Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Adams, A G Hagues, B W Keimach and Mrs S Wray.

Apologies for absence were also received from Mr P Thompson and Mr C V Miller.

The Chief Executive reported that having received notice under Regulation 13 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990, he had appointed Councillors C E H Marfleet, J R Marriott, C J T H Brewis and C L Strange as replacement members on the Committee in place of Councillors B Adams, A G Hagues, B W Keimach and Mrs S Wray, for this meeting only.

The Committee was informed tha this would be the last meeting for Mrs Emma Olivier-Townrow and Mr Craig Miller as their term of office as a Parent Governor Representative would end on 2 march 2016 and neither of them were eligible to stand again.  The Committee thanked them for all their hard work and commitment over the last four years.

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting

RESOLVED

            That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2015 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(To receive a report which invites the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on the proposal to discontinue the use of the Mablethorpe site and consolidate provision for Monks' Dyke Tennyson College at the Louth site, as a single site school which is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services on 29 January 2016)

The Committee was invited to consider a report on the proposal to discontinue the use of the Mablethorpe site and consolidate provision for Monks' Dyke Tennyson College at the Louth site, as a single site school which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services on 29 January 2016.

It was reported that the proposal under consideration was the closure of the Mablethorpe site of the Monks' Dyke Tennyson College (MDTC) with effect from 31 August 2016.  Members were advised that this proposal had been made by the Governors of MDTC, a split school with two sites located in Mablethorpe and Louth (15 miles apart), and concerned the closure of the school's Mablethorpe site, thereby consolidating provision at Louth.

A pre-publication consultation process took place between 2 September and 7 October 2015.  The proposal to close came from concerns regarding the educational provision (currently 171 pupils on the Mablethorpe site) and financial viability (following a staff restructure a deficit of £350k was still projected at the end on 2015/16 and rising to £673k for 2016/17) of the Mablethorpe site.  Falling numbers and increasing pressure to deliver a suitable curriculum were the man contributing factors.

It was reported that 16 options had been identified in relation to future provision in Mablethorpe, however, the majority were out of the control of the Local Authority which was the decision maker for any proposal resulting in the closure of the Mablethorpe site, whilst the school remains maintained by the Local Authority.

The Committee was advised that members of the Governing body and Headteacher of MDTC as well as campaigners from the Save Tennyson School group were in attendance at the meeting, and would be given 3 minutes each to speak to the Committee.

The Chief Commissioning Officer for Learning introduced the report and advised that the proposal to close the school site and consolidate provision in Louth had come from the governing body for reasons including financial viability, educational provision and falling numbers.  The school was currently unable to maintain a broad and balanced curriculum and so it would also be unable to do this as a stand alone school.

The School Services Manager provided an update on the transport arrangements.  The Committee was advised that should the Mablethorpe site close, the Council would be obliged to provide transport to an alternative provision.  Free home to school transport would be provided to the Louth site, for those pupils transferring or for new joiners in September 2016. If pupils gained a place, they would also be entitled to free transport to John Spendluffe Technology College in Alford as the new nearest school, and to Somercotes Academy in north Somercotes as the new Designated Transport Area (DTA) school.  New pupils after September 2016 would only be entitled to free transport to John Spendluffe and to Somercotes Academy.  This was not provided at the moment as there was a school in Mablethorpe.  The cost of this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

(To receive a report and presentation which provides the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee with details of potential implications for Children's Services within the Budget Proposals for 2016/17, considered by the Executive on 5 January 2016)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with information on the Children's Services budgets for 2016/17.  The views of this scrutiny committee would be reported to the Executive prior to finalisation of the 2016/17 budget proposals for the full Council's consideration in February 2016.

