Agenda and minutes

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

There were no disclosable pecuniary and other interests.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors K Renshaw and Co-opted Member, Mrs S Hutchinson.  Notification had been received that Councillor P Grahame was to substitute for Councillor K Renshaw.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th January 2013.

RESOLVED –That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which facilitates the tracking of recommendations made in the Raising Aspirations and Combating Child Poverty Inquiry report and promotes debate about Welfare Reform and the impact this will have on Children, Families and Children’s Services.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which reviewed progress against recommendations made in the Raising Aspirations and Combating Child Poverty Inquiry.  The report also sought to promote debate about the implications of welfare reform and the impact on child poverty.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Recommendation Tracking – Combating Child Poverty and Raising Aspirations

-  Leeds Children’s Trust Board – Child Poverty – Update on progress and national consultation

-  Advice Services Review and Commissioning – Members’ Briefing Note – December 2012

-  Leeds Benefit Changes Booklet

-  Welfare Reform Strategy Board – Terms of Reference.

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

-  Councillor Blake, Executive Member (Children Services)

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer (Partnership Development Business Support)

-  Steve Carey, Chief Revenues and Benefits Officer

-  Rob McCartney, Head of Housing Support

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Help Services

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

-  Stephen Featherstone, Policy, Planning and Procedures Leader.

The main areas of discussion were:

• Clarification sought about the criteria for receiving free school meals and details about any planned changes.  Members were advised that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) had not yet made a decision, although an income threshold may be introduced.
• Concern about the impact of payment in arrears on families.  Officers advised that the Local Support Services Framework had commissioned Job Centre Plus to provide support to those individuals that were most in need.
• Further information requested about development of the Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI).  Officers agreed to provide the Scrutiny Board with further information.
• Work being undertaken by clusters to encourage take-up of free school meals.  Reference was made to development of the Healthy Schools Network and links with public health. 
• Clarification that the 5 Electoral Wards most affected by child poverty were as follows:

-  Burmantofts and Richmond Hill

-  City and Hunslet

-  Gipton and Harehills

-  Hyde Park and Woodhouse

-  Middleton Park.

• Budgetary risk that may manifest for Children’s Services due to welfare reform.

• The challenges facing vulnerable families due to welfare reforms and what steps had been taken to identify and engage with these families.
• Clarification sought about planned development of social housing. 

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the recommendation tracking element of the report be deferred to the April Scrutiny Board.

(Councillor A Sobel declared a significant other interest on the basis that his wife was Manager of St Vincent’s Advice Centre.)

To receive and consider the report of the CSCs project which provides an update to the Scrutiny Board on the progress of the implementation of a new information and case management system for Children’s Social Work service, to replace the current in-house system named ESCR.

A report of the CSCS Project was submitted which updated the Scrutiny Board on the progress of the implementation of a new information and case management system for Children’s Social Work Service to replace the current in-house system named ESCR.

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

-  Steve Walker, Deputy Director (Safeguarding, Specialist and Targeted Services)

-  Jon Nevill, Service Delivery Manager

-  Nadine Snowden, CSCS Project Manager

-  Angela Gilchrist, CSCS Project Team.

A powerpoint presentation was provided which provided further information about the new system, key principles and training.  A demonstration of the system was also provided.

The key points of discussion were:

• Confirmation that the contract with Corelogic was budgeted at £1.6m over 5 years.  The total project cost was £6.5m.
• Investment in new infrastructure, which included the option of utilising different servers across the Council to ensure greater flexibility.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

(Ms C Foote left the meeting at 12 noon during the consideration of this item.)

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

Appended to the report for Members’ information was the current version of the Board’s work programme, the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 9 January 2013, together with an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 10 September 2012 to 4 February 2013.

RESOLVED – That the work schedule be approved.

Thursday, 14^th March 2013 at 9.45am. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am.)

Thursday, 14^th March 2013 at 9.45am

(Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am)

(The meeting concluded at 12.26pm.)