Meeting documents

Notice of Meeting

Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee Tuesday 12 July 2005 at 10.00 am at County Hall, Oxford

Membership

Chairman – Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald O’Connor

Notes:

Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic Services

1 July 2005

About the County Council

The Oxfordshire County Council is made up of 74 councillors who are democratically elected every four years. The Council provides a range of services to Oxfordshire’s 622,000 people. These include:

The Council employs 18,840 people. Each year the Council manages £0.7 billion of public money in providing these services. Most decisions are taken by a Cabinet of 10 Councillors, which makes decisions about service priorities and spending.

Scrutiny is about:

• Providing a challenge to the Cabinet
• Examining how well the Cabinet and the Authority are performing
• Influencing the Cabinet on decisions that affect local people
• Helping the Cabinet to develop Council policies
• Representing the community in Council decision making
• Promoting joined up working across the authority’s work

Scrutiny is NOT about:

• Making day to day service decisions
• Investigating individual complaints.

Five Scrutiny committees ‘scrutinise’ or review and challenge decisions made by the Cabinet and help it develop Council policies. There are Scrutiny Committees for:

• Corporate Governance
• Children’s Services
• Environment & Economy
• Community Safety
• Health & Community Services

There is also a Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee which brings together councillors from the County and the five district councils in Oxfordshire to scrutinise health issues.

What does this Committee do?

The Committee meets up to 6 times a year or more. It develops a work programme, which lists the issues it plans to investigate. These investigations can include whole committee investigations undertaken during the meeting, or reviews by a panel of members doing research and talking to lots of people outside of the meeting. Once an investigation is completed the Committee provides its advice to the Cabinet, the full Council or other scrutiny committees. Meetings are open to the public and all reports are available to the public unless exempt or confidential, when the items would be considered in closed session.

AGENDA

1. Apologies for Absence and Temporary Appointments
   
   
2. Declarations of Interest – see guidance note
   
   
3. Minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2005 (CH3) and to note for information any matters arising on them.

4. Introductions

Given the recent changes in membership on this Committee, each member is invited to give a brief outline of their interest and experience in the Children’s Services field.

5. Speaking to or Petitioning the Committee
   
   
6. Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Evaluation of Overview and Scrutiny

10:15

Background Information:	The (CfPS) has, at the Council’s request, recently undertaken an external and independent evaluation of this Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Function, including the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny arrangements. On 25 May, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group was asked to consider the evaluation report, discuss the recommendations, and consider what it would wish to include in an action plan in order to implement the recommendations. The Group agreed that all Scrutiny Committees should consider and discuss the recommendations in the CfPS evaluation report during their next cycle of meetings and consider what they would wish to see included in an action plan. The Co-ordinating Group will then be asked to consider the responses at its 25 July meeting and draw up an action plan. Mr Mike Cohen (Scrutiny Review Officer) will give a brief presentation on the strengths and areas for improvement identified in the evaluation.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee at this meeting.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report (CH6)* (download as .doc file) in preparation for the discussion.
Action required at this meeting: At the request of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group, to consider and discuss the recommendations in the CfPS evaluation report and to consider what the Committee wishes to see included in an action plan. The Committee’s comments will be passed to the Co-ordinating Group.
* Copies have been circulated to all members of the Committee and copies are available for public inspection at County Hall. Copies are available on request from Democratic Services.

7. Presentation on the Framework for the 2005/06 Scrutiny Work Programme

10:45

Background Information:	On 25 May, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group received a presentation on Scrutiny and how the Scrutiny Work Programme had been drawn up in the past. The Group was asked to agree a process for the 2005/06 Scrutiny Work Programme, including the treatment of the Best Value Review process. The Group agreed that: a shorter version of the presentation should be given to each Scrutiny Committee (except for the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee) during the next cycle of meetings in order to assist them when drawing up their work programmes; and Directors from each Directorate should be invited to give a presentation on the key issues and drivers facing their Directorate to the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s) during the next cycle of meetings as background for the production of work programmes. In addition, the Scrutiny Review Officers would also prepare background information for the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the 5 Scrutiny Committees.
Why has it been included?	To enable this Committee to develop and produce a work programme for the following year which will be updated quarterly.
How is the Committee going to deal with it?	This item will be dealt with in three sessions. During this meeting, the Committee will be asked to consider the process for formulating their work programme for the coming year. Following this meeting, the Chairman and Deputy Chairman will meet with the Scrutiny Review and Committee Officers in order to prepare for the determination of the work programme at the September meeting of this Committee. Members of this Committee are asked to notify, by 15 August 2005, the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of any issues they would wish to see included in the work programme. Stakeholder Groups will also be invited to put forward suggestions for possible inclusion in the scrutiny work programme.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	The Head of Scrutiny will give a presentation to this Committee.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	None.
Action required at this meeting: To consider the process for formulating their work programme for the coming year

