Agenda and minutes

No Declarations of Interest were made. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families’ Services held on 11^th December, 2013. 

Resolved: -  That the minutes of the previous meeting be agreed as an accurate record. 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Children, Young People and Families' Partnership held on 20^th November, 2013, were considered.

Resolved: -  That the content of the minutes of the previous meeting be noted. 

Consideration was given to the National Children and Adult Services Conference scheduled to be held between 29^th – 31^st October, 2014, in Manchester. 

Resolved: -  That two representatives (one Officer and one Member) of Children and Young People’s Services Directive attend the conference subject to available budget being identified.    

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Principal School Organisation, Admissions and Special Educational Needs Assessment Officer (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services Directorate) that referred to the Statutory Consultation that had been undertaken in respect to the proposal to expand Thurcroft Infant School.  Minute No. D64 (Proposal to Expand Thurcroft Infant School – Statutory Consultation) of the meeting held on 13^th November, 2013, gave permission for the proposal to go through Statutory Consultation. 

The Principal Officer explained that the statutory consultation notice had stood in respect of the proposal between 22^nd November, 2013 – 20^th December, 2013, and no formal objections had been received. 

The proposal related to increasing the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Thurcroft Infant School from 60 to 75 in Foundation Stage Two / Reception Class from 1^st September, 2014, and then in subsequent Reception cohorts thereafter.

Resolved: -  (1)  That, in the absence of any formal objections, the proposal to increase the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Thurcroft Infant School from 60 to 75 in the Foundation Stage Two / Reception Class from 1^st September, 2014, and subsequent Foundation Stage Two / Reception Class cohorts thereafter, be approved.  

2)         That the Secretary of State for Education be informed accordingly, by the School Admissions, Organisation and Special Educational Needs Assessment Service.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Principal School Organisation, Admissions and Special Educational Needs Assessment Service Officer (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services), which outlined a proposal to amalgamate Brampton the Ellis Infant and Junior Schools.

This proposal was also linked to the proposals to expand Cortonwood Infant School from a published Admission Number (PAN) of 40 to 50 with effect from 1^st September, 2017, and the proposal to expand Brampton the Ellis Junior School from a Published Admission Number of 70 to 80 by 1^st September, 2014, to accommodate rising feeder school numbers and to 90 in due course (2020/21 academic year) to accommodate rising pupil number cohorts following the expansion of Cortonwood Infant School. Minute Nos. D32 and D.33 of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families’ Services held on 24^th July, 2013 refer to these proposals. 

Under the linked proposals the ‘through’ School would have 120 infant places (40 x 3 = 120 FS2/Reception to Y2) and 280 Junior places (70 x 4 = 280 presently, rising to 80 x 4 = 320 with effect from 1^st September, 2014, and eventually 90 x 4 = 360). The school would have a Published Admission Number (PAN) of 40 for the Infant School and 80 (rising to 90 for the Junior School).

The submitted report outlined the principal benefits of amalgamating infant and junior schools.  The report also outlined the form that the consultation process would take, and the proposed timetable. 

Discussion ensued on the proposal to amalgamate the two schools.

Resolved: - (1)  That pre-statutory consultation on the proposal to amalgamate Brampton the Ellis Infant and Junior Schools by the closure of the Junior School and the expansion and change of age-range of the Infant School from 3-7 to 3-11, be approved.

(2)  That a further report be brought to the Cabinet Member detailing the outcome of the consultation in due course.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Finance Manager (Financial Services, Resources Directorate), which provided a financial forecast to 31st March, 2014, based on actual income and expenditure to 30th November, 2013. 

Overall, the Directorate was projecting a £1.241million over-spend outturn position at the end of the 2013/2014 financial year.  This overspend represented an increase of 2.7% on the total revenue budget allocation.  The projected overspend had improved since the previous month’s Budget Monitoring report. 

The forecast overspend was largely due to the continuing pressures in Safeguarding Children and Families’ Services due to the needs-led nature of the budget relating to out-of-authority residential and fostering placements.  The report provided an update on the main areas of variance and outlined the main pressures and areas of underspend and/or overspend for each Service.

The management actions taken relating to the Services for Looked After Children included a drive to recruit more in-house foster carers, prevention and early intervention strategies including an increased use of Special Guardianship Orders, and the Invest to Save Programme in Fostering and Adoption Services. 

