Agenda and minutes

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

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda, the draft scrutiny inquiry report in relation to service redesign for children with disabilities, special educational needs and additional health needs.  This late information was not available at the time of agenda despatch. (Minute No. 81 refers)

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

An apology for absence was submitted by Co-opted Member, Ms C Foote.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th February 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th February 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting evidence on increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training (EET).

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the Director of Children’s Services submitted reports which presented evidence in line with Session 1 of the Scrutiny Board’s Inquiry into increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training (EET).

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Leeds City College NEET strategy, approved in March 2010

-  Young Job Seekers allowance claimants over time / area breakdown

-  Preliminary investigation into the length of time young people were not in employment, education or training (NEET)

-  Specification for Parent Carer Learning.

The following Executive Member, officers and external representatives attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Gary Milner, Head of 14-19 Strategy, Children’s Services

-  Paul Brennan, Interim Director for School Improvement

-  Mary Brittle, NEET Performance Manager

-  Karen Roberts, Operations Director at igen

-  Diane Wilson, Head of Faculty (Foundation Learning) at Leeds City College.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Experiences of young people following the recent working group visit to igen, particularly concerns about the lack of apprenticeships and work placements.  Leeds City College provided short and full time courses to meet range of learning needs.  The courses were destination led.  The main challenge facing the college was financial support. 
• Concern about the lack of a city-wide strategy to NEET.  It was advised that a learning support plan was in place and it was agreed to provide the Scrutiny Board with a copy of this information.  Members also considered development of a strategy as part of the Leeds Guarantee. 
• Support for families to raise aspirations and encouraging parents to sign-up to adult courses and improved learning.
• Greater support needed for parents with childcare issues. 
• Issues associated with parents that had low aspirations for their children.
• Emphasis of the need to be provided with numbers as well as percentages in the report.
• Development of cluster approach to targeted learning.
• Concerns about the need to strengthen joined up working arrangements across providers.
• The impact of the changing role of academies.
• The need to develop employment skills that were interchangeable.
• The benefits of volunteering and links with the Leeds Involvement Strategy.

RESOLVED – That the relevant issues considered be incorporated in the draft report of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry.

(Councillor A McKenna withdrew from the meeting at 11.30pm at the conclusion of this item.)

To receive and consider a joint report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and Director of Children’s Services presenting a summary of the quarter 3 performance data relevant to the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families). 

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

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Performance Reports for the City Priority Plan (CPP)

-  Children’s Services Directorate Priorities and Indicators.

The following Executive Member and officer attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

Members briefly discussed the need for further explanation on the outcomes for young people in the Children’s Services Directorate Scorecard section on ‘keep within budget’. 

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

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the conclusions and recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Board’s Inquiry into service redesign for children with disabilities, special educational needs and additional health needs.

(Draft inquiry report to follow)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the conclusions and recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into service redesign for children with disabilities, special educational needs and additional health needs.

The following Executive Member and officers attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children and Families)

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Peter Marrington, Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

-  Kate Arscott, Principal Scrutiny Adviser.

The Scrutiny Board briefly discussed seeking an assurance from the Children’s Services Directorate about whether aspects of the report and recommendations remained valid. 

RESOLVED –

(a) That the Scrutiny Board’s final report and recommendations be approved.

(b) That a formal response to the recommendations be produced in line with

normal procedures for scrutiny inquiry reports.

(c) That the formal response addresses the Scrutiny Board’s concerns about whether aspects of the report and recommendations remained valid.

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

Appended to the report for Members’ information was the current version of the Board’s work programme, minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 10^th February 2012, and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st March 2012 to 30^th June 2012.

Sandra Newbould, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, informed Members that a further inquiry session into increasing the number of young people into EET was planned to take place in April, particularly focussing on early prevention of young people becoming NEET and managing careers provision.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be approved.

Thursday, 26^th April 2012 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

Thursday, 26^th April 2012 at 9.45am with a Pre Meeting for Board Members at 9.15am

(The meeting concluded at 12.12pm.)