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:-
The deadline for the submission of public questions is 3 clear working days before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.
The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.
Minutes:
A question has been received from Mr Adam Sofianos
"A critical role of Educational Psychologists is around Education, Health and Care Plans. As already noted, demand for new Plans has increased considerably, but staffing remains low.
Council is working under Government’s Delivering Better Value programme. It was recently revealed that this is delivered through a major consultancy contract with Newton Europe. It’s reported to include a cost-saving target, to reduce new Plans by at least 20%.
Additionally, Council has been invited to join the Safety Valve programme, which contractually binds councils to cost-saving targets, and is also said to target Plan reductions.
Could you confirm: what directions or recommendations were made arising from the current programme, including in the management plan?
And could you reassure the many worried parents, that any decision to join Safety Valve will be subject to proper scrutiny, and a Council vote, and that Council will publish the draft contract and management plan beforehand?"
Source:
Cllr Richard Burton, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People, provided an answer as follows:
The following details the actions and workstreams of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and the Delivering Better Value (DBV) Programme:
· Investment in the DBV workstreams to create capacity, including robust advice for parents, carers and professionals to stem the growth of EHCPs and improved implementation of the graduated early support response.
· Planning capacity - The Capital Expansion Programme and Graduated Pathway Programme which aims to improve inclusion in Mainstream Schools and to increase number of placements in BCP to reduce the demand on specialist settings.
· Dynamic EHCP support to improve timeliness of new EHCPs and Annual Reviews of EHCPs.
· Embedding a culture of Co-production so service delivery is driven by the lived experience of parents and carers and children and young people.
BCP Council’s DSG Management Plan sets out the Council’s strategy for reforming its high needs system, enabling it to function sustainably and in the best interests of children and young people in the BCP area.
Safety Valve Programme
In August 2023, BCP Council were invited to join the DfE’s Safety Valve Programme. Safety Valve agreements hold local authorities to account for delivery of reforms to their high needs systems, so that they can function sustainably and therefore in the best interests of the children and young people they serve. These local authorities will be expected to reach an in-year balance on their DSG as quickly as possible, and over time eliminate their deficits.
Local authorities with Safety Valve agreements are asked to focus on one mission statement: to develop plans to reform their high needs systems as quickly as possible to provide a good service within their available funding. In addition, there are two principal goals which are critical for a local authority’s ability to reach a sustainable position:
· appropriately managing demand EHCPs, including assessment processes that are fit for purpose.
· use of appropriate and cost-effective provision - this includes ensuring mainstream schools are equipped and encouraged to meet needs where possible, whilst maintaining high standards for all pupils and reducing exclusions.
A public statement has been received from Mr Daniel Parkin as follows:
What’s happening the youth in BCP? The least we can do is consider what we have done, think about these young people and what we can collectively do to help these children and turn their lives around. We being council staff, the public and you as councillors.
You have an opportunity here to make things happen. Some people accuse me of blaming the current administration - I am not. I am challenging you all to improve the children’s services department.
We cannot have a situation where a resident is told one thing under FOI and when brought up in council meeting told something completely different. Who do we believe? And when the trust is gone this seriously concerns me as to how our vulnerable children are being treated. As corporate parents would that concern you? I hope it does, as these vulnerable children need your support now.