Agenda item

Scrutiny Inquiry into Children's Centres - recommendation tracking update

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 Children’s Centres.

Minutes:

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and Director of Children and Families submitted a report presenting an update on the implementation of the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny inquiry into Children’s Centres.

 

The following were in attendance:

 

-  Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Executive Member for Children and Families

-  Sal Tariq, Deputy Director of Children and Families

-  Phil Mellen, Deputy Director for Learning

-  Andrea Richardson, Head of Service, Learning for Life

-  Amanda Ashe, Children’s Centre & Early Start Lead

 

The status of recommendations were agreed as follows:

 

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

-  Recommendation 2 – Not fully implemented (obstacle). Scrutiny Board to determine appropriate action.

-  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.)

 

 

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

 

·  Cluster Partnership Support to Children’s Centres. Members expressed some concerns about the consistency of the relationships between the Clusters and the Children’s Centres, particularly in relation to the Children’s Centres participation in formal governance. The Chair noted that there was a lack of representation from the Children’s Centres at the JCC in his ward, and queried whether this was an isolated incident. Members were assured that this would be investigated.

·  Buildings and Facilities. Members were informed that a few Children’s Centres within the city were currently being refurbished, including Burley Park Children’s Centre that the Board visited as part of the original inquiry. Members requested a visit to be arranged to the Children’s Centre once the refurbishment was complete and prior to the next inquiry tracking session.

·  Financial Sustainability. The Chair requested evidence of benefits from current funding, and comment from the Director of Resources and Housing regarding the financial sustainability of the budget.

·  GP Services. Members were advised that various attempts had been made in relation to forming relationships between children’s centres and their local GP practices, however there was still not a consistent approach to working in partnership. GPs had reported that they find it difficult to obtain current information about local communities as they do not have the time to conduct the research, and in response officers acknowledged that a way of sharing data needed to be established. The Board noted that there was a clear obstacle to progress, and that a further meeting would be facilitated to endeavour to understand the challenges associated with establishing partnership working between local GP services and Children’s Centres. The Chair noted that the Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, the Director of Public Health and the relevant lead from the Leeds CCG would be invited to contribute to the discussion.

 

RESOLVED –

 

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the additional discussion around local GP services, and visit to Burley Park Children’s Centre, be incorporated into the work programme for the 2019/20 municipal year.

c)  That the above status of recommendations be approved.

 

 

 

Supporting documents: