Agenda and minutes

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development seeking the Scrutiny Board’s formal confirmation of the appointment of a new co-opted parent governor representative to the Board.

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:

·  Appointment of Parent Governor Representative (SEN) – The Board agreed the appointment of Ms J Hazelgrave with effect from 12 September 2014.

The above information was not available at the time of agenda despatch and 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, Mrs S Hutchinson, Ms K Jan and Ms T Kayani.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2014.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 July 2014 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board – Draft Annual Report 2013/14 Executive Summary.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board – Draft Annual Report 2013/14 Executive Summary.

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

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children's Services

-  Steve Walker, Deputy Director, Safeguarding, Specialist & Targeted Services

-  Jane Held, Chair of Leeds Safeguarding Children Board

-  Bryan Gocke, Leeds Safeguarding Children Board Manager.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The journey over the past 12 months and the new challenges that have to be progressed. These challenges are summarised to the LSCB, Trust Board and other strategic partners.

·  The focus on adult life and impact that has on children in the City. The Board was advised about the ‘Think Family’ protocol.

·  The potential for Scrutiny to support the work of the LSCB.

·  The requirement for a working group of the Scrutiny Board to consider the issues raised by the Rotherham report. Assurance was sought that the LSCB, Children’s Services and the wider Council is taking action in response. This is being reviewed by strategic CSE sub group. The current strategy will be reviewed (multi agency) in light of the findings to identify what needs to be explored and addressed. The Executive Board member stated that Leeds City Council takes this situation very seriously.

·  Protocols for safeguarding around the ‘front door’ operation.

·  Intervention in adult service and the degree of information in the LSCB report. The Board was advised that there is significant information in the full LSCB report which will be shared once published.

·  Challenges regarding the secure establishment in Wetherby and how they are being addressed.

·  Family Group Conferencing and the results that are now starting to materialise.

·  Required improvement in reflecting the views of the Child which needs to be evidenced over the forthcoming year.

·  The structure of the LSCB and subgroups.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families)

a)  Considered and noted the information contained within the draft LSCB Annual Report, Executive Summary. 

b)  Requested additional information relating to LSCB structures

c)  To arrange a working group of the Board to further consider CSE and safeguarding following the Rotherham report.

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the report of the Director of Children’s Services detailing progress made against recommendations in the inquiry into increasing the number of young people in employment, education or training.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development and the Director of Children’s Services submitted reports which provided information relating to pathways for young people who are SEN or leaving care and also provided local NEET information by Cluster. Tracking information was also provided which enabled the Scrutiny Board to monitor progress in accordance with recommendation made in the Scrutiny inquiry.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Appendix A – Recommendation Flow Chart

-  Appendix B – Review of increasing the Number of Young People in Education, Employment or Training (September 2014)

-  Annex 1 – Performance Tables

-  Annex 2 – The journey to sustained employment

-  Annex 3 – From Care2Work

-  Annex 4 – Post 16 Infrastructure Collaboration

-  Annex 5 – Progression Routes for young people on the Devolved Youth Contact

-  Annex 6 – Data Flow in and out of the Local Authority for 16 – 18 Year Olds

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

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  CouncillorJane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children's Services

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Help Services

-  Richard Amos, Senior Partnership Manager

-  Lynne McLaughlin, iGen

-  Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The significant progress to reduce the number of ‘not knowns’ and improvements in data sharing.

·  Youth contract program, figures are significantly better than other city deal youth contract program and the national youth contract programme.

·  The targeted and focused work by iGen in Clusters.

·  Concern regarding young people who have difficulty staying EET or who have not attained sufficient GCSE’s to secure a destination. In response the Board were advised hat work is being done to work with schools in high NEET areas to bring in colleges and training providers during year 11 before young people leave school. Many of those year 11 young people are already working with iGen undertaking various programs to suit their individual needs.

·  Meeting the needs of young people with complex SEN. The Board were advised that this is currently being looked at working with schools and colleges to improve provision.

·  The improved IAG provision that is now provided by iGen as a result of access to schools.

·  Providing opportunities for young people to learn skills outside the core curriculum and meeting the needs of the young person and not the requirements of the educational establishment.

·  Working with businesses and the need to provide in work support particularly for vulnerable young people.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families):

(a)  Agree the recommendations which no longer require monitoring and were satisfactory progress is being made as follows:

Ø  Recommendation 1 – 6

Ø  Recommendation 2 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 3 – 2

Ø  Recommendation 4 – 2

Ø  Recommendation 5 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 6 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 7 – 4

Ø  Recommendation 8 – 4

Ø  Recommendation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services which summarises the work undertaken over the last 12 months to ensure this statutory duty is being met to secure sufficient early years and school places for children and young people across the city.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report which summarised the work undertaken over the last 12 months to ensure statutory duties are  being met to secure sufficient early years and school places for children and young people across the city.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Basic Need Programme Dashboard

-  2014 Bulge Cohort Summary

-  2014 2 year old Capital Programme

-  Primary Basic Need Dashboard Report

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

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children's Services

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Early Help Services

-  Lesley Savage, Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Lead

-  Liz Lowe, Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Deputy Lead

-  Peter Anderson-Beck, Programme Manager.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Concerns around the impact of PFI and Free Schools  on strategic planning for additional places.

·  £40m funding shortfall to deliver the schemes required to meet demand.

·  The provision and development of places for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds.

·  Concern about class sizes and in shared areas not conducive to teaching and learning. The Board were advised that statutory guidelines are being adhered to with regard to class sizes.

·  Difficulties regarding in year admissions and lack of available places in some parts of the city.

·  Free School capacity and take up which identified that in a number of schools a number of available places have not been taken up.

·  Assistance for vulnerable parents.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the draft terms of reference for the scrutiny inquiry into Raising Educational Standards in Leeds – Learning Improvement.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the draft terms of reference which defined the outline and timescales for the scrutiny inquiry into Learning Improvement.

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

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Councillor Jane Dowson, Deputy Executive Member, Children and Families

-  Nigel Richardson, Director of Children's Services

-  Gail Webb, Head of Learning Improvement

-  Sandra Pentelow, Principal Scrutiny Advisor

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) amended the terms of reference relating to session 2 to consider narrowing the gap data for the significant known vulnerable groups and not all groups, then agreed the terms of reference into Raising Educational Standards in Leeds – Learning Improvement.

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 2014/2015 and the Executive Board minutes for 16 July 2014 were appended to the report.

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

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) noted the content of the report and agreed the work schedule.

Thursday, 16 October 2014 at 9.45am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.15am)

Thursday, 16th October 2014 at 9.45am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.15am)

(The meeting concluded at 12.00 noon)