Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mr P Thompson (Church Representative), Mrs P J Barnett and Dr E van der Zee (Parent Governor Representatives).

An apology for absence was also received from Councillor D Brailsford (Executive Support Councillor for Children's Services).

There were no declarations of members' interest made at this point in the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 10 March 2017, be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman advised the Committee that Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer had been contacted by the Children's Services Participation Team about inviting a few members of the Committee to attend the Youth Council debate with local schools on Brexit and what matters locally to young people in Lincolnshire.

It was noted that the debate was taking place on Friday 30 June 2017 from 10.00am until 12.30pm.  It was noted further that Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services would be co-chairing the debate and Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services would be in attendance.  It was highlighted that 10 schools would be attending and each of them would be bringing along between 8 and 12 pupils each.

Councillors A P Maughan, S R Dodds, R L Foulkes and M T Fido expressed an interest at the meeting in attending the Debate.

The Executive Director of Children's Services advised the Scrutiny Committee that the identity of the Spalding double teenage killers had been made public.  The Executive Director read out a prepared press statement on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.

(To receive a presentation from Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services about the work of Children's Services)

The Committee received a presentation from Debbie Barnes, Executive Director of Children's Services, which provided an overview of the Children's Services Directorate; which included:-

·         Statistical information relating to Lincolnshire, Schools in Lincolnshire, Children's Centres, Children's Social Care and targeted areas;

·         Children's Services Vision of 'Putting Children First – working together with families to enhance Children's present and future lives';

·         Children's Services five principles of: Early Intervention and Prevention; Safeguarding and Best Start in Life; Aspiration and Wellbeing; Learning and Achievement; and Best Use of Resources;

·         Services commissioned and delivered under universal/targeted and specialist areas;

·         Key Partnerships  - reference was made to partnerships with the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board, Joint Commissioning Board, Health and Wellbeing Board and the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership;

·         The County Council's achievements – these included recognition as a Good Local Authority with Adoption Outstanding, Strong Early Help through Children's Centres, the Council's Residential Homes being judged as being good or better; and that school performance was just below national level but was improving;

·         The priorities of Children's Services moving forward, these included 0 - 19 Public Health Nursing Transfer; Re-provision of specialist education; Review of supported accommodation for young people with risky and complex needs; and Partners in Practice; and

·         Financial information relating to the Children's Services Revenue Budgets, it was noted that this budget totalled £105.070m; and the 2017/18 Dedicated School Grant Allocations through the Schools, Early Years and High Needs Blocks.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         One member felt that the Committee needed to be aware of the Team Around the Child (TAC).  The Assistant Director Children's - Lead Early Help, advised the Committee that TAC was an early help service geared to help children earlier, and involved a lot of working in partnership with agencies and schools.  It was highlighted that the TAC was working well in Lincolnshire and had been well received by Ofsted;

·         Children's Centres – The Committee was advised that Children's Centres were very important; and that evidence suggested that investing in early help was helping in preventing families' needs from escalating.  However, at the moment there was no certainty as to what settlement figures would be received;

·         The Committee was advised that Stuart Carlton, Assistant Director Children's Services was leaving the authority to take up a Director position in North Yorkshire.  The Committee extended their congratulations and expressed their thanks to the Assistant Director and wished him well in his new role.  It was highlighted that as a result of a change in the Children's Services Management Team, there would be interviews taking place for Interim cover, which would provide an opportunity for the current service managers.  One experienced member commended the adoption service as an excellent service; and offered to personally share experience and knowledge of the process of being an Adoption Panel member, with newly elected members on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee;

·         The Committee was advised that the help Lincolnshire County Council had provided to Rotherham was progressing well; and that the most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

(To receive a report from Matthew Clayton, Admissions and Education Provision Manager, which asks the Scrutiny Committee to consider a proposal to expand capacity at Market Deeping Community Primary School, prior to it being considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 21 June 2017)

The Chairman highlighted to the Committee that as the item before them was for pre-decision scrutiny, prior to an Executive Councillor decision on 21 June 2017, the following process would be followed:-

·         An overview of the report would be provided by the Admissions and Education Provision Manager;

·         Members would then be given the opportunity to ask questions on the report;

·         Members to then debate the contents of the report;

·         The Committee to vote on whether to support the recommendation to the Executive Councillor. (As this item was an educational item, added members were also entitled to vote); and

·         The Committee to then agree any comments it wished to pass on to the Executive Councillor.  (The comments to be written up by Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer).

Consideration was given to a report from Matthew Clayton, Admissions and Education Provision Manager, which invited the Scrutiny Committee to consider a proposal to permanently expand capacity at Market Deeping Community Primary School (final decision) with effect from 1 September 2017. 

The following documents were appended to the Executive report:-

·         Appendix A – A summary of written consultation responses;

·         Appendix B – A copy of the Statutory Notice, published on 24 March 2017;

·         Appendix C – A copy of the complete proposal to expand Market Deeping Community Primary School; and

·         Appendix D – Site Plan.

The Admissions and Education Provision Manager provided the Committee with an overview of the process and the reasons for the request for the proposal.  The Committee noted that the rise in national birth rates, combined with inward migration and housing development was resulting in an increased demand for primary schools places, and overall there was expected to be a long term requirement for more school places.

The Committee was advised that Market Deeping would experience a shortage of available places if capacity at one or more of the local schools was not increased, or additional capacity added through alternative means.  Reasons for the recommendation were detailed on pages 25/26 of the report presented.  It was reported that the Local Authority (LA) considered the proposal to be the most appropriate available solution to the expected shortage of primary school places in Market Deeping.  The proposal had received full support of the Governing Body and it was felt that the school could drive forward a successful expansion which would provide the opportunity to improve the learning experience and outcomes for children.  It also enabled the LA to fulfil its statutory duty of ensuring that there were sufficient places to accommodate all pupils of statutory school age in Lincolnshire.

The proposal being consulted on was to permanently expand Market Deeping Community Primary School from the existing capacity of 210 places based on a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 30 to an increased capacity of 315 places with a new PAN of 45.  This would initially increase the PAN from 30 to 45 for the Reception intake in September 2018 only.  The increased intake of up to 45 would then be phased in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

(To receive a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which provides the Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to consider its own work programme for the coming year)

Consideration was given to a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity was focussed where it could be of greatest benefit.

The Committee was encouraged to highlight items that could be included for consideration in the work programme as well as any items to be programmed listed on page 61 of the report.

A copy of the Committee's work programme for the coming year was detailed at Appendix A to the report.  A list of all forthcoming Forward Plan decisions relating to the Committee was also attached at Appendix B for consideration.

It was highlighted that when identifying topics for scrutiny, it was necessary to select the right topics where scrutiny could add value in order for scrutiny to have a positive influence on the work of the Council.  The bottom of page 56/top of page 57 provided the Committee with a series of questions members might what to consider when highlighting potential items for discussion.

A suggestion was made for relevant information to be circulated to all members on the Committee in advance of meetings, to help them gain knowledge to assist them in their role as members of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

One item put forward for consideration was to look at Out of County Placements into Lincolnshire.

RESOLVED

1.    That consideration be given to including Out of County Placements into Lincolnshire on the work programme as a future agenda item.

2.      That background information relevant to items on future agendas be circulated to all members of the Committee in advance to help them gain knowledge to assist them in their role as a member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.