To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder advised that part of his verbal report included his response to committee recommendations from a previous meeting relating to Safety Valve arrangements. Following concerns raised by the Chair and some Committee Members that they had not sought dispensation for this meeting to participate in discussion on matters relating to Safety Valve arrangements it was Proposed, Seconded and agreed by majority that the part of the Portfolio Holder Update for Children and Young People relating to Safety Valve, be provided after the Committee by email instead of given verbally during the meeting.
The following section was provided by email to the Committee after the meeting:
1. Notice of Recommendation from the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 3 January 2024 regarding Safety Valve, for response to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Consider what further engagement can happen upon receipt of any offers from the Department of Education. Consider as wide as possible member engagement in the final decision should one emerge from the Department of Education.
Portfolio Holder response:
· Largely events have overtaken us re these two recommendations, however, the leader and I supported the motion at Council, moved by Cllr Canavan, to bring any Safety Valve offer to a Full Council meeting either a scheduled meeting or an extraordinary meeting depending on the timing, however “BCP’s proposal does not, at present, meet the criteria for the Safety Valve programme.” (Quote taken from DfE letter circulated to all Cllrs)
· Looking at further member engagement you will be updated as to any further developments for consideration. Moving forward, I would welcome further consideration from this committee. Well timed and correctly targeted scrutiny helps to find solutions and makes suggestions for other approaches which is welcomed.
The following section was provided within the meeting by the Portfolio Holder in his verbal update, with points including:
· A bit of good news; the Supporting Families Team had achieved 91% payment by results performance against Funded Targets by end of quarter 3.
· The National payment by results performance table had just been released and we can see that our Performance up to the end of Q3 equates to:
16th out of 141 Las Nationally – National average 61%
2nd out of 14 Las Regionally – Regional average 70%
The team had also been identified as trail-blazing in the SW Region by DLUHC due to the IT and digital work that had been completed.
· During a recent Cabinet debate, the Portfolio Holder enquired about how we can engage Children and young people in consultation and requested the committee consider ways for how this could be improved.
· Forthcoming items on the Cabinet Forward Plan:
o SEND Programme of Expansion – Canford Heath Infant and Junior Schools 10th April.
o Dedicated Schools Grant Management Plan update 22nd May.
There were other items on the forward plan relating to Children’s Services yet to have dates allocated. The Portfolio Holder concluded by advising if any members of the committee wanted to attend Cabinet to speak on children’s services items, they would be very welcome.