Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors. 

Apologies were received from Councillor Julie Bagwell.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

Councillor Daniel Butt substituted for Councillor Julie Bagwell.

Councillors are required to comply with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011 regarding disclosable pecuniary interests. Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

As this was the first meeting of the Committee, Members felt it was appropriate to provide detail of positions within local schools’ governance as follows:

Councillor Brooke – Broadstone First School Governor

Councillor Geary – Highcliffe School Academy Trust Director

Councillor Hall – Twynham School Governor

Councillor Kelly – Bournemouth Collegiate Governor and Vice Chair of the Academy Advisory Committee for Tregonwell Academy

Councillor Moore – advised that, following legal advice, she was in the process of resigning from her Director role on the TEACH Trust and was becoming a Member instead.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

Councillors are asked to elect the Chairman of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Richard Burton be elected Chairman of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee until the first meeting of the Municipal Year 2020/21.

Councillors are asked to elect the Vice-Chairman of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the 2019/2020 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Lisa Lewis be elected Vice Chairman of Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee until the first meeting of the Municipal Year 2020/2021.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/documents/s2305/Public%20Items%20-%20Meeting%20Procedure%20Rules.pdf 

The deadline for the submission of public questions is Wednesday 19 June 2019.  

The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon on 25 June 2019. 

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 12.00 noon on 25 June 2019.

No public questions had been received.

To receive a verbal update on the process for establishing statutory co-opted membership for the Committee.

The Overview and Scrutiny Specialist provided a verbal update to the Committee on its co-opted member requirements in accordance with its Constitution – this currently required two church representatives and two parent governor representatives.

It was highlighted that consideration should be given to an Academy representative and that previously the Borough of Poole had Members of the Youth Parliament co-opted to its Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  A written report would be provided to the next meeting for consideration.

To consider and comment on the Youth Justice Plan prior to its submission to Cabinet and Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services introduced the item and the Manager of the Dorset Combined Youth Offending Service (YOS) presented the Report.

The Committee was advised that the Report appended the Youth Justice Plan for 2019/2020.  There was a statutory requirement to publish an Annual Youth Justice Plan which must provide specified information about the provision of youth justice services. 

The Committee was requested to endorse the Youth Justice Plan for 2019/2020 to Cabinet to recommend to full Council.

The Committee discussed the Youth Justice Plan and comments were made, including:

·       In response to a query regarding how the YOS was managing with reductions in funding, the Committee was advised that, to increase its resilience, the YOS merged pan Dorset in 2015.  It was highlighted that the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 stipulated that the YOS must include certain staff posts, which the YOS met plus some additional posts however, overall a reduction in staff had been necessary

·       The issue of an increase in first time offenders was discussed and the Committee was advised that this was a complex area as the YOS would not normally start working with offenders until they were in the system.  The Service worked closely with the Police on individuals to improve outcomes, this included the need to sometimes use diversion tactics and the use of a restorative justice approach to enable fewer formal outcomes for low level offending. 

·       In response to a query about how BCP Council and its Councillors could help the Service, the Committee was advised by being actively involved within the local community, monitoring and reporting on problem and vulnerable children and being aware of issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation and County Lines.  The importance of an integrated approach was highlighted.

·       With regards to CAMHS, the Committee was advised that the YOS had nurses seconded to its team, which meant that access to it could be brokered quicker than if being referred by another service

·       The Committee agreed that it would be beneficial to receive an update report on the three key performance indicators every six months to enable it to monitor YOS’ progress

·       The work of the Speech and Language Therapist was highlighted, and it was noted how beneficial this addition to the team had been.  Work was being undertaken with the local Justice system, how the Police and court settings communicate with youth offenders and to give understanding and insight into the possible reasons for the youth offenders behaviour in the different settings

·       In response to a query regarding the quarterly finance reports and providing value for money, the Committee was advised that the YOS’ aim was to ensure it uses its budget effectively to ensure improvements were being seen in the young people it dealt with as opposed to achieving a balanced budget

·       It was noted that a few issues had been identified within the report writing which could be rectified to make it easier to understand.

The Corporate Director for Children’s Services concluded by thanking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To receive a presentation from the Corporate Director, Children’s Services

After receiving some of a detailed presentation, the Committee decided to defer this item to its next meeting in order to fully consider the detail prior to Committee.

Councillors are asked to confirm that the venues for future meetings will alternate between the three main BCP Council civic offices.

The venue for the next meeting is scheduled for:

Wednesday 31^st July 2019 – Poole Civic Centre

The schedule of dates for the remainder of the municipal year is to be considered and confirmed by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the next Committee be held on 31^st July at Poole Civic Centre; to alternate between the three main BCP Council civic Offices for the Committee meetings and to agree the following updated dates:

·       10^th September 2019

·       26^th November 2019

·       28^th January 2020

·       10^th March 2020