Agenda and minutes
Venue: Virtual meeting
Media
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Declarations of Interest Councillors will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect to items on the agenda. Additional documents: Minutes: The following declaration of interest was made in accordance with the code of conduct.
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To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 December 2020. Additional documents: Minutes: Members agreed the minutes of 2 December 2020 as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Chair's Urgent Business To receive reports on business which in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: Caroline Marr (Senior Policy Advisor) presented the Policy Update to Members and highlighted that since the publication of the agenda further announcements had been made by Government regarding guidance on the status of vulnerable and critical children, specifically with regards to education during the pandemic.
It was queried by a Member if IT equipment was being distributed in a timely manner to children and young people that needed it. It was responded that Officers were working closely with schools to review the position with technology access, however the Government had updated the Covid 19 guidance so that a child without access to IT equipment would be classed as vulnerable and therefore would be eligible to attend school during lockdown.
Members noted the update. |
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Skills for Plymouth PDF 282 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Jon Taylor (Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Transformation), Ming Zhang (Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills) and Tina Brinkworth (STEM Consultant) presented the Skills for Plymouth update.
Key points highlighted to Members included:
Key areas of questioning from Members included the following:
It was agreed that Skills 4 Plymouth would remain on the panel’s work programme and a report detailing the progress of the Kickstart Programme and work academies would be provided to Members at a meeting in 6 months’ time. |
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Youth Provision Across the City PDF 500 KB Additional documents: Minutes:
Councillor Laing (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People), Dave Ryland (Community Connections Strategic Manager) and Siobhan Wallace (Head of Service for Children, Young People and Families) presented the Youth Provision across the City update to Members. It was highlighted that the aim of youth work was to support young people to achieve positive outcomes and to improve life chances with a particular focus on participation and advocacy; there was a wide and diverse youth work offer across Plymouth, including the work of community groups and partnership arrangements.
Members were shown a presentation, narrated by a young carer, regarding the how the Community Youth Work Team adapted to the restriction of Covid 19 and the impact that this had on young people.
Key areas of questioning from Members related to the following:
The Chair thanked officers for their update and wished to pass on congratulations from herself and the Panel to the young carer who narrated the presentation.
It was agreed that –
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Youth Service Presentation Additional documents: Minutes: This item was presented and discussed in minute 24 above. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: David Northey (Head of Integrated Finance), Alison Botham (Director of Children’s Services) and Jean Kelly (Service Director for Children, Young People and Families) presented the Finance Update to Members. It was highlighted that the financial position included in the report was up to the end of September 2020 and that the children’s department was showing an overspend of £4.9m however this was before grants were applied as £3.8m was linked to the impact of Covid 19. Members were advised that additional children were coming into the care of the local authority, specifically adolescents who were more costly as they were less likely to go into foster care and instead go to more costly placements. Officers were working hard to increase in house provision whilst also supporting children to go back home to their families when safe to do so; placement costs were monitored on a regular basis however the needs of the child were a priority.
Members questioned if it was likely that the children’s department would have a balanced budget, what grants had been received by the Council and how much they totalled, and if further information could be provided in order for Members to adequately scrutinise financial pressures in this department.
Officers were cautiously confident that a balanced budget would be achieved and agreed that greater detail would be provided at future financial updates.
Members noted the update. |
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Covid Update - Verbal Update Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Laing (Cabinet for Children and Young People) and Jean Kelly (Service Director for Children, Young People and Families) presented the Covid update to Members.
The following key points were highlighted to Members:
It was requested by a Member that performance monitoring reports detailing priorities and trends was provided as part of the Covid update in the future to allow greater scrutiny.
It was agreed that Members would be provided with a briefing indicating key areas of performance in the children’s department, specifically areas doing well and those which were a challenge
The Chair echoed Councillor Laing’s thanks to foster carers, guardians and connected carers who were continuing to look after the city’s children, as well as thanking teachers and acknowledging the work of officers within the entire department who continued to provide a high quality service throughout the pandemic.
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Additional documents: Minutes: The panel noted the work programme. |
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Additional documents: Minutes: Members noted the tracking decisions document.
Under this item it was agreed that an update on the PAUSE project would be added to the panel’s work programme for March 2021. |