The Committee received a presentation in relation to the Budget Proposals for Children's Services which provided detailed information in relation to the following areas:

·         Current Financial Position

·         Savings achieved since the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review

·         Budget Pressures

·         Commissioning Outcomes for Children's Services

·         Proposals for Revenue Savings – Readiness for School

·         Proposals for Revenue Savings – Learn and Achieve

·         Proposals for Revenue Savings – Readiness for Adult Life

·         Proposals for Revenue Savings – Safe and Healthy

·         Capital Requirements

Members of the Committee were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and presentation, and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         It was clarified that there was an increasing budget in relation to Special Guardianship Order Placements.  The executive Director for Children's Services explained the circumstances of Special Guardianship Orders and associated funding implications;

·         There was a proposal to consult on the closure of phase 3 Children's Centres, however, the authority had a sufficiency duty which may be tested during the consultation process, alternative options would also be considered;

·         There were concerns regarding the decommissioning of non-statutory school support services which supported vulnerable young people, and it was queried whether the business sector could be approached to help with education support.  It was clarified that the business sector already provided internships and other work placements for learners with a learning disability;

·         There were also concerns around the decommissioning of the Counselling Service for grief and loss and it was queried whether this could be passed to health or CAMHS.  It was noted that CAMHS was already in a challenging positions with regard to demand management;

·         It was commented that Children's Centres provided advice, guidance and support to families if they felt as though they were reaching crisis point;

·         In terms of post 16 transport, it was queried whether there was any legal obligation to provide transport for those families in poverty;

·         One member commented that they could not support the decommissioning of these services as it would harm communities.  If it was considered a good idea to introduce the services then they should remain.  It was proposed that the Committee vote against the budget proposals and that the Executive be asked to look again at these services to see whether they could continue to be funded;

·         The Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health Services, Children's Services was in attendance at the meeting and responded to comments made and advised the Committee that the Executive had spent a lot of time since the summer examining budgets to try to find the extra millions that the authority was losing.  However, there was still a gap of £30m.  Government had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

(To receive a report which enables the Committee to consider the outcomes from the School Improvement Working Group)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an opportunity to consider the outcomes from the School Improvement Working Group.

It was reported that at the meeting of this Committee held on 28 November 2014, it was agreed that a working group would be established to look at School Improvement.  Following consideration of a report by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 24 April 2015 which was subsequently agreed by the Executive on 5 May 2015 on the Future Delivery of the School Improvement Service, the remit of the working group was changed to focus on the risks and benefits of the new model for school improvement which would replace the existing CfBT contract.

The new model would be a sector led approach which would establish a collaborative Lincolnshire Learning Partnership which would deliver a tiered approach to School Improvement including peer review, quality assurance and appropriate governance arrangements.

Members were advised that a number of meetings with officers from CfBT and Children's Services had been held to gain an understanding of the existing CfBT offer and the new sector led model.  The Working Group analysed the new sector led model using the Signs of Safety approach.

The Committee was provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         This would be the introduction of a new culture, and with this there would always be a counter culture, which would need to be managed carefully;

·         There may be more opportunity to look at governors supporting this model and they could be supported;

·         The working group spoke to a lot of people, and it was commented that there were some things which would need to be watched for when implementing the new model and it was suggested that the group should meet every so often in an informal manner with Heather Sandy;

·         There had been a lot of new information for the working group to work through, and it was thought that there would be a need for regular reviews by this Committee;

·         It was thought that the report did not reflect the amount of meetings which had taken place or the information discussed;

·         It was requested that a report on how the action plan would be implemented be brought back to the meeting in March;

·         Members of the working group thanked Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer for all her work with the group and in ensuring that the group had all the information they needed;

·         It was noted that the new model had not yet commenced, and had only been through consultation.  There would be a launch in February 2016 with Head Teachers.  It was requested that the members of the Working Group be invited to the launch.

RESOLVED

1.    That the comments made in relation to the outcomes of the School Improvement Working Group be noted;

2.    That a further report from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

(To receive a report which provides the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee with an update on the work of the Corporate Parenting Panel)

The Committee received an update on the work of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

It was reported that the Corporate Parenting Panel last met on Thursday, 10 December 2015.  At the meeting, the Panel received a report outlining an audit of placement disruptions of Looked After Children.  The audit had looked at 38 cases, of which 15 had been disrupted, and highlighted some results which were expected and some new issues.  It was highlighted that there was a need for foster carers to build good relationships with their social worker so that they had someone to speak to about any difficulties they were having.

