Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from:

Cllr Kathryn MacDermid (Substituted by Cllr Trevor Carbin)

Cllr Jo Trigg

Cllr Caroline Thomas

Cllr Caroline Corbin

To approve and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 January 2025.

Resolved

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 15 January 2025, 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.

The Chair stated that this would be the final Children’s Select Committee meeting for this Council and thanked both councillors and officers for their input and efforts.

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 Wednesday 5 March 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 Friday 7 March. 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.

A report on the implementation of the Family Hub model, assessment of the previous 12 months and plans for the year ahead.

Lucy-Anne Bryant briefly introduced a report that showed how the new model for providing services to families was operating.

The Committee thanked Lucy-Anne for the report and commented:

• That the service was not as widespread or as frequent as had been hoped.
• Councillors wondered how the contractual relationship with Spurgeons would continue forward if they were not fully delivering.
• Councillors were also concerned that investment was being made to upskill staff who were then leaving.
• The Committee also considered the service as reactive rather than proactive, and although Councillors were understanding that Family Hubs was a new service, there was concern at the level of coordination.

The Committee referenced the large take up of parenting courses including for those parents with children with additional needs and suggested a larger delivery of these courses could have an enormous impact in reducing the pressures on SEND services.

During debate, the following was clarified for committee:

• That officers are working in the community to provide the services and meet the needs of families, including holiday events.

• A high turnover of staff was due to a number of different factors, including the initial transition, a rigorous training regime and some staff deciding the role was not for them

• Spurgeons would be required to implement any contractual obligation for staff to stay after training and upskilling was provided.

• Officers would provide at a later date statistics relating to utilisation of spaces for Family Hub sessions.

• Family Hub was a new service and still in its early stages, but clearly does have a significant impact.

• Although the service specification and KPIs created 2 years ago were important, it might not necessarily be reflective of today’s needs and therefore flexibility is adaptability is vital.

• Officers would look into where visibility/advertisement of Family Hubs could be improved.

Resolved

To note the report

To receive an annual report on Family Hubs

To receive the report of the Youth Homelessness Rapid Scrutiny Group.

Cllr Trevor Carbin briefly introduced a report stating the findings of the Youth Homelessness Rapid Scrutiny Group.

The Committee commented that support in the form of advocacy for younger people facing homelessness was important, as they were likely to struggle with legislative challenges.

It was clarified for councillors that there was a significant level of support and advocacy in place should homeless children make themselves known and this was reassuring to councillors.

Resolved

1. That the new leaflet for 16 and 17-year-olds presenting as homeless is shared with Children Select Committee, when it has been reviewed by the Voice team. 

2. That Children Select Committee instigates a stage 2 (follow up) Rapid Scrutiny exercise towards the end of 2025 on the impact of the post inspection improvements made to procedures supporting 16- and 17-year-olds presenting as homeless.  This should include consideration of the data report, the number of young people presenting as homeless and the outcome, sample completed joint assessments (with personal data redacted) and feedback from young people and their advocates of their experience. 

3. That Children Select Committee receives an annual report on youth homelessness, to include performance data.  

4. That consideration is given by Housing and Children’s Services to simplifying the joint protocol and providing additional training for officers to ensure that there is a consistent and timely response to young people presenting as homeless. 

A report to highlight key aspects of the work undertaken by the Select Committee during the 2021-2025 council and recommend topics as legacy items to the Management Committee for possible inclusion in the new overview and scrutiny work programme after the elections in May 2025.

The Chair stated that the report summarised the work carried out by the committee in the past 4 years and looked ahead by proposing a forward work programme for the next committee. The main report reflects on the committee’s learning in how it operates.

The committee was asked to approve a list of the committee’s achievements, recommendations on topics for the new council to consider and recommendations on improving the working of Children’s Select.

The Committee were concerned that there were too many high priority items which could lead to some harsh decisions and “juggling” for the new committee.

Resolved

1. To approve Appendix 1 as a list of the Children’s Select Committee’s key activities and achievements during 2021-2025 

2. To approve Appendix 2 to recommend to the Management Committee as topics requiring further work in the new Council, including reasons. 

3. To approve the recommendations made to improve the working of the select committee regarding: 

·       Briefings to remain informed and up to date 

·       Liaison with officers to simplify reports 

·       Prioritising agendas 

·       Encouraging members to participate in task groups 

·       Strengthening links with the Youth Council and Schools 

4. To note the next steps in paragraph 13 of the report.

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

Report to follow.

Ben Stevens introduced the latest Safety Valve update, noting that there were reasons to be more optimistic compared to the last meeting. It was stated that a revised plan had been submitted to DfE for approval extending Wiltshire Council’s participation in the Safety Valve from 5 to 7 years.

The Committee thanked Ben for the report and updated dashboard. They

During debate, the following was clarified for committee:

• It was clarified for councillors that the way the numbers were displayed on the dashboard was mildly different due to the revised plan submitted to DfE.
• No concerns had been raised from Wiltshire Council’s DfE advisor regarding the application to extend the Safety Valve programme from 5 to 7 years.

• Actual spending against budget allocation was higher in Q3

Resolved

To confirm that a review of the plans to invest the funding received to support the reduction in EHCP is to be included in the forward work plan for the committee.

To receive a report on the Executive response to the final report of the Out of County Education Rapid Scrutiny Group.

The Chair reminded the Committee that the report of the rapid scrutiny group was approved by the Committee in January, and the Chair was extremely pleased to see that the recommendations of the group had been accepted.

John Hawkins pointed out that the briefing had been given a target date of May 2025, and noted the upcoming election. The Committee considered that it would be better to wait until after the election has concluded so that new councillors could be involved.

Resolved

To note the executive response to the Final Report of the Out of County Education Rapid Scrutiny group.

To receive a report on the Executive response to the final report of the Educational Performance Outcomes Rapid Scrutiny Group.

The Chair again reminded the Committee that the report of the rapid scrutiny group was approved by the Committee in January, and that the recommendations of the group had also been accepted except for recommendation 3 which was partially accepted.

Resolved

To note the executive response to the Final Report of the Education Performance Outcomes Task Group.

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 written report was briefly summarised and noted.

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.

It was clarified that there were 195 days of school attendance per year but could vary slightly based on the type of school and number of inset days.

It was also clarified that on average unauthorised absences were below the national average.

The national metrics were incredibly important to compare to as this is where the DfE bases its initial scrutiny on, however Wiltshire Council do not solely base achievements or failures on these metrics and continue to push for further improvements.

The written report was briefly summarised and 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 written report 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 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.

Darryl Freeman, Corporate Director for Children and Education, stated that recruitment for Director for Families and Children had been advertised.

Kathryn Davis, Director for Education and Skills, stated that Wiltshire Council were invited to speak at the South West SEND Peer Network Event.

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 and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, wanted to thank Children’s Select for their scrutiny over the years and reflected on her own role as lead member for the last 12 years.

Suzanne Wickham wished to note that the first school of the second phase had qualified with the British Dyslexia Association. There is a celebration event for this in County Hall on 9^th July 2025 and Councillors from the Children’s Select Committee were welcome.

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 most recent attendance at an LGA conference.

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.

There was no report attached as scrutiny activities had been includes as items on the agenda and in the planned activities in agenda item 8.

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.

There was no report attached as the forward work programme was included as part of the legacy report in agenda item 8.

To note that the next scheduled meeting is due to be held on 11 June 2025 at County Hall, Trowbridge, starting at 10.30am.

The next meeting of the Children’s Select Committee will be on 11 June 2025.

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

There were no urgent items.