Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham.

Contact: James McLaughlin, Democratic Services Manager  The webcast can be viewed at http://www.rotherham.public-i.tv

Items
No. Item

83.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Cusworth declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 (High Needs Finance Update and Budget Sustainability) on the basis that she was Chair of Governors at a primary school.

 

Councillor Sheppard declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 (High Needs Finance Update and Budget Sustainability) on the basis that he was a governor at Rawmarsh Children’s Centre.

84.

Questions from Members of the Public and the Press

Minutes:

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

85.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that there were no items of business requiring the exclusion of the press or public from the meeting.

86.

Review of Response to Petition - Truthfulness in Communications with Representatives and Advocates of Victims & Survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which set out a request to review the response received to a petition in respect of ‘Truthfulness in Communications with Representatives and Advocates of Victims and Survivors of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)’.

 

Under the petition scheme, a lead petitioner may request a review of the Council’s response by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. On 13 September 2017, the Council received a petition containing 22 signatures requesting the Chief Executive to write a letter to all employees of RMBC about the importance of truthfulness in their communications with representatives and advocates of victims and survivors of CSE in Rotherham. As the petition had more than 20 signatures, the lead petitioner addressed the Council meeting and, in accordance with the scheme, the petition was referred to the relevant officer for response. On 29 September 2017, a response was sent by the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services on behalf of the Chief Executive to the lead petitioner.

 

In setting out the reasons for the request to review the petition, Mr. Liam Harron explained that his petition was simple and had asked for the council's Chief Executive to write to all employees about the importance of truthfulness in all communications. The Chief Executive had declined to do so and Mr. Harron asked Members to re-visit that response and recommend that the Chief Executive write to all employees about the importance of truthfulness.

 

Mr. Harron provided his recollection of events in respect of discussions and the publication of the Jay Report and actions that had been taken that he had been involved with since that time to support victims and survivors. He also referred to the need to protect the image of the town and the borough and expressed a view that council officials had let down the people of Rotherham. He made reference to a meeting that he had held with the Chief Executive and Councillor Mallinder, who was one of his ward councillors, to argue for the the investigation of the actions of officers appointed since the publication of the Jay Report in August 2014. He also reflected on the comments of a survivor at the meeting held on 6 September 2017 where the Council received six investigation reports and cited this as an example, in his view, of council officers not listening or acting on the needs of victims and survivors and not being truthful. In conclusion, he implored Members to agree with his view and recommend that the Chief Executive write to all employees to reiterate the importance of truthfulness in communications with representatives and advocates of victims and survivors of CSE.

 

Members sought to clarify exactly what the lead petitioner sought from the meeting. Mr Harron confirmed that he wished to see a letter or email sent to all staff reminding them of the importance of truthfulness, as it was important that this was put on record. Following on, Members sought to understand what the anticipated benefit of this on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

87.

High Needs Finance Update and Budget Sustainability pdf icon PDF 274 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which paper outlined the financial position in 2017/18 of the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The report evidenced the recent growth in demand for special educational places and the impact on cost compared to previous years. It also set out options to bring the High Needs Budget to a sustainable level which had been explored in light of the changes to the High Needs Fair Funding Formula, National Schools Funding Formula and the Council’s SEND Sufficiency Strategy.

 

Members sought clarification in respect of the current position and what work was being done with academies to reduce the number of exclusions from those institutions to focus on improved outcomes. In response, the Strategic Director confirmed that the local authority had historically picked up the costs and were not receiving from either the health or schools sector. Funding was now agreed and in place from the start of any new placement to ensure that the costs were shared. and weren’t getting contributions from health and schools sector, so now get funding agreed in place from start of placement.

 

Members also queried whether any work had been undertaken to identify if the increase was due to underlying conditions or diagnosis inflation, and if it were the latter what the driving factors were. In response, it was confirmed assertive action was required to address behaviours and work was being undertaken to better understand the complexity of the issue and its impact.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the in-year High Needs forecast of expenditure at December 2017 be noted.

 

2.    That the growth in demand for Education and Health Care Plans in Rotherham be noted.

 

3.    That the options to provide future budget sustainability, the outcome of consultation with schools and the recommendation of Schools Forum be noted.

 

 

 

 

88.

Budget Scrutiny Follow Up - Rotherham Youth Enterprise (RYE) Service pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which detailed further information in relation to the element of the budget option that was initially referred to as School Improvement was now titled ‘Rotherham Youth Enterprise Service’.

 

It was reported that the Council had broad duties to encourage, enable and assist young people to participate in education or training, particularly vulnerable young people with Special Educational Needs (SEND), Looked After Children (LAC) and young people in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). One of the duties in particular, was to make available to all young people aged 13-19 and to those between 20 and 25 with SEND, support (careers advice and guidance) that would encourage, enable or assist them to participate in education or training under the Education and Skills Act 2008.

