Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ian F. Payne and Councillor John Getgood.  Councillor David Jefferys and Councillor Peter Fookes attended as their respective substitutes.  Apologies were also received from Father Owen Higgs and Nancy Thompson. 

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Tom Papworth.

The Chairman reminded the Committee that the Declarations of Interest made at the meeting on 14^th July 2011 were taken as read. 

Councillor Mrs Anne Manning declared that she was a member of the Carers Partnership Group.  Councillor Judi Ellis notified the Committee that her son no longer worked as a Primary School teacher in the Borough.

To hear questions to the Committee received in writing by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Wednesday 18^th January 2012 and to respond.

No questions had been received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th November 2011 be agreed.

To hear questions to the Portfolio Holder received in writing by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Wednesday 18^th January 2012 and to respond.

No questions had been received.

The Committee to receive an update from the Portfolio Holder and to note decisions taken since the last meeting.

The Committee noted decisions taken by the Portfolio Holder since the last meeting of the Children and Young People PDS Committee held on 29^th November 2011.

The Children and Young People Portfolio Holder to present scheduled reports for pre-decision scrutiny on matters where he is minded to make decisions.

Report DCYP12012

The Committee considered the Portfolio Holder’s draft 2012/13 budget which incorporated future cost pressures and a range of additional saving options reported to Executive on 11^th January 2012 together with a detailed section regarding the Chief Officers’ comments on the funding and proposed options as context for CYP Services. Members were requested to consider the savings proposed and also identify any further action to be taken to reduce the cost pressures facing the Council over the next four years. 

The Chairman highlighted that the Budget Strategy had to be set within the context of a reducing resource base and that there was a need to secure priority outcomes within the resources available.  There was also a need to consider “front loading” savings to ensure difficult decisions were taken early in the budgetary cycle, providing some investment in specific priorities and supporting invest to save opportunities which would deliver a more sustainable financial position in the longer term.  Any budget decisions would need to consider the finalisation of the 2012/13 budget but also take a longer term view which would ultimately help to protect key services into the future. 

Members of the Committee considered the draft 2012/13 budget.  A Member highlighted the proposals regarding a reduction in both the Bromley Youth Music Trust contract and the Bromley Youth Music Grant.  A Co-opted Member was concerned that a reduction in funding for the Bromley Youth Music Trust would have a disproportionate impact on children and young people with special needs.  The Director CYP confirmed that Bromley Youth Music Trust was commissioned through the Local Authority contract to work with children and young people of all abilities and needs: this included support for children in mainstream school with SEN units and special schools. The Director explained that following a national review of music education provision, the National Plan for Music Education had been published by the Government on 25^th November 2011.  From 1^st April 2012, music education would be provided through new music education hubs, which would deliver music education through a hub and spoke partnership model, to ensure that every child had a high quality music education.  It was intended to nominate the Bromley Youth Music Trust as the lead organisation for the proposed Music Education Hub in Bromley, and Officers had formed a Bromley Music Education Partnership Group to provide the broad range of expertise and resource necessary to support the development of a submission to the Department for Education and the Arts Council for England by the deadline of 17^th February 2012.  Bromley would need to demonstrate that all children would have access to music education to be successful in their bid.  Another Member queried what action Bromley Youth Music Trust was taking to become more self-funding.  The Director CYP confirmed that Officers had been working with the Bromley Youth Music Trust Board over the past year to develop potential sold services and ensure Bromley Youth Music Trust fees were set at a competitive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62a

Report DCYP12003

The Committee considered a report providing an update on progress against key performance indicators for Children and Young People Services in Bromley for Quarter 2 (July to September) 2011/12.  The Committee was pleased to see that targets had been exceeded in a number of areas and noted other areas where performance was behind target.

A Member queried whether the move to academy status had increased the number of permanent exclusions within the Borough.  The Director CYP confirmed that there had been an increase in the number of permanent exclusions, particularly with secondary age pupils, and that that Officers were currently in discussion with academy representatives around the tolerance thresholds of academy schools prior to exclusion.

Another Member queried the target for completion of core assessments in the required 35 days.  The Assistant Director: Safeguarding and Social Care confirmed that performance against the target had improved however there had been delays experienced in completing core assessments, including information gathering and coordinating the multi-agency response.  The Chairman highlighted the importance of ensuring core assessments were completed to a high standard, even if completion took longer than the required 35 days.  The Assistant Director: Safeguarding and Social Care noted that intervention and social care services were not precluded from working with families during the core assessment process.

