Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the March meeting of Scrutiny Board (Children and Families).

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following late information:

• 2012/13 Quarter 3 Performance Report – replacement wording for paragraph 3.1 relevant to quarter 3 (Minute No. 120 refers)

·  Scrutiny Inquiry into Increasing the Number of Young People in Employment, Education or Training (Minute No. 122 refers)

The above documents were not available at the time of agenda despatch, but were subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Councillor A Lamb declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 7, Scrutiny Inquiry – Strategic Partnership Boards, in his capacity as a Member of the Children’s Trust Board.  (Minute No. 119 refers)

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors M Rafique and Co-opted Members, Ms A Craven and Ms C Foote. 

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th February 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th February 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider the report of the Children’s Trust Board which responds to the request from the Children’s Scrutiny Board to review progress of the Children’s Trust Board (CTB).

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the strengths and areas for development in relation to the Children’s Trust Board.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Current membership of the Children’s Trust Board

-  Children’s Trust Governance Structure

-  Child poverty – an update on progress and national consultation.

The following Executive Member and officers attended the meeting:

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children’s Services)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development and Business Support)

-  Jane Mischenko, NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds

-  Dr Sharon Yelin, NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds

-  Keith Gilert, Superintendant, West Yorkshire Police.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The role of the Children’s Trust Board (CTB).  The main area of development was around the involvement of young people.

·  The benefits of partnership working.

·  The role of clusters, particularly in relation to increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

·  Investment in the following key areas:

-  The voice and influence of looked after children

-  Restorative practice

-  Outcome based accountability.

·  Development of governance arrangements for clusters.

·  Acknowledgement of the work undertaken by the voluntary and 3^rd sector, development of commissioning work, young carers and restorative practice.

·  The potential implications of welfare reforms on families.  Current focus on most vulnerable families and raising awareness.

·  The complexity surrounding CTB governance arrangements.

·  Concern about the absence of adult social services representation and early years representation on the CTB.  Members were advised that representation on the CTB was currently being reviewed.  It was agreed to report back any changes to the Scrutiny Board. 

·  Development of ward based data and information.

·  Improvements needed in relation to measuring levels of child poverty.

RESOLVED – That the reports and appendices be noted.

(Councillor A Hussain joined the meeting at 10.02am during the consideration of this item.)

(Councillor A Khan withdrew from the meeting at 10.30am, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) / Director of Children’s Services providing a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the council relevant to the Children and Families Scrutiny Board.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) / Director of Children’s Services submitted a joint report which presented a summary of the 2012-13 quarter 3 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families).

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Performance Reports for the 3 City Priority Plan Priorities

-  Children’s Services Directorate Priorities and Indicators

-  Children and Young People’s Plan dashboard.

The following officers attended the meeting:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development and Business Support)

-  Rebacca Hill, Performance Programme Manager.

The main areas of discussion were:

·  Members requested a breakdown in relation to the number of young people involved in temporary employment, apprenticeships and other training programmes.

·  Confirmation of improvements to children’s homes provision.

·  Further information requested in relation to Children’s Services ofsted inspections/review. 

It was agreed to report back the above requests for information to the April Scrutiny Board.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(Councillor A Khan re-joined the meeting at 11.25am, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the reports of the Director of Children’s Services and Jane Held, Independent Chair, Leeds Safeguarding Children Board in response to the inquiry into Private Fostering and recommendations made by the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families).

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report in response to the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry report on private fostering.

The following officers attended the meeting:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Steve Walker, Deputy Director, Safeguarding, Specialist and Targeted Services

-  Bryan Gocke, Leeds Safeguarding Children’s Board Manager.

RESOLVED – That the proposed responses outlined in the report be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which requests the Board to consider and agree their report following its inquiry into Increasing the Number of Young People in Employment, Education or Training.

(Report to follow)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which requested Members to consider and agree the Scrutiny Board’s report following its inquiry into increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

The following officers attended the meeting:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Gary Milner, Lead – Skills for Learning and Life Service.

RESOLVED – That the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training, be approved.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development 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, together with the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 15^th February 2013.

RESOLVED – That the work schedule be approved.

Thursday, 25^th April 2013 at 9.45am. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am.)

Thursday, 25^th April 2013 at 9.45am with a Pre Meeting for Board Members at 9.15am.

(The meeting concluded at 11.58am.)