To receive Report No. 212/2016 from the Director for People.

Report No. 212/2016 was received from the Director for People.  The Scrutiny Commission had agreed to undertake a review of Poverty in Rutland.  The project objectives were:

• To develop an agreed definition of Poverty in Rutland;
• To develop a Council policy in the form of a White Paper to be approved by Full Council that will outline for Rutland how the Council will act to positively impact on poverty within the County.

The following areas were identified for the Children’s Scrutiny Panel to consider:

• Accessibility of Childcare – cost, quality, availability
• Indicators below the threshold – early indicators, preventions
• Indicators of those just below the threshold for receiving support in relation to child poverty (prevention)
• Important to acknowledge inter-connectivity of Poverty
• Perceptions of poverty (from expert witnesses) and how easy it is to refer any concerns or sign-post to support

During discussion, the following points were noted:

a)    Mr Adamson provided members with a recap on the context of the project, he advised that each scrutiny panel would receive a report on pertinent areas.  A Child Poverty Strategy was, until recently, a statutory requirement and this gave the Children’s Scrutiny panel a different starting point.  It was clear from workshop discussions that members did not want to start again, but rather look at existing information with a fresh outlook, take more evidence and hear from expert witnesses.  The paper presented had two key focus areas for this meeting: childcare funding arrangements and Early Help plans to reduce child poverty.  The panel were advised that questions around these areas would develop clarity on the three biggest issues to take forward to the green and white papers.

b)    Members were advised that, in regard to childcare, the government proposal to increase free entitlement for three and four year olds from 15 to 30 hours, for working parents, would increase the financial pressure on the authority. Early indications were that Rutland could be paid less than other East Midlands authorities, Members noted that the current provision for 3-4 year olds could be stretched over 51 weeks of the year rather than term time. Mrs Hickman advised that the proposed Early Years National Funding Formula, if implemented, could have a significant impact on the viability of Rutland Early Years Providers. She also advised that the council would be lobbying the Department of Education in regard to the funding allocation for Rutland.

c)    Members also requested information in regard to the length of the entitlement, Mrs Hickman advised that once allocated the entitlement remained, this was 15 hours per week for 38 weeks (570 hours in total), some families chose to spread the hours over more than 38 weeks having shorter weekly sessions.  Members asked if there was any way for the entitlement to be extended beyond the 38 weeks to help those working families on low salaries.  It was suggested that this be included in the green paper along with a proposal to link free school meal entitlement to childcare along with possible contributions toward fee paying after school clubs for those on low incomes.

d)    It was noted that the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) were to be the lead organisation for the Fair Society element of the Rutland Children, Young People and Families Plan 2016-19 (CYPFP), members representing wards in the east of the county advised that some residents used the CAB in Stamford and that there was a danger of those being missed by just using Rutland CAB, members requested that a CAB representative be invited to the next meeting

AGREED:

1.    That the Panel DISCUSSED the contents of the report.

2.    The Panel agreed that target 7 “to reduce child poverty levels…” be the overarching target and propose subjects for discussion and, or action.

3.    That a representative from the Stamford CAB be invited to the next meeting.