Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services updating the meeting on various issues previously discussed at the Area Committee.

The East North East Area Leader submitted a report updating the meeting on various Children’s Services issues previously discussed at the Area Committee.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

•  Briefing Note on Cluster Funding 2011/12 and 2012/13 (Appendix A refers)

•  Youth Service Review Update – Excerpt from Area Chair’s minutes 13^th July 2012 (Appendix B refers)

•  Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) – Youth Services – Working Group meeting held on 18^th October 2012 (Appendix C refers)

•  Children’s Services Finance team – Top sliced funding from the dedicated schools grant for EPOS schools and how much was then given to EPOS clusters (Appendix D refers)

•  Cluster funding options 2013/14 to 2015/16 (Appendix E refers)

Mr Ken Morton, Head of Service, Young People and Skills, Children’s Services was in attendance and responded to Members’ comments and queries.

Prior to discussing the issue, Members raised their concerns that the Director of Children’s Services was not in attendance to discuss the EPOS Cluster funding issue raised at the previous meeting, and the Youth Service Review arising from a discussion prompted by the Area Chair’s minutes at the October Area Committee.

Councillor J Procter put forward a proposal to convene a Special Meeting of the Area Committee prior to the next meeting in March to discuss this issue in detail with the Director of Children’s Services in attendance.  The Committee were of the opinion that this was a very important issue for Ward Members and that an explanation of the decision making process was now required.

The proposal was agreed and Mr S Robinson agreed to make the necessary arrangements.

At the request of the Chair, Mr K Morton reported on the latest developments in relation to cluster funding which had been discussed at a recent meeting of the Schools Forum. Members noted that the Schools Forum had looked at options which included a best fit with the existing formula and less targeted options which were put forward in light of changes to the overall balance of targeted funding going to schools via the pupil premium. The School Forum had voted 21 to 1 in favour of the option which was the best fit to the existing formula. At a previous meeting the School Forum had made the decision to retain the devolved funding for clusters, a decision which was within its remit.

Mr K Morton then updated the meeting on the Youth Service Review and the budgetary proposals. The meeting noted that a report on this issue would be submitted to the Executive Board in March 2013 detailing various options around re–designing the service, the need for a more local direction through Area Committees and services not necessarily delivered by the Council with a commissioning team to be established to support Elected Members with the re-design. Proposals to date envisaged an allocation to Area Committees to stimulate and leverage with partners a local Breeze activities programme starting in 2013/14 and a new targeted youth work service with a commissioning specification designed through Area Committees in partnership with the Lead Member.

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

•  Clarification of the Director of Children’s Services delegated decisions in relation to the Schools Form.

•  Clarification of the budgetary elements and the plans to meet those targets and principles re the Youth Review.

(The Head of Service, Young People and Skills responded and informed the meeting that the actual formula regarding allocation to Area Committee level had not yet been determined. He agreed to supply the Committee with details on those organisations he had consulted via the East North East Area Officer)

RECOMMENDED-

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

b)  That a Special Meeting of the Area Committee be held prior to the next meeting in March to discuss the cluster funding issue in more detail, including the Youth Service Review, with the Director of Children’s Services in attendance.