8. Key Issues and Drivers Presentation

11:05

Background Information:	The Cabinet Members for Children and Young People and for Schools Improvement and the Directors for Learning & Culture and for Social & Health Care will give presentations to this Committee on the key issues and drivers facing Children’s Services over the next 2 – 3 years. During the September round of meetings, each Scrutiny Committee will be asked to roll forward its work programme, taking into account the key drivers identified previously, to ensure that it is adding value to the Council’s work, that it is outcome focussed and that it is using the best method of working to achieve this.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee, together with the Cabinet Members for Children and Young People and for Schools Improvement and the Directors for Learning & Culture and for Social & Health Care at this meeting.
Action required at this meeting: To question the two Cabinet Members and two Directors on the key issues and drivers facing Children’s Services over the next 2 – 3 years. To consider the issues raised in their presentations and decide what implications they have for the work programme.

9. Stability of Placements for Looked After Children: Review Report

Why has it been included?	The review is included in the work programme.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee at this meeting
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Consider the report (CH9) (download as .doc file) of the review group (Councillors Mrs Fitzgerald O'Connor and Fooks and former Councillor McAndrews)
Action required at this meeting: According to the Constitution, the whole Scrutiny Committee agrees (or otherwise) the report and signs it off before the Proper Officer submits the report to the Cabinet for consideration. The Scrutiny Committee is RECOMMENDED either to: agree the report as submitted to this meeting; or amend the report and reach consensus on the amendments; with a view to it being submitted to the Cabinet in July

10. Faith in Our Schools Scrutiny Review

12.25

Why has it been included?	The former Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee undertook a review on Faith in Our Schools. The Executive considered the recommendations of the review in July 2004 and asked for a report on the implications of the recommendations to a meeting in early 2005. The former Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee, on 22 March, decided to advise the Executive of the Committee’s concern about the lack of progress in bringing the report previously requested by the Executive forward and asked the Executive to require the Director for Learning & Culture to produce costings and a timetable for the implementation of the Review recommendations. Attached (CH10) (download as .doc file) is the report from the Director setting out the further information.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	Members of the Committee at this meeting
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Consider the report (CH10) (download as .doc file)
Action required at the meeting To question the Cabinet Member for Schools Improvement and the Director for Learning & Culture on progress and to consider what advice the Committee would wish to put forward to the Cabinet. The Cabinet will consider the report on 19 July.

11. Social & Health Care – Annual Report 2004-2005 - Complaints Service (Children’s Services)

12.40

Background Information:	The attached report CH11) sets out the way in which Oxfordshire County Council's Social & Health Care Directorate's complaints procedure is managed, the recent developments to the service and the links between complaints and improving performance. It includes activity data for the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	By means of a question and answer session at this meeting.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	All members of this Committee.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	To consider the report (CH11) in preparation for the discussion.
Action required at this meeting: To question Mr Peter Howe (Senior Complaints Manager for Social & Health Care) and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. Members of the Committee may wish to offer comments or advice to the Director for Social & Health Care.

12. Future of the Educational Development Plan (EDP)

12.50

Why has it been included?	Requested by the former Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee at this meeting.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	To consider the report (CH12)
Action required at this meeting: To consider the future of this Group, perhaps under a different title, its terms of reference and membership, if appropriate.

13. Ofsted School Inspections

12.55

Why has it been included?	Requested by the former Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee at this meeting.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	To consider the report (CH13) (download as .doc file)
Action required at this meeting: To consider the report and to explore further any issues raised in it.

14. Wallingford School’s Partnership Visit

13.05

Why has it been included?	Requested by the former Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee
Who is going to take part in this piece of work and when?	All members of this Committee at this meeting.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	To consider the report (CH14)
Action required at this meeting: To consider the report and to explore further any issues raised in it.

15. Tracking Scrutiny Items

13.10. Report back on advice by this Committee to the Cabinet or Council.

16. Forward Plan