Agenda and minutes

To report the membership appointed by the Council (as printed on the front page).

The membership of the Select Committee as appointed by Council at its annual meeting on 15 May 2012 was noted.

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Bill Moss.

To elect a Chairman for the ensuing year.

Resolved:

To elect Cllr Carole Soden as Chairman of the Select Committee for the ensuing year.

Cllr Carole Soden in the Chair

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Resolved:

To elect Cllr Jacqui Lay as Vice-Chairman of the Select Committee for the ensuing year.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by Standards Committee.

Mr Neil Owen, Mr John Hawkins and Mrs Kim Hunte each declared a personal interest in Item No. 10 – Final Report of the Further Education in the Salisbury Area task Group, because of their involvement with further education at St Edmund’s School, Salisbury, St Joseph’s School, Salisbury and Wiltshire College respectively. 

They would each take part in the debate but Mr Neil Owen, as a Non-Elected Voting Member, would not vote.

The Chairman welcomed Cllrs Peggy Dow and Sheila Parker as new members of the Committee and also Mr Kaylum House as the new Children’s & Young People’s representative.

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 above 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 above no later than 5pm on Thursday 24 May 2012.  Please contact the officer named on the first page 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.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation and the manner in which the meeting would be held.

i)                To note the Terms of Reference for the Children’s Select Committee as agreed by Full Council on 15 May 2012 as follows:

·                Deliver the children’s services elements of the overall work programme (as directed by the Management Committee) in line with the overview and scrutiny procedure rules set out in the Constitution 

·                Membership to include co-opted voting parent governor and church representatives in accordance with the Constitution

·                Report and make recommendations to the Management Committee through its minutes

·                Establish ad hoc task groups

·                Six meetings per year will be fixed in the Council diary

ii)               To receive details of the new arrangements agreed by Council on 15 May in the form of a revised structure chart and summary of improvements and developments.

The Select Committee noted the following terms of reference as agreed by Council at its meeting on 15 May 2012:-

·                Deliver the children’s services elements of the overall work programme (as directed by the Management Committee) in line with the overview and scrutiny procedure rules set out in the Constitution 

·                Membership to include co-opted voting parent governor and church representatives in accordance with the Constitution

·                Report and make recommendations to the Management Committee through its minutes

·                Establish ad hoc task groups

·                Six meetings per year will be fixed in the Council diary

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that a review of the scrutiny committee structure had been undertaken which culminated in Council agreeing a new committee structure as circulated.  Although the revised structure appeared rather similar to the previous structure there were some significant changes as follows:-

(1)  The new Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee would sit above three select committees, viz. Children’s, Environment and Health.

(2)  The Management Committee would have the following two functions:-

(i)            To undertake scrutiny of corporate issues (as before), and

(ii)          To manage the overall O & S work programme.

Resolved:

To note the new Overview & Scrutiny Committee structure and the Children’s Select Committee’s terms of reference as agreed by Council on 15 May 2012.

A discussion document will be presented to the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee at its first meeting to be held on 30 May 2012.  This is attached for information and an update will be given at the meeting.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer explained that there would shortly be compiled a single O & S work programme which would be coordinated by the Management Committee.  It was envisaged that it would choose what scrutiny activities the select committees would undertake but the Management Committee recognised these committees, being the experts in their individual areas, would propose work topics which the Management Committee would then approve.

Each Select Committee was being asked to prioritise its work programme in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members and Directors and ensure that they were closely linked to the Council’s Business Plan.  The results of this exercise would then be considered by the Management Committee at its next meeting on 17 July 2012 which was scheduled to be held before the next meeting of this Select Committee on 26 July 2012.  

During discussion Members stressed the importance of recognising that the scrutiny function should be proactive and not responsive in policy development and accordingly that Cabinet should involve the scrutiny function at an early stage in the process.

Resolved: 

(1)          To note the core scrutiny values as adopted by the Management Committee.

(2)          To request the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Director, to compile a priority list of items from the Select Committee’s existing work programme for consideration by the Management Committee at its next meeting.

