Agenda and draft minutes

Mr A Graham

Co-Opted Members (Non-Voting)

Ms S Gul

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

1.  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3.  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

No exempt items have been identified.

Theer was no exempt information conisdered on the agenda.

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

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

There were no late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Jools Heselwood, with Cllr Eleanor Thomson attending as substitute

Kate Blacker

Tony Britten

Helen Bellamy

Maria Adams

Nick Tones

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2024.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 9 October 2024 be approved as an accurate record.

These were unanimously approved, proposed by Cllr Renshaw and seconded by Cllr Stephenson.

To consider a report from the Director of Children and Families and the Director of City Development that provides a summary and introduction to work experience accessibility in Leeds.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Children and Families and the Director of City Development that provided a summary and introduction to work experience accessibility in Leeds.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Children and Families

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Dan Barton, Deputy Director – Learning

·  Cllr Jonathan Pryor Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Sustainable Development

·  Gillian Wallace, Head of Service Employment & Skills

·  Tracey Greig, Employment & Skills Senior Manager

·  Hannah Lamplugh, Children’s Strategy and Influence Lead

·  Rob Clayton, Principal Scrutiny Adviser

The Chair of the Board and Executive Member for Children and Families introduced the report and highlighted the differences in experience that children gain when trying to access work experience and for many finding a placement can be a significant challenge.

It was noted that work experience can play a crucial role in shaping careers and in preparing young people for the future. Those from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those who are care experienced, often find accessing placements more challenging and more generally it can be a case of who you know not what you know when it comes to finding work experience placements.

The Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) was noted by the Director of Children and Families with Wish 11 being focused on accessing work experience, employment and volunteering opportunities and that listening to and responding to the voice of the child is a key focus in the CYPP and is exemplified in this workstream.

In response to comments and question from Board members the following was discussed:

·  The Board asked about the pilot programme which is being developed to support care experienced children and young people to access work experience placements in terms of numbers and securing employers and businesses to offer placements. In response the Board heard that resourcing is an issue in terms of meeting all demand for placements in Years 10 and 12, which would be into thousands of placements, so the focus is on care experienced children/Looked After Children for who the Council is the Corporate Parent. This would involve brokering support and working in partnership with anchor organisations and Child Friendly Leeds partners to offer placements. It was highlighted that this is a proposal at this stage with work to do to develop and launch the planned approach as opposed to a guarantee of a placement to all children and young people with care experience or who are looked after children.

·  This work is being led as part of the wider commitment on care as a protected characteristic which has a number of priorities and is being led by Cllr Venner (Executive Member for Equality, Health and Well-Being) following a deputation to full Council earlier in the year. Key priorities are housing and employment and skills with the latter containing themes around apprenticeships, internships and work experience.

·  The Board suggested that more could be done to sell the benefits of work experience placements, so examples of positive contributions made  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

To consider the report from the Head of Democratic Services which provides an update following the decisions taken by Executive Board in October 2024 as part of the Little Owls Nurseries Review. This item follows consideration of this issue at a Call In meeting held on 9 July 2024.

The Board considered the report from the Head of Democratic Services which provided an update following the decisions taken by Executive Board in October 2024 as part of the Little Owls Nurseries Review.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Children and Families

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Phil Evans, Chief Officer Resources, Transformation & Partnerships

·  Vicky Fuggles, Head of Early Help Services

·  Kev Shillitto, Legal Officer – Section Head

The Executive Member for Children and Families introduced the report highlighting that it provides the Board with an update on the October Executive Board decision on the progress made on the Little Owls Nurseries Review. Key elements of the approach being taken are: an update on the market sounding exercise which could see four (of the twelve) settings taken over by nearby schools, ongoing consultation and engagement with parents, carers and families, a focus on high quality future provision with an appropriate level of fees and a focus on being able to cater for vulnerable children if this is not met then the default position would be for the Council to continue to deliver provision at the setting. It was noted that the Council will retain nine nurseries that are all rated as good or outstanding which is more than comparator authorities and in retaining these nurseries Leeds is an outlier and highlights the commitment made by the authority to early intervention and delivering the best start to children in the city.

In response to comments and questions from board members the following points were covered:

·  The Chair asked about fees when an alternative provider takes over the provision and whether these fees will be higher and more challenging for families to afford. In response the Board were informed that at this stage it is unknown as to whether fees will be higher when an alternative provider takes over. Based on the market sounding exercise there is a range of potential fees between £40 and £66 per session. At this stage though it is too early to know what the charging will be once a new provider takes over the setting.