A Member expressed concern around schools’ performance against the target measuring progress made in primary school between Key Stage 1 and 2, and suggested a list of schools who had not met the target be published.  The interim Assistant Director: Education confirmed that this information was available through Ofsted and in school performance tables.

A Member asked what was being done to address the rising numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the Borough.  The interim Assistant Director: Education confirmed that work was being undertaken by a range of services and partners at a national, regional and local level to support young people into education, employment and training.

RESOLVED that progress against key performance indicators in Quarter 2 2011/12 be noted.

Report DCYP12004

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report setting out the budget monitoring position based on spending to the end of November 2011.  The Schools’ Budget, funded from the Dedicated Schools’ Grant and specific grants, was forecast to spend in line with budget.  The Non-Schools’ Budget, funded from Council Tax, Revenue Support and specific grants was forecast to overspend by £138,000. members noted the service and budget pressures arising from the continuing increase in volumes of children with SEN and disabilities and those within the social care framework, the complexity of their needs and the associated costs of placements.

The Portfolio Holder commended Officers for significantly reducing the projected net overspend on the non-schools budget through robust management action and flexible use of funding. These comments were endorsed by the Chairman of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note the projections and budget pressures, and endorse the action to reduce the overspending; and

2)  Note contracts of £50,000 and above that have been exempted from the normal requirement to obtain competitive quotes.

Report DCYP12009

The Portfolio Holder introduced the eleventh in a series of updates from the Director of Children and Young People Services (Director CYP) on the policy developments within the Government’s reform programme for education and wider children’s services.  The report featured an update on the academy programme, developments within Bromley and the strategic implications for the Council.

In considering the update, the Chairman commended officers on the quality of this report. He also welcomed the publication of the National Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation Action Plan.  The National Plan for Music Education was also highlighted.

The Vice-Chairman requested an update on the Paxton Academy Free School proposal.  The Director CYP confirmed that the initial bid by a parent group to establish a 2 form of entry, 3-18 age group Free School in the North West of the Borough had been unsuccessful. However, the proposers were currently in the process of re-applying to the Department for Education to establish the school in September 2013.

In response to a query from a Member regarding the new cross-Government programme to tackle ‘troubled families’ that had been announced on 15^th December 2011, the Director CYP confirmed that £448m would be available over three years to support Local Authorities and partner agencies with this work. Initial indications from the Government announcements suggested 490 families in Bromley met this criterion. Further detailed guidance was pending, however this funding would need to be match-funded by local authorities and would follow a Payment by Results model where the Government would pay up to 40% of local authorities’ costs where families were supported successfully.  A Member noted the range of issues experienced by these families would require a cross-Portfolio response by the Council. The Director CYP advised that initial discussions would be progressed within the Chief Officers’ Executive and in Cabinet. In addition, the Chairman agreed to meet with PDS Chairmen across all Portfolios to consider the Council’s response to this initiative.

In considering the Education Act 2011, a Member highlighted the measure to replace Exclusion Appeal Panels with Review Panels and was concerned regarding the independence of these panels in considering exclusions across the Borough.  With regard to the academies programme, the Vice-Chairman queried when schools would qualify for a forced conversion to academy status.  The Director CYP confirmed that under the new Ofsted Inspection Framework for schools those Local Authority maintained schools rated ‘satisfactory’ could now be considered for academy conversion if further improvement was not made.

A Member noted the revised School Admissions and Appeals Codes, which had been published on 2^nd November 2011, and queried how the measure to give greater freedom to good, successful schools to increase the number of places they offer to children in their area would impact school place planning.  The Director CYP confirmed that under the Education Act (2011) the Local Authority was responsible for the strategic planning of places. The Council’s policy had always been to expand the most successful schools when further places were required. However,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62d

Report DCYP12014

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report providing information on the School Funding Settlement for 2012/13 covering the Pupil Premium and Dedicated Schools’ Grant.  As set out in the ‘Consultation on School Funding Reform’ issued by the Government in July 2011, it was agreed that the current funding methodology for 2011/12 should continue for 2012/13 through the Dedicated Schools Grant.  In addition, following the spending review announcement in December 2011, the Government had confirmed that the overall settlement for schools would be maintained at ‘flat cash’ per pupil through the period, rising in line with pupil numbers.  It was also announced that the pupil premium would be in addition to this settlement. 

