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 Councillor A Lamb and Councillor F Venner.  Councillor F Venner was substituted by Councillor J Pryor.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 April 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report from 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 regarding 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.

The following nominations for statutory voting co-opted members had been received:

-  Andrew Graham, Church of England diocese representative

-  Tony Britten, Roman Catholic diocese representative.

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 2014/15:

-  Celia Foote, Teacher Representative

-  Kauser Jan, Teacher Representative

-  Sandra Hutchinson, Early Years Representative

-  Taira Kayani, Young Lives Leeds.

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.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Council Committee Terms of Reference, Scrutiny Board (Children and Families)

-  Functions Delegated to the Director of Children’s Services

-  Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children and Families areas of responsibility.

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

RESOLVED – That the contents of Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) Terms of reference 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 on a page

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

-  Draft Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) work schedule for 2014/2015

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

The following representatives were in attendance:

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Board Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Gail Webb, Head of Learning Improvement, Children’s Services

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Help Services. 

Nigel Richardson advised the Board that the Children and Young People’s Plan is due to be refreshed, however confirmed that there is no significant change to the current plan in terms of the main obsessions and priorities. Once completed, the updated version of the Children and Young Peoples Plan will be shared with the Scrutiny Board.

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:

·  Impact, development and management of the Youth Offer since the devolution of responsibility and budgets to Community Committees.

·  Learning Improvement Service, role, relationships, effectiveness, capacity and sustainability.

·  Repeated removal of children to be looked after and breaking the cycle.

·  Support services to adults and the impact on the child.

·  Ongoing tracking following the Reducing NEET Inquiry, with an additional focus on supporting Care Leavers into positive destinations and NEET by geographical area.

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

·  Kinship Care services and support.

·  Adult Mental Health and the effect on children and young people.

·  Supporting Adults to be better parents.

·  Child and adolescent mental health provision and support.

·  Basic Need – Sufficiency of School and Early Years Provision across the City.

·  Narrowing the attainment gap in Early Years.

·  School Transport.

·  Update on the implementation of Infant free school meals, free school meal take up and how this links to the poverty strategy.

·  The relationship of SILCs with Mainstream Schools and Clusters and preparing SEN young people for employment.

·  Implementation of the Children and Families Act.

·  Children and Young People’s voice and influence and the influence of Parents/Families across all council services.

·  Recruitment and retention of Social Services employees.

·  Child poverty and the work of the Children’s Poverty Group.

·  Staying safe in school, school bullying.

·  The use of pupil premium to improve outcomes for children.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed Members that the Board would receive reports on the budget at the July 2014 and December 2014 board meeting.  Performance reports on a half yearly basis and recommendation tracking reports would also be scheduled into the annual work programme.

The Board was reminded that there were would be ad-hoc  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Thursday, 24 July 2014 at 9.45am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am)

Thursday, 24 July 2014 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

(The meeting concluded at 11.25am)