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.

The Scrutiny Panel noted that the report of the scrutiny review of the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum (study by the Youth Cabinet) would be considered by the Council’s Cabinet at its meeting to be held on Wednesday 8th September, 2010.

FOR DISCUSSION

The Scrutiny Panel discussed the following issues:-

(1) proposed Scrutiny Review of the incidence of autism amongst Rotherham school pupils, its diagnosis and the impact of early intervention measures on the planning of future service delivery – Councillor Kaye and co-opted member Mr. M. Hall were appointed to this scrutiny review panel, with other members to be appointed.

(2) Scrutiny Review of the temporary closure of Rotherham schools during periods of inclement weather – the report of this scrutiny review would be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Panel, to be held during October, 2010.

Further to Minute No. 31 of the meeting of the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel held on 24^th July, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Principal Officer (Resources, Planning and Performance) stating that Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) is the Government’s transformation programme for disabled children’s services in England. A Strategic Vision for the AHDC programme, along with a Needs Assessment, Commissioning Strategy and spending plan for Year 1 of the Short Breaks programme were received by Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel on 24th July, 2009. This submitted report includes an update of Rotherham’s delivery of the AHDC National Core Offer, summarises the outcomes of the first year of the AHDC Short Breaks programme in Rotherham and describes progress towards achieving the Short Breaks Full Service Offer.

The Scrutiny Panel’s discussion of this report included the following salient issues:-

- future funding of the short breaks service after the current contracts ended on 31 March, 2011 (currently, funding was included within ‘Area Based Grant’ financial allocations, although the finance was not specifically ring-fenced for the short breaks service);

- the involvement of the voluntary sector in service delivery;

- compliance with National Performance Indicator 54 (services to disabled children);

- obtaining the views of parents about the short breaks service;

- key achievements of the service during 2009/10;

- efforts to ensure that as many eligible people as possible were able to gain access to the short break service;

- provision of the service and the proportion of take-up of the service by the Black and Minority Ethnic communities;

- eligibility criteria for the short breaks service;

- establishing links with local clubs in respect of sports and leisure activities.

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

(2) That a further report about the future funding of the Short Breaks programme be submitted to an early meeting of the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel.

(3) That further consideration be given to the need for a scrutiny review of the delivery of the Short Breaks programme.

CORPORATE PARENTING

Further to Minute No. 95 of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 12^th February, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Imagination Library Project Manager about the Imagination Library, a literacy scheme for under fives through which children receive one high quality age appropriate book each month, delivered to them personally through the post. The report described how the scheme was working in Rotherham, including the key developments of the scheme from April, 2009 to date.

The Scrutiny Panel viewed a film about the Imagination Library, which was used for marketing and publicity purposes. The staff and work experience students at the Rawmarsh City Learning Centre had undertaken the filming, editing and production of this dvd film.

The Scrutiny Panel’s debate of this item included the following salient issues:-

- the Imagination Library Annual Report 2009/2010 (a copy of which was included with the submitted report);

- current and future funding of the Imagination Library;

- 74% of Rotherham children, aged 0-5 years were now registered with the Imagination Library and efforts were continually being made to increase this figure;

- use of the Sure Start database for registering children with the Imagination Library;

- inviting children to join their local library, in addition to joining the Imagination Library;

- ensuring extensive publicity for the Imagination Library;

- the impact upon literacy and reading standards in the Rotherham Borough area;

- future challenges for the Imagination Library, especially those in the forthcoming year.

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

(2) That the contents of the Imagination Library Annual Report 2009/2010 be noted.

Further to Minute No. 230 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28^th April, 2010, consideration was given to a report presented by the Strategic Director of Children and Young People's Services concerning the review of Corporate Parenting, undertaken from November, 2009 to March, 2010 by the Looked After Children Scrutiny Sub-Panel, utilising a Corporate Parenting Toolkit developed by the National Children’s Bureau. The review report recommended modernising the arrangements in line with the Government Agenda and with Ofsted Inspection expectations (the Action Plan, including recommendations, was attached to the submitted report).

