Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Kelvin Nash

Cllr Mike Sankey

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 June 2024.

Cllr Helen Belcher OBE raised that her apologies had not been listed in the previous minutes.

Resolved

To include Cllr Helen Belcher OBE’s apologies and approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 6 June 2024, as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

There were no Chair Announcements.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 11 July in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 15 July. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There was no public participation.

In February 2024 HM Inspectorate of Probation carried out an inspection of Wiltshire Council’s youth justice services.  The committee is asked to consider the attached report which summarises the findings, recommendations and planned actions coming out of the inspection.

There is a link to HMIP’s full report in the appendices.

The committee received a report which summarises the findings, recommendation and planned actions arising from an inspection from HM Inspectorate of Probation in February 2024.

Kat McJannet introduced and summarised the report which is attached to the agenda.

The following points of clarification were offered from councillor questions:

• The action plan was created soon after the inspection and actions include external training, peer reviewing, and an audit framework being put in place.

• Court disposals, as opposed to an out-of-court disposal, were described as where a crime committed is of a serious enough nature that the court becomes involved and could remain on the young person’s record. Court disposals require intervention whereas out-of-court disposals are voluntary.

• It is uncommon for young people who enter the youth justice system to receive a custodial sentence.

Resolved

To note the report

To receive a briefing on the work of the Youth Justice Team

To consider the attached report on the current provision of NHS dentistry and plans for oral health improvement programmes for children and young people in Wiltshire.

The committee had received a pre-meeting briefing on this item before the meeting and therefore officer provided a short overview of the current provision of NHS dentistry and plans for oral health improvement for children and young people.

The following points of clarification were offered from councillor questions:

• NHS Dentistry workforce figures could be provided in a future meeting.

• NHS England commissioned the toothbrushing scheme and provided guidelines across the country for two years. There are plans to potentially continue the programme afterwards.

• Councillors raised concern at capacity numbers not being readily available. Figures regarding the number of dental practices that are taking new patients would need to be investigated as to whether the data exists to separate places for adults and children, but capacity data would be sought and provided at a future meeting.

• Paragraph 10 – The annual funding for health promotion (£67,000) is secured base funding.

• Paragraph 23 – The £300K underspend will be utilised in the near future.

The importance of providing dental services for children looked after was emphasised by councillors.

Resolved

To note the report.

To receive further information on availability of NHS dentistry in Wiltshire to forward to members after the meeting.

To receive an update on progress to improve NHS dentistry access and oral health improvements to include the service for looked after children in Jan 2025.

To consider whether further scrutiny would add value in building the evidence base to secure further funding in 25/26.

To consider the update on the Young Carers Service and review how the aims of the carers strategy are being delivered.

Reports to follow.

The committee received an annual update on the Young Carers Service and how the aims of the carers strategy are being delivered.

Netty Lee briefly introduced and summarised the report, strategy and service specifications which were included in the agenda supplement.

The following points of clarification were offered from councillor questions:

• Providing data on educational attainment outcomes would be taken away and considered, as Councillors were keen to understand how being a young carer affects prospects for higher education.

• A timescale for assessment and performance indication to be carried out had been applied.

• A briefing for the Chair and Vice-Chair was urgently requested on the KPIs within an area of the report which showed significant service failures in order to receive clarification.

Resolved

To note the update

To receive a Chair’s briefing on the commissioned side of the service to include performance data.

To consider the attached Annual Report which outlines the activities, achievements and challenges of the Voice and Participation Service in the previous 12 months.

The committee received an annual report outlining the activities, achievements and challenges of the Voice and Participation Service over the past 12 months.

Joe Sutton introduced the report which was attached to the agenda.

The Committee gave its congratulations for the national recognition received and thanked the team for all their hard work.

Councillors commented that it would be beneficial to see how the involvement of young people impacts future action.

Resolved

To note the content of the report and congratulate the team on their work.

To request that the impact of the involvement of young people be included in future reports.

For the Chair and Vice-Chair to agree with officers how the work of the youth council will link to the select committee’s Forward Work Programme.

For the committee to be notified of plans for the survey this year.  This will be a verbal update. 

The committee received a brief verbal update with plans for the survey in the upcoming year.

As part of the verbal update, a PowerPoint slide was shared with the Committee that was attached to the minutes.

Resolved

To note the verbal update

To request officers consider including children living in Wiltshire but attending school out of county.

Updates on information valuable for the committee, but unlikely to require a decision. 