With regard to Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG), it was confirmed there would be no additional reduction of grant in 2011/12.  In 2012/13 there would be no additional reduction for Bromley, however local authorities would be capped at a maximum of the original top slice in the formula grant for 2012/13, with Bromley’s top slice limited to the £1.4M already planned for in the previous finance settlement.

In response to a question from a Member around the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Head of CYP Finance confirmed that the minimum funding guarantee for schools would be -1.5%, however this did not apply to funding for 16-19 years.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to note the School Funding Settlement for 2012/13, including the Pupil Premium and Dedicated Schools’ Grant.

Report DCYP12002

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining LA Governor Appointments to seven schools and academies in the Borough.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve the following LA Governor appointments, subject to CRB checks:

Biggin Hill Primary School  Cllr Gordon Norrie

  (Biggin Hill Ward)

Hawes Down Infant School  Mrs Bee Lean Chew

  (Beckenham)

Hawes Down Junior School  Mrs Julie Fox

  (Beckenham)

Holy Innocents RC Primary School  Mrs Vanessa Copper

  (Bromley)

James Dixon Primary School  Mrs Janice Mackay

  (Anerley)

Raglan Primary School  Mrs Linda Rodin

  (Orpington)

Unicorn Primary School  Ms Denise Riley

  (Beckenham)

Report DCYP12011

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report setting out a proposal to renew the Long Term Sickness Scheme which applied to all local authority maintained primary and special schools and those primary schools with Academy status for a further three year period.  The scheme provided an insurance to schools allowing them to claim for any long term sickness absence following a lead-in period of 15 days. Schools were then reimbursed for the cost of staff cover for these absences. 

It was noted that the Long Term Sickness Scheme was a ‘mutual’ scheme with all costs being borne by the participating schools.  There was no financial cost to the Local Authority other than the administration of the scheme.  A proportion of this cost would be covered by an additional charge to be paid by academies.

In response to a query from a Co-opted Member, the Director CYP underlined the importance of supporting schools to manage staff sickness absence effectively and noted that schools were encouraged to seek advice from the Council’s Human Resources team where appropriate.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve that the Long Term Sickness Scheme be renewed for a further three year period.

The briefing comprises:

• Impact of Changing Admissions Arrangements on Early Years Providers and Reception Classes
• Foster Carers Recruitment Strategy

Members and Co-opted Members have been provided with advance copies of the briefing via e-mail.  The briefing is also available on the Council’s Website at the following link:

http://cds.bromley.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=559&Year=2011

Printed copies of the briefing are available upon request by contacting Kerry Nicholls on 020 8313 4602 or by e-mail at kerry.nicholls@bromley.gov.uk.

The Portfolio Holder Briefing comprised two reports:

• Impact of Changing Admissions Arrangements on Early Years Providers and Reception Classes
• Foster Carers Recruitment Strategy

With regard to the report outlining the impact of changing admissions arrangements on early years providers and reception classes, a Co-opted Member highlighted that some parents were not aware they had a choice of when their child would start school, which had resulted in a high proportion of parents choosing a September start date for their child.  In addition, the move to a new nursery education funding payment process in April 2010 had caused delays in payments.  The Director CYP acknowledged the difficulties faced by early years providers given the changes introduced to enable parents to exert their choice and preference over a September admission to Reception. The Early Years Partnership would continue to work with providers to monitor the impact of changing admissions arrangements and further consideration would be given to the funding methodology if appropriate.

In considering the Foster Carers Recruitment Strategy, the Committee noted work being undertaken to attract foster carers, which included consideration of issues identified around housing and adaptations and whether this presented a barrier to foster carers for disabled children.  A Member noted that initial enquiries from people who wished to find out more about fostering had been directed to the Customer Contact Centre, allowing the Children and Young People Department to focus on progressing those applications that met the required criteria.

With regard to the provision of static equipment, such as hoists and lifts, and adaptation to property for those carers who provide short break services, a Co-opted Member was concerned that as this equipment had been provided in the child’s normal residence, the health authority (who was responsible for the provision of such equipment) had discharged their duty.  Such equipment was often expensive to purchase, install and maintain, and the Co-opted Member was concerned that children and families who accessed short break services and those carers who provided it were not disadvantaged.  The Director CYP confirmed that the issues raised would be pursued through the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Another Member underlined that the Health Authority should only discharge their duty when a child has been provided with the care to which they are entitled.

