Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 22^nd and 23rd June, 2010 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Further to Minute No. 169 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services held on 28^th April, 2010, consideration was given to a report presented by the Programme Director (BSF) stating that there have been no objections to the proposed amalgamation of the Maltby Crags Infant School and the Maltby Crags Junior School.

 

Discussion ensued on the proposed leadership of the amalgamated schools and the potential timeline of inspections by Ofsted.

 

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

 

(2) That, in the absence of any formal objections, the Borough Council determines the proposal to amalgamate the Maltby Crags Infant and the Maltby Crags Junior Schools by the closure of the Junior School and the expansion and change of age range of the Infant School.

 

(3) That the Secretary of State for Education be informed accordingly.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Policy and Planning Research Manager, which summarised progress against the commitments within the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010.  Quarterly progress reports were collated for each commitment outlined in the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010. Previous progress reports showed significant progress having been achieved across the Children and Young People’s Service and with the Council’s partners in relation to the commitments agreed within the Children and Young People’s Plan.

 

It was noted that the report provided the details of the current progress, supporting data and the status of each of the outstanding commitments within the Children and Young People’s Plan as at the end of March ,2010, but with previously completed commitments not being included.

 

In summary the status of all the Children and Young People’s Plan commitments showed five as Green, eleven as Amber, four as Red with sixty-one commitments completed.

 

Commitments that remained at red status were:-

 

·              Continue to reduce the rate of under 18 conceptions by implementing of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy.

·              Reduce the incidence of offending of Looked After Children by monitoring protocols of behaviour intervention in Children’s Units and improve timeliness of multi-agency risk assessments.

·              Target service to enable families to develop effective communication and integration into the community.

·              Establish a data set to plan future resources and support (linked to above point).

 

It was also noted that this was the final update on the commitments contained within the Children and Young People’s Plan 2007-2010 and that commitments that were still relevant had been included in the Action Plan for the new Children and Young People’s Plan 2010-2013.

 

The importance of monitoring the relevant areas in the ongoing plan was emphasised to ensure the high priorities for children and young people were delivered.

 

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

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Risk and Regulation Manager which set out details of the comprehensive review of risks within Children and Young People's Services undertaken during January, 2010 following on from the Department for Education’s Notice to Improve and the subsequent review of the Directorate and restructuring.

 

All Children and Young People's Services’ risks were evaluated on RisGen (the Council’s current risk management monitoring system) and reviewed and realigned during a workshop to reflect the new structure within the Directorate, the Business Plan and its priorities.  It was noted, however, that a new risk management monitoring system would come on stream from September, 2010 onwards.

 

Risks at Strategic Leadership Team level were reviewed quarterly and a progress report was provided to them and the relevant Scrutiny Panel.

 

Risks at Children and Young People's Services level were reviewed quarterly with the appropriate Action Managers and information updated on RisGen to reflect the latest position. Action Managers were asked to provide details of any new or emerging risks for inclusion on the system.  This was reported to the Directorate Leadership Team also on a quarterly basis.

 

Discussion ensued on various elements of risks particularly those related to Machinery of Government in relation to planning and funding for 14-19 year olds, mitigation of the red risks and their ongoing management action to improve their status, the need for a direction of travel of risk to be identified on future reports, plans for a workshop before the next Children’s Board and the risks associated with the news about the BSF Programme.

 

It was suggested that further information be sought on the impacts and risks associated with the funding withdrawal for the BSF Programme and the effects this may have in the medium to longer term with consideration as to whether this formed part of the business case and how this may affect the proposed academy provision at Maltby.

             

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

 

(2) That the current position with regard to risk management activity within Children and Young People's Services, as now reported, be noted.

 

(3) That the frequency of formal reporting to this meeting continue to be on a quarterly basis in line with that done corporately.

Consideration was given to the appointment of Councillors to represent the Council on various sub-groups, panels and forums for the Municipal Year 2010/2011.

