To receive apologies for absence (to include reasons, where appropriate) from

Members/ Officers.

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

Councillor P A Davies – Unwell

Councillor N Farr – Medical Appointment

Councillor G Phillips – Leave

Councillor R L Thomas – Leave

Rev Canon Edward J Evans – Prior Commitment

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 1 September 2008, (including whipping declarations).

Mr W Bond declared a personal interest in Item 4 in that his daughter is in receipt of the service for travel to Heronsbridge School. He was advised that if any charging and/or saving proposals were discussed in respect of this item, that he should consider declaring a prejudicial interest and leave the meeting

To receive for approval the minutes of the Children and Young People Overview and

Scrutiny Committee held on the 11 May 2015

RESOLVED:              That the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 11 May 2015 were approved as a true and accurate record

Invitees:

Deborah McMillan, Corporate Director – Education and Transformation

Cllr Huw David, Deputy Leader

Kevin Mulcahy, Group Manager Highways

Nicola Echanis, Head of Strategy Commissioning and Partnerships

Fran Jones, Team Manager Additional Learning Needs

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation presented a report to Committee on the progress made in relation to the rationalisation of Learner Transport for pupils with a Special Educational Need (SEN)

She explained that Section 3 of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 place-d a duty on the local authority to make transport arrangements for learners of compulsory school age in specified circumstances and subject to specified conditions.  She added that this part of the Act, makes provision for free transport, defined by whether they live further than the agreed distances from the schools at which they receive education or training. 

Members asked Officers what proportion of the total cost for Learner Travel was for SEN Children. The Corporate Director Education and Transformation estimated that from the total bill of £3.3 million, £400k was the cost of Learner Travel for children with SEN.

Members asked what the rationalisation of Learner Transport meant for the authority, and if the possibility of utilising public school transport after they have completed their school rounds has been or could be looked at. 

The Corporate Director Education and Transformation stated that a robust review of all Learner Transport was in progress.  She added that all  the different cases would be reviewed to identify savings and ascertain if individuals are provided with the most suitable and efficient transport.   She explained that arrangements such as sharing transport, teaching individuals, independence and mapping of journeys from home to learning centres will be reviewed.  The Group Manager Highways Services added that the Council welcomed the use of different methods of transport to maximise transport initiatives overall, however the vehicles in question often have to undertake additional journeys during the day.  The Deputy Leader added that as the budget pressures are acute, all options such as buses being used throughout the day, and Learners at Bridgend Learning Resource Centre using the buses for day trips could be explored to make better use of resources.

Members queried if best practice was being adopted regarding efficiency savings.

The Group Manager Highways Services stated that efficiency measures in this area would be a collaborative process,  adding that the Authority is ensuring that they are keeping pace with other Local Authorities. He stated that Neath Port Talbot CBC are also currently reviewing their SEN Transport. The Head of Strategy Partnerships and Commissioning added that no decisions would be made based solely on financial savings for the Authority, and that the needs of the child would be considered first and foremost.

A Member queried the legal issues if a parent disagreed with the potential changes to the transport arrangements for their child.  The Team Manager for Additional Learning Needs stated that it would depend on the scenario and if it was specified within the policy and relevant legislation. She explained that in all circumstances discussions would take place with the parent and child and also with education psychologists to determine if sharing transport is suitable to the appropriate needs of the child.

Members asked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

Invitees:

Deborah McMillan, Corporate  Director – Education and Transformation

Cllr Hailey Townsend, Cabinet Member, Childrens Social Services and Equalities

Nicola Echanis, Head of Strategy Commissioning and Partnerships

Mark Lewis, Group Manager Integrated Working and Family

The Group Manager Integrated Working and Family, and the Family Support Service Manager provided a report and presentation to Committee to update them on the progress with the Connecting Families Edge of Care work.

