Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions
Contact: Guy Close (0113) 247 4356 Email: guy.close@leeds.gov.uk
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Chair's Opening Remarks Minutes: The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the November meeting of Scrutiny Board (Children’s and Families). |
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Late Items Minutes: In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following supplementary items, which were not available at the time of agenda despatch:
(Agenda Item 7)(Minute 75 refers)
The documents were not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but subsequently made available to the public on the Council’s website prior to and after the meeting.
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Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary and Other Interests To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor B Gettings, Ms T Kayani (Co-opted Member) and Ms J Morris-Boam (Co-opted Member).
The Principal Scrutiny Adviser also informed the meeting that Councillor J Blake, Executive Member (Children and Families) and Mr N Richardson, Director of Children’s Services had also conveyed their apologies due to prior engagements. |
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Minutes - 11th October 2012 PDF 60 KB To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 11th October 2012. Minutes: RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th October 2012 be approved as a correct record.
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To receive and consider the reports of the Director of Children’s Services which provides information relating to session 3 of the inquiry.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Referring to Minute 66 of the meeting held on 11th October 2012, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided information relating to session 3 of the Board’s inquiry into looking at foundation years (age 0-5) and how services in Leeds were provided to promote the best start in life for children, to equip them with the skills to succeed and promote their social mobility.
Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-
(Appendix B refers)
In addition to the above documents, copes of the following supplementary information was also circulated at the meeting:
The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting:-
- Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services - Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Years Help Services, Children’s Services - Liz Bradley, Early Years and Foundation Stage Improvement Manager, Children’s Services - Neil Warren, Head of Finance, Children’s Services - Lisa Smith, Childrens Centre Manager, Children’s Services - Collette Kurylo, Children’s Centre Manager, Chapeltown, Children’s Services - Michelle de Souza, Community Safety Manager, Children’s Services - Joanna Smith, 4Children who ran the City and Hunslet Children’s Centre
The Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed the meeting that Session 3 of the inquiry would focus on the following specific areas:
- personal, social and emotional development - communication and language and - physical development
Prior to discussing Session 3 of the inquiry, the Chair invited Michelle de Souza, Community Safety Manager to briefly discuss the domestic violence support question raised at the last meeting.
She focused on the following three specific areas:
- The fact that domestic violence was trigged when women become pregnant and the support available from midwifes and health visitors in this regard - The work undertaken with the Children’s Centres and the information available on domestic violence - The therapeutic support available for children who had emotional problems as a result of domestic violence
The key areas of discussion were:
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Recommendation Tracking – Improving School Attendance PDF 109 KB To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review in Improving School Attendance published on the 26th of April 2012. Minutes: (Due to time restraints, this item was withdrawn until the next meeting on 13th December 2012)
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Recommendation Tracking – External Placements PDF 103 KB To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of External Placements published on the 28th of February 2012. Minutes: (Due to time restraints, this item was withdrawn until the next meeting on 13th December 2012)
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Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Final Report – Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes PDF 54 KB To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which requests that the Board consider and agree their report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes. Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which requested that the Board consider and agree their report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes.
Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Final report Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes – 8th November 2012’ for the information/comment of the meeting.
The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting:-
- Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services - Martin Sellens, Head of Planning Services, City Development
The Principal Scrutiny Adviser presented the report responded to Members’ queries and comments.
The key areas of discussion were:
(The Chair confirmed that representation had already been made to the Children’s Minister on this issue)
(The Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services responded on this issue)
RESOLVED – a) That the contents of the report and appendices be noted. b) That approval be given to the Board’s report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children-Private Care Homes as now outlined.
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To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year. In addition to consider the notes of the Youth Review Working Group meeting on the 18th of October 2012. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the current municipal year.
Appended to the report for Members’ information was the current version of the Board’s work programme; a copy of Executive Board minutes of a meeting held on 17th October 2012 and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 10th September 2012 to 24th October 2012.
The Principal Scrutiny Adviser presented the report responded to Members’ queries and comments.
In her presentation, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser referred to the working group established to look into outstanding issues in relation to the Board’s Inquiry on ‘Foundation Years – Providing the Best Start in Life for Children to Succeed – Session 3’ (Minute 75 refers) and confirmed that she would contact Board Members to arrange a convenient date and time in December 2012/January 2013.
The Principal Scrutiny Adviser also referred to the Youth Review Working Group to consider the views and recommendations or the group in response to the report of Damien Allen, NOHA Associates ‘The Leeds ‘Youth Offer ‘– findings and propositions. She requested any further suggestions/recommendations on the notes of the meeting to prepare a report for submission on this issue to the Executive Board at the January 2013 meeting.
The key areas of discussion were:
(The Principal Scrutiny Adviser responded and agreed to look into this issue)
RESOLVED – a) That the work schedule be approved. b) That the copy of Executive Board minutes of a meeting held on 17th October 2012 and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 10th September 2012 to 24th October 2012 be noted. c) That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to prepare a report to the Executive Board at the January 2013 meeting on ‘The Leeds ‘Youth Offer ‘– findings and propositions’ in accordance with the recommendations made by the Youth Review Working Group. d) That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to include minutes of the Children’s Trust Board within the work schedule.
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Date and Time of Next Meeting Thursday, 13th December 2012 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.
(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am) Minutes: Thursday 13th December 2012 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds with a Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am.
(The meeting concluded at 12.30pm) |