 

Resolved:- That the following appointments for 2010/2011 be approved, together with attendance at relevant meetings, seminars and conferences pertaining to the work of the committee/group/organisation shown:-

 

 (i)           Adoption Panel

               Councillors Falvey, Havenhand and Sharman

 

(ii)           Fostering Panel

               VACANT (New representative required)

 

(iii)          Redbarn Rowan Management Group

               Councillor Burton and Falvey

 

(iv)          Rotherham Partnership (Lifelong Learning Partnership Spoke)

               Councillor Lakin

 

(v)           Rotherham Partnership (Lifelong Learning Theme Board)

               Councillor Currie

 

(vi)          Rotherham Schools Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Partnership Board

               VACANT (New representative required)

 

(vii)         Rotherham Holiday Aid

               Councillors Havenhand and Tweed

 

(viii)        Rotherham Children and Young People’s Board

               Councillor Lakin

 

(ix)          Safeguarding Children Board

               Councillor Lakin

 

(x)           Think Family Board

               Councillors Burton and Lakin

 

(xi)          Local Admissions Forum

               Councillors Barron, Havenhand and VACANT (New representative required)

 

(xii)         Visits to Children’s Establishments

               Evenings at 6.00 p.m. – dates to be confirmed

               Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services

               together with Advisers, who attend in rotation

               Chairman or Vice-Chairman of Children and Young People’s

               Scrutiny Panel

               Ward Councillor

 

(xiii)        Education Consultative Committee

               Leader and Deputy Leader

               Cabinet Member and Advisers, Children and Young People’s Services - Councillor Lakin

               Chairman of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee - Councillor Whelbourn

               Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Children and Young People’s

               Scrutiny Panel – Councillor G. A. Russell and Councillor Licence

 

(xiv)        Rotherham Schools Forum

               Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services – Councillor Lakin

               Chairman of Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel – Councillor G. A. Russell

 

(xv)         Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education

               Councillors Sharman, Ali, Hussain and Littleboy (substitute Councillor Tweed)

 

(xvi)        Hospital Teaching and Home Tuition Service

               VACANT (New representative required)

 

(xvii)       Transport (Education) Appeals Panel

               Councillors Dodson, Gosling, Hodgkiss, Rushforth and Whelbourn

 

(xviii)      Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Board

               Councillor License and Mrs. Joyce Thacker

 

(xix)        Thomas Rotherham College Board

               Councillor Barron

 

(xx)         Children’s Locality Safeguarding Champions

 

               Rotherham North              Councillor Barron

               Rotherham South             Councillor McNeely

               Rother Valley South         Councillor Havenhand

               Rother Valley West           Councillor Austen

               Wentworth North               Councillor Doyle

               Wentworth South              Councillor G. A. Russell

               Wentworth Valley             Councillor Rushforth

 

(xxi)        Recycling Group

               Councillors Falvey and Havenhand

 

(xxii)       Local Authority Governors Panel

               Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services – Councillor Lakin

               and Councillors Currie, Havenhand, Littleboy and Tweed

 

(xxiii)      14 to 19 Board

               Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services – Councillor Lakin

 

(xxiv)      Imagination Library Board

               Councillors Lakin and Rushforth

               Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services

               Director of Learning Services

 

(xxv)       Inspire Rotherham Board

               Councillor Lakin

 

(xxvi)      2012 Legacy Project Board

               Councillor Lakin

 

(xxvii)     Building Schools for the Future Project Board

               Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services – Councillor Lakin

               Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation – Councillor Smith

               Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel – Councillor G. A. Russell

 

(xxviii)    Yorkshire and Humberside Children and Young People Lead Member Network

               Cabinet Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Consideration was given to reports that detailed the statement and purpose of the residential children’s homes in Rotherham and the provision.

 

It was anticipated that the visiting arrangements for the children’s homes would continue at dates/times to be agreed by the Cabinet Member.  However, in light of forthcoming inspections it was suggested that visits be expedited in the next week to the two venues on the Orchard Centre site and Goodwin Crescent mainstream establishment and that the Operations Manager (Provider Services) be responsible for contacting the relevant Members.

 

The Cabinet Member pointed out the importance of Corporate Parenting and that all Members needed to take responsibility in this area.  It was his intention to involve newly appointed Members to the Corporate Parenting Board in the visiting process whilst maintaining sensitivity to the needs of the young people whose homes would be visited.

 

It was also noted that every effort was being made to benchmark performance on inspection outcomes with statistical neighbours and this would continue to be managed once neighbouring authorities replied.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the arrangements for the visits to the children’s homes identified for the following week be arranged.

 

(2)  That a proposed monthly timetable be developed in conjunction with the Cabinet Member.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to consultations about labour relations matters)

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (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 17th June, 2010, be noted.