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 will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting on 14 July 2011.

Agreed that the minutes of the 14 July 2011 were approved 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 informed the panel that Councillor Mrs Nicholson would no longer be a member of this panel.  The Chair thanked Councillor Mrs Nicholson for being an outstanding panel member and for her valued contribution.

The panel will monitor progress on previous resolutions and receive feedback from the management board.

The panel considered the tracking resolutions and those present commented as follows –

• regarding minute 3(4), Faith representation.  Councillor Stark had further talks with the Bishop and informed the panel that the Diocese Director of Education would be looking at the matter of putting forward a co-opted representative to the panel;
• regarding minute 3(3), Parent Governor representation.  A meeting to address the election of parent governor representatives to the panel would take place in October;
• regarding minute 17, LSP Theme Groups.  This resolution needs to be clear to ensure that the officers provide the relevant information to the panel;
• regarding minute 20, in-year admissions.  The panel were informed that the School Admissions Forum meeting would take place after this item would be reviewed by the panel and therefore this item to be kept under review;
• regarding minute 18(3), Children Workforce Induction Programme, the panel noted the update received and the benefits of councillors attending parts of the Children Workforce Induction Programme;
• regarding minute 18(4), Uptake of free school meals.  The panel noted the update received.  It was reported that this is an update on uptake of free school meals, eligibility of free school meals was another issue;
• regarding minute 18(5), Full production kitchens, the panel noted the update received.  It was reported that the tuition service and ACE service kitchens were not yet complete with meals currently being transported from Ford Primary school.

Agreed that –

1.            the panel to be emailed the Childcare Workforce Induction Programme pack;

2.            the panel receive details on how the Childcare Workforce Induction Programme is funded;

            3.         the panel to receive information on the eligibility criteria and the process for registering for free school meals at its November panel meeting;

            4.         the panel to look at Child Poverty at its November panel meeting.

The panel will be provided with the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report 2010/11.

The panel noted the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report 2010/11.

The panel to receive an update on the priorities and challenges for Children Services.

Maggie Carter, Assistant Director (Learner and Family Support) reported that this is a summary of work currently undertaken by Children Services.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

a.             the 15 Munro recommendations within the report were a summary of the full Munro recommendations;

b.            in relation to the SEN Green Paper, the Department for Education were seeking pathfinder bids.  The local authority had submitted an application to become a pathfinder and would hear shortly on whether the bid had been successful;

c.             SEN support services were not subject to the Academies buy back service.

The panel discussed Child Poverty and the paper due to go to Cabinet on 14 September 2011 as a result of a motion of notice at City Council on 25 July 2011.  The panel raised concerns that the Child Poverty Strategy and Plan contained no budget costings and fairly weak milestones. 

Agreed that –

1.            the following recommendation be made to Cabinet at its meeting of 14 September 2011 for agreement by Chair and Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

            The Child Poverty Multi-agency Delivery Plan prepared as a result of the motion accepted at the meeting of the Council on 25 July 2011 is reviewed by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting of 10 November 2011 prior to its approval by Cabinet.  The review will ensure that targets, actions and milestones within the plan are SMART, appropriately resourced and prioritised;

2.            the Chair, Vice-Chair, Lead Officer and Democratic Support Officer to review the work programme for October and November to make a decision on whether the developmental day should proceed;

3.            the panel to receive the 15 Munro recommendations in full to include who has responsibility, costings, timescales for monitoring and evaluation;

4.            the panel receive information on the buy back situation from the Trading Fair in relation to services procured by Academies at it meeting in November meeting.

The panel to receive the budget and performance report.

The panel received the budget and performance report. 

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

a.             this report is an extract from the full report submitted to Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board;

b.            a ‘deep dive’ exercise to be undertaken to address the issues of Common Assessment Frameworks (CAF’s) not meeting targets;

c.             further savings would not be identified in relation to transport.  Further options were being explored such as using mini buses rather than taxis;

d.            the panel were informed by Councillor Haydon of Enhanced CRB Checks for taxi drivers raised at a recent Licensing Committee (Hackney Carriage) meeting and the changes in the regulations for taxi drivers.

Agreed that –

1.                  the Finance Officer, Director of Services for Children and Young People and the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to be invited to attend the next panel meeting;

2.                  the panel requested further information on staff reduction, specifically around the number of vacant posts currently held and number of posts covered with agency staff;

3.                  a request be put forward to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People –

that urgent clarification is sought as to whether there will be any changes in the requirements for Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks on Private Hire or licensed Hackney carriage drivers who may carry children or vulnerable young people and adults.  The panel requires an assurance that enhanced checks remain in place in this regard.

The panel will be provided with the Adoption Inspection Result.

The panel noted the report.

The Panel will be asked to consider the PID and approve the membership of the Task and Finish Group.

(Overview and Scrutiny Management Board minute (81 (6) refers).

The panel noted the PID for the Children Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health task and finish group.

The Panel will be asked to consider the PID and approve the membership of the Task and Finish Group.

(Overview and Scrutiny Management Board minute (81 (4)) refers, the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel to be joint with Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel).

The panel noted the PID for the Apprenticeship Task and Finish Group.

Agreed that the Democratic Support Officer to check the panel’s availability for the Apprenticeship Task and Finish Group in November.

The panel to review the recommendations contained in the Young Carer’s Task and Finish Group report.

Mark Collings, Children’s Fund Programme Manager and Joy Howick, Head of Service, Children in the Community presented the report to the panel.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

a.         the number of young carers were not mentioned in the report because the task and finish group identified that there were a number of unknown young carers within the city;

b.         the Young Carer’s Service was currently out to tender.  The aim of putting the service out to tender is to increase the capacity of the service and refocus the work to provide a better service;

c.         it was important to ensure that young carers had access to services provided;

d.         Adult Social Services Care Plan now includes an assessment of young people within the home. 

Agreed that –

1.            the panel receive a copy of what is being put out to tender including costings;

2.            the panel be provided with information on the number of Common Assessment Frameworks (CAFs) undertaken to include who has responsibility for the on-going delivery of the CAF, school involvement and how the CAF is used and implemented.  The panel to assess the information received before deciding on whether a further mini scrutiny should take place.

The panel to receive an update on the Hospital School.

The panel noted the report.

The panel to receive an update on the commission on school libraries.

Sally Walsh, Assistant City Librarian (Schools and Strategy) and Alasdair MacNaughtan, City Librarian presented the report to the panel.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

            a.                     two packages were available for schools to choose, standard package and light package;

            b.         Plymouth School Library Service is the most successful both locally and nationally;

            c.         the School Library Service focus on being proactive and undertaking consultation whilst constantly reviewing the usage of the service;

            d.         the School Library Service work very closely with the public library service and actively advise and encourage schools to visit their public library;

            e.         the two primary schools that withdrew from the Plymouth School Library were in areas of deprivation.

Agreed that a list of schools that have not subscribed to the Plymouth School Library to be provided to the panel.

The panel noted the report.

The panel noted the report and raised concern over the NSPCC no longer accepting referrals for the Young Witness Support Scheme.

Agreed that the panel reinforce the need for the Independent Chairs across the peninsula to have the matter of the NSPCC giving notice to accept no more referrals for the Young Witness Support Scheme be drawn to the attention of the respective Children Trust Boards to explore a way forward.

The panel will consider its work programme for 2011/12.

The panel noted the work programme for 2011/12.

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.