Agenda and minutes

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

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following supplementary items, which were not available at the time of agenda despatch:

• Briefing Note – Early Intervention Grant and Funding for the provision of the Free Nursery education entitlement for Vulnerable 2 Year Olds prepared by the Head of Finance (Children’s Services) (Agenda Item 7)(Minute 75 refers)
• Learning Skills and Universal Services – Powerpoint presentation slides (Agenda Item 7)(Minute 75 refers)
• 2011/12 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile outcomes by cluster

(Agenda Item 7)(Minute 75 refers)

The documents were not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but subsequently made available to the public on the Council’s website prior to and after the meeting.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-18 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.  Also to declare any other significant interests which the Member wishes to declare in the public interest, in accordance with paragraphs 19-20 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor B Gettings, Ms T Kayani (Co-opted Member) and Ms J Morris-Boam (Co-opted Member).

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser also informed the meeting that Councillor J Blake, Executive Member (Children and Families) and Mr N Richardson, Director of Children’s Services had also conveyed their apologies due to prior engagements.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th October 2012.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th October 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider the reports of the Director of Children’s Services which provides information relating to session 3 of the inquiry.

Referring to Minute 66 of the meeting held on 11^th October 2012, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided information relating to session 3 of the Board’s inquiry into looking at foundation years (age 0-5) and how services in Leeds were provided to promote the best start in life for children, to equip them with the skills to succeed and promote their social mobility.

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

• Domestic Violence Action Plan for Leeds 2012/13 (Appendix A refers)
• Foundation Years – providing the best start in life for children to succeed – Session 3 – Report of the Director of Children’s Services

(Appendix B refers)

In addition to the above documents, copes of the following supplementary information was also circulated at the meeting:

• A copy of a briefing note entitled ‘Early Intervention Grant and Funding for the provision of the Free Nursery education entitlement for Vulnerable 2 Year Olds prepared by the Head of Finance (Children’s Services)
• Learning Skills and Universal Services – Powerpoint presentation slides
• 2011/12 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile outcomes by cluster

The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting:-

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Years Help Services, Children’s Services

-  Liz Bradley, Early Years and Foundation Stage Improvement Manager, Children’s Services

-  Neil Warren, Head of Finance, Children’s Services

-  Lisa Smith, Childrens Centre Manager, Children’s Services

-  Collette Kurylo, Children’s Centre Manager, Chapeltown, Children’s Services

-  Michelle de Souza, Community Safety Manager, Children’s Services

-  Joanna Smith, 4Children who ran the City and Hunslet Children’s Centre

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed the meeting that Session 3 of the inquiry would focus on the following specific areas:

• Leeds Education Challenge – Foundation Stage: Children’s Services and Cluster approach to the three prime development areas:

  - personal, social and emotional development

  -  communication and language and

  -  physical development

• Progress since the Education Standards – Entering the Education System inquiry 2009
• Early Years Foundation Stage (September 2012) Legislation changes
• Free early education – take up of places for 3 and 4 year olds, increasing take up and engaging parents
• Extension of free early education to 2 year olds (September 2013) –Preparation, promotion and strengthening the quality of providers

Prior to discussing Session 3 of the inquiry, the Chair invited Michelle de Souza, Community Safety Manager to briefly discuss the domestic violence support question raised at the last meeting.

She focused on the following three specific areas:

-  The fact that domestic violence was trigged when women become pregnant and the support available from midwifes and health visitors in this regard

-  The work undertaken with the Children’s Centres and the information available on domestic violence

-  The therapeutic support available for children who had emotional problems as a result of domestic violence

The key areas of discussion were:

• Clarification of the high risk  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review in Improving School Attendance published on the 26^th of April 2012. 

(Due to time restraints, this item was withdrawn until the next meeting on 13^th December 2012)

To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which sets out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of External Placements published on the 28^th of February 2012. 

(Due to time restraints, this item was withdrawn until the next meeting on 13^th December 2012)

To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which requests that the Board consider and agree their report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which requested that the Board consider and agree their report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Draft Scrutiny Inquiry Final report Safeguarding Children – Private Care Homes – 8^th November 2012’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

The Chair welcomed the following officers to the meeting:-

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services

-  Martin Sellens, Head of Planning Services, City Development

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser presented the report responded to Members’ queries and comments.

The key areas of discussion were:

• To remind the Board that some planning constraints are a national issue

(The Chair confirmed that representation had already been made to the Children’s Minister on this issue)

• Clarification that the Childrens Residential Home Charter was being progressed under the banner of being a Child Friendly City

(The Chief Officer (Partnership, Development and Business Support), Children’s Services responded on this issue)

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That approval be given to the Board’s report following its inquiry into Safeguarding Children-Private Care Homes as now outlined.

To receive and consider a report form the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.  In addition to consider the notes of the Youth Review Working Group meeting on the 18^th of October 2012.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the current municipal year.

Appended to the report for Members’ information was the current version of the Board’s work programme; a copy of Executive Board minutes of a meeting held on 17^th October 2012 and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 10^th September 2012 to 24^th October 2012.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser presented the report responded to Members’ queries and comments.

In her presentation, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser referred to the working group established to look into outstanding issues in relation to the Board’s Inquiry on ‘Foundation Years – Providing the Best Start in Life for Children to Succeed – Session 3’ (Minute 75 refers) and confirmed that she would contact Board Members to arrange a convenient date and time in December 2012/January 2013.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser also referred to the Youth Review Working Group to consider the views and recommendations or the group in response to the report of Damien Allen, NOHA Associates ‘The Leeds ‘Youth Offer ‘– findings and propositions.  She requested any further suggestions/recommendations on the notes of the meeting to prepare a report for  submission on this issue to the Executive Board at the January 2013  meeting.

The key areas of discussion were:

• With regard to Foundation Years, the need for the Board to be more challenging towards the attainment gap in Leeds and as a result the working group should focus on the issue of knowing where the quality of settings were located. In addition the need for the working group to look a research work undertaken by the universities

(The Principal Scrutiny Adviser responded and agreed to look into this issue)

• The need for the Board to see copies of the minutes of the Children’s Trust Board

RESOLVED –

a)  That the work schedule be approved.

b)  That the copy of Executive Board minutes of a meeting held on 17^th October 2012 and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 10^th September 2012 to 24^th October 2012 be noted.

c)  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to prepare a report to 

the Executive Board at the January 2013 meeting on ‘The Leeds ‘Youth Offer ‘– findings and propositions’ in accordance with the recommendations made by the Youth Review Working Group.

  d)  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to include minutes of 

  the Children’s Trust Board within the work schedule.

Thursday, 13^th  December 2012 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

Thursday 13^th December 2012 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds with a Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am.

(The meeting concluded at 12.30pm)