·  Members asked about feedback from parents and careers following the withdrawal of services at four settings in the Summer months and it was noted that many of them were able to obtain a place at their first preference. In response the Board heard that parental feedback had been positive both in terms of the provision offered at the nurseries and the move with the majority of families being able to move with their key worker also moving and to their first preference. It was also noted that the service worked closely with each family to ensure they were supported during the move.

·  Responding to a question on training and support to staff at any new providers the board were assured that analysis of this will be part of the process in terms of assessing the expression of interest in taking on the provision. It  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

To receive a report from the Director of Children and Families that presents an update on the refreshed 3A’s plan following previous consideration by the Board in November 2023.

The Board received a report from the Director of Children and Families that presented an update on the refreshed 3A’s plan 2024-2026 following previous consideration by the Board in November 2023.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Member for Children and Families

·  Julie Longworth, Director of Children & Families

·  Dan Barton , Deputy Director – Learning

·  Rebecca McCormack, Head of Service Vulnerable Learners

The Executive Member for Children and Families introduced the report which focused on Attendance, Attainment and Achievement and was launched in the Summer Term. The plan has five priorities: communication, language and literacy, attendance, SEND and wellbeing and transition to positive post-16 destinations. It was also noted that further information can be found on the Leeds for Learning website.

The Deputy Director for Learning emphasised that this is a system piece of work with key contributions from the Council but with contributions and delivery responsibility with the Leeds system overall.

In response to comments and questions from the Board, the following areas were discussed:

·  Members asked about post 16 provision at level 2 in outer areas of the city and also transport challenges. In response the meeting heard that the January meeting of the Board will consider further education in more detail through a dedicated report. In terms of sufficiency challenges and balance of placements across the city, the authority has been successful in securing 900 additional places, funded through the DfE, for the 2025/26 academic year.

·  In respect of transport challenges, it was acknowledged that a lot of the Level 1 and 2 provision is located in the city centre which creates challenges for those in outer aeras accessing the places. Work is developing on provision in outer areas in collaboration with partners in the FE sector.

·  In response to a question on universal free literacy training in early years settings and how this might be extended outside of statutory settings such as into faith and belief settings, the Board heard that language and literacy was selected as a priority because of the impact of covid on children and young people coming through settings and who had been impacted by the pandemic in terms of language and literacy. Opportunities to spread awareness through faith settings was considered to be a potentially positive idea and could be developed to increase the reach of the free offer, which is available to all registered early years provision. This will be taken away to potentially develop.

·  The Board discussed 100% attendance rewards and certificates and whether the Council should encourage this given the possible impact on students who suffer from illness and those who have a disability that impacts their attendance rates. The Board heard that the commitment is to make every school day count and that school is hugely important and a protective factor for children and young people. Attendance is encouraged but there is an awareness that for some it is not possible due to health conditions or disability, and it can be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Board considered the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the 2024/25 municipal year.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser introduced the report setting out the Work Programme at Appendix 1 and September Executive Board minutes at Appendix 2 for member comments.

As part of discussion on this it was agreed that a working group will be formed in the New Year to discuss youth violence and youth criminal justice in more detail, to include consideration of mental health and the impact it has in this area.

Resolved - Members noted the Board’s work programme for the 2024/25 municipal year and agreed to the forming of a working group on youth violence and youth criminal justice in 2025.

In addition to this the Chair informed the Board that as part of the responsibility that the School Organisation Advisory Board (SOAB) had to consider objections in relation to statutory notices on school organisation matters, in line with established process, he had received details of two objections in relation to the rebuild and expansion of the Broomfield South SILC and the establishment of a permanent satellite site at Arlington Business Park.

The procedure for considering objections of this nature sets out that, following consultation with the Executive Member and subject to the Board’s views on the objections, the Board could consider them in detail at an extraordinary meeting except where the objections relate to planning and highways matters, which are dealt with separately through the planning process.

Following a briefing with the Executive Board Member for Children and Families prior to the meeting, in line with the established procedure, to consider the objections it was the view of the Chair that the objections fall within the remit of the planning process and can be dealt with through objections and the established planning process.

Board members had been supplied with details of the objections in advance of the meeting and in line with process were asked to make any comments on this matter. None were made.

Resolved – That the objections received relate purely to planning matters and therefore do not fall within the scope of the scrutiny board to consider under outstanding duties retained from the SOAB arrangements.

(This was proposed by Cllr Cohen, seconded by Cllr Jones and agreed unanimously.)

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Children and Families) will be on Wednesday 29th January 2025 at 10.00AM. (There will be a pre-meet for all Board Members at 9:45am).

The next meeting of the Children and Families Scrutiny Board is scheduled for Wednesday 29 January 2025 at 10.00am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.45am).