Agenda item

Major Contracts Task Group

Membership:   Cllr Bill Moss (Chairman)

                        Cllr Carole Soden

                        Cllr Jon Hubbard

                        Cllr Peter Colmer

                        Cllr Jacqui Lay

The Major Contracts Task Group met on the 14 October to review the Sodexo School Catering contract. Members noted the satisfactory levels of performance but were concerned at the decreasing number of schools within the contract. This contract expired in March 2010 and the Corporate Procurement Unit are currently investigating a way forward. The Task Group will meet again (prior to Cabinet consideration) once a decision has been made regarding a preferred approach.

The Task Group has also met to review the performance of Quarriers who provide residential placements for looked after children (LAC). A number of concerns have arisen from this, which the Task Group are pursuing and a further meeting is to be organised for January 2011. As much of this is subject to confidentiality, members of the Task Group would be happy to take questions outside of the meeting.

The Task Group will meet again on 16 December 2010 to review the White Horse Education Partnership, which provides facilities management services to the Wootton Bassett, Abbeyfield and Malmesbury Schools. To aid this review, members of the Task Group will be visiting all three sites on 29 November.

Placements for Looked After Children Task Group (LAC)

Membership: Cllr Jon Hubbard (Chairman)

                        Cllr Peter Colmer

Cllr Andrew Davis

Rev Alice Kemp

Cllr Bill Moss

Cllr Helen Osborn

The Task Group held their third meeting on 4 November.

Members considered the Family & Parenting Support Commissioning Strategy, which was due for approval by Cabinet on 16 November. In September, the Committee had asked to receive the Strategy at its next meeting, but taking it to the Task Group instead allowed Scrutiny consideration prior to final Cabinet approval. A full note of the Task Group’s discussions and conclusions from this item is therefore attached.

The Task Group also received a briefing on Educational Support for LAC, requesting a breakdown of LAC’s educational attainment by category of care setting; and a protocol between various departments and agencies clarifying roles and responsibilities regarding homeless young people. Members requested that a briefing note be drafted for Councillors summarising the content of the protocol.

The Task Group chairman and the Senior Scrutiny Officer will be meeting shortly to discuss the Task Group’s future work, which will include a visit to the Adoption Team at Newbury House, Trowbridge to learn about the adoption process.

Further Education in the Salisbury Area Task Group

Membership (TBC) :   Cllr Mary Douglas

                                       Cllr Jon Hubbard

                                       Cllr Bill Moss

                                       Cllr Pip Ridout

                                       Cllr Jacqui Lay

                                       Dr Mike Thompson

The commencement of this task group was delayed due to issues around membership and potential conflicts of interest. However, the Group’s initial scoping meeting is now scheduled for 2 December in Salisbury.

Rapid Scrutiny Exercise: Green Paper – Children &Young People with SEN and Disabilities

Membership (TBC):  Cllr Paul Darby

Cllr Jon Hubbard

Mrs Alice Kemp

Cllr Jacqui Lay

Cllr Helen Osborn

Cllr Carole Soden

In September, the Committee agreed to undertake a rapid scrutiny exercise to respond to the Government’s Green Paper on Children &Young People with SEN and Disabilities. The Green Paper is yet to be released.

An update on the work of the Task Groups was included with the Agenda.

The following further information was provided as follows:

Placements for Looked after Children (LAC)

The Chairman and Senior Scrutiny Officer was due to meet later today to recap on the Task Group’s work so far and agree a future direction.

Clarification was sought on whether Area Boards were able to provide funding for services that had otherwise or previously been provided by the local authority.  The Senior Scrutiny Officer would seek clarification following the meeting for circulation to all members of the Committee.

Further Education in the Salisbury Area

A meeting had been scheduled to take place on Thursday 2 December at Bourne Hill House in Salisbury. 

The Parent Governor Representative (Primary School) and School Teacher Representative had expressed interest in taking part in the Task Group but had been informed that, due to a conflict of interest, they were not able to do so although it was noted that both parties could be called as witnesses to the Task Group to ensure the expertise they held was fully utilised.

Resolved:

To note the updates provided.