The Final Report of the Further Education in the Salisbury Area Task Group is circulated separately from the Agenda pack.

This Task Group was established to undertake a review of the post-16 education available in the Salisbury area. This followed a visit by several members of the Committee to three secondary schools that are co-located in the Laverstock area of Salisbury. During the visit, a number of students and staff expressed a wish for the schools to have their own joint sixth form provision. The Committee had also received reports of significant numbers of students from the Salisbury area travelling large distances, often outside of Wiltshire, to access post-16 education and it was this broader issue that the Task Group was later established to consider.

The Chairman of the Task Group, Dr Mike Thompson, will give a brief presentation introducing the report, followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. Members are asked to consider and endorse the recommendations of the Task Group, which are listed on page 54 of the report. These will then be referred to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services formal response  at the Committee’s next meeting (26^th July).

Dr Mike Thompson, the Chairman of the Task Group, gave a presentation by way of introduction to the Task Group’s report on further education in the Salisbury area.

Dr Thomson explained that this Task Group had been established to undertake a review of the post-16 education available in the Salisbury area, following on from a visit by several members of the Committee to three secondary schools co-located in the Laverstock area of Salisbury. During the visit, a number of students and staff expressed a wish for the schools to have their own joint sixth form provision. The Committee had also received reports of significant numbers of students from the Salisbury area travelling large distances, often outside of Wiltshire, to access post-16 education and it was this broader issue that the Task Group was later established to consider.

Mrs Jenny Lawrie, Headteacher of The Trafalgar School, Downton then addressed the Committee setting out her views and those of the School’s Governing Body on the Task Group’s recommendations.  She stated that:-

·                    The report misrepresented the School’s views, suggesting that the needs of the students at that School would be served simply by their not having to travel long distances to Salisbury for post 16 education. She went on to explain that although it could well be disadvantageous to the area to lose so many young people to Hampshire provision, there was evidence to show that these students were not educationally disadvantaged by receiving their post 16 education in Hampshire.

·                    The report made no mention of the School’s candidature for the Middle Years Programme of The International Baccalaureate (IB) which would lead perfectly on to the IB’s post 16 qualification – the higher regarded Diploma. There was a clear gap in the Salisbury area for an international curriculum.  The School’s aim was to offer the IB Diploma.

·                    A significant proportion of secondary school students in Salisbury wished to remain at their individual schools for their post 16 education where they felt a sense of belonging, whereas there was evidence to show that some students found transition to a new school and joining an existing cohort difficult.   Students from The Trafalgar School would continue to prefer to study at the Hampshire Colleges rather than to attend a new facility in Salisbury.

·                    The report suggested that students at The Trafalgar School would be the only 16 year olds in the Salisbury area who would not be able to stay on at their school for post 16 education.  Bearing in mind the stated policy in Wiltshire was for every secondary school to offer education to 11-18 year old students, the Board of Governors at The Trafalgar School were aghast that this policy appeared to have been ignored by the Task Group and thus lead to the isolating of this School to a less favoured status and therefore threaten its future viability.

Dr Thompson confirmed that the Task Group was most impressed by what was seen on its visit to the School and assured Mrs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

A report from Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, providing an overview of Wiltshire’s readiness to meet the new statutory duties for Local Authorities set out in the Education and Skills Act 2008, to Raise the Participation Age (RPA).  These duties increase the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning, requiring them to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday from 2015. The report was requested at the Committee’s March meeting.

Julie Cathcart, Head of School Improvement, will attend to answer members’ questions.

The Committee is asked to note the report and comment as appropriate.

The Select Committee received a report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director which provided an overview of Wiltshire’ readiness to meet the new statutory duties for Local Authorities set out in the Education & Skills Act 2008, to Raise the Participating Age (RPA).  These duties would increase the minimum age at which young people in England could leave learning, requiring them to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turned 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday from 2015.  The report was requested at the last meeting of the Children’s Services Select Committee.

It was noted that the requirements of the 2008 Act required young people to choose one of the following options:-

·                     Full-time education, including school sixth form, college or home education.