Members of the committee are therefore invited to indicate in advance of the meeting if they would like further information or have questions on these regular updates, so that relevant officers can be invited to attend the meeting.

An update including information regarding the most recent Ofsted Inspection reports, presenting an ongoing view of the effectiveness of schools as seen by Ofsted Inspection.

The committee received an update including information regarding the most recent Ofsted Inspection reports.

The written report was noted.

An update on developments relating to children’s services arising from the Department for Education.

The committee received an update on developments relating to children’s services arising from the Department for Education.

The written report was noted.

The DfE published new non-statutory guidance in May 2022 to help schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance. The guidance applies from September 2022.

This regular update is an opportunity for the committee to be aware of the latest requirements, as set out in the guidance.

The DfE published new non-statutory guidance in May 2022 to help schools, trusts, governing bodies and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance. The guidance applied from September 2022.
This regular update was an opportunity for the committee to be aware of the latest requirements, as set out in the guidance.

The written report was noted.

To receive a very brief update highlighting key items from the last meeting of Schools Forum, to enable the Children’s Select Committee to be informed in a timely manner of the work undertaken by the Schools Forum through the year.

Full agendas and minutes for the Schools Forum can be accessed here  Schools Forum | Wiltshire Council

The committee received a very brief update highlighting key items from the last meeting of Schools Forum, to enable the Children’s Select Committee to be informed in a timely manner of the work undertaken by the Schools Forum through the year.

Full agendas and minutes for the Schools Forum can be accessed here Schools Forum | Wiltshire Council

The written update was noted.

To receive a very brief update highlighting key items from the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel, to enable the Children’s Select Committee members, as Corporate Parents, to be informed in a timely manner of the work undertaken by the Corporate Parenting Panel through the year.

The committee received a very brief update highlighting key items from the last meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel, to enable the Children’s Select Committee members, as Corporate Parents, to be informed in a timely manner of the work undertaken by the Corporate Parenting Panel through the year.

The written update was noted.

To receive regular updates from officers on the development of the Safety Valve project, as well as input from the overview and scrutiny representative.

As agreed by the committee at its extraordinary meeting on 7 December 2023, the committee received a regular update from officers on the development of the Safety Valve project, as well as input from the overview and scrutiny representative.

The Committee raised concerns that the data potentially paints a more positive picture than is actually the case.

The written report was noted.

To receive a verbal update from Directors highlighting any key issues (current or emerging), successes or milestones in their respective areas since the last meeting of the committee, which may not require a full agenda item and are not covered elsewhere on this agenda.

This is also an opportunity for matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

Kathryn Davis, Director for Education and Skills, mentioned that the opening of Melksham House had taken place with a community event which had been well attended.

To receive a verbal update from the Cabinet Member and / or Portfolio Holders highlighting any news, successes or milestones in their respective areas since the last meeting of the committee, which may not require a full agenda item and are not covered elsewhere on this agenda.

This is also an opportunity for matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Deputy Leader of the Council, stated that she had attended the celebration of Wiltshire’s first Mockingbird “Constellation”, which brings foster carers together to share experiences and advice. Foster parents are also able to assist each other, and the foster children can make friends with each other.

Cllr Mayes also discussed attending a Five to Thrive training session in Devizes.

To receive a verbal update from the chair on any work undertaken or news since the last meeting that would not require a full agenda item and would not be suitable under Chairman’s Announcements (where no debate is allowed).

This is also an opportunity for matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Chair briefly updated the committee on his work with the LGA.

The committee will receive updates from active Task Groups, Rapid Scrutiny exercises and the committee’s board representatives.

A report by the Senior Scrutiny Officers providing an update on Task Group activity since the last meeting is attached.

The committee received updates from active Task Groups, Rapid Scrutiny exercises and the committee’s board representatives. A report by the Senior Scrutiny Officers which provided an update on Task Group activity since the last meeting is attached.

The Chair notified the committee that the standing task group had met to review the annual Corporate Parenting Plan and a summary of their comments and recommendations including actions taken in response to the suggestions from the task group.

The written update was noted.

The Committee is asked to note the attached documents showing the relevant items from the overview and scrutiny forward work programme and the latest version of the strategy list for the Children, Education and Skills directorate.

The committee was asked to note the attached documents showing the relevant
items from the overview and scrutiny forward work programme.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next scheduled meeting is due to be held on 5 September 2024 at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

The next meeting will be on 5 September 2024.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.