To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons where appropriate) from Members/Officers.

Apologies were received from the following Members for the reasons so stated:

            Councillor D B F White           -                       Work Commitments

            D McMillan (Corporate Director Children) -   Leave

Mr H Daniel                             -                       Work Commitments

Mr R Thomas                          -                       Work Commitments

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor D M Hughes who was attending her first meeting of the Committee and welcomed Rachel Keepins, Scrutiny Officer who had returned from maternity leave. 

To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 01 September 2008. (Including whipping declarations).

Mr W Bond declared a personal interest in agenda item 6 – Rota Visiting and item 7 – Learner Travel Policy as his daughter is a user of both services. 

            Mr T Cahalane declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 – Learner Travel Policy as his children are users of the service. 

To receive for approval, the minutes of the meetings of Children & Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 10^th June 2014.

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 10 June 2014 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Invitees: 

Councillor Huw David, Cabinet Member Children & Young People

Colin Turner, Head of Safeguarding & Family Support

Tracy Hughes, Permanency & Placement Officer

The Scrutiny Officer introduced a report on the Placements and Permanency Strategy which aimed to reduce the numbers of Looked After Children in Bridgend.

            The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported on the progress made to develop a refreshed strategy to reduce the number of Looked After Children and Young People in Bridgend, now known as “Looked After Children - Placements and Permanency Strategy”.  He stated that throughout the last decade, there had been a significant increase in the overall number of Looked After Children in Bridgend, which had placed major pressures on Safeguarding and Family Support Services and associated budgets.  In order to respond to that increase the Council intended to publish its “Placements and Permanency Strategy” within which one of the primary aims is to reduce the numbers of Looked After Children, but also to take a whole systems approach to preventing the need for children to become looked after in the first place.

            The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that the Committee had previously received reports on statistical data and an analysis of Looked After Children together with details of associated costs and were informed that the information would inform a refreshed strategy for reducing Looked After Children in Bridgend.  He stated that the Committee had requested an update on the newly developed strategy in order for it to comment and provide feedback.

            The  Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that the latest draft of the Strategy, recognised that in order to be effective in reducing the numbers of Looked After Children it will require a strategy which is continually reviewed, has sound leadership, rigorous approaches to prevention and early intervention, targeted interventions to children and families who have complex needs (particularly where there are children on the edge of care), clearly defined approaches to social work practice, a strong collaborative working approach to working with children and families and a proactive use of relevant data, information and intelligence in respect of Looked After Children.  There would be a focus in the strategy on describing what will change in relation to the Council’s work with children in care or at risk of coming into care. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that a project manager had been appointed for a 14 month period to manage the strategy.  He reassured the Committee that despite the high level of Looked After Children in the County Borough children were taken into care for the right reasons to ensure their safety and protection.  He stated that the Council would only take a child into care as a last resort but in some cases would have to take that decision when it was correct to do so, however there would always be a cohort of looked after children.   

            The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that the Project Manager appointed would be leading on the Strategy and the PLO Process and he was grateful for the Support of the Committee in securing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.

Invitees:

Councillor Huw David, Cabinet Member Children & Young People

Caroline Dyer, Youth Offending Team Manager

Nicola Echanis, Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Commissioning

            The Scrutiny Officer presented a report relating to the Western Bay Youth Justice and Early Intervention Service.  The Committee had previously considered the subject of the Youth Offending Service in March 2012 and at that time, the Committee expressed strong support for the Service and its important work with young people, but expressed concern regarding financial uncertainty.  Since this time the Authority had considered this area as part of its collaboration work in the Western Bay Region.

            The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning reported on progress being made with the creation with Western Bay Youth Justice and Early Intervention Service.  The Cabinets of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend Councils in April 2014 gave agreement for the amalgamation to take place she stated that the Management Board is chaired by the Director of Social Services of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council with Bridgend being the Lead Authority she stated that there had been a great deal of activity to progress the amalgamation, however, the recruitment of the overall Group Manager and three Locality Managers had been delayed due to ongoing negotiations with the trade unions in relation to the staffing structure beneath the Locality Managers.  A point had now arisen whereby the Group Manager would be appointed as a Bridgend County Borough Council employee.

            The Committee referred to Bridgend being the Lead Authority and responsible for the pooled budget and questioned what would happen if there was an overspend.  The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning informed the Committee that Swansea Council had not achieved its savings and the authorities were indemnified before it assumed any responsibility.

            The Committee questioned the reason for the high costs of the service of Neath Port Talbot Council.  The Youth Offending Team Manager explained this was due to them occupying two buildings instead of one building.  She stated that once the merger was in place there would be continuous savings.

            The Committee questioned the contributions made to the Youth Offending Service from its partners.  The Youth Offending Team Manager stated that contributions were made to the service with the provision of staff, with only a small amount of monetary input.  The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning informed the Committee that there were a number of grant sources which fund the Youth Offending Service and it was not all Council funded.

            The Committee questioned whether scrutiny arrangements had been developed in relation to the single Youth Offending Service.  The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning informed the Committee that scrutiny arrangements for the project would need to be resolved at Board level.  

Conclusions:                    The Committee concluded to revisit the item in approximately 12 months to consider the following:

·         Concerns over funding for the YOS given the uncertainty over the future funding positions for the three Local Authorities. 

·         The Governance Structure of Western Bay and where Scrutiny fits into this structure.

