Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

42.

Apologies for Absence / Replacement Members

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from The Reverend P A Johnson (Church Representative).

43.

Declarations of Members' Interest

Minutes:

Councillor M A Whittington wished it to be noted that he had an adopted son who was in receipt of services from Barnardo's.

44.

Minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 November 2020 pdf icon PDF 274 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20 November 2020 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

45.

Announcements by the Chairman, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services and Chief Officers

Minutes:

The Chairman reminded members and officers present that the current meeting appointment was for agenda Items 1-10; and that at the end of Item 10, the Committee was to leave the current appointment and join the separate appointment for Item 11.  The Chairman also advised the Committee that he was planning to have a five minute comfort break after Item 8 and Item 10.

 

The Chairman invited the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services to update the Committee with any announcements.  The Committee was reassured that in Lincolnshire, where children were attending school, they were receiving a cooked meal; and that schools in Lincolnshire were providing those children entitled to free school meals with either vouchers or a hamper.  The Committee was reassured further that schools were doing all that they could in these difficult times and that children were being well looked after.

46.

Council Budget 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 390 KB

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children's Services, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the 2021/22 budget implications for the Council's Children's Services activities, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive at its meeting on 2 February 2021)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that this item provided the Committee with an overview of the 2021/22 budget implications for the Council's Children's Services activities.  The Committee was advised further that comments raised would be passed onto the Executive for consideration at its meeting on 2 February 2021.

 

The Chairman invited Heather Sandy, Executive Director – Children's Services, to present the report.  The Committee noted that Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children's Services was also in attendance for this item.

 

The Committee was advised that the Executive was currently consulting on a single year financial plan for revenue and capital budgets; and that this was reflective of the one year only Spending Review announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

 

The Committee noted that the coronavirus pandemic had impacted significantly on the 2020/21 financial year.  The Committee noted further that Central Government had provided grant funding to cover the Council's costs and losses arising directly from the pandemic.

 

It was reported that the activities for Children's Services were presented in the report under the headings of Children's Education and Children's Social Care.  Table A on page 17 of the report provided the revenue 2021/22 financial budget proposals for Children's Education.

 

It was highlighted to the Committee that there was a proposed cost pressure of £5.189m relating to the delivery of Home to School/College Transport in 2021/22.  The Committee was advised that the Home to School/College budget was a volatile budget due to a range of outside pressures, and as such the budget remained a financial risk to the Council.  It was highlighted that the service was continuing to look for efficiencies to help manage the pressures.

 

Paragraph 1.14 and Table B on page 19 of the report set out the revenue 2021/22 financial year budget proposals for Children's Social Care.  The Committee noted that there was a £2.000m cost pressure relating to children in care, as a result of various factors, including the increasing complex nature of family life, and a shift in placement compositions from internal foster carer arrangements to more external placements, some of which were specialist placements, which were incurring increased costs.

 

The Committee was advised that a ten year capital programme had been compiled and that the gross programme was set at £204.302m for 2021/22, plus a further £322.097m for future years.  After grants and contributions were taken into consideration the Net programme was £111.283m for 2021/22 plus a further £282.808m for future years.  Details of capital projects were shown in paragraphs 1.26 to 1.36 of the report.  Detailed at Appendix A to the report was further information on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Capital Programme.

 

Paragraphs 1.37 to 1.45 of the report provided the Committee with details of the Schools Budget, which is funded via the Dedicated Schools Grant.  It was highlighted that there were a number of budgets within the High Needs block, which were large, demand-led budgets; therefore it was difficult to estimate, as there continued to be a growing trend nationally, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Schools Funding Update 2021/22 - Mainstream Schools pdf icon PDF 40 KB

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children's Services, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the Schools Funding Update 2021/22 – Mainstream Schools, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services on 20 January 2021)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that this item invited the Committee to consider and comment on the report which would be presented to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services for a decision on 20 January 2021 on the Schools Funding Update for 2021/22 – Mainstream Schools.  The Chairman invited Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance - Children's Services to present the report.

 

Attached as Appendix 1 to the report presented was a copy of the report to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, on Schools Funding Update 2021/22 – Mainstream Schools.

 

The Committee was reminded that the government had introduced the national funding formula (NFF) in 2018/19 for mainstream schools, and that since then the local authority had been responsible for agreeing and calculating schools funding allocations.  The purpose of the national funding formula was to create consistency in funding across all schools nationally ensuring a fairer settlement for each school.

 

Table 1, on page 34 of the report outlined Lincolnshire's schools overall funding level for 2021/22, through the implementation of the NFF compared to other Local Authorities.  It was noted that Lincolnshire's position nationally had improved.

 

The Committee was advised that detailed financial modelling had been undertaken by the Local Authority to understand the government's NFF changes for 2021/22.  It was highlighted that the announcements by the government of additional funding would have a positive impact on Lincolnshire schools.  The Committee was advised that subject to affordability, schools would receive a minimum of +2.00% in pupil funding through the 2021/22 funding arrangements.  Further information relating to the funding arrangements was shown on page 35 of the report.

 

The Committee noted that the Local Authority had consulted all mainstream schools (A copy of the consultation document was attached at Appendix A to the Executive Councillor report).  It was highlighted that 60 schools had responded, and that across the consultation questions, schools were overall in support of the Local Authority's proposals to continue replicating the Government's NFF in 2021/22 and for using the NFF as a basis for determining the notional SEN amount per school, when identifying whether a school was entitled to targeted funding.

 

The Committee was advised that the Lincolnshire Schools Forum at their meeting on 14 January 2021 had supported the Local Authority's proposals.

