The panel will note the appointment of the Chair and Vice Chair for the municipal year 2011/12.

The panel noted the appointment of Councillor Wildy as Chair and Councillor Stark as Vice Chair for the municipal year 2011 – 2012.

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

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the following declarations of interest were made, as follows –

The panel to consider the appointment of co-opted representatives.

The panel considered the appointment of co-opted representatives.

Agreed that –

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24 March 2011.

Agreed that the minutes of the 24 March 2011 were approved as a correct record.

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

Viv Gillespie, Principal of City College Plymouth and Gareth Simmons, Programme Director for Learning Environments gave an update to the panel on the University Technology College (UTC).  It was reported that –

(a)          the UTC would be set up as an academy and linked with the university and backed by local employers;

(b)         the UTC is aimed at 14 to 19 years olds from across the city;

(c)          the curriculum would focus on 40 percent technical and 60 percent on general education;

(d)         a statement of interest has been submitted to the Baker Dearing Education Trust;

(e)         the UTC would need to fit in with the spread of existing facilities and education across the city;

(f)           the UTC would need to fit with the demographic demand with secondary school numbers initially dropping but would pick up again after 2015.

In response to questions from the panel it was reported that -

(g)          an existing premises in Plymouth would be used to facilitate the UTC and would be located centrally or close to Devonport.   The preferred location for the UTC is Piquet Barracks with an options appraisal being undertaken on a further 9 to 10 different sites;

(h)         apprenticeships are still key with the UTC seen as a feeder into the apprenticeship route;

            (i)         this is an opportunity for around 455 students with the potential to increase to 520 from a variety of schools from across the city;

            (j)         there would be costs involved with the start-up of the UTC and operating costs once the UTC is open an would be supported by grants.

Agreed that a further report on University Technology College to include a detailed breakdown of numbers in nearby schools and demographic patterns across the city to ascertain the potential effect on nearby schools be submitted to the panel in September.

Annie Singer, Senior Education Adviser submitted a paper on work experience.  This item came to the Chair’s attention after learning that some schools were not choosing to undertake work experience.  It was reported that -

(a)                the issue on work experience not taking place had arisen in one school;

(b)               the Tamar Education Business Partnership (TEBP) co-ordinates work experience for year 10 and 11 pupils;

(c)                in the past TEBP were able to subsidise the cost for work experience undertaken by schools.  The Department of Education (DfE) have advised that funding would be withdrawn from the end of the 2010/2011;

(d)               as a result of the funding being withdrawn the cost of work experience had to be increased which led to one school being unable to afford to undertake work experience;

(e)               £100k had been cut from the budget which has led to schools to reconsider work experience in the future.

Agreed that the Assistant Director for Lifelong Learning to report back to the panel in July with facts and figures associated with work experience and to look into how the council ensures every child is given the opportunity to undertake work experience.

The panel will be asked to note its Terms of Reference.

Claire Oatway, Lead Officer updated the panel on the terms of reference (TOR).  It was reported that –

(a)          some areas of the TOR need to be expanded with more emphasis on policy areas;

(b)         membership of the panel to include co-opted representatives and their rights;

(c)          more emphasis to be given on Equality Impact Assessment;

(d)         monitoring of budget and performance to be included on the work programme.

Agreed that the revised terms of reference to be emailed around to panel members for final approval through the Chair and Vice-Chair.

The panel will receive an update from Children Services.

MaireadMacNeil, Assistant Director (Children’s Social Care) and Gareth Simmons, Programme Director for Learning Environments updated the panel on policy.  It was reported that -

(a)                the recent Adoption Inspection was positive with good inspection outcomes;

(b)               the Munro report looked at all the issues in children’s social care with a deep dive look at the systems and challenges children’s social care face;

(c)                there is still a need to continue to divert children from care.  An intensive support team looking at 15 to 18 year olds and extending it to look at children aged 11 years;

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

(d)               the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is used by any professional that has contact with a child.  The CAF pulls together different agencies to problem solve and to look at alleviating any difficulties a family may be experiencing;

(e)               training is rolled out to 2000 people across the city to help and support other professionals with the management of risk;

(f)                 Children’s Social Care continually request user feedback on services provided.  This information help us to evaluate and make changes where needed to ensure a quality service is provided;

(g)                they ensure the continuity of a social worker assigned to a child or family and all polices such as the Social Care Transfer Policy are reviewed regularly.

Agreed that –

            (1)        the reports submitted by Lifelong Learning and Learner Family Support noted and to be discussed further at the next meeting;

            (2)        a copy of the Social Care Transfer Policy to be circulated to panel members.

The Panel will receive its draft work programme for 2011/12.

The panel noted the draft work programme for 2011/12 and agreed to recommend to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board the following items for inclusion:

Agreed that –

(1)         the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Heath Strategy and Emotional Health of Children items to form part of the Children’s Mental Health Task and Finish Group;

(2)         the Children and Young People’s Plan will be monitored by the panel at its normal business meeting therefore a task and finish group to monitor the plan is no longer required.

The panel will monitor progress of previous resolutions and receive any relevant feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

The panel was informed that there were no tracking resolutions or feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to note.

The panel will be asked to note the dates of future meetings for the municipal year 2011/12.  All meetings will commence at 10 am –

Thursday 14 July 2011

Thursday 8 September 2011

Thursday 13 October 2011 (provisional)

Thursday 10 November 2011

Thursday 5 January 2012

Thursday 1 March 2012

The panel noted the dates and times of future meetings as set out in the agenda.

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.