Agenda item

            The Board received two short Presentations from Nigel Moorhouse – Operational Director Children and Families, and Ann McIntyre – Operational Director Children’s Organisation and Provision, which provided an overview of each area within the Children and Enterprise Directorate. 

 

            Members were informed of structures, roles and responsibilities of teams, plus emerging and key issues within the areas.

 

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Policy and Resources which provided performance management information for Quarter 1 of 2012-13. 

 

            It was reported that in line with the revised Council’s Performance Framework for 2012/13, the PPB had been provided with a Children & Young People’s Priority Based report which identified the key issues that arose from performance in Quarter 1.  The priorities and common areas of focus were set out in the report as follows:

 

·         commissioning;

• early help and support;
• narrowing the gap; and
• common areas of focus: workforce planning and development, asset management and resources.

Members were advised that the full Departmental Quarterly monitoring reports were available via the following link  http://srvmosswfe1:40000/sites/Teams/PerformanceandImprovement/ Pages/QuarterlyMonitoringReports.aspx

 

 Officers noted the following headlines and key issues:

·         in relation to the Efficiency Review of Children in Need Service the team were in the process of finalising the ‘As is’ report and work was being undertaken to look at the potential solutions;

• there were changes to Statutory Guidance and New Inspection Frameworks for Child Protection and Looked After Children plus new inspection frameworks for Vulnerable children;

 

·         regarding this year’s academic results there had been an overall increase across all key stages and post 16 education.  It was reported that these initial results were subject to validation and a report would be brought to the October meeting of the Board;

 

·         in relation to the English Baccalaureate Members commented on the value of this in terms of future employability;

 

·         there were changes to eligibility criteria for vulnerable 2 year olds, which would significantly increase the number who would be able to access the 2 year old places in the Borough, in line with government funding increases;

 

Arising from discussion of the reports Members noted the following:

·         with regards to academic results from 2011-12 verbally presented to the Board, Members wished to congratulate the Learning and Achievement Team for the excellent results in narrowing the gap in attainment between those pupils who received free school meals and those who didn’t, and the overall results; 

• concerns were raised in relation to the new Ofsted inspection changes and that the bar had been raised as a result of the revisions to the framework.  Members noted that there would be a possibility of a ‘drop’ in category for some schools; and

 

• Members requested that capital projects be included within the financial statements of performance monitoring reports.

 

The Board was advised of two Topic Group titles for the forthcoming year as follows:

 

·         Mental Health of Children – in relation to self harming issues (this would be open to Members of Health PPB); and

• Provision of Independent Living Skills for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs.

The Chairman requested that Board Members email him with their preference of which Topic Group they would like to take part in.

 

            As this was to be the last meeting that Nigel Moorhouse was to attend, the Chairman wished to place on record the Board’s thanks to Nigel Moorhouse for his work carried out over the years within Halton Council.

 

            RESOLVED: That

1)    the first quarter performance monitoring reports and comments made be noted;

 

2)    capital spend data be included in the finance sections of future performance monitoring reports; and

 

3)      Board Members email Cllr Dennett with their preference for which Topic Group they would like to take participate in.