Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

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

There were no issues to report.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Performance Manager which outlined the performance against targets of Children and Young People’s Services, at the end of 2008/09, with comparisons against previous performance and All England top quartile authorities. Appendix A to the report outlined performance by Every Child Matters Theme Outcome and Appendix B showed the CYPS performance monitoring table.

The format of the report had changed to provide more analysis and assessment of comparison and direction of travel.  It was also the first outturn report since the introduction of the new National Indicators which now formed the basis on which Central Government would performance manage local government and strategic partnerships.

The report highlighted:-

-        This was the initial baseline year for the National Indicators, and therefore over 1/3 had no targets and no comparative data to make an assessment of direction of travel.  This would be addressed in 2009/10

-        Where assessment could be made, 49% of all components showed improvement or achieving top performance.  This rose to 63% for Enjoying and Achieving outcomes and 57% for Staying Safe

-        Performance against targets continued to be an area of concern with only 35% being on or above target

-        Rationale for future performance clinics

The Scrutiny Panel noted that:-

-          The information provided was out of date and concerns were raised that should a problem arise that it would not be picked up.  Confirmation was given that weekly meetings were held to discuss performance, and if any problems were identified then action would be taken immediately.

-          It was proposed that the outturn position be reported on a quarterly basis as was currently presented to the Cabinet Member

-          The flag system was very complex and problems were being experienced in understanding the information presented to them.  It was agreed that a presentation be done at a future meeting to explain how the system worked.

-          Problems were still ongoing with obesity in children.  The question was raised as to what was being done to combat the problem apart from school meals.  Reference was made to the Carnegie Programme where “fit camps” had been introduced and were now well established and children were responding well to them. 

-          Where children had been involved with the Carnegie Programme, the Council were now working with the children and their parents to educate them in healthy eating and cooking.  In addition activities were being introduced at playtime to encourage children to exercise more.

-          Children were being encouraged to grow their own vegetables at school.  Allotments and raised beds were being introduced at some schools in Rotherham and at some schools there were planting areas. This was proving to be very successful with many children getting involved.

-          There had been a downturn in the uptake of school meals despite money being spent to improve them.  A project was to be undertaken to research the reasons into this, which was to be funding by NHS Rotherham.

Resolved:- (1) That the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Head of School Effectiveness concerning the performance in Rotherham primary schools, at the end of Key Stage 2, in 2008.

The report drew attention to:

• Overall Key Stage 2 results
• Performance of Vulnerable Groups
• Performance compared with Statistical Neighbours
• Contextual Value Added (CVA) summary
• Statutory targets
• Summary of KS2 performance
• Actions taken
• Priorities for improvement
• Development activities

A question and answer session ensued and the following issues were raised and discussed:

• It was noted that in relation to statistical neighbours RMBC sat in the bottom 2 or 3.  However, as a result of the targets introduced by the School Effectiveness Service improvements were being made.
• It was suggested that where a school was failing, that a Head Teacher from one of the more successful schools be brought in to assist in raising the standards.  Confirmation was given that this was happening in some schools, and that Head Teachers had been recruited to work with lower performing schools.
• It was felt that some of the schools who were seen as underachieving were struggling because of the number of newly arrived children.
• Many children were below the educational standard expected when entering the school system.  In order to overcome this it was agreed that engagement with parents was necessary to encourage them to work with the children prior to them entering into the school system.
• The quality of pre school provision was important and therefore more emphasis was needed improving learning skills and attitudes through the Children’s Centres.  It was felt that strategies needed to be developed to ensure that families in greatest need were encouraged to use them.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received.

(2) That the improvements in performance in Key Stage 2, most particularly when compared to those reported nationally, be noted.

(3) That this Scrutiny Panel supports the drive to:-

(a) encourage all schools to continue to improve their results, and strive to reflect outcomes at least in line with national averages; and

(b) reduce the number of schools below the Department of Children, Schools and Families floor target of 55% in both English and Mathematics, improve boys’ attainment and that of Black and Minority Ethnic pupils and Looked After Children.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Graham Sinclair, Director of Resources and Access concerning the revenue budget outturn for the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate (excluding schools delegated budgets) for 2008/09. The outturn showed an under-spend of £111,254 against a net cash limited budget of £38,259,363, representing a variation of - 0.3%. 

The report stated that this outturn figure was before making adjustments for the carry-forward of traded balances (£146,769 surplus). The adjusted variance to budget is £35,515 overspent (0.09%).

In addition to the above, the report contains a request for an earmarked balance to the value of £9,878.  Subject to approval of the earmarked balance requests the adjusted outturn for Children and Young People’s Service would be an overspend against budget of £45,393 (0.12%).

Members noted that a further detailed report on Schools delegated balances would be submitted during July to the Cabinet Member once information regarding the planned use of balances had been obtained from the schools with balances higher than the Department for Children, Schools and Families threshold (5% for secondary schools and 8% for other phases).

A sub group had been set up to look into the reasons for schools having a surplus.  This group would include Councillor Tweed, together with other members of the Schools Forum.  The Cabinet Member would consider the explanations given and it was envisaged that those schools unable to provide justified reasons for their surplus balances could expect to see the whole amount of the excess above the threshold removed.

A query was raised as to where the money allocated to Try Line Centre Partnership was deployed.  Confirmation was given that this funding was specifically to be used to support young people.  Work was being undertaken between the schools and the Council to establish those children in most need, the focus being on disaffected and under achieving young people.

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

(2) That the request to Cabinet for approval of the carry forward request contained within the report be supported.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Graham Sinclair, Director of Resources and Access, stating that the approved Children and Young People’s Service Directorate Capital Programme for 2008/09 was £25,922,409. The actual spend against the programme in 2008/09 is £24,524,691, a variance of £1,397,718 under-spend (-5.4%).  The submitted capital budget report contained the outturn (subject to external audit verification) for the financial year 2008/09.

Resolved:- That the 2008/09 Capital Outturn report for Children and Young People’s Services be received and its contents noted.

The Panel noted the Children and Young People’s Services Forward Plan of key decisions for the period 1^st June-30th September, 2009.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 5th June, 2009 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Board held on 10^th June, 2009 be noted.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 12th June, 2009, be noted.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information likely to reveal the identity of an individual)

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 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual).

Consideration was given to the Annual Report presented by the Complaints Manager, which outlined performance for complaints in Children and Young People’s Services for 2008/2009, along with comparison with 2008/2009 and 2007/2008 data and future developments.

In brief, the following complaints were received; 108 people have made 176 complaint points at Stage 1; 3 people made 20 complaint points at Stage 2; and 2 people took their complaints to a Stage 3 Review Panel.

Resolved:- That the Annual Report for Comments and Complaints 2008/09 be received.