Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meetings held on 23rd March, 2010 and on 24^th March, 2010 be approved as correct records.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Board held on 10th March, 2010 be noted.

Helen Shaw, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Learning Network Manager concerning the intention of the Learning and Skills Council and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills that, with effect from 2011/12, all of the Learning and Skills Council funding for informal adult learning will be channelled through the Local Authority. Reference was made to the advice issued by the Local Government Association on this matter.

The report stated that, in April 2010, the Learning Skills Council would be abolished and adult learning will be managed by a new successor body called the Skills Funding Agency. Local authorities are being invited to take responsibility for the local agenda and to provide local leadership and the infrastructure to create a joined up, innovative local learning offer.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That, in accordance with the requirements of The Learning Revolution, it be agreed in principle that Children and Young People's Services shall become the Lead Accountable Body for adult learning in the Borough area.

(3) That a further report be presented to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services, after receipt of additional information on the key leadership responsibilities of the lead accountable body.

Peter Rennie and Richard Waring, report authors

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Children and Families Special Needs Service Manager concerning recommendations relating to Children and Young People’s Services’ use of Direct Payments.

Appended to the report was the action plan to address the review’s recommendations. The action plan was prepared for implementation between November 2009 and July 2010 and essential to its success was an immediate review of the criteria for direct payments and of current allocations against those criteria. This review should have regard to the latest statutory guidance, Community Care Services for Carers and Children’s Services (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2009 and use eligibility criteria in line with those used in this Authority’s Neighbourhoods and Adult Services. An essential action prior to conducting any review is the preparation of practice guidance, based on those for Neighbourhoods and Adult Services but related to risk assessment for Children in Need, so that the review, and future allocations, may be conducted consistently.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That approval be granted for the development of practice guidance for assessing eligibility for direct payments allocations in Children and Young People’s Services.

(3) That the practice guidance for Children and Young People’s Services shall be consistent with that in Neighbourhoods and Adult Services in applying the “critical” and “substantial” criteria of risk in the Fair Access to Care guidance to the Children in Need framework in assessing eligibility for future Direct Payment allocations.

(4) That a review of current Direct Payments allocations against the practice guidance shall be undertaken as soon as the guidance is in place.

(5) That the outcome of the review, referred to (4) above, shall be reported to a meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services during July 2010.

Sue Wilson, report author

Further to Minute No. D128 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 24th February, 2010, consideration was given to a report presented by the Performance and Quality Manager concerning the Children and Young People’s Services’ Improvement Plan summary.  Members noted that detailed regular monitoring continues to take place against a number of actions across several themes.

The report provided an overview of the progress made since the Minister of State’s Notice to Improve was received, included the RAG (red, amber, green) rating and direction of travel for the areas of improvement and identified some areas of good performance and key risks to meeting the stretching targets set for the Council and its strategic partners.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the progress being made against the targets set in the Notice to Improve be welcomed.

(3) That further progress reports continue to be submitted to the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services.

Ruth Bastin, report author

Further to Minute No. D98 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 16^th December, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Performance and Quality Manager, summarising progress against the commitments within the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010. It was noted that quarterly progress reports are collated for each commitment outlined in the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010. The previous progress reports (October 2008, April 2009 and December 2009) showed that significant progress had been achieved across the Children and Young People’s Service and with the Authority’s partners in relation to the commitments agreed within the Children and Young People’s Plan. The latest update (January 2010, covering the period September to December, 2009) shows that this progress is continuing.

It was noted that preparations were taking place for the publication of a new Children and Young People’s Plan during the Summer, 2010.

Resolved:- That the report be received and its contents noted.

Jenny Lingrell, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Performance and Quality Manager stating that later this year the Children’s Trust Board will publish a new Children and Young People’s Plan, replacing the existing Plan which lasts until June 2010. The new Plan will continue to set the strategic priorities for the work of partners on the Children’s Trust Board and will last from 2010 until 2013. It is now also a requirement for the Children and Young People’s Plan to be prepared and owned by the Children’s Trust Board. The report stated that the guidance issued by the Department for Children, School and Families is explicit in its requirement for broad consultation about the Children and Young People’s Plan.

Members noted that the findings of the consultation on the new Plan have been considered in the context of other factors affecting Children and Young People’s Services, including the Notice to Improve and the annual Audit of Need. A draft of the Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2013 (appended to the submitted report) has been prepared for the purposes of further consultation.

Reference was made to the four priorities (termed ‘big things’) of the Plan:-

(i) Keeping Children and Young People Safe;

(ii) Prevention and Early Intervention;

(iii) Tackling Inequalities;

(iv) Transforming Rotherham Learning.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the report and draft Children and Young People’s Plan 2010 to 2013 be submitted to the meeting of the Children’s Board to be held on Wednesday, 21st April 2010.