 

It was reported that the revised budget proposal was to reduce the amount of revenue investment and maintain a reduced staffing profile in the Rotherham Youth Enterprise Service. Members noted that this would enable the local authority to continue to develop careers guidance under the ‘Statutory Guidance on the Participation of Young People in Education , Employment or Training’ and would support the necessary change which had to take place in careers guidance across the borough, as outlined in the governments careers strategy published in December 2017. The revenue budget saving from the proposal would be £132.5k in the 2018/19 financial year.

 

Members reflected on the outcomes on signposting and engagement and noted that the tangible return from the service was not large and did not seem to have a high impact. In response, the Strategic Director confirmed that it would be disingenuous to say with any certainty what could be achieved if the budget proposal were implemented, but he remained hopeful that the alignment with RIDO would ensure that outcomes were achieved.

 

Concerns were also expressed on behalf of young people and reference was made to the forthcoming Children’s Commissioner Takeover Challenge where the focus was to be on work experience and enabling young people to get into the jobs market. In response, the Strategic Director advised that even with the implementation of the proposal, the Council would still be exceeding the statutory requirement in this regard.

 

In probing alternative approaches, Members queried whether it was feasible for RIDO to undertake the work itself. The Strategic Director confirmed that service did not have the capacity to undertake the function.

 

Resolved:-

 

That the budget proposal be supported.

 

 

89.

Relationship between Audit Committee and Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which set out the nature of the relationship and highlights potential areas for improving working practices between the Audit Committee and the Scrutiny function.

 

It was noted that whilst the Audit Committee’s work programme was driven largely by statute and the governance and financial reporting cycle, a potential overlap existed between the work of the Audit Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board. The co-ordination of work programmes was considered to be desirable to avoid duplication of work and to ensure that resources are used effectively. It was for this reason that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Audit Committee were appointed as members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

 

It was reported that current practice could continue, but this had not been recommended as a greater awareness of the respective Audit and Overview & Scrutiny work programmes would avoid duplication and bring about more efficient and effective use of resources. It was recommended that the adoption of a protocol for the referral of issues between the Audit Committee and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board would help clarify the reasons for the referral and inform the subsequent debate. The Audit Committee had been consulted and supported the adoption of a protocol.

 

Members welcomed the report and expressed the view that there was a good working relationship between the two functions. The recommended approach of establishing a concise protocol was supported by the Board.

 

Resolved:-

 

1.    That the report be noted.

 

2.    That a concise protocol be adopted governing referrals between the Audit Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

90.

Youth Cabinet/Young People's Issues

Minutes:

The Chair reported that he, along with Councillors Cusworth, Evans and Sheppard, had held a positive meeting with Youth Cabinet Members in mid-January to discuss the Children’s Commissioner Takeover Challenge. The Youth Cabinet had summarised their research findings to date and proposed to add further information from students with SEND when received.

 

He further reported that preparations were going well with young people developing their key lines of enquiry and questions. The Scrutiny Team were in discussion with other council officers and partners to identify and invite witnesses to the meeting on 1 March 2018.

 

Resolved:-

 

That the update be noted.

91.

Work in Progress

Minutes:

Health Select Commission

 

Councillor Evans reported that the Health Select Commission had met on three occasions recently and had focused on transformation projects with RDaSH, the implementation of the Carers’ Strategy and had input on the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Plan and Integrated Place Plan.  Looking to the future, work was underway to organise a visit to Carlton House.

 

Improving Lives Select Commission

 

Councillor Clark reported that the most recent meeting had focused on the Voice of the Child and children missing from education. It was proposed that the next meeting in March would focus on the complex abuse process and that meeting would be open to all Members to attend. Furthermore, in April, the Commission proposed to receive updates on Edge of Care, Family Conferencing and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for Children and Young People’s Services.

 

Improving Places Select Commission

 

Councillor Mallinder reported that the Commission had received Kingdom in respect of the ‘Time for Action’ Initiative and discussed contracts with them. In addition, the Commission had requested more information on Selective Licensing. Furthermore, arrangements were being made for a meeting in April 2018 to focus on homelessness.

 

Overview and Scrutiny Management Board

 

Councillor Steele reported that the work was continuing on the review of agency, interim and consultancy staff and meetings had taken place with the Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Human Resources.

 

92.

Call-in Issues

Minutes:

The Chair reported that there were no call-in issues.

93.

To determine any item which the Chairman is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that there were no items of business requiring urgent consideration.

94.

Date and time of next meeting

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will take place on Wednesday 14 February 2018 at 11.00a.m. at Rotherham Town Hall.

Minutes:

Resolved:-

 

That the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board be held on Wednesday 14 February 2018 commencing at 11.00 a.m. in Rotherham Town Hall.