Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Tony Little.

Councillor Catherine Dann declared a general Personal Interest as

she was a Governor of Newham Junior School and Bishop Ramsay C of E School. She remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

Councillor Judith Cooper declared a general Personal Interest as she was a Governor of Charville & St Andrews Schools. She remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion. 

Councillor Susan O’Brien declared a general Personal Interest as she was a Governor at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School. She remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

Councillor David Benson declared a general Personal Interest as he was a Governor of Uxbridge High School. He remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

Councillor John Riley declared a general Personal Interest as he was a Governor of Field End Infant School. He remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

Councillor Peter Curling declared a general Personal Interest as he was a Governor of Hewens College and Harefield Academy. He remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

Councillor Lindsay Bliss declared a general Personal Interest as she was a Governor of Brookside Primary School. She remained in the room during the meeting and took part in the discussion.

It was confirmed that all items would be heard in public.

There had been no matters identified in advance as urgent.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2011 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

(A member asked that the final report on the EHE Review should include reference to there being a pre-conceived perception that a home educated child was taught by a parent in isolation.  The information that was provided by the witnesses giving evidence for the review indicated that where parents did not have an area of expertise, specialist teachers were brought in to teach a small group of home educated children. It was agreed that this be included in the final report.)

 Officers introduced the report informing the committee of the key issues for both the Education & Children Services Budgets.  The Council was in a good financial position and there were no new savings being considered in the 2012/2013 budget.

The committee asked a number of questions as follows:-

From the information in the report smallest schools would be hit the hardest was that the correct analogy

Officers advised that the funding for schools was complex, the review provided a formula that was transparent and looked at resources and need.

Of the 3 additional staff within Children & Families, were these to replace agency staff and why had 2 agency admin staff not been made permanent.

Members were informed that there were still some temporary staff within Children & Families but the three staff were in addition to existing staff.   In answer to the issue raised in relation to the admin staff, officers advised the committee that there was currently a major review of admin functions within Children & Families to redefine the tasks they undertake.

There were a number of issues raised in relation to the figures contained in the appendices in regard to savings.

Officers advised the committee that a number of packages providing services had been redefined and had now included some of those services identified as a saving. 

In answer to a question raised in relation to Children’s centres, officers advised the committee that in Appendix D the first column of the table was the action taken and the second column the planned reduction in 2012/2013.  All savings had been through the Business Improvement Delivery (BID).  This process had looked at each function in isolation along with the available resources and how functions could be improved to cut out duplication.  A lot of detailed work had been undertaken on all reviews carried out by BID process.

A member identified a discrepancy in the figures in relation to the music services.  Officers were asked to investigate and advise the committee of the correct figures.

The committee asked whether the schools budget could be provided to schools prior to close of play on the 31 March 2012.  This had caused great concern to schools last year, as they were not provided until late on 31 March 2011. 

Officers advised that last year this was due to the late receipt of information from the Government.  This year the figures would be received earlier and it was hoped that the schools budget would be provided to them earlier.

Officers informed the committee about the Looked After Children (LAC)review and advised that the number of LAC, had not increased.  A saving had been achieved by providing in house foster placements instead of external placements. This was an ongoing process.  Officers were keeping a tight control on resources, examining and scrutinising costs effectively.  This was enabling the Local Authority to bring children placed out of borough, back home to enable access to local service, the retention of school links and maintaining contacts.

Officers advised the committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Officers introduced the report and advised the committee that the review being undertaken would need to take account of the Government initiated review and the national picture.  The themes for the review would be to reduce delay in finding a family within the adoption process and providing a balance between safeguarding and permanency placements.

A member identified three routes that could lead to a child being adopted and asked whether the review would focus on all these routes. The three routes were, adopting a step child, child given for adoption by birth mother and adoption of Looked After Children.

Officers advised that due to the tight timescale for the final report the review would focus on the process for Looked after Children through to adoption.

A member asked whether the review would include what support was provided to the birth parents, as this may cause an impact on the delay for a child being adopted.

Officers advised that this was a different area of expertise and would require a different section of staff so would not be included as part of this review. 

The committee felt that the support for birth parents was important and should be referred to in the final report for the current review.

A member suggested that as there were a number of other issues that would not form part of the current review that these be taken forward for consideration for future topics for review.

Resolved –

1.                  That the information provided be noted.

2.                  That officers provide up to three witnesses for the next meeting.

3.                  That the other routes for adoption other than Looked After Children be considered as a future review topic

Officers introduced the report, which provided an updated requested by a previous meeting on funding of universal careers guidance.  The committee was advised that changes in statutory duties as detailed in the Education Bill would led to a transfer of responsibility for securing impartial careers guidance. It is anticipated that from September 2012 schools will assume this responsibility and that a new ‘all-age’ careers service would be launched in April 2012.

A member asked whether officers had been in discussion with schools to advise them of the change and that they would have to but in the services.

Officers advised that discussions had been undertaken with schools with regard to the changes.  Guidance had also been provided to them.  It was the expectation that the similar guidance would be provided to Local Authority’s (LA’s) setting out revised statutory expectations which will focus on LAs providing support to vulnerable young people and monitoring and tracking their progress.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The work programme was amended for the 20 March meeting to change the Second Review – Witness Session to ‘2’ not ‘1’.

Resolved – That the Work Programme be noted.

The committee received a report setting out the items on the Forward Plan relating to Education & Children’s Services.

Resolved – That the items on the Forward Plan be noted.