Agenda item

To consider and discuss a report from the Director of Children and Families which provides an overview of ‘Thriving: The Child Poverty Strategy for Leeds’, and the work that sits underneath the strategy.

The Director of Children and Families submitted a report which provided an overview of ‘Thriving: The Child Poverty Strategy for Leeds’, and the work that sits underneath the strategy.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

-  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education

-  Sal Tariq, Director of Children and Families

-  Julie Longworth, Deputy Director of Children and Families

-  Shaheen Myers, Deputy Director Learning

-  Ruth Terry, Chief Officer Social Work

-  Val Waite, Head of Service for Learning Inclusion

-  Dave Clark, Head of Service for Learning Improvement

-  Erica Hiorns, Leadership and Management Lead

The Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships introduced the report, providing an update for each of the workstreams since the last report in March 2021, including a new ‘access to green space’ work stream in response to the experiences of many families across the city during the pandemic.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Green space and planning priorities. Members were pleased to hear that children and young people have been engaged and consulted throughout the Local Plan Update process but recognised that more meaningful engagement is required across the whole planning process. Related to this, Members were advised that there has been an increase in corporate support across the city for green space priorities for children and young people.  The Board requested that the next update report on the Strategy work, due in March 2022, has a focus on the new green spaces workstream. Linked to this, it was also suggested that the Chair extends an invitation to the Chief Planning Officer to contribute to the March meeting as well as reiterating the Board’s views regarding children’s access to green spaces and their involvement in future planning consultations. The Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships also recommended that the Board extends an invitation to representatives from the Parks and Countryside Service too.

·  Impact of poor-quality housing on children with disabilities. Members sought clarity on the action taken to support children and families with disabilities and were advised that the council provides adaptations to social and private housing to support families with additional needs.  It was noted that the selective licensing scheme also offers further opportunities to identify needs in some of the most deprived areas in the city.

·  Access to holiday activities for children and young people. In response to a query, Members were advised that limited holiday programme funding has been allocated to the most deprived areas in the city, and activities are delivered in partnership with schools and community hubs.

·  Destination and pathways support. In response to a query, Members were informed of several programmes to support vulnerable young people into their next stage of education or employment – including Virtual School links with third sector/voluntary providers providing employability skills and mentoring, and follow-up calls from schools to GCSE leavers from the 2020 cohort to monitor destinations and provide support for next steps.

·  Mitigating impact of reduced finances. In reference to the upcoming changes to the benefits system, Members queried the support available to families with low income.  Members were also particularly interested to understand the potential impact on children and their families once the furlough scheme ends and requested further information in relation to how many families would be affected across the city.  Members were advised that the cross-council workstream will be making this a key priority in the coming months.

RECOMMENDED –

a)  That the contents of the report, along with Members’ comments, be noted.

b)  That further information is provided to Board Members surrounding the potential impact on children and their families once the furlough scheme ends.

c)  That the Board receives a further update report in March 2022, with a particular focus on the new green spaces work stream.