A number of continuing budget management actions were being taken to avoid costs: -

·         Proactive management actions continued to concentrate on avoiding costs relating to placements for looked after children, the fostering framework and through block commissioning and negotiation of placements;

·         The Multi-Agency Support Panel was continuing to make efficient multi-agency management actions and decisions, and continuing to avoid costs wherever possible;

·         Agency costs had increased compared to the same period in the previous year primarily as a result of covering vacant posts within Safeguarding Children and Families’ Service, and covering sickness absence and maternity leave to ensure that safe staffing ratios were maintained.  Recruitment was underway in relation to vacant posts;

·         Non-contractual overtime for Children and Young People’s Services had increased compared to the same period in the previous year as a result of the need for fully trained staff to maintain cover in residential homes.  Agency staff could not cover these posts due to training requirements;

·         Consultancy costs had decreased compared to the same period in the previous year. 

Discussion ensued and the following issues were raised: -

·         Confirmation was requested in relation to the weekly costs of fostering placements and a comparison of how the independent and in-house provision costs differed.

Resolved: - That the latest financial projection against the budget for the year based on actual income and expenditure to the 30^th November, 2013, be noted.

The Operational Commissioner (Commissioning, Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate) provided an update in relation to the White Rose Consortium, which Rotherham Council was a member of. Minute No. D40 (The White Rose Consortium – Independent Residential Framework) of the meeting held on 18^th September, 2013, recorded an earlier update that the Cabinet Member had received in relation to the Consortium. 

Rotherham had commissioned twenty placements with an average cost of £2,240.  This represented a whole-year saving of £250,000. 

Negotiations had been entered into with existing providers who had now agreed to decrease existing placement costs to those available via the White Rose Consortium.  This represented a whole-year saving of £135,000.  Existing placements would be phased out in favour of placements procured through the Consortium.  However, in the mean-time, no placements would be ended purely to make financial savings, and all movements would be based on the best interests of the children and young people involved. 

Discussion ensued on the report relating to the White Rose Consortium, including issues about the quality and sufficiency of the placements.  Currently the provision was sufficient and on-going quality assurance was being undertaken; a report would be presented to the May meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel.  Secure placements costs were set nationally and the White Rose Consortium did not have any power to negotiate these.

A further four local authorities had joined the eight already part of the Consortium, which further increased its bargaining power.

Resolved: -  That the information shared be noted.

The Operational Commissioner reported on the existing contract with Barnardo’s to deliver the Young Carers’ Service for Children and Young People in Rotherham.  The Local Authority part-funded the contract to a value of £42,300, which covered 1.5 workers and some activity costs.  Barnardo’s and their charitable arm funded a further £16,000 which covered activity costs. 

Barnardos had been the sole bidder for the contract following the end of the existing contract on 31^st March, 2014.  It was proposed that, as the Council had an existing contract and specification in place with the provider, the service be exempt from a competitive tendering process on the basis of cost effectiveness and that there was only one external provider that could undertake this work.

A proposal to exempt Standing Order 49 (Tender invitation and receipt of tenders) was made. 

Discussion ensued on the proposal.  Performance monitoring would continue to be rigorous.  Each year through this project, Barnardo’s worked with around 120 young people. 

Resolved: - (1)  That Standing Order 49 (Tender invitation and receipt of tenders) be exempted in relation to the contract with Barndardo’s relating to the Young Carers’ Service for Children and Young People in Rotherham, and the contract be renewed after the existing contract ends on 31^st March, 2014. 

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and the public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (1972) (as amended March, 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)).

Resolved: - That the following item be considered in the absence of the press and the public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (1972) (as amended March, 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)).

The Operational Commissioner described the tendering process in relation to Short Break provision.  Minute No. D52 (Aiming High for Disabled Children Short Breaks) of the meeting held on 16^th October, 2013, approved the 2013/2014 policy and commissioning plans in relation to this service.  

The tendering exercise had been completed.  Young people had been involved in the tender evaluation process.  Successful bidders were the YMCA White Rose and the Autism Communication Team.  These bids related to the provision of the weekday evening activities and holiday activities.  A successful bidder was not identified for the provision of weekend activities. 

Therefore, it was proposed that a further tendering exercise be undertaken in relation to the weekend activity requirements.

The Cabinet Member requested that a report to be presented to the Corporate Parenting Panel informing them of this progress. 

Resolved: -  (1)  That a further tendering exercise be undertaken in respect of the weekend activities provision and a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member at the conclusion of the process. 

(2)  That a full update be provided to the Corporate Parenting Panel. 

·         Wednesday 22^nd January, 2014, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall. 

Resolved: - That the next meeting of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families’ Services take place on Wednesday 22^nd January, 2014, to start at 12.00 noon in the Rotherham Town Hall.