A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Council and councillors

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/92269475929

Contact: Jane Narey  01572 758311

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

WELCOME AND APOLOGIES RECEIVED

Minutes:

Councillor Ainsley welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received from Councillor Begy.

2.

RECORD OF MEETING pdf icon PDF 228 KB

To confirm the record of the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on the 16th December 2021 and the Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting held on the 26th January 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meetings held on the 16th December 2021 and the 26th January 2022 were approved as an accurate record.

3.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Minutes:

No interests were declared

4.

PETITIONS, DEPUTATIONS AND QUESTIONS

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 216.

 

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes.  Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received.  Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

 

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes out of the total time of 30 minutes.  Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice.  Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

 

Minutes:

No petitions, deputations or questions were received

5.

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE FROM MEMBERS

To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules No 218 and No. 218A.

Minutes:

No questions with notice from members were received

6.

NOTICES OF MOTION FROM MEMBERS

To consider any Notices of Motion from Members submitted in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule No 219.

 

Minutes:

No notices of motion from members were received

7.

CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE FOR A DECISION IN RELATION TO CALL IN OF A DECISION

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to call in of a decision in accordance with Procedure Rule 206.

 

Minutes:

No matters were received for call in

8.

DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY HUBS AND THE EARLY HELP OFFER pdf icon PDF 447 KB

To receive Report No. 43/2022 from Councillor David Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Children’s Services

Minutes:

Report No. 43/2022 was received from Bernadette Caffrey, Head of Early Intervention, SEND and Inclusion. During the discussion, the following points were noted:

 

·       The report updated members on the national and local Family Hub Programme and noted opportunities and actions to develop this in Rutland.

·       Officer time for the Family Hub Programme was not anticipated to be excessive but the collation of documentation and the engagement in key meetings would be required.

·       A ‘Project Manager’ had been recruited to undertake this work and their sole focus would be on the development of the family hub.

·       Development of a communication plan regarding communication with the public would be one of the first key priorities for the Project Manager.

·       Once the feasibility study was completed, the next step would be thinking about the model and the consultation behind it.

·       Work around the potential location of the Family Hub was ongoing and this would link in with Council’s asset review. 

·       The Children’s Centre had been suggested as a possible site but it had been assessed as too small and the site was already used to capacity. 

·       The Project Manager had made links with colleagues regarding the Local Plan but this development was still in the early stages so there was currently no definitive answer regarding possible locations.

·       The delivery plan for the Family Hub would link in with the Rutland Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

·       The Strategic Director for Children and Families confirmed that the £40k funding was for the recruitment of the Project Manager on a 12-month fixed term contract.

·       No future funding had been identified for the programme so everything was modelled on the basis of known available resources and developing a sustainable model for the future.

 

RESOLVED

That the Scrutiny Committee:

 

a)    NOTED the development of a national and local Family Hub programme and NOTED the opportunities and actions to develop a Family Hub for Rutland.

 

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The Head of Early Help, SEND and Inclusion left the meeting at 7.44 pm

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9.

DOMESTIC ABUSE STRATEGY: UPDATE pdf icon PDF 464 KB

To receive Report No. 44/2022 from Councillor David Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Children’s Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report No. 44/2022 was received from Dawn Godfrey, Strategic Director for Children’s Services. During discussion, the following points were noted:

 

·       The report raised awareness of the Local Authority’s responsibilities and duties following the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which came into force in October 2021. The report also presented the findings from the Local Strategic Needs Assessment and provided opportunity to review the subsequent Domestic Abuse Strategy.

·       Councillors welcomed the fact that children would now be recognised as a ‘victim’ of domestic abuse.  They stated that this recognition was long overdue and that it was a valuable step in the right direction.

·       It was reported that Rutland had a lower number of domestic abuse cases compared to neighbouring authorities.  This could be due to under reporting or ‘hidden victims’ that the Council were not aware of. Targeted campaigning within communities would help promote the reporting of domestic abuse issues. 

·       Victims of domestic abuse often moved away from the perpetrator which could result in the adult/child losing access to the schools, services and people they were used to within their local area.  However, work was ongoing to change this moving forward.  Consideration needed to be taken regarding any disruption to normal life when supporting children so work was being done regarding options to move the perpetrator rather than the victim(s). 

·       The Director confirmed that the locations of all ‘safe accommodation’ were confidential and that the police and support services had safeguarding plans in place should any issues arise. 

·       All Domestic Abuse Protection Notices and Domestic Abuse Orders would be dealt with through the courts.

·       The Safer Rutland Partnership Board and the Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board provided the strategic leadership and governance for the work on domestic abuse in Rutland.  The Vulnerability Executive provided the leadership across the whole of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). Members included representatives from Leicestershire Police, the Police & Crime Commissioner, all three local authorities and health partners. The LLR Domestic Abuse Task and Finish Group collated, analysed and investigated the data and reported to the Vulnerability Executive.

 

RESOLVED

That the Scrutiny Committee:

 

a)    NOTED the report which featured the outcomes of the needs assessment and gave regard to the new duties placed upon the local authority following the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and ENDORSED the Domestic Abuse Strategy 21-24.                                                    

10.

QUARTER THREE PERFORMANCE pdf icon PDF 364 KB

To receive Report No. 33/2022 from Councillor David Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Children’s Services.

[FOR INFORMATION ONLY]

Minutes:

 

Report No. 33/2022 was received from Councillor David Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Children’s Services. During the discussion, the following points were noted:

 

·       The report provided a table showing the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Children’s Services for consideration and comment by the committee.

·       It was reported that the recorded underspend of £250k would be kept due to the variable and demand led nature of the budget i.e. if a large family required the Council’s care, then the underspend would be significantly reduced.

 

RESOLVED

That the Scrutiny Committee:

 

a)    NOTED the year-to-date performance information as at the end of quarter three (April – December) 2021-22.

 

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Councillor Wilby and the Strategic Director of Children and Families left the meeting at 8.35 pm

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11.

REVIEW OF FORWARD PLAN AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN pdf icon PDF 279 KB

To consider the current Forward Plan and identify any relevant items for inclusion in the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee Annual Work Plan, or to request further information.

 

The Forward Plan is available on the website at:

 

https://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=133&RD=0

 

Minutes:

Councillor Ainsley requested that the work plan be amended so that the agenda for the next meeting would have the SEND Service Update was the first agenda item, with the Children’s Services Update as second and that the Provision of Speech and Language Services should be removed completely.

 

No other changes were requested.

12.

ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS

To receive any other items of urgent business which have been previously notified to the person presiding

 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business

13.

DATE AND PREVIEW OF NEXT MEETING

21 April 2022 at 7 pm via Zoom

 

Proposed Agenda Items:

 

1.     Children’s Services: Update including Self-Assessment & Ofsted visit

2.     SEND Service Update & Review (including performance and SENDIASS)

3.     Provision of Speech and Language Services

4.     Q4 KPI (January - March)

Minutes:

Thursday, 21st April 2022 at 7.00 pm via Zoom.

 

Agreed Agenda

 

1. SEND Service Update & Review (including performance and SENDIASS)

2. Children’s Services: Update including Self-Assessment & Ofsted visit

3. Q4 KPI (January - March)