Invitees:

Councillor Huw David, Cabinet Member Children & Young People

Colin Turner, Head of Safeguarding & Family Support

Judith Brooks, Group Manager – Business Support

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report on Rota Visiting in relation to the Council’s Children’s Social Care establishments.  She stated that a programme of Rota Visits was developed to Social Services establishments and that Members undertook visits in pairs and complete written reports which were submitted to the Director for noting or action.

            The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that it was really enlightening to see reports by Members who had undertaken visits to the Council’s Children’s Social Care establishments.  He stated that Rota Visiting had come about as a result of reported abuse cases in North Wales in the 1960s.

            A Committee Member as an advocate of young people expressed a preference for more opportunities for Members to visit children’s homes.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that there is a requirement for premises to be visited once a month.  The Group Manager - Business Support confirmed the arrangements for establishments to be visited once a month, however there were ten teams of Members and eleven homes to visit.  The Group Manager - Business Support stated that additional Rota Visits per month could be scheduled.

            The Committee stated that the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered an opt out system in relation to Rota Visiting.  The Group Manager - Business Support informed the Committee that she was awaiting the outcome of this Committee prior to progressing the opt in/out system proposed by the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Conclusions:       Members expressed disappointment at the overall number of Members involved in the Rota Visiting Scheme as well as the turnout of Members for scheduled visits, both equating to less than half. 

                              Given that each Member is a Corporate Parent and therefore has legal responsibilities under the Children Act 2004 for the care of all Looked After Children within the County Borough, the Committee felt that more Members should be signing up to the Rota Visiting Scheme.

                                 Following their discussions with Officers, the Committee determined to make the following suggestions for changes to the Rota Visiting Scheme to try and increase the numbers of Members involved and try to encourage more Members to attend the scheduled visits:

·           An ‘Opt Out’ system rather than an ‘Opt In’ one, where Members would be automatically signed up to the scheme unless they requested otherwise;

·           An expressed preference from Members as to whether they would prefer to visit Children’s housing establishments or Adults;

·           An expression from Members as to how many visits they could undertake in a month.

Invitees:

Councillor Huw David, Cabinet Member Children & Young People

Nicola Echanis, Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Commissioning

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report in relation to the composition with regard to Learner Travel arrangements in Bridgend.  She stated that the Committee had considered the issues around the provision of Learner Transport on a number of previous occasions, the most recent being at its meeting on the 30 September 2013 where the Committee had made a number of recommendations reported to Cabinet.  She stated that the Committee had concluded that by requesting that they receive the firm proposals, which they had been developed following further consultation as a pre-Scrutiny item prior to any final decision being made by Cabinet.

            The Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that it was the role of Committee to note the progress which had been made and to consider whether it wishes to consider the item again during the three month consultation process.

            The Committee questioned the timing of the consultation which was to commence on the 29 September when many of the governing bodies would have held their statutory meetings by that date.  The Group Manager Business Strategy and Performance confirmed the timescale for the consultation period of the 29 September to the 15 December, which had to fit in with the Admissions Policy and should that timescale not be met it would delay the Learner Travel Policy by a further year.  He confirmed that once the consultation ends it would be brought back to this Committee prior to a decision being made to Cabinet.  As part of the consultation, there would be public meetings with the Youth Council.

            The Committee noted the appointment of a Project Manager which recognised the importance of the Policy and requested an assurance that the new Policy would be written

            in plain English.  The Group Manager Business Strategy and Performance confirmed that the Communications Team had been engaged in the Policy and that the questions in the Consultation would be written for a reading age of 9 years to ensure it was understood by all and that it was sufficient explanation behind the questions.

            The Committee asked whether the consultation process had ended, the Policy would come back to this Committee.  The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning stated that there was a commitment to reporting of the outcome of the consultation to this Committee.  The Committee requested that Governors and Head Teachers be consulted by e-mail on the proposals for Learner Travel.

            The Committee questioned the lack of reference to transport of 14 to 19 year olds.  The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning informed the Committee that 14 to 19 year old pupils in Learning Pathways would not be affected by the Policy and that schools would make those arrangements for travel and share costs.  However the Policy would look at post 16 education.  

            The Committee considered that there was a need to have equality of treatment with the further education sector, which would be part of the consultation.

            The Committee questioned whether there would be additional funding for transporting students to college.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 129.

The Scrutiny Officer reported on the year-end performance relating to its area of responsibility.

Conclusions:               The Committee noted the content of the Information Report and Appendices.

Councillor Huw David, Cabinet Member Children & Young People

Colin Turner, Head of Safeguarding & Family Support

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which updated the Committee on the work of the Joint Research and Evaluation Panel held on the Social Services Annual Reporting Framework in June 2014. 

            The Research and Evaluation Panel had met on two occasions, firstly to formulate questions and lines of inquiry and at its second meeting where the Panel further explored the Director of Social Services Annual Report and offered comments and recommendations upon it.  This approach allowed the Panel to examine the draft report in a systematic way to identify issues to raise and discuss at their next two meetings with Officers from both Directorates.

            The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support thanked the scrutiny process for its examination of the Social Services Annual Reporting Framework.  He stated that the response of the CSSIW was awaited and that he would report their response to the Committee.

            AGREED

Conclusion:            The Committee agreed that it would like to receive informally the CSSIW’s response to the Council’s Social Services Annual Reporting Framework.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which detailed the items to be considered at the meeting on the 13 October 2014 and sought confirmation on the information required for the meeting of the Committee on the 25 November 2014.

Conclusion:            The Committee noted the topics to be considered at the meetings scheduled for the 13 October 2014 and 25 November 2014.

The meeting closed at 4.57pm. 

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.