Agenda item

To note a report of the Directors of Development and Children’s Services outlining details of a presentation on the current progress on delivering the change for children agenda in West Leeds, its links to the developments in the Director of Children’s Services Unit and the review of the local partnership arrangements for children’s services under the auspices of Children Leeds.

(Executive Function)

The Chief Officer (Development), Children’s Services Unit, Mariana Pexton submitted a report and gave a presentation on the current progress on delivering the change for children agenda in West Leeds, its Children’s Services Unit and the work to review the local partnership arrangements for children’s services under the auspices of Children Leeds. 

Members were made aware that proposals for changes to children’s services are being progressed in the West Leeds area in advance of other areas to help inform city-wide change and the presentation outlined details of the West Leeds Project covering the following elements:

·  The scope of the project

·  The project team

·  The project board

·  Timescales

·  Achievements to date

·  The developments in the Director of Children’s Services Unit

·  Outcome of the review by Children Leeds and next steps

·  Links to Area Management

·  Links to Area Committees

·  Learning the lessons and City wide roll out

Area Committee Members pointed out that this project should be aimed particularly at Year 7 children, to get to know what their needs are for instance, pastoral support and the need to make it easier for them to improve their life choices.  In response, the Chief Officer (Development) informed the meeting that her aim for the West Leeds Project is to achieve better goals than before in order to help with improving children and young people’s lives.

The officer went on to inform the meeting that she would very much like to make sure that Councillors are involved in this project and to get their support.  It was suggested that as Councillors hold Ward surgeries, are often  governors of local schools and also regularly meet with families on issues relating to Council’s services, they are ideal advocates to promote the project and  make more of a difference to children and young people’s lives in the West Leeds area.

Councillor Harper asked what role the Area Committee would play  in Children’s Services -  would they have the delegated function for Children’s Services in West as they currently did for the Youth Services? The Chief Officer replied  that this issue will be considered in the future.

Steve Crocker, West Area Manager tabled a copy of the draft West Leeds Children and Young People’s Plan  and informed the meeting that West Leeds Area Management have worked closely with the Children’s Services Unit in developing the plans so that they fit in with the Area Delivery Plan.  There was also a need to make sure there was no duplication and, therefore, the Area Management Team needed to work very closely with Community Safety, the Youth Service and various other Council departments in the West Leeds Area on joint working arrangements.

Mariana Pexton informed the meeting that a report was to be submitted to the Executive Board on 20^th September 2006 outlining the next developments to enable the Council and its partners to fully deliver the requirements of the Children Act 2004.  One big emphasis was about local ownership but it has not been decided how that should happen.  The Chief Officer (Development) informed the meeting that she would like the opportunity to come back to all Area Committees to talk about the cluster arrangements at the next Committee.

Members felt that the project would work better based locally.  Concern was also expressed regarding the high level of teenage pregnancies in the West Leeds Area.

The Chair thanked Mariana Pexton for her presentation. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and presentation be noted.

(b)  That the draft West Leeds Project tabled at the meeting and Members   comments be noted. 

(Note:  Councillor Taggart joined the meeting at 5.30 p.m. during discussion of the above item.)