Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A Wright and S A J Nutman.

Martin Kyle, the Church Representative, also gave apologies.

No declarations were made at this point in proceedings.

RESOLVED

          That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 September 2023 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman had actioned a letter on behalf of the Committee congratulating all Children’s Services Staff on the ‘Outstanding’ outcome of the Ofsted inspection which was considered by the Committee in July 2023.

Councillor Mrs. P A Bradwell OBE, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration informed Members that Family Hubs were due to receive additional provision and encouraged Members to visit their local Hub. She further noted that she was anticipating the opening of multiple Special Schools and Children’s Centres across Lincolnshire.

(To receive a report from Kevin Johnson, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Mental Health, LD and Autism, Emily Humphries, Commissioning Officer and Lynda Whitton, Senior Commissioning Officer which invites the Committee to consider the Recommissioning the Children and Young People’s (CYP) Online Mental Health Support Service, which is being presented to the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration for a decision between 27 October and 3 November 2023)

Consideration was given to a report from Kevin Johnson, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Mental Health, Learning Difficulties and Autism, Emily Humphries, Commissioning Officer and Charlotte Gray, Head of Service – Children’s Strategic Commissioning which invited the Committee to consider the Recommissioning the Children and Young People’s Online Mental Health Support Service, which was presented to the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration for a decision between 27 October and 3 November 2023.

Support was given to the recommissioning of the online support service, and it was acknowledged that the digital offer was a key part of meeting the demand in Lincolnshire and remaining aligned to the Children and Young People’s (CYP) Mental Health (MH) Transformation Programme.

During its discussion, the Committee explored the following topics:

Self-referral rates of Black or Minority Ethnic populations in Lincolnshire

·         It was explained that past research findings revealed a preference for digital access to Mental Health services among the black and minority ethnic community, possibly linked to language barriers and the ease of translating written content, with national findings documented in research documents that can be shared with interested members for a more in-depth understanding.

Access to Mental Health services

·         In the context of access to Mental Health services for Children and Young people, including the black and minority ethnic community, historical figures were measured against NHS England's Long-Term Plan access targets, although there were concerns about the utility of this approach. The measurement focused on the number of CYP with at least one clinical contact, potentially favouring a reactive model over prevention. Lincolnshire invested significantly in preventive services, such as Healthy Minds Lincolnshire, which reduced referrals, though data recording issues affected the accuracy of this data in comparison to other areas due to not counting all contacts included by other areas, for example, for diagnosis of autistic children. Nevertheless, with the introduction of mental health support teams Lincolnshire had the highest access rates in the Midlands for these teams, with the expectation of further improvement with the introduction of more mental health support teams. Despite these efforts, there remained complexities and nuances within the access target framework.

Alignment with the CYP MH Transformation Programme

·         Members questioned the timing of the CYP MH Transformation Programme, whether it ought to have commenced earlier to align with contract timeframes and prevent potential misalignment with the programme's outcomes. Officers explained that in the backdrop of the CYP MH Transformation Programme, the initial scope was smaller, primarily focusing on specialist Mental Health services. However, the scale of the programme expanded significantly due to the heightened demand for services during the pandemic and changes in budget allocation. Digital delivery became a more prominent feature as a result of the pandemic, but the exact extent and methods remained under consideration. The programme prioritised taking the necessary time for careful review and design in collaboration with children, families, and various partners. The initial scale of the CYP MH Transformation Programme was underestimated and was also unknown during the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

(To receive a report by Eileen McMorrow, Programme Manager SEND Strategy, on the Re-commissioning the Maples Short Breaks Provision. The Committee is invited to comment on and consider this item ahead of a decision by the Executive Councillor for Childrens Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration between 30 October and 3 November 2023)

Consideration was given to a report from Eileen McMorrow, Programme Manager SEND Strategy, which invited the Committee to consider the Re-commissioning of Maples Short Breaks Provision ahead of a decision by the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration between 30 October and 3 November 2023.

Support was given to the recommissioning of an overnight short breaks provision at The Maples residential unit; Members acknowledged that the this ensured that the Council would be futureproofing sufficiency and improving accessibility.

During its discussion, the Committee explored the following topics:

Funding, Costs & Demand for Places

·         Officers explained that the current contribution for the Maples provision was £534,000, including a proportional contribution to additional educational provision. However, the new proposal seeks to secure a lower contribution rather than an increase but providing only social care provision in place of existing expenditures. If the Maples were not included in the councils short breaks plan, there would be a significant shortfall in the coming years, with projections of 590 places short by 2024-25, 1,010 places short by 2025-26, and 1,014 places short by 2026-27, necessitating external spot purchasing from independent providers in a volatile short breaks provision market. The Maples, as a children's home within a school, is currently funded from the high needs block rather than the Council budget, which was noted in the financial comments, indicating a lower cost allocation from a different budget source to address areas of high demand and need.

·         Assurance was provided that the high needs block, as previously reported to the committee, was under significant pressure, both nationally and locally, making it unlikely that it could accommodate additional innovative expenditures from any savings related to this proposal.