(3) That a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services on the outcome of the consultation process about the Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2013.

Frances Hunt, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Assistant Head of School Effectiveness Service containing details of the primary schools’ Foundation Stage assessment results for 2009 and how they compare to previous years and to the national average.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the marked increases in the outcomes as reported through the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile be noted.

(3) That the drive to encourage all schools to continue to improve their results and to strive to reflect outcomes more in line with national averages be endorsed.

(4) That the drive to improve standards, particularly in Communication, Language and Literacy, throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage together with the attainment of boys and other vulnerable and underachieving groups, be endorsed.

(5) That the drive to narrow the gap between the average for the lowest 20% band and the Local Authority median be endorsed.

Simon Perry and Melanie Simmonds, report authors

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Sexual Health Lead Officer (NHS Rotherham) concerning the progress of Rotherham’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. The report stated that the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (1999) established the requirement for local authorities to reduce the under-18 conception rate by 50% by 2010, from the 1998 baseline of 56.4 (under 18 conceptions per 1,000 girls aged 15-17 years). Whilst the overall trajectory for Rotherham is downward, 2008 has seen a slight increase and progress against the target is unlikely to be sufficient to achieve the 2010 target. The under-18 conception rate target is a Local Area Agreement top 35 indicator and included within the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Health Authority Vital Signs performance measures. These targets would require a 27% reduction for 2008/09 and 39% in 2009/10.

Rotherham is an area monitored by Government Ministers, who are pleased with the Borough’s current progress in relation to the increased efforts towards reducing under-18 conceptions. 

The current priorities of the strategy are:-

: targeted interventions with high risk young people;

: increasing the role of parents in improving outcomes for young people particularly around talking to them about sex and relationships;

: a more systematic approach to comprehensive contraceptive provision.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted. 

(2) That the current position of Rotherham’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy be noted and the various actions identified in the submitted report be endorsed.

(2) That the report be also submitted to the meeting of the Children’s Board, to be held on Wednesday, 21st April 2010.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager describing a proposal to improve the capacity of the Coleridge Children’s Centre in order to meet the needs of children and families within its local reach area. The proposal was to extend the foundation unit within the Coleridge Primary School in order to increase the space available to the Children’s Centre. This increase in space will increase the capacity of the room which accommodates the children aged two years, from eight children to twenty-three children. The size of the family room will also be increased to provide more space for service delivery.

The report stated that funding for this scheme was available from the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant and it was anticipated that the construction work should be completed by March 2011.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the plans and expenditure for the extension of the Coleridge Children’s Centre, as detailed in the report now submitted, in order to increase the accommodation available for the delivery of Children’s Centre services, be approved.

(3) That an appropriate press release be issued on this matter.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under those paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in those paragraphs, indicated below, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

Christine Brodhurst-Brown, report author

(Exempt under:-

Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to financial or business affairs)

Paragraph 4 of the Act – information relating to consultations about labour relations matters)

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Strategic Director of Children and Young People's Services concerning a proposed review of Youth Service provision. The report included a methodology and timetable to create a model across the Borough that meets existing demands and ensures an effective value for money delivery, in line with key recommendations from the Scrutiny Review “Future Challenges for the Youth Service”. Reference was made to the specific proposal to prepare a business plan for Outdoor Learning service provision.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services containing a strategy for the next stage of the Youth Service review.

(3) That, at a future meeting, further consideration be given to the option to develop a Business Case for the Outdoor Learning Service.

(4) That the Youth Service review be informed by the current Visioning Initiative being led by the Voice and Influence Unit within the Children and Young People's Services’ Directorate.

(Exempt under:-

: Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to financial or business affairs;

: Paragraph 4 of the Act – information relating to consultations about labour relations matters)

Mary Smith – report author

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to financial or business affairs)

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager concerning the proposed extension of the existing Service Level Agreement with the Rotherham Advocacy Partnership to deliver the Supporting Parents with Additional Needs project for a further three months, in order to progress with tendering for the new contract. Members noted the intention to invite tenders for a new contract which would last for a period of two years, until 31^st August, 2012, subject to the availability of the necessary grant funding.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That, in accordance with Standing Order No. 38, the extension of the existing Service Level Agreement with the Rotherham Advocacy Partnership, for a period of three months, shall be exempt from the contract requirements of Standing Order No. 48, as detailed in the report now submitted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act – information relating to financial or business affairs)

(Exempt under Paragraph 4 of the Act – information relating to consultations about labour relations matters)

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Education Consultative Committee, held on 4th March, 2010, be noted.

(Exempt under Paragraph 4 of the Act – information relating to consultations about labour relations matters)