·                     Work-placed learning, such as Apprenticeship.

·                     Part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.

After discussion,

Resolved:

(1)          To note the contents of the report.

(2)          To request a short update at the November meeting of the Select Committee and a further more detailed report in 12 months’ time.

A report from Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, informing members of the March 2012 Ofsted inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children services in Wiltshire and the Department for Education Adoption Scorecard.

Ofsted’s multi-agency inspection took place between 5^th and 16^th March and involved case audits, interviews with staff and managers, focus groups with a range of stakeholders including children and families. The inspection looked at the contribution made by all agencies to ensure that children and young people are properly safeguarded and the quality of service provision for looked after children and care leavers. The report was published on 24^th April 2012 and is attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

NB:  On 29^th March, the Committee established the Safeguarding Children and Young People Task Group, which met for the first time on 3^rd May and considered the Ofsted report and the various proposals for improving safeguarding arrangements in Wiltshire, plus agreeing the Group’s scope and terms of reference. These are proposed for Committee endorsement under Item 16 – Task Group update and it is anticipated that the Task Group will take the lead in scrutinising all safeguarding and looked after children issues.

The Committee is therefore requested to note the information provided and refer specific issues for further exploration to the Safeguarding Children & Young People Task Group.

Consideration was given to a report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, informing Members of the March 2012 Ofsted inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children Services in Wiltshire and the Department for Education Scorecard.

It was noted that Wiltshire’s safeguarding services overall effectiveness was graded by Ofsted as inadequate but its capacity for improvement was graded as adequate.  The overall effectiveness of Wiltshire’s looked after children’s services was graded as adequate and its capacity for improvement was graded as good.

The report set out the measures that had been, or was about to be put in place to deal with the weaknesses Ofsted had identified.   It was anticipated that Ofsted would carry out a re-inspection within a year.

It was noted that a Task Group had been set up to look at Safeguarding Children & Young People and this Task Group was already focusing specifically on the results and implications of the Ofsted report.   Cllr Hubbard, Chairman of the Task Group, stated that the Task Group would welcome input from other Members of this Select Committee either by attendance at meetings or by submitting their views.  He also undertook to provide the Select Committee with regular updates.

After discussion,

Resolved:

(1)          To note the contents of the report.

(2)          To receive regular progress reports from the Safeguarding Children & Young People Task Group.

A report from Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, on developments relating to children’s services arising from the Coalition Government.

The Select Committee received a report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director on developments relating to children’s services arising from the Coalition Government.

Arising therefrom:

·                     School Funding Reform   Mr J Hawkins reported that as part of these new funding arrangements, the service children’s allowance was disappearing.  This was confirmed but the Committee was informed that discussions were taking place with officials at the Department for Education bearing in mind that Wiltshire contained the second highest number of service families in the UK.    

A report presenting the conclusions and recommendations of the Family Information Service rapid scrutiny exercise established by the Children’s Services Select Committee on 29^th March and held on 11^th May. Cllr Jon Hubbard was elected as Lead Member.

On 29^th March 2012, the Children’s Services Select Committee received a report from Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, on a review of the Family Information Service and Parent Partnership Service. The review had concluded that there was significant duplicationaround provision of information for parents and carers, particularly parents andcarers of children with disabilities/special educational needs. It was decided that significant changes tothe FIS and PPS service specifications and contracts were therefore requiredand proposed a number of changes that reduced the servicespecifications in the Council’s contract with Ask and the level offunding to be provided.

At the time of the Committee meeting on 29^th March, a final decision had notbeen made as to the continuation of the Council’s contract with Ask and thelevel of funding to be provided in the future. The Committee resolved toundertake a rapid scrutiny exercise to explore further the nature of anyduplication in the provision of the Family Information Service and plans for howthe service will be provided in future.

The Committee is asked to endorse the recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny Group and refer them to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services for response.

The Select Committee received a report presenting the conclusions and recommendations of the Family Information Service rapid scrutiny exercise which had been established by the Children’s Services Select Committee on 29 March 2012.  It had met on 11 May 2012 and elected Cllr Jon Hubbard as Lead Member.