The presentation provided the following information to Committee:

·         Between 2007/8 and 2011/12, the Bridgend LAC population increased by 40% compared to a 24% increase across Wales

·         Children under 2 and young people aged between 14 to 16 accounted for almost 50% of BCBC’s LAC population between 2008 and 2013

The LAC population in Bridgend was continuing to rise at a steady rate and support for families needed to changeThe Family Support Service Manager highlighted the Edge of Care proposal to Committee which was:

·         The high number of children coming into the care system was a focus of an LSB workshop in January 2014

·         There was an agreement to subsequently to focus some Connecting Families resources on targeting those children on the edge of care to avoid LAC status

·         An Annual target set of working with 20 children (and their families) aged 11-16 years at high risk of entering the care system

·         Initial age focus informed by high numbers of teenagers entering the care system

He further added that the Approach Connecting Families would take would be targeted support that would be offered based on research of the current data to include:

o   children of high risk of becoming looked after

o   children currently or previously on the Child Protection register or previously LAC

o   Families known to the probation service

o   Families affected by domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health

o   Families with a history of School Exclusions

o   Families affected by housing issues

The Family Support Service Manager informed Committee of the Edge of Care progress, and  he explained that the service went live on the 1^st May 2014.  He also stated that 30 families accessed the Edge of Care service during 2014-15 which included 52 children (including siblings) which significantly exceeded the target.  He added that those families are now utilising support via Early Help Hubs.

He added that prior to intervention each family on average had cost Public Services approximately £40k per annum.  Following public intervention the average costs avoided for public services was reduced to a projected £23k per annum.  He stated that the total costs avoided to the Public Sector were approximately £707k once the service costs of £135k for Connecting Families were deducted.

The Family Support Service Manager concluded with the Developments and next steps for the Connecting Families Service which were:

·         The Family Support Team has been amalgamated into Connecting Families

·         All eight Family Support Workers/ Intervention specialists now completing work around children at risk of entering care system. Those in care (including rehab home) and general family support work

·         Group work developed including Parenting, Sexual Exploitation Prevention, Attachment and Dads Group

Improve Targeting – focus on intervening earlier and take learning from past 12 months forward.  Members thanked the Officers for the very informative and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report to Committee with suggested topics for consideration in the development of its Forward Work Programme for 2015-16.  She explained that there would be only 6 scheduled meetings during the year for each Scrutiny Committee, which would look at a maximum of 12 service area topics.

She added that without the capacity to support additional meetings there was a need for each of the Scrutiny Committees to Identify 12 topics for consideration which would provide the most significant value for the Authority and to the residents of the County Borough  of Bridgend.  She further added that there would be 8 meetings during the year allocated to facilitate collaborative committees to deal with cross cutting issues such as Supporting People and the Bridgend Change Programme

Members requested the following items to be brought to Committee in the next 12 months

·         Annual report on Consortia and suggested this could be included within the data report

·         Nursery Education in Bridgend

·         Residential Remodelling

·         Corporate Parenting Committee Feedback report

·         CSE (post March 2016)

RESOLVED:

The Committee considered and approved their Annual Forward Work Programme 15/16 with the following amendments and comments:

1. That the Committee receive the Consortia’s Annual Report under their item on Annual School Performance;
2. That an improved process for how the Corporate Parenting Champion can feedback to the Committee be established and included in the Annual FWP;
3. That post March 2016, as part of the annual FWP 2016/17, an item be included on CSE detailing how the Authority and its Partners have delivered to plan.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report to request the Committee to nominate one Member as its Corporate Parenting Champion to represent the Committee as an invitee to meetings of the Cabinet Committee – Corporate Parenting.

RESOLVED:         That the Committee nominated Councillor D B F White as its Corporate Parenting Champion to represent the Committee at meetings of the Cabinet Committee – Corporate Parenting.

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report to the Committee to present the items due to be considered at the Committees meeting to be held on 23 September 2015 and seeks confirmation of the information required for the subsequent scheduled meeting to be held on 4 November 2015.  She also presented a list of further potential items for prioritisation by the Committee

RESOLVED:        That Committee:

Noted the topics due to be considered at the meeting of the 23 September 2015.

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.

None