/KS1/KS2/KS4/Post 16

Members asked that their congratulations on the excellent improvements in test and exam results be passed on to all the children and staff involved.

RESOLVED,       that

(1)   the number of Looked After Children figures be provided on an individual district basis for all future meetings of the Board;

(2)   the number of Looked After Children with complex needs figures be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Children’s Services (copy enclosed).

This report provides an overview on performance, in relation to the objectives in the Children’s Services Directorate Service Plan.  It relates to Quarter One (2012-13) which covers the time period 1^st April 2012 to 30 June 2012.

The Board considered a report from the Corporate Director – Children’s Services which provided an overview of performance, in relation to the objectives in the Directorate Service Plan, for Quarter One (2012/13) which covers the time period 1 April to 30 June 2012.

The Chair congratulated the Senior Manager – Information and Performance and her team who dealt with 100% of complaints at Stage 1.  A member asked what the nature of the complains were.  Most were social care related, some examples would be included in the next quarterly performance report.

RESOLVED,       that the report be noted.

To consider a report from the task and finish group – support for schools with budget difficulties (copy enclosed).

This report outlines for the Children and Young People Scrutiny Board the outcomes of the scrutiny review work on the support for schools with budget difficulties at the County Council.

The Board considered a report from the Task and Finish Group – Support for Schools with Budget Difficulties which outlined the outcomes of the scrutiny review.  Mrs Feeney-Johnson presented the report and informed the Board that one of the biggest issues they had found, was a lack of communication between Children’s Services and schools.  This had led to governing bodies buying in support and advice that was given freely by the county council.  The Chair concurred and would state that clearly to the Scrutiny Management Board meeting the following day.  The lack of speech therapists in the Barrow area in particular was a concern. 

Members were worried that the new funding for schools could potentially lead to the closure of some.  They were informed that it was the remit of the Schools Forum to reply to the consultation on funding for schools and they had until 31 October to put forward Cumbria’s model to government.  The county’s six MP’s had been asked to lobby government on the council’s behalf. 

RESOLVED,       that the recommendations in the report be endorsed.

To consider a report from the Corporate Director – Resources (copy enclosed).

This briefing paper informs members of new or updated items of significance to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Advisory Board.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Board Briefing which informed them of new or updated items of significance to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Officer.

RESOLVED,       that

(1)   the Forward Plan of Key Decisions be noted;

(2)   the Scrutiny Work Schedule be noted;

(3)   the Inspira Review scope be agreed.

Date:              Tuesday 11 December 2012

Time:             10.00 am

Venue:          Committee Room 2, The Courts, Carlisle

Date:              Tuesday 11 December 2012

Time:             10.00 am

Venue:          Committee Room 2, The Courts, Carlisle.