Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting on 28 January 2010.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive reports on business that, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

The Chair noted the resignation of Mr Tim Lyddon, Church of England Co-opted Representative.

To receive any relevant feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The Chair provided feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.  It was reported that -

(i)                 the Chair has accepted an invitation to attend the next Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to present the joint task and finish group report on, ‘A Focus on Reducing Teenage Conception Rates in the City’;

(ii)               the recommendations from the budget scrutiny review have been taken on board by Cabinet.

Resolved that –

(1)      the panel to have a specific scoping meeting on Children Services budget prior to the next scrutiny budget meeting;

(2)      budget training needs to be programmed in for the panel for September/October 2010;

(3)      pooled budgets and how they work to be added to the work programme.

The Head of Service (Performance and Quality) will give a verbal update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

The Head of Service (Performance and Quality) gave a presentation on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).  It was reported that -

            (i)         the JSNA looks at the health and well being of the city and the reports lists the inequalities in Plymouth;

            (ii)        the report is owned by the Local Strategic Partnership and feeds into the Corporate Plan and Local Area Agreement.

Resolved that special thanks to be given –

(1)               to the Chair, Councillor Purnell for her contribution to the panel;

            (2)       to Richenda Broad for her help and support over the years and to wish her luck in her new role.  Claire Cordory-Oatway will be the new Lead Officer.

To receive the draft report ‘A Focus on Reducing Teenage Conception Rates in the City’.

The Chair submitted the joint task and finish group report, ‘A Focus on Reducing Teenage Conception Rates in the City’.  It was reported that –

(i)                 the panel were inspired by the young mothers they interviewed and gave the panel the guidance on what to ask the other witnesses;

(ii)               schools need to be able to identify and support a core group of vulnerable young people that enter into risk taking behaviour;

(iii)             that the availability of statistics can make a difference and help make informed decisions.

Resolved that the Chair and Democratic Support Officer go through the draft report to make final amendments after the meeting.

To receive a report from the Head of Performance and Quality and Assistant Head of Finance.

The Head of Service (Performance and Quality) and the Finance Client Manager submitted the Joint Finance and Performance Report.  It was reported that –

(i)                 there has been an increase in the number of children with a Child Protection Plan, following the high profile cases nationally; this has had an impact on the projected overspend for 2009/10;

(ii)               if a school becomes an academy, any budget deficit becomes the responsibility of the local authority.  However, in Plymouth no large overspends are currently projected in the relevant schools;

(iii)             we need to ensure we find the best way to support children and young people.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Social Care) will provide a briefing note containing information requested at the last meeting.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Social Care) submitted a briefing note on the 50 – 75 percent of issues causing problems and how the new system will address this, as requested at the last meeting.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Learner & Family Support) will provide a briefing note containing information requested at the last meeting.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Learner & Family Support) submitted a briefing note on the criteria for statementing, information on whether children with life limiting illnesses had immediate access to assessment and how long it takes to access for adaptions.

Resolved that statementing should be a separate agenda item and an officer to be invited to attend a future meeting.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Lifelong Learning) will provide a briefing note containing information requested at the last meeting.

The Assistant Director of Services for Children and Young People (Lifelong Learning) submitted a briefing note providing further information on how underperforming 6^th forms are to be addressed, as requested at the last meeting.

To approve the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Quarterly report for the third quarter.

The Panel considered the scrutiny quarterly reports and highlighted the following adjustments should be made -

(i)                 the report should note the amount of budget spent to date;

(ii)               attendance at meetings to include task and finish groups and site visits.

The Panel will monitor progress on previous resolutions.

Members considered a schedule of tracking resolutions and regarding minute 7 this is now completed and a final report to be brought back to the panel.

The Panel will consider its –

(a)               work programme for 2009/10;

(b)               draft work programme for 2010/11.

The Panel considered its work programme for 2009/10 and draft work programme for 2010/11.

Resolved that the work programme for 2009/10 and draft work programme 2010/11 are noted.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) … of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There were no items of exempt business.