Agenda and draft 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 5^th March, 2014, were considered. 

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

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Strategic Commissioner (Neighbourhood and Adult Services Directorate) that outlined a tendering process that had taken place in relation to the contract to deliver Advocacy for children and young people involved in Child Protection processes. 

The report outlined the commissioning history relating to the area.  A commissioning exercise had been undertaken in preparation of the contract ending on 31^st March, 2014.  The contract offered was for one year from 1^st April, 2014 – 31^st March, 2015 with the option to extend for a further year if desirable. 

An outline of the commissioning exercise had taken place and the responses were shared.  Three bids had been received and were graded against the criteria. 

Using a rigid application of the evaluation criteria, Barnardo’s were confirmed as the successful bidder.  A soft-challenge had been received from the Rights 2 Rights Service, which had led to a re-evaluation of the submissions.  The same outcome was achieved and the bid submitted on behalf of the Rights 2 Rights Service was found to contain insufficient detail and did not deliver against all of the criteria required. 

The Strategic Commissioner confirmed that all contracts in place were subject to robust performance management and that this would continue. 

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

(2)  That Barnardo’s, the successful bidder for the contract, be endorsed to deliver Advocacy Services for children and young people involved in Child Protection processes.

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 28^th February, 2014. 

Overall, the Directorate was estimating a £968,000 over-spend outturn position at the end of the 2013/2014 financial year.  This now represented a reduction of £156,000 since the January budget monitoring report. 

This over-spend position had increased since the time of writing the submitted report, when it was originally reported as £768,000 over-spent.  This was due to continuing discussions relating to the Academisation of Rawmarsh Community School. When the report had been written it was estimated that the School’s £100,000 deficit would be transferred to the Local Authority on the completion of their sponsored academisation.  It was known at this point that the deficit was higher but it was thought likely that the deficit could be reduced.  Following further discussions with the Headteacher and Business Managers of both Schools involved, it was now likely that the deficit would be approximately £300,000.  Robust financial management would be in place following the School’s academisation.  The Local Authority would monitor the budget on a weekly basis and the School would only be allowed to undertake essential spend on staffing, utilities and health and safety items.    

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, Disability Services and the Directorate-Wide budget. 

The report provided an update on the main areas of variance and outlined the main pressures and areas of under-spend and/or over-spend for each Service.

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

·           Proactive management concentrating on avoiding costs relating to placements for Looked After Children, the Fostering Framework and through block commissioning and negotiation of placements was taking place.  These efforts had achieved savings of £714,000 to February, 2014;

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

·           The Invest to Save Programme in Fostering and Adoption Services was continuing to be effective and increase the number of in-house fostering placements and adopters;

·           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 to save on agency costs;

·           The recruitment of Social Workers and Team Managers was also considered.  The timescales involved often meant that posts could not be filled as soon as they became vacant.  However, the recruitment and retention of Social Workers was not currently uncontrolled or unpredictable in Rotherham.  The Department for Education’s data had shown that Rotherham’s turnover of social care staff and use of agency was one of the lowest in the region; 

·           Non-contractual overtime for Children and Young People’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 115.

Consideration was given to the report presented by the Principal School Admission, Organisation and Special Educational Needs Assessment Service Officer (Schools and Lifelong Learning, Children and Young People’s Services Directorate) that outlined the consultation that had taken place on the School Admission Policy/Co-ordinated Scheme for the admission year 2015/2016.  The Policy had to be finalised by 15^th April, 2014.

Minute No. D55 (Admissions Consultation in respect of entry in the 2015/16 academic year) of the meeting of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families’ Services that took place on 16^th October, 2013, refers.  

The School Admission Policy/Co-ordinated Scheme for the admission year 2015/2016 included sections relating to: -

·           Admission Criteria for Community Schools;

·           Co-ordinated Admission Arrangements (including Admissions Criteria);

·           Waiting Lists;

·           Catchment Areas;

·           Fair Access Protocol (FAP);

·           Statutory Closing Dates;

·           Report to the Schools Adjudicator.

An outline of the 2015/2016 Admissions Policy was provided: -

·         No changes were planned to the Admissions Criteria for 2015/2016;

·         The closing date for admission to Secondary School on 1^st September, 2015, would be 31^st October, 2014.  The closing date for admission to Primary School on 1^st September, 2015, would be 15^th January, 2015;

·         No alterations to existing catchment areas were proposed, although it was noted that discussions would be taking place with stakeholders regarding the catchment area of the new central primary school.  A report on this would follow to the Cabinet Member in due course;

·         Consultation had already taken place by either prescribed alteration process or via the annual admissions consultation in relation to amendments and alterations to school admission numbers.

The Principal Officer requested that the draft 2015/2016 Admissions document be approved and published on the Council’s website. 

Resolved: - That the Admission Arrangements for the 2015/2016 school year, as included in the submitted report, be agreed following the end of the consultation process.  

·         Wednesday 21^st May, 2014, to start at 9.00 a.m. 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 21^st May, 2014, to start at 9.00 a.m. in the Rotherham Town Hall.