·         In terms of bed night costs, the existing in-house provision had a cost per unit of £599 and £576, while the Maples proposal suggested a lower cost of £437 per unit for 3-bedded facilities. If the unit size were increased to a 5-bedded, the cost per unit would decrease further due to economies of scale, although the specific figures were not available at the moment but were estimated to be in the high £300 per year per unit.

·         In terms of demand, it was explained that purchasing more capacity than needed, even at a lower per-unit cost, could result in significantly higher overall expenses, which was a concern. The nature of these provisions, designed for extremely disabled children to provide respite for their families, made occupancy rates fluctuate, subject to last-minute disruptions like illness or families deciding to keep their child for the weekend. Maintaining optimal occupancy was essential, as having excess capacity would mean empty beds that incurred unnecessary costs. The projected capacity aligned with current needs, and the confidence in filling gaps in the coming years justified the chosen approach. There was potential for expansion but the current plan was considered the most cost-effective option.

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RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee supports the recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

(To receive a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, to enable the Committee to consider whether to make any suggestions for an in-depth scrutiny review, for consideration and decision by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board).

Consideration was given to a report from Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which invited the Committee to suggest topics for an in-depth scrutiny review by Scrutiny Panel A, for consideration and decision by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) at its meeting on 21 December 2023.

Members were advised that any proposed topic should not duplicate work being carried out elsewhere by Lincolnshire County Council or any of its partners, nor be overly broad to ensure a timely completion of an in-depth review.

‘Young Carers’ and ‘Workforce Recruitment and Retention’ were proposed as potential topics for exploration by the Executive Director of Children’s Services. The Committee was subsequently encouraged to suggest any other topics and were advised to agree on one recommendation to be included in the final report to OSMB for their consideration.

Members noted the report, and during the discussion the following matters were highlighted:

·         Physical exercise in communities and schools, along with the declining opportunities for children and young people to engage in physical activity, were proposed for allocation to Scrutiny Panel A. The discussion highlighted challenges related to safeguarding concerns, limited school timetables and facilities for physical exercise, and the need for a broader range of sports and activities in schools. It was noted that children, especially girls, experience a decline in physical activity as they reach adolescence, which has implications for physical and mental health. The focus was not solely on sports but also on fostering relationships, confidence, teamwork, resilience, and the ability to cope with both success and failure, with the aim of addressing health and well-being issues through increased physical activity and recreation.

·         The Executive Director of Children’s Services agreed this held merit in regard to skills development, although the Council’s influence on schools’ curricula was limited and leisure centre activities fell under the remit of District Councils.

·         Assurance was provided that the Council worked closely with the One Sports Network and sat on the Health and Wellbeing Committee meaning this topic may duplicate pre-existing work streams. The Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration subsequently highlighted that she was satisfied with the PE and sports offer available in schools.

·         Members shared their experiences of school sports activities and the varying levels of interest among young people in sports, particularly around the ages of 12 or 13. They highlighted the positive efforts of primary schools in engaging children in physical activities to expend energy and aid learning. The rural nature of the county was mentioned as a factor influencing access to sports, with the responsibility often falling on parents. In conclusion, it was noted that while there is already considerable activity in promoting physical exercise, there is potential for further encouragement and engagement in schools.

·         It was suggested by that the topic of PE engagement could form part of the remit of an independent working group within the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee in the future.

·         Scrutiny plans regarding mental health provision for children and young people and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

(To receive a report from by Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which enables the Committee to comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year to ensure that scrutiny activity is focused where it can be of greatest benefit)

The Committee received a report from Kiara Chatziioannou, Scrutiny Officer, which enabled the Committee to comment on the content of its work programme.

Members were informed that there had been no amendments to the published work programme.

RESOLVED

            That the work programme be agreed.

(To receive a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Head of Special Educational Needs and Disability, Eileen McMorrow, Programme Manager, SEND Strategy, and Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development which updates the Committee on the implementation of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision; Together in Lincolnshire Strategy, and the progress made between October 2023-October 2023 within the Capital Programme and all supporting system areas)

It was noted that this item was for information only.

In accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public are excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that if they were present there could be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

RESOLVED

            That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following two items of business on the grounds that they are considered to contain exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

(To receive an exempt report from Matthew Clayton, Interim Head of Capital Reform and Education Sufficiency, on Education Provision Planning ahead of a decision from the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration between 27 October and 3 November 2023)

Consideration was given to the exempt report, and the Committee raised a number of questions which were answered by the Officers present.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Committee supports the recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration as set out in the report.

2.    That the Committee’s comments be passed onto the Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, Community Safety, Procurement and Migration in relation to this item.

(To receive an exempt report from Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development, and Alison Toyne, Project Manager – Corporate Property, on the Expansion of Saxilby Church of England Primary School, which is being presented to the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor: Resources, Communications and Commissioning) for a decision between 27 October and 3 November 2023)

Consideration was given to the exempt report, and the Committee raised a number of questions which were answered by the Officers present.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Committee supports the recommendations to the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council as set out in the report

2.    That the Committee’s comments be passed onto the Lincolnshire County Council in relation to this item