Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of Children and Families presenting an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny inquiry into the impact of Child Poverty on Achievement, Attainment and Attendance.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of Children and Families submitted a report that presented an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny inquiry into the impact of Child Poverty on Achievement, Attainment and Attendance.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member for Children and Families

-  Steve Walker, Director of Children and Families

-  Sal Tariq, Deputy Director, Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Sue Rumbold, Chief Officer for Partnerships and Health

-  Tim Pouncey, Chief Officer for Resources and Strategy

-  Dave Roberts, Financial Inclusion Manager

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

-  Recommendation 1 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 2 – Achieved.

-  Recommendation 3 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 4 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 5 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 6 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 7 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 8 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 9 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 10 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 11 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 12 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 13 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 14 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

-  Recommendation 15 – Not fully implemented (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring.)

The following key points were also raised during consideration of this item:

·  Research with the University of Leeds. Members queried the progress of research undertaken alongside the University of Leeds into the impact of child poverty, and were informed that the research report was expected to be completed by Easter 2019.

·  Outcomes Based Accountability (OBA) event. The Board requested circulation of the feedback from the OBA event held in October 2018 with council officers, elected members and partners from across the city to inform a new child poverty strategy. Members were assured that a report summarising the findings would be submitted to the Child Poverty Impact Board (CPIB), and following this would be provided to the Board for consideration.

·  Points of contact for families. Members were keen to understand how families were identified as requiring additional support from early help teams and were informed that the Children’s Centres work closely with the NHS Health Visitors, which together enable wider access to families across the city.

·  Free School Meals (FSM). Members were provided with an update regarding new guidance for Universal Credit and FSM. Members also noted that there is some confusion between universal FSM up to year two, and eligibility beyond that point, and the impact this is likely to have on take-up for some families. Members felt that guidance could be explained more to parents, to ensure opt-in from all families who are eligible.

·  Holiday hunger. Members were informed that a funding bid had recently been submitted to fund additional schemes for school holiday activities that provide a meal, following the success of schemes throughout the summer holidays and Christmas in 2018. There was a suggestion from the Director of Children and Families for the status of the recommendation to be changed to ‘achieved’, however Members felt that monitoring was necessary whilst the funding bid process was ongoing. Members were keen that schemes captured children who may be experiencing poverty, but did not qualify for FSM, and were assured that activities were available to all families during the school holidays.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the above status of recommendations be approved.