Reference was made to the establishment of the Corporate Parenting Board, whose initial meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 22^nd September, 2010.

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

(2) That an update of progress be reported to a meeting of this Scrutiny Panel in six months’ time.

Further to Minute No. 22 of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 2^nd July, 2010, consideration was given to a report presented by the Interim Service Manager – Provider Services summarising the main findings of the inspection of the Fostering Service undertaken by Ofsted during June, 2010. Appended to the report was the action plan devised to address the recommendations of the Inspectors. The overall judgement of the inspection is ‘Satisfactory’, with ‘Good’ being achieved in:-

- Helping children to be healthy

- Achieve well and enjoy what they do

- Make a positive contribution

- Achieving economic well?being

Resolved:- (1) That the report and accompanying action plan be received and their contents noted.

(2) That an update of progress and an updated action plan be reported to a meeting of this Scrutiny Panel in six months’ time.

FOR MONITORING

Further to Minute No. 9 of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel held on 4^th June, 2010, the Strategic Director of Children and Young People's Services reported that the Ofsted inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children had taken place between 19th and 30th July, 2010. The Inspection had been very positive, resulting in an overall rating of Adequate, with some elements rated as Good.

It was agreed that a written report and action plan, about the inspection, be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Panel, to be held during October, 2010.

Further to Minute No. 89 of the meeting of the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel held on 27^th November, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Engineer which provided an update on progress with the implementation of the recommendations of the joint scrutiny review into road safety outside schools.

The Scrutiny Panel’s discussion of this item included the following issues:-

-           the coalition Government was preparing a revised National Road Safety Strategy;

-           road safety features were being designed for installation on roads outside schools at Dinnington and at Wath upon Dearne;

-           introduction of the ‘Walk to School on Wednesdays’ initiative;

-           the review of speed limits of all A and B class roads in Rotherham was now complete and the financial implications of reviewing speed limits and introducing any  consequent changes on roads outside schools would have to be assessed;

-           the ‘School Keep Clear’ Traffic Regulation Orders were to be extended outside schools in Brampton Bierlow, Swinton, Wath upon Dearne and West Melton;

-           enforcement of traffic regulation orders.

Resolved:- (1) That this Scrutiny Panel notes the progress, as now reported, with the implementation of the recommendations of the joint Children and Young People’s Services/Regeneration Scrutiny Review into Road Safety outside Schools.

(2) That a further update of progress be reported to a meeting of this Scrutiny Panel in twelve months’ time.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Performance Management Officer outlining the performance of the Children and Young People's Services Directorate at the end of 2010/11 Quarter One against targets, with direction of travel against previous year’s performance and comparisons with statistical neighbours and national data.

The Scrutiny Panel learned that, to date, the coalition Government had not announced plans for any revised legislation affecting the National Performance Indicators. Consequently, the current performance indicator monitoring system would be operating unchanged until such time as any new legislative proposals were announced by Central Government.

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

(2) That the recommendations regarding performance clinics, as contained in the report submitted, be supported.

MINUTES

The Strategic Director of Children and Young People's Services informed the Scrutiny Panel of the current year’s (2010/11) budget position of the Directorate. It was noted that specific budget pressures existed in respect of safeguarding of children / corporate parenting which principally affected fostering placements for children (including out-of-authority placements and residential placements) and the use of agency staff.

Resolved:- That the budget details be noted and a written report be submitted to the next meeting of this Scrutiny Panel, to be held during October, 2010.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel held on 2^nd July, 2010, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman, with the inclusion of Dr. S. Warren in the list of persons who gave their apologies for absence for that meeting.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Trust Board held on 6^th August, 2010, be noted.

Attached are minutes of meetings held on 22nd June, 2010, 23rd June, 2010, 7th July, 2010, 20th July, 2010 and on 21st July, 2010

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 22^nd June, 2010, 23^rd June, 2010, 7^th July, 2010, 20^th July, 2010 and on 21^st July, 2010, be noted.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meetings of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee held on 25^th June, 2010, 9^th July, 2010 and on 23^rd July, 2010, be noted.