Report DCYP12001

The Committee considered the Bromley Children and Young People Partnership’s draft Children’s Strategy for 2012 to 2015.  The Strategy had been based on five priority outcomes and three areas of particular focus which were identified through substantial consultation with key partners and by undertaking a robust needs analysis during 2010/11 which included the views of children and young people. 

The Chairman commended Officers on the draft strategy document, which had been produced in-house at low costs to a high standard and had been circulated for consultation electronically.  Members considered the draft strategy. 

A Member highlighted the aim to improve the emotional health of all children and young people, which reported that 23% of children and young people in Bromley surveyed were worried about being bullied, compared with the national average of 16%.  The Assistant Director: Strategic Commissioning and Performance confirmed that a survey on bullying had recently been sent to all schools in the Borough and the responses were currently being analysed.  With regard to the aim to improve the life chances of children in care, a Member underlined the need to include an action to keep children in care safe online. 

A Co-opted Member emphasised the need to consider the transition process by which young people were welcomed into adult social care services.  Another Member highlighted the inclusion of health issues in the strategy.  The Assistant Director: Strategic commissioning and Performance confirmed there were linkages to a number of strategies included in the report, including the Transition Strategy and the emerging Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

RESOLVED that Members comments on the Bromley Children and Young People Partnership’s draft Children’s Strategy for 2012 to 2015 be noted.

Report DCYP12008

The Committee considered proposed revisions to the local policy for Foster Carers’ Allowances as part of the Local Authority’s consultation process. 

The Chairman commended the clarity and simplicity of the proposed new allowances.  A Co-opted Member highlighted the importance of taking the consultation responses of foster parents of children with complex needs into account.  It was vital to ensure that foster carer allowances be set at an appropriate level to attract people to become foster parents of children with complex needs, supporting children and young people with complex needs to remain in a family environment and reducing the costs of out of borough provision.  The Director CYP confirmed that all responses to the consultation would be carefully considered.

A Member queried whether it would be useful to approach existing and potential foster carers to ask them what support they would need to move from mainstream fostering to fostering a child with complex needs.  By identifying the barriers foster carers face it was possible that an invest to save bid could be developed to increase the number of foster parents of children with complex needs.

RESOLVED that Members comments on the proposed local policy for Foster Carers’ Allowances as part of the Local Authority’s consultation process be noted.

Report DCYP12010

The Committee considered the forward rolling work programme for the year ahead, based on items scheduled for decision by the CYP Portfolio Holder and items for consideration by the Children and Young People PDS Committee.

Consideration of the ‘Aligning Policy and Finance Reviews: Bromley Children and Family Service and Special Education Needs and Disability Service’ item had been deferred and would be considered at the next meeting of Children and Young People PDS Committee on 21^st February 2012.

The Director CYP confirmed that Bromley was one of twelve local authorities selected by Ofsted for a new thematic inspection into Local Authority arrangements for the protection of children with disabilities.  The inspection would take place at the beginning of March 2012 and the outcomes from the report would be reported to the Children and Young People PDS Committee in due course.

The Vice-Chairman requested that an item be provided to the Children and Young People PDS Committee on the development of sold services by the Department.  The Chairman similarly requested that progress in developing invest to save options be reported to the Committee.  The Director confirmed a briefing paper on invest to save options would be provided to the next meeting of Children and Young People PDS Committee on 21^st February 2012.

In response to a query from a Member around the Primary Behaviour Strategy, the Director CYP confirmed that a review was currently being undertaken around the future delivery of Behaviour Services and that this would be reported to a future meeting of the Committee.  A Co-opted Member also requested that further information on the Early Intervention Grant be provided to Members.  The Director CYP agreed this would be included as part of the Budget Monitoring report to the Committee at its meeting on 20^th March 2012.

RESOLVED that the Children and Young People Forward Rolling Work Programme 2011-12 be noted.

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes from the CYP PDS meeting held on 29 November 2011 be agreed.

To note Part 2 decisions of the Portfolio Holder made since the last meeting of the Committee.

The Committee noted exempt (Part 2) decisions taken by the Portfolio Holder since the last meeting.

Report DCYP12013

The Committee considered the report and supported the recommendations.

Report DCYP12018

Consideration of this item was deferred to the next meeting of Children and Young People PDS Committee on 21^st February 2012.