The Panel also received the first joint annual report for Looked After Children between Children's Services and Health where it was highlighted that the biggest challenge was ensuring assessments were completed within statutory timescales as these had to be completed by a medical officer.  The Panel had a discussion around children from other areas placed within Lincolnshire and the impact on the service due to their emotional and behavioural needs.  At the time of the meeting there 440 children placed in Lincolnshire from out of county, which was in addition to the 654 children under the care of Lincolnshire.

It was reported that the next meeting was on 10 March 2016 and the Panel would be considering a report from Debbie Barnes on the outcomes from national research by the Association of Directors of Children's Services, the Virtual School Heads Network and the National Consortium for Examination Results.  In addition the Panel would be receiving a six monthly update from Barnardo's on the Leaving Care Service.

Consideration was also given to the draft minutes of the previous meeting of the Panel which were attached as Appendix A to the report, and a concern was raised regarding the complaint which was received from a child.  Members were advised that the complaint had been dealt with and had a satisfactory outcome.

Queries were raised regarding the children who were placed from out of county and whether there was a budget which accompanied them which was sufficient for the authority to meet their needs.  Members were advised that this was a complex issue, and funding was broken down into different aspects.  If they lived and were educated in Lincolnshire, the funding came to the authority to be pass-ported straight to the school, and if the child had a statement, but was a child from another local authority, then the school had to meet their needs.  In terms of social care, Lincolnshire as an authority was not responsible for this (if the child was looked after by another local authority).  If the child had a health issue then normally, the local health provider would meet the need except if specialist intervention was needed which was more complex.

RESOLVED

            That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee note the work    of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

(To receive a report which invites the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on the 2016/17 contract with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust for Health Visiting, School Nursing and Antenatal Weight Management which is due to be considered by the Executive on 2 February 2016)

Consideration was given to a report which invited the Committee to consider a report on the 2016/17 contract with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust Health Visiting, School Nursing and Antenatal Weight Management which was due to be considered by the Executive on 2 February 2016.

Members were advised that contracts were in place with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) for a number of children's health services.  This included a contract for Health Visiting (with a value of £8.650m per annum for 2015/16), and one for School Nursing and Antenatal Weight Management Services (with a value of £2.749m for 2015/16).  Both of the contracts had an end date of 31 March 2016 and neither contained the provision to further extend the contract period.

Children's Services was conducting an extensive review of these services alongside other early years provision where there was a clear interface.

It was reported that a request for members' names to be put forward to form a working group to look at the details of this contract more closely had been received.  It was confirmed that members would be contacted and included at the appropriate time to work with officers on the new arrangements.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee support the recommendation(s) to the Executive as set out in the report;

2.    That a small number of members form a working group to work with officers on the new arrangements, at the appropriate time.

(To receive a report which provides the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee with an opportunity to consider its own work programme for the coming year)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with an opportunity to consider its own work programme for the coming year.

It was reported that in addition to the items listed on the Work Programme, a further report on the School Improvement Working Group would be brought to the meeting on 4 March 2016.  Members were also reminded that following the meeting on 4 March 2016, there would be a workshop on Progress 8 and Assessment Developments in Schools by CfBT.

It was also noted that there was a pre-decision scrutiny item on the agenda for 15 April 2016 regarding the potential closure of Saltfleetby Primary School.  The consultation period would run from 10 February until 9 March 2016.  It was suggested that a small working group be established to meet with officers to discuss the proposal to close the school.  Councillors J D Hough, S R Dodds and C R Oxby volunteered to take part in this working group.

It was suggested and agreed that Emma Olivier-Townrow (Parent Governor Representative) should be invited to attend the meeting on 4 March 2016 to assist in the presentation of the School Improvement Working Group Report, after noting that this would be her last meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee before her term of office ended on 2 March 2016.

RESOLVED

1.    That the comments made in relation to the Work Programme be noted;

2.    That a report from the School Improvement Working Group be brought back to the meeting on 4 March 2016, and Emma Olivier-Townrow be invited to attend this meeting;

3.    That a small working group of the following members – Councillors S R Dodds, J D Hough and C R Oxby be formed to discuss the proposed potential closure of Saltfleetby Primary School.