Agenda and minutes

There were no late items.

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.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors J Akhtar and A Sobel and Co-opted Members, Ms A Craven, Ms C Foote, Ms C Raftery, Ms T Kayani, Ms J Morris-Boam and Ms S Hutchinson.  Notification had been received that Councillor P Grahame was to substitute for Councillor J Akhtar and Councillor C MacNiven for Councillor A Sobel.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 25^th April 2013 (Ordinary and Call-in meetings).

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 25^th April 2013 (Ordinary and Call-in) be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Boards.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the options available with regards the appointment of co-opted members to the Scrutiny Board.

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In her presentation the Board was advised that two nominations had been received for the Early Years Representative and that the Board were required to vote on their preferred nomination.  It was also recommended that the Board undertook a review of co-opted membership to the Board in preparation for the 2014/15 municipal year to identify any gaps in representation.

In addition the following nominations for statutory voting co-opted members had been received:

-  Church of England diocese representative– Mr A Graham

-  Roman Catholic diocese representative – Mr E A Britten

Two parent governor representatives were currently in post:

-  Amanda Craven (primary) – 08/09/2011 – 07/09/2015

-  Jacqueline Ward (secondary) – 21/04/11 – 20/04/2015.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be received and noted

(b)  That in addition to the statutory voting co-opted members the following be appointed as non-voting co-opted members to the Scrutiny Board for 2013/14:

-  Ms C Foote – Teacher Representative

-  Ms C Raftery – Teacher Representative

-  Ms S Hutchinson – Early Years Representative, after consideration of two nominations

-  Ms T Kayani – Young Lives Leeds (13-19 age group)

-  Ms J Morris-Boam – Young Lives Leeds (0-13 age group)

(c)   That a review of co-opted membership be added to the work programme for 2013/14 in preparation for the 2014/15 municipal year.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the Scrutiny Boards Terms of Reference.

Appended to the report was the report of the Children and Families Scrutiny Board on the Children’s Trust Board.

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) Terms of reference be noted

(b)  That the contents of the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) report on the Children’s Trust Board be noted.

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Children and Young People’s Plan 2011- 2015, Refresh 2013

-  Best Council Plan 2013- 2017

-  The Every Child Matters Survey 2011/12 Analysis Report

-  Executive Board Minutes of meeting held on 9^th May 2013

-  Table of Scrutiny Inquires and Statements Relating to Children and Families.

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Councillor J Blake, Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services.

The Chair invited all Board Members to have an input in relation to their own preferred sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

In summary, the following sources of work were put forward for consideration:

·  Development and Implementation of the Youth Offer for Leeds.

·  Developments in reducing the number of Young People who were, or at risk of becoming NEET following the Scrutiny Boards inquiry.

·  Government requirement for the delivery of Primary and Secondary Education via non maintained schools, (Academies, free schools etc.)

·  Social Care System – post implementation review.

·  Review of the Children’s Trust Board in accordance with the Board’s Terms of Reference.

·  The Performance and Accountability of Clusters as recommended by the 2012/13 Scrutiny Board and following the call-in meeting on the 25^th April 2013.

·  Development of the Leeds offer for Kinship Carers.

·  Basic Need - to promote understanding of the challenges ahead and identify areas of concern.

·  Integration of SEN Young People into Further Education due to concern regarding partnership arrangements and the withdrawal of facilities.

·  Children and Young People’s Voice and Influence as there was a perceived lack of influence in local areas and lack of knowledge about the UN convention of the Rights of the Child.

·  With regard to child poverty, looking at Free School Meals (FSM) as take up of FSM in Leeds was below national levels.

·  ‘Coasting Schools’ and the challenge for the School Improvement Team to ensure children were not let down due to lack of aspiration in the education system.

·  Bullying as the Every Child Matters Survey identified concerning percentages of primary and secondary pupils being subject to bullying in schools.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed Members that the Board would receive reports on the budget at the July 2013 and December 2013 Board meeting.  Performance reports and recommendation tracking reports would also be scheduled into the annual work programme.

The Board was reminded that there were would be ad-hoc issues considered throughout the year and at the next meeting in July the Leeds Safeguarding Children’s Board would be presenting their draft annual report which may highlight further areas for Scrutiny work.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted

(b)  That a number of the above issues discussed be part of the Board’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive a report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services summarising the quarter 4 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Childrens Services submitted a report summarising the quarter 4 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Performance Reports for the 3 City Priority Plan

-  Children’s Services Directorate Priorities and Indicators

-  Children and Young People’s Performance Update.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Peter Storrie, Head of Performance and Improvement (Children’s Services).

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The percentage of children’s homes that were rated good or better by Ofsted.  Concern was expressed that the indicator had been consistently red for the 4 quarters.  (The Head of Performance and Improvement responded by advising the Board that inspections had been taking place since April 2013 and provisional results had been positive suggesting that 55% would be good or better which would shift the indicator to amber in the next performance report.)

·  The increase in school absence during the autumn period.

·  Concern regarding the voice and influence that children and young people had in shaping a child friendly city and how resources were applied to achieve this.

·  Staff Appraisals.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the Board notes the quarter 4 performance information and the issues which had been highlighted.

(c)  That Board Members consider if they wish to undertake further scrutiny work to support improvement over the coming year with regard to the performance of Children’s Services.

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year. 

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the current municipal year.

The draft Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) work schedule for 2013/2014 was appended to the report.

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services, attended the meeting and responded to Members questions and comments.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That further consultation be undertaken with regard to the scheduling of an August Scrutiny Board meeting.

(c)  That further consultation be undertaken with the Scrutiny Board regarding the priority of the following topics identified for Scrutiny and for those areas deemed to be of the highest priority to be incorporated into the Board’s work schedule for the coming year:

·  Partnerships facilitating the integration of SEN Young People into main stream education

·  Children and Young People’s Voice and Influence

·  Free School Meals

·  ‘Coasting’ Schools

·  Bullying.

(Councillor M Rafique left the meeting at 12.00 noon during discussion of this item.)

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

Thursday, 25^th July 2013 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

(The meeting concluded at 12.10pm)