 

In conclusion, the Committee was made aware fulfilling the NFF was subject to affordability, and the options available to the Local Authority were included in the report presented.  Members noted that the Local Authority would consider the impact at individual school level when agreeing the affordability solution.

 

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:-

 

·      The Committee was pleased to see a positive direction of travel for school funding.  The NFF was the way forward which would have a positive impact and lead to a more equitable situation for school funding going forward; 

·      Lincolnshire had gained through the NFF and had moved up through the ranking table.  However, school funding levels in Lincolnshire were still below national levels, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

Children Missing Out on Education Annual Report 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 148 KB

(To receive a report from Jill Chandar-Nair, Inclusion and Attendance Manager, which invites the Committee to review and comment on the Children Missing Out on Education Annual Report 2019/20)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that this item provided the Committee with an update on children missing out on education in 2019/20.  The Chairman invited Jill Chandar-Nair, Inclusion and Attendance Manager, to present the report to the Committee.

 

The Committee noted that the Local Authority had a duty to have processes in place to identify children who were not receiving a full time suitable education.

 

It was highlighted that Covid-19 had impacted on attendance at schools and some of the data presented in the report was limited to the period in which schools were fully open which was September 2019 until the end of February 2020.

 

Details of the trends and activities for 2019/20 were shown on pages 65 and 66 of the report.

 

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a copy of the document 'Children Missing Out on Education Annual Report 2019/20'.

 

The Committee noted that if a child had unauthorised absence of more than 4.5 days over a six week period, schools were permitted to request the issue of a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).  It was highlighted that there had been 1600 FPN's issued in 2019/20, and if the process had not ceased in March 2020 due to the pandemic, there would have been at least the same number of FPN's as in 2018/19.

 

It was noted that during the 2019/20 period, 293 cases had been presented to the courts for poor attendance.  It was noted further that this was more than previous years due to the prosecution for non-payment of FPN'S.

 

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:

 

·       Some concern was expressed to the number of parents taking their children out of school to go on holiday in term time.  The Committee was advised that the vast majority of parents did not take children out of school for family holidays.  In some instances when it was done, it was usually due to affordability of a family holiday.  It was also highlighted that in some instances a parent might also have children at different schools who operated different term times, which then caused one child being absent from school during term time;

·       Support for the traveling community.  The Committee was reassured support was provided for the travelling community;

·       The close working arrangements of the county council, social workers and police in some instances when young people were missing out on school; and 

·       Cost of Fixed Penalty Notice.  The Committee noted that a fixed penalty notice paid within 21 days was £60.00.  The amount doubled if paid after 21 days but within 28 days.  It was highlighted that the fine would be applied to each parent for each child.  Some concern was expressed whether fines should be means tested.  Reassurance was given that the issue of a fixed penalty notice was at the discretion of the head teacher; and that schools were doing everything possible to avoid issuing fixed penalty notices.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Children Missing Out on Education Annual Report 2019/20 be received and that the comments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

49.

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 301 KB

(To receive a report from Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, which asks the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme to ensure that scrutiny activity is focussed where it can be of greatest benefit)

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Tracy Johnson, Senior Scrutiny Officer, to present the report to the Committee.

 

Details of the Committee's planned items were shown on pages 91 to 95 of the report pack.  Appendix A to the report provided the Committee with a forward plan of decisions relating to Children's Services from 1 January 2021.

 

One member requested that once the in depth review of Home to School Transport had been completed by Edge Consultancy, an informal briefing session should be arranged for members of the Committee to discuss the outcomes of the review in more detail.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the work programme presented be agreed.

 

2.    That once the Home to School Transport Review by Edge Consultancy has been completed, an informal briefing session be arranged to allow the Committee to discuss the outcomes of the review in more detail.

50.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following three 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.

 

The Committee took a five minute break from 11:40am.

 

At 11.45am, a roll call was taken to confirm members' attendance at the meeting.

51.

Helpringham and Osgodby Primary Schools Scheme Appraisal

(To receive an exempt report from Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the Helpringham and Osgodby Primary Schools Scheme Appraisal, prior to a decision being taken by the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor for Resources and Communications) between 4 and 12 February 2021)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to an exempt report from Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the Helpringham and Osgodby Primary Schools Condition Works, prior to a decision being taken by the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor for Resources and Communications) between 4 and 12 February) 2021.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee unanimously supported the recommendations as detailed in the exempt report.

52.

Expansion of St Bernard's School, Louth

(To receive an exempt report from Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development, which asks the Committee to consider and comment on the expansion of St Bernard's School, Louth, prior to a decision being taken by the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor for Resources and Communication) between 25 and 29 January 2021)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to an exempt report from Dave Pennington, Head of Property Development, which asked the Committee to consider and comment on the expansion of St Bernard's School, Louth, prior to a decision being taken by the Leader of the Council (Executive Councillor for Resources and Communications) between 25 and 29 January 2021.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee unanimously supported the recommendations as detailed in the exempt report.

53.

Exception to the Contract and Procurement Rules - Behaviour Outreach Support Service

(To receive an exempt report from Sara Gregory, Interim Commissioning Manager – Commercial, which invites the Committee to consider and comment on the exception to the Contract and Procedure Rules - Behaviour Outreach and Support Service, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services between 18 and 21 January 2021)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to an exempt report from Sara Gregory, Interim Commissioning Manager – Commercial, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the exception to the Contract and Procedure Rules – Behaviour Outreach Support Service, prior to a decision being taken by the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services between 18 and 21 January 2021.

 

RESOLVED

 

The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee unanimously supported the recommendations as detailed in the exempt report.

 

 
 
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