Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2012, were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

            It was reported that no public questions had been received.

            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 Committees since the last meeting of the PPB.                    

 

            In relation to EXB98 Members requested an update on the status of the Free School site.  In response it was noted that the development of the site had not started yet as planning permission had to be sought then a funding agreement had to be signed.  In relation to places being offered it was noted that the Council was unaware of any children who had been offered places by the Free School.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which provided Members with an annual report outlining the work carried out by the Board and Officers in 2011 to March 2012. The Chair wished to note on record his thanks to Members and Officers for all their co-operation and hard work carried out throughout the year.

 

            RESOLVED: That the Annual Report be received and be recommended to Full Council.

 

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which provided a draft report on the Joint Scrutiny of Apprenticeships which sought approval and recommended that it be referred to Executive Board.

 

            Members were advised that the draft report,  which was circulated at the meeting, was commissioned jointly by the Children, Young People and Families and the Employment, Learning and Skills PPB’s.  A scrutiny review Topic Group was established comprising of six Members (3 from each Board), and was chaired by Councillor Edge.

 

            It was noted that there had been a significant resurgence in the Apprenticeship model in recent years, with the current Coalition Government providing enhanced financial incentives to employers, and especially Small Medium Enterprise’s (SME’s) to encourage them to offer apprenticeships.

 

            It was further noted that the review focussed on the following:

 

·         the implementation for an Apprenticeship programme for the Council;

·         monitoring and review of the programme;

·         engagement with the private sector;

·         the roles and responsibilities of partners to drive the Apprenticeships agenda in Halton.

 

The report also set out the number of means in which the review was conducted, findings and other implications.

 

The draft scrutiny review of provision of apprenticeships in the Borough set out;

 

·         reasons why the scrutiny review was commissioned;

·         methodology summary;

·         findings – Halton picture and national picture;

·         challenges;

·         National Apprenticeship Service;

·         Borough Council’s People Plan;

·         Waste Management’s apprenticeship pilot; and

·         overall conclusion

 

       In addition, the draft review contained an Apprenticeship Scrutiny Review Action Plan, a Topic Brief, methodology detail and 8 recommendations for action and further improvement.

 

       The Board suggested that the Action Plan be tied to the recommendations.

 

       Members queried the percentage of people who completed an apprenticeship that went on to full time employment.  In reply it was noted that a response would be provided.

 

       The Board discussed companies that took part in the consultation and what their views were.

 

       Members were asked to forward any comments to the Chair by email before Wednesday 30 May 2012.

 

       RESOLVED: That

 

1)    the draft report on the Joint Scrutiny Review of Apprenticeships be approved and forwarded to Executive Board; and

 

2)    Members forward any comments to the Chair by email before Wednesday 30 May 2012

 

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Enterprise which set out Halton’s position in relation to the Adoption Scorecard that was due to be published by Department for Education (DfE) in May 2012. It was reported that the need for the Scorecard arose from the DfE’s “An Action Plan for Adoption: Tackling Delay”, which set out proposals for tacking the current delay in the adoption programme and outlined plans to accelerate the whole adoption process in order for more children to benefit from adoption. 

 

 Each Local Authority (LA) had been sent a copy of their scorecard which covered the three year period 2008-2011, the Scorecard was attached at Appendix 1 for information.

 

            It was noted that the Scorecard was supported by a set of performance thresholds that set out the Government’s expectations of LA’s on two of the main timelines indicators, the introduction of these would be a staged process as detailed in the report.

 

            Catherine Johnson – Principal Performance and Improvement Officer, gave a presentation to accompany the report which set out the following:

 

·         Halton had on average 125 children in care at any one time;

·         63 individuals were brought into the care system during the last 12 months, and approximately the same number left care;

·         demographics of children in care;

·         10 children were adopted during the last year; and

·         a detailed explanation of the adoption Scorecard.

 

Members were advised that Halton was among the top performers for the two main timeliness indicators and 17 out of 23 Local Authorities in the North West did not pass the test. 

 

Arising from discussion of the report, Members noted the number of children in care from other Local Authorities living in the Borough, the large delay caused by the time it takes for Courts to complete legal proceedings and the response to adoption breakdowns.  

 

It was noted that a further report would be submitted to the Board detailing how the Scorecard and other changes would affect the Adoption Service.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

1)    the Adoption Scorecard be received;

 

2)    Members note that Halton has met both timeliness threshold indicators set by DfE; and

 

3)    a further report be submitted to the Board detailing how the Scorecard and other changes will affect the Adoption Service.

 

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources on the performance monitoring report for quarter 4 for 2011/12.

 

            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 for:

 

·         Children and Families Services Department;

·         Children’s Organisation Provision; and

·         Learning and Achievement.

 

Lead Officers presented key developments and emerging issues for their areas.

 

In particular the following points were noted:

 

·         there were new inspection frameworks for child protection, adoption, fostering and residential care, which meant significant changes from the previous inspection framework;

·         teenage conceptions were still high, however there had been a huge investment with the youth service and young addaction.  There had been engagement with various bodies who had scrutinised the Council’s performance and were of the view that the steps taken to reduce teenage pregnancy were correct and the cultural issues needed to be addressed.  More scrutiny would take place in the area and improved engagement with secondary schools;

·         peer challenge was being developed for Children’s Services with a focus on Narrowing the Gap, with a particular emphasis on attainment at Key Stage 2 for pupils in receipt of free school meals. Members requested the results from the Peer Challenge be brought to a future meeting;

·         the take-up of three and four year old Free Entitlement had increased to 98%;

·         two organisations had been awarded to deliver Positive Youth Provision and a consultation took place with 150 young people to help develop the newly re-shaped service;

 

Members queried how many schools would fall into the “requires improvement” category under the new Ofsted grading’s and whether the subjects achieved by students under the English Baccalaureate would enable them to prepare for a work environment.  In response it was noted that the new grading’s for Ofsted were not in place yet but this information could be collected and brought to a future meeting and GCSE subjects offered in secondary schools were meeting the needs of young people.

 

RESOLVED: That the fourth quarter management reports and comments made be noted.

 

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which provided information on the progress in achieving targets contained within the 2011-2016 Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) for Halton.

 

            It was reported that the SCS for Halton was the central document for the Council and its partners which provided an evidence-based framework through which actions and shared performance targets had been developed and communicated.

 

            Appended to the report for information was a report on progress to the 2011-12 year end position which included a summary of all indicators within the new SCS strategy and additional information for those specific indicators and targets that fell within the remit of this PPB.

 

            Arising from discussion of the report Members noted the following:

 

·         in relation to substance misuse particularly alcohol it was felt that more measures needed to be taken to prevent under age young people from drinking in licenced premises in Runcorn Old Town;

·         in response it was noted that a meeting was scheduled to map out problem areas and this would be investigated further.  The V-rooms bus and addaction were working with young people to provide them with a sense of the dangers of substance misuse and were engaging with young people who were involved in risk taking behaviour;

·         it was further noted that random tests were carried out and often the problem was parents or other adults purchasing alcohol for children; and

·         in regard to childhood obesity Members were of the view that there needed to be a positive way of relaying information to parents and ensure that the information was kept confidential.

 

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.