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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices Angel Street Bridgend CF31 4WB. View directions

Contact: Andrew Rees  Senior Democratic Services Officer - Committees

Items
No. Item

214.

Apologies for Absence

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

Members/ Officers.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from the following Members / Officers:

 

Councillor K J Watts

Councillor R L Thomas

Susan Cooper – Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing

Deborah McMillan – Corporate Director Education and Transformation

Nicola Echanis – Head of Strategy Commissioning and Partnesrhips

215.

Declarations of Interest

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).

Minutes:

None.

216.

Approval of Minutes pdf icon PDF 76 KB

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

Scrutiny Committee of 5 January 2016. 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 5 January 2916 were accepted as a true and accurate record subject to the inclusion of Councillor C Westwood in the list of Apologies for Absence in Minute no. 201.  

217.

Forward Work Programme Update pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which detailed the items to be considered at the next meeting of the Committee to be scheduled following the Annual Meeting of Council and sought confirmation of the information and invitees required. 

 

The Scrutiny Officer also reported on a list of potential items for the 2016-17 Forward Work Programme which would be prioritised and scheduled at the meeting of the Committee following the Annual Meeting of Council.   

 

Conclusions:                  

 

  1. The Committee noted the items to be considered at the next meeting to be scheduled at the Annual Meeting of Council.

Determined the invitees to be invited to attend.

218.

Looked After Children Provision pdf icon PDF 132 KB

 

Invitees:

Cllr Huw David, Deputy Leader

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

Deborah McMillan, Corporate  Director – Education and Transformation

Nicola Echanis, Head of Strategy Commissioning and Partnerships

Sue Roberts, Group Manager – School Improvement

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report which informed the Committee of the support being delivered to improve the educational performance of looked after children in Bridgend.

 

The Deputy Leader tendered the apologies of the Corporate Education and Transformation and the Head of Strategy Commissioning and Partnerships as they were being interviewed by Estyn as part of the inspection of the Central South Consortium.  He informed the Committee that the Central South Consortium is the first of the four Consortia to be inspected and that he would make the results of the inspection available to the Committee once all inspection reports on the Consortia had been published.  He also suggested that the Committee invite the Managing Director of the Central South Consortium to present the findings of the Estyn inspection.

 

The Committee requested clarification of the GCSE attainment level of looked after children leaving without qualifications in 2012/13 being 21%.  The Group Manager School Improvement confirmed that the attainment level of looked after children leaving without qualifications in 2012/13 was 21%.  She stated that looked after children are the most vulnerable cohort; however since 2012-13 there had been a much improved picture in the performance of looked after children leaving school with qualifications.  The Committee questioned whether the improved performance was down to the cohort or the strategies used.  The Group Manager School Improvement stated that the improved performance was partly due to the cohort of looked after children but also due to the mentoring work and careers guidance put in place.  The Committee considered that as this cohort are amongst the most damaged of children with challenging behaviour and poor attendance at school that their attainment should be based on when they came into care compared to when they cease to be looked after.  The Group Manager School Improvement informed the Committee that the Looked After Children in Education Team does monitor the progress made by looked after children and that performance data is gathered on 31 March each year.  She stated that it was difficult to monitor data as children move in and out of foster placements.  The Deputy Leader informed the Committee that the number of looked after children with special educational needs is disproportionate compared to children who are not in care and stated that progress by pupils who are looked after does need to be identified and measured. 

 

The Deputy Leader informed the Committee that all members of the Committee are invited to the opening of the Bryncethin campus of Ysgol Bryn Castell on 11 March 2016.  The Committee requested details of the new facility.  The Group Manager Inclusion informed the Committee that the new facilities have been greatly improved and now comprised a food technology room, art and physical education teaching.  The facility also had increased capacity with 2 ASD classes at Ysgol Bryn Castell and additional year 10 class.  She stated that quality of provision at the new facility far outweighed the provision at the previous facility.  She also informed the Committee that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 218.

219.

Rota Visiting by Elected Members pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Invitees:

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

Susan Cooper, Corporate Director, Social Services and Wellbeing

Judith Brooks, Group Manager – Business Support

 

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer introduced a report which gave an update on the programme of rota visiting the Council’s children’s social care establishments. 

 

The Group Manager Business Support informed the Committee of the importance of Members undertaking rota visits to social care establishments.  She stated that rota visiting had been part of the quality assurance of the authority’s services for a number of years and is valued by staff.  Rota visiting gave Members the opportunity to meet and discuss with service users their views on the services they receive.  The Committee was provided with a schedule of visits carried out at children’s establishments together with a summary of the comments made by Members and service responses. 

 

The Committee questioned whether there are independent providers of children’s establishments operating in the County Borough.  The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services confirmed that there are independent providers of children’s establishments operating in the County Borough which are subject to monitoring by the CSSIW.  She stated that there is a very robust assessment process in place in order for independent providers to get on to the framework. 

 

The Committee commented on the importance of rota visiting and questioned whether staff morale was good at children’s establishments given that changes are proposed to be made to service provision at Baker’s Way.  The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services informed the Committee that the manager of Baker’s Way is involved in discussions and part of the review on proposed changes to be made to the way in which services are delivered from that establishment.  She stated that staff are part of the consultation process and had shared their concerns during the review but no decision had been made on the possible options, however there was a need to ensure the facility at Baker’s Way is fit for purpose.  The review of Baker’s Way was being undertaken as part of a wider review of residential provision in the County Borough.  She informed the Committee that funding had been set aside to make kitchen adaptations at Baker’s Way.  She also informed the Committee that it was not possible to install a stair lift at the premises but this had not affected service users from using Baker’s Way.  She informed the Committee that there is an open book approach available for staff to express their views. 

 

The Cabinet Member Childrens Social Services and Equalities informed the Committee that a report on options for Baker’s Way and residential remodelling would be brought to a future meeting of this Committee for consultation prior to a decision being made by Cabinet. 

 

In response to a question from the Committee on the numbers of Members who had undertaken rota visits, the Group Manager Business Support confirmed that 28 visits were carried out by Members out of a possible 63 visits to children’s social care establishments between April 2014 and January 2016. 

 

The Committee questioned the stance taken to minimise access to Wi-Fi facilities at Newbridge House at certain times.  The Group Manager Childrens Regulated Services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 219.

220.

Nomination to Standing Budget Research and Evaluation Panel pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer submitted a report seeking nominations from the Committee to sit on the Standing Budget Research and Evaluation Panel.  The Standing BREP would undertake a review of the process following the setting of this year’s budget.  The Committee was requested to nominate the Chair of this Committee and one Member of the Committee and additionally a reserve Member to sit on the Standing BREP.    

 

RESOLVED:               That the Chairperson of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor G Phillips be nominated to represent the Committee on the Standing Budget Research and Evaluation Panel  with Councillor D B F White being nominated as the reserve member in the event that Councillor G Phillips could not attend.     

221.

Urgent Items

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.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

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