Agenda and minutes

In accordance with her powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local

Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following late

information:

Agenda item 9 – Review of Co-opted Membership (Minute No. 45 refers)

The above document was not available at the time of agenda despatch, but

was subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Co-opted Members, Ms J Ward and Ms S Hutchinson.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing a comprehensive update on progress in relation to increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing a comprehensive update on progress in relation to increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training. This follows the publication of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry report in March 2013.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Performance Data – Rates of Young People who are NEET, January 2012 – June 2013

-  The Journey to Sustained Employment

-  Progression Routes for young people on the Youth Contract

-  Service Brochure – The Education Business Partnership, Products and Services 2013-2014

-  Data flow into and out of the Local Authority for 16-18 year olds

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Gary Milner, Lead - Skills for Life

-  Sally Lowe, 14-19 Partnership Manager

-  Cllr Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children’s Services.

The key areas of discussion were:

• Performance data and the recent government changes in the way this is recorded to include young people who have completed GCSE’s but due to progress to A Levels as NEET. This causes a peak in figures July and August and does not represent a true NEET figures.
• Rates of pay for apprentices and apprenticeship programs.
• Multi Agency and Partnerships working together to reduce NEET across the City
• Early years intervention to prevent NEET
• Lack of exposure for young people to the world of work during their education. 
• Concern about the quality of Information Advice and Guidance provided, or not, in schools.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

(a)  Noted the progress to reduce the risk of young people not accessing appropriate employment, education or training.

(b)  Requested a further progress update be provided in the next municipal year.

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the draft terms of reference for the cluster inquiry.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the draft terms of reference for the Cluster inquiry. The Scrutiny Board had resolved to undertake this inquiry at the meeting on 28 June 2013 which would consider the role and function of Cluster Partnerships and the value they have in the delivery of localised services to children and young people.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children’s Services

-  Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Democratic Services

-  Cllr Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children’s Services.

The key areas of discussion were:

• The background information leading to the drafting of the terms of reference.
• With reference to bullet point 5 in 2.1 to replace the word ‘progress’ with ‘enhance’.

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) agreed the terms of reference for the inquiry with the amendment to bullet point 5 in paragraph 2.1.

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting information in relation to the review of co-opted membership for Scrutiny Board (Children and Families).

Supplementary information to follow

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided guidance to the Scrutiny Board in conducting its review of voting and non-voting co-opted members.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Sandra Pentelow – Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Democratic Services

The key areas of discussion were:

• Statutory co-opted membership and the guidance for the appointment of Parent Governor Representatives
• The role of Teacher Representatives
• The range of non-voting co-opted representation the Board felt necessary.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families): 

a)  Request that an additional Parent Governor position be created for Specialist Educational Needs and agreed that the Principal Scrutiny Advisor is to ensure that action is taken to facilitate the appropriate appointment.

b)  Five non –voting co-opted representation from June 2014, the next municipal year,  will be as follows:

·  Teacher Representative (Primary)

·  Teacher Representative (Secondary)

·  Early Years Representative

·  Young Lives Leeds Representative

·  Young People in Care/Care Leavers Representative

c)  That a request be made to change the Council constitution to allow the appointment of six non-voting co-opted member. Should this be agreed, that a sixth co-opted place be available to represent the parents and pupils of non-maintained schools. Nomination would be sought by the Principal Scrutiny Advisor

d)  Agreed that the Principal Scrutiny Advisor is to seek nominations via: Schools Joint Consultative Committee – Teacher Representatives, Young Lives Leeds – Young Lives Leeds Representative

Early Years Forum (once established) - Early Years Representative

e)  Agreed that the Principal Scrutiny Advisor seek nomination for the Young People in Care/Care Leavers representative.

f)  That all nominations would be considered and where appropriate appointed by the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) at the first meeting of each municipal year.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming 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.

The draft Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) work schedule for 2013/2014 was appended to the report.

Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.

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

Thursday, 14 November 2013 at 9.45am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am)

Thursday, 14^th November 2013 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

(The meeting concluded at 11.50am)