Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or press.

There were no matters referred from the Youth Cabinet.

(a)          The Chairman welcomed new Councillors Fenoughty and Hughes to their first meeting of the Panel.

(b)          Councillor G. A. Russell was welcomed to her chairmanship of the Panel for the ensuing year as Mayor.

Sioned-Mair Richards, Scrutiny Adviser, presented the submitted report outlining proposals for coopted membership following the revised recruitment process.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the following be coopted to serve on the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Panel for a period of two years:

Michael Hall – Parent Governor

Anna Lidster – Parent Governor

Joan Blanch-Nicholson – Home-Start

Tracy Guest – Children and Young People’s Voluntary Sector Consortium

Father A. Hayne – Royal Catholic Diocese of Hallam

(2)  That the statutory co-optee nomination from the Anglican Diocese of Sheffield be awaited.

Sonia Sharp, Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services, gave a presentation relating to the above.

The presentation covered Children’s Trust Arrangements together with Key Progress made in 2007/08 and priorities for 2008/09 in respect of:-

-                      Being Healthy

-                      Staying Safe

-                      Enjoying and Achieving

-                      Making a Positive Contribution

-                      Enjoying Economic Well-being

Highlighted within the presentation headings were the following priority issues for 2008/09:

(a)                Being Healthy

                  -     obesity

                  -     sexual health

                  -     breastfeeding: increasing the numbers

                  -     infant mortality

                  -     reducing smoking in pregnancy

                  -     access to mental health services

(b)                Staying Safe

            -     fostering:  recruitment of carers and increasing the number of foster placements available

            -     safeguarding

            -     consistency/quality of social care

            -     recruitment of social workers

(c)                Enjoying and Achieving

            -     special schools

            -     communication/language/literacy

            -     building schools for the future

            -     emphasis on Key Stage 1 to reduce the gap to the national average

            -     reduce the difference between boys and girls in line with national difference at the end of each key stage

            -     more cross border liaison to commission places for young children

            -     ensuring children access to affordable culture and leisure activities

(d)                Making a Positive Contribution

            -     continue to tackle bullying

            -     positive engagement and imagery of young people

            -     community cohesion

                              -     reducing the number of young people entering the criminal justice system           

(e)                Enjoying Economic Well-being

            -     NEET :  aim to reduce NEET to under 7.1% by December, 2008

            -     apprenticeships

            -     promote family friendly practices

            -     performance post 16

            -     supporting vulnerable groups

            -     ensuring disadvantaged get access to opportunities

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

            -     disposable income concerns not just limited to low income families

            -     funding following the child (concerns for smaller secondary schools)

            -     funding regimes

            -     new funding from Central Government to support the education of looked after children

            -     swimming pool provision

            -     parenting support

Resolved:-  (1)  That the information be noted and Sonia be thanked for her presentation.

(2)  That the process of funding following the child be examined.

The Chairman introduced, and Councillor Burton presented briefly, the submitted report incorporating the final draft report of the above review group which was set up to examine whether Rotherham MBC had the capacity to deliver the new statutory duty to secure “positive activities for young people”.

The report covered:

-                the original concerns leading to the review

-                terms of reference

-                methodology and composition of the review group

-                what are Youth Services:-

·              forms of provision

·              national policy development

-                evidence gathering:-

·              statutory responsibility of the Council

·              information, advice and guidance

·              targeted youth support

·              voice and influence

·              volunteering

-                findings and recommendations

Simon Perry, Director of Targeted Support Services, in welcoming the review report elaborated on some of the background and challenges and highlighted the following issues:

-    review conducted in an extraordinary time of change

-    challenging the perception of young people

-    challenge of balancing resources between universal and targeted demands

-    capital investment initiatives

Discussion and a question and answer session ensued and the following issues were covered:-

-    sharing of good practice with other organisations

-    need for consistency of approach across all directorates regarding projects

-    emphasising that this was wider than traditionally accepted Youth Services and included issues such as substance misuse, teenage pregnancy etc.

In closing the discussion, the Chairman thanked everyone involved in the review.

Resolved:-  That the information be noted and the report be referred to Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee for consideration.

The Chairman introduced the submitted report regarding the Panel’s proposed work programme during the coming year.

The Work Programme had been structured again around the five themes of ‘Every Child Matters’ namely:

-                      Being healthy

-                      Staying Safe

-                      Enjoying and achieving

-                      Making a positive contribution

-                      Achieving economic well being

The Panel had identified the following issues for in depth examination:

-                      update on progress for Children Trust arrangements (‘Rotherham Proud’)

-                      measures to address sexual exploitation of children and young people (‘Staying Safe’ and ‘Rotherham Safe’)

-                      Imagination Library – one year on (‘Enjoying and Achieving’ and ‘Rotherham Learning’)

-                      Parenting Strategy (‘Making a positive contribution and ‘Rotherham Alive’)

-                      Sports participation (with Regeneration Scrutiny Panel)

The Panel would also take responsibility for health scrutiny in relation to children and young people’s services.  The following issues would be considered:

-                      sexual health strategy

-                      update on mental health services

-                      substance misuse work

The Panel would also be undertaking the following reviews:

-                      support for newly arrived children in schools

-                      road traffic safety (with Regeneration Scrutiny Panel)

The Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel had agreed to focus on the following priority areas over the 2008/09 municipal year:

-                      improving the health of looked after children

-                      work and placement opportunities for looked after children and care leavers

-                      update on issues emerging from the ‘Care Matters’ Green Paper

The Panel considered nominations to the Child Safety review.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the information be noted and the proposed work programme for 2008/09, as now submitted, be approved.

(2)  That Mrs. J. Blanch-Nicholson and Mr. M. Hall be this Panel’s representatives on the Child Safety review.

Resolved:-  That the following nominations be made to the bodies set out below for the 2008/09 municipal year:

(i)                   Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel

                  Councillor Dodson

(ii)                 Members Consultation Advisory Group

                  Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny Panel.  Substitute to be determined.

(iii)                Sustainable Development Advisory Group

                  Councillor Currie

(iv)                Health, Welfare and Safety Panel

                  One Member, Councillor G. A. Russell

                  One Substitute, Councillor Ali

(v)                 Visits of Inspection to Adult Services Establishments

                  All Members of the Scrutiny Panel are invited to attend

(vi)                Visits to Children’s Establishments (evenings)

                  Chairman or Vice-Chairman

(vii)              Members’ Training and Development Panel

                  Chairman

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Board held on 23^rd April, 2008 be noted.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People’s Services Scrutiny Panel held on 4^th April, 2008 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

-  28^th March 2008 (copy attached)

-  11^th April 2008 (copy attached)

-  25^th April 2008 (copy attached)

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 28^th March and 11^th and 25^th April, 2008 be noted.

The Chairman reported that this was Sonia’s last meeting of the Panel before taking up her new post with Sheffield City Council.

The Panel placed on record its sincere thanks to Sonia for her work for the Panel, the Council and the young people and wider community of Rotherham and wished her all the very best in her new challenge.