Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 31^st October 2011 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            The Board received a report which contained the minutes relating to the Children, Young People and Families portfolio which had been considered by Executive Board and Executive Board Sub-Committee since the last meeting of the PPB.

            In relation to EXB69 Members discussed Traded Services and noted that there were problems with the web site and were informed that this was just during the early stage and did not prevent schools from accessing services they required. It was further noted that an update on Traded Services and Shared Services would be brought to a future meeting.

            RESOLVED: That

1)     the minutes be noted; and

2)     an update report on Traded Services and Shared Services be brought to a future meeting.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which sought endorsement of the Halton Child and Poverty Strategy for 2011-2013.

            The Board was advised that the Child Poverty Act 2010, placed a statutory duty upon the Government to eradicate child poverty by 2020.

It was noted that the Act defined a child living in poverty as when the household income was below 60% of the national median figure.

Specific duties imposed upon local authorities and designated partners by the Act included:

·        To co-operate to mitigate the effects of child poverty;

·        To prepare a local child poverty needs assessment and strategy; and

·        Child poverty to be taken into account when preparing or revising the Sustainable Community Strategy.

            It was reported that the European Union’s working definition of poverty, had been adopted by authorities in the Liverpool City Region:-

“Persons, families and groups of persons, whose resources (material, cultural and social) are so limited as to exclude them from the minimum acceptable way of life in the Member State to which they belong”.

            It was further noted that this definition recognised that poverty was not just about income but about effective exclusion from ordinary living patterns, customs and activities such as income poverty, service poverty and participation poverty. In addition, it was reported that this had a negative impact on experience of education and training and affected the transition to independence.

            The report set out a summary of key elements of the strategy and implications for children young people and families in Halton in addition to next steps and implications for other Council priorities. The adopted Halton Child and Family Poverty Strategy was appended to the report for information.

http://www3.halton.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/childrenandfamilycare/

            Members were advised that the strategy was for two years as more recent data would become available over that time to enable a fresh needs assessment to be done.

            The Board discussed partnership working with local Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), and were informed that through the Halton Housing Partnership,  this topic was on their agenda.  All local partners including RSLs would be asked to provide updates on work carried out to help tackle the issues of child and family poverty over the past six months.

            Members requested an updated strategy be brought the Board in a year’s time.

            RESOLVED: That

1)     the Halton Child and Family Poverty Strategy, 2011 – 2013 be formally endorsed; and

2)     an updated strategy be brought to the Board in a year’s time.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which provided an update on business planning for the period 2012 – 15 and set out the directorate priorities, objectives and targets for services for this period that fell within the remit of the Board.

            The Board was advised that each Directorate was required to develop a medium term business plan, in parallel with the budget that was subject to annual review and refresh. The Policy and Performance Board had had input into the business planning process and the setting of priorities for the directorate which was an important part of this process. The Board was advised that key priorities for development or improvement in 2012-15 were proposed to be as follows:-

·        Commissioning;

·        Early Help and Support;

·        Narrowing the Gap; and

·        Employment and Growth.

            It was further reported that in addition the three cross-cutting priorities, workforce planning and development, low carbon economy and resources were also proposed. Members were advised that these were now reflected in the draft plans.

It was further reported that example Business Critical issues within the four overarching priorities were provided and the linkages across priorities that showed cross-working were set out in the report for consideration.

Members were advised that any comments additional to those made following the PPB meeting should be made to the relevant Operational Director by 18^th January 2011, to allow inclusion in the draft Business Plan. Appended to the report for information was a short summary of how issues raised at the briefing meeting on December 14^th were covered within the document and within the work of the Directorate.

            RESOLVED: That

1)     the report and comments made be noted; and

2)     Members of the Board pass any detailed comments that they may have on the information in the report to the relevant Operational Director by 18^th January 2012.

(NB: Councillor Fry declared a personal interest in the following item due to being the Chair of Halton Autistic Family Support)

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources on the performance monitoring report for quarter 2, 2011/2012.

            Members were requested to consider and raise any questions or points of clarification in respect of the Performance Management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends – comparisons and factors affecting the services etc. for:

·        Children and Families Services Department;

·        Children’s Organisation Provision; and

·        Learning and Achievement.

In particular the following points were noted:

·        in relation to the financial out turn in performance Members asked if this would be shown in Quarter 3.  In response it was noted that this would be taken back to the accountants in the Finance Team and a response would be provided;

·        there had been a reduction in referrals for child protection plans;

·        the title of the children in care council had changed to “Speak Up” providing greater ownership of their council enabling them to take a more flexible approach;

·        application for the bursary fund for young people had been made as simple as possible and each individual organisation was monitoring it;

·        an update on the bursary scheme and support for young people post 16 to 18 would be presented to the February meeting of the Board;

·        a database was to be created which would collect data of young people receiving free school meals, special educational needs, mental health issues, lone parents and young carers / children in care in order to establish vulnerability indicators across the factors;  and

·        the Summer Blitz had seen massive numbers of young people taking part and there had been a 39% reduction in Anti-Social Behaviour amongst young people.

            RESOLVED: That the report and comments made be noted.