Cllr Hubbard introduced his report and explained the recommendations which were as follows:-

1.            The Rapid Scrutiny Group welcomes the proposed six month review of the reconfigured Family Information Service, but recommends that a wider subset of agencies, partners and service users be involved, including the Police, health visitors, voluntary groups (such as the Trussell Trust), nurseries, pre-schools and the providers of the Family Information Service;

2.            The Rapid Scrutiny Group is concerned that

a)    those children and families previously or currently receiving outreach services from Ask must be ‘picked up’ by outreach services provided by children centres;

b)    the potential benefits of a ‘one stop shop’ for family information should not be lost as a result of this service reconfiguration;

c)    the reconfigured Family Information Service must be monitored to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of vulnerable users;

and therefore recommends that the Council and Ask work closely together to ensure that these concerns are addressed, including in the proposed six month review of the reconfigured service.

Mr Keith Hillman, representing ASK, confirmed that ASK was fully committed o working with the Council and supported the recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny Group.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To endorse the recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny exercise and refer them to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services for response.

A report from Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, providing an update on progress with implementation of the Multi–Agency Thresholds Document (MATD), which sets out processes for accessing support for children and young people with additional needs. 

This was first brought to the Committee in September 2011 and members requested an update six months hence.

Members are asked to note the report and comment as appropriate.

Julie Cramp, Service Director for Commissioning and Performance, will attend to answer members’ questions.

Consideration was given to a report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director which provided an update on progress on the implementation of the Multi-Agency Thresholds Document.  It was noted that this document had been distributed to schools and other partner agencies in July 2011 to provide a framework for integrated working within Children’s Services and to provide guidance on whether children and young people’s needs should be met in universal, targeted or specialist services.  This had first been brought to the Children’s Services Select Committee in September 2011 and Members had requested an update in six months’ time.

After discussion,

Resolved:

To note the update.

The Committee is asked to note the attached report providing an update on Task Group activity.

The Select Committee received an update on the activity of the following Task Groups:-

•           Placements for LAC Task Group

•           Special School and Post-16 SEN Task Group

•           Major Contracts Task Group

Resolved:

(1)       To agree/note:

(i)         That the Placements for LAC Task Group is replaced by the Safeguarding Children & Young People Task Group and that this be a Standing Task Group;

(ii)        That the Task Group will focus on scrutinising safeguarding arrangements, but will retain the ability to consider LAC issues by exception;

(iii)       The following terms of reference as adopted by the Task Group:

a)         To monitor and scrutinise implementation of the improvements to safeguarding arrangements required by Ofsted following its inspection of Wiltshire’s Safeguarding and LAC Services in March 2012;

b)        To support Wiltshire Council and its partner agencies in developing robust safeguarding arrangements for children and young people in Wiltshire;

c)         To monitor and scrutinise the impact of safeguarding arrangements in Wiltshire on outcomes for children and young people; and

d)        To monitor and scrutinise the implementation of the Children in Care Commissioning Strategy and its impact on outcomes for Wiltshire’s looked after children and their families/carers.

(iv)      That Cllr Hubbard has been elected as Chairman of the Task Group;

(v)       That Cllrs P Colmer and H Osborn have withdrawn from the Task Group and that Cllrs C Soden and B Wayman have joined the Task Group, therefore the new membership is:

Cllr Andrew Davis

Cllr Jon Hubbard

Revd. Alice Kemp

Cllr Bill Moss

Cllr Carole Soden

Cllr Bridget Wayman

(vi)      That the Chairman of the Task Group will sit on the Safeguarding Improvement Board in order to maximise communication and collaboration between the two groups.

(2)       To note the contents of the report.

To note the Committee’s forward work programme.

The Select Committee received the Forward Work Programme for consideration and comment.

Resolved:

To note the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

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

There were no urgent items of business.

26 July 2012

Resolved:

To note that the next meeting was scheduled to be held on Thursday 26 July 2012, starting at 10.30am, at Monkton Park.Chippenham.