Notice of Meeting
Children’s
Services Scrutiny Committee Tuesday 12 July 2005 at 10.00 am at County
Hall, Oxford
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Councillors: |
Norman Bolster |
Jean Fooks |
Deborah Glass Woodin |
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Sue Haffenden |
Steve Hayward |
Zoë Patrick |
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Bill Service |
Val Smith |
Keith Stone |
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Melinda Tilley |
David Turner |
Nicholas P Turner |
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Carol Viney |
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Co-opted Members: |
Mr C Bevan |
Mr B Jackson |
Mrs S Matthew |
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Mrs B Spencer |
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Notes:
What does this Committee review or scrutinise?
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How can I have my say? We welcome the views of the community on any issues in relation to the responsibilities of this Committee. Members of the public may ask to speak for up to 5 minutes on any item on the agenda or may suggest matters which they would like the Committee to look at. |
For more information about this Committee please contact: Chairman - Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald O’Connor E.Mail: anda.fitzgerald@oxfordshire.gov.uk Committee Officer - Marion Holyman, Tel: (01865) 810177 E.Mail: marion.holyman@oxfordshire.gov.uk For Scrutiny Review Officers contact - Julia Baird, Tel: (01865) 815029 E.Mail: scrutiny@oxfordshire.gov.uk |
Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic
Services
1 July 2005
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:
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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.
About ScrutinyScrutiny is about:
Scrutiny is NOT about:
Five Scrutiny committees ‘scrutinise’ or review and challenge decisions made by the Cabinet and help it develop Council policies. There are Scrutiny Committees for:
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.
To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 May 2005 (CH3) and to note for information any matters arising on them.
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.
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. |
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. |
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* 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. |
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:
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 |
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. |
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. |
12.05
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:
with a view to it being submitted to the Cabinet in July |
A Ten Minute film entitled ‘Your Voice Your Choice’ made by some of Oxfordshire’s Source Workers will be shown. It highlights some young people’s experiences of being fostered and the opportunities this has offered them.
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. |
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. |
12.50
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. |
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. |
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. |
13.10. Report back on advice by this Committee to the Cabinet or Council.
(a) Best Value Review of Services for Vulnerable Children and Young People
The
Executive noted this Committee’s comments.
(b) Music Service Review – Budget
The Executive resolved to:
(a) thank
the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee for their report
and its analysis of the financial pressures facing the Music Service;
(b) ask the Directors for Learning & Culture and Resources
to consider the implications of the report’s recommendations,
particularly in relation to:
the accounting
arrangements for the Service;
the
future funding of the Service, including the potential for increasing
its income;
the
handling of the accrued deficit; and
the
future management remit of the Music Service House Committee;
and to report back, with an action plan, to enable the Executive to determine what further action should be taken with regard to those matters.
13.15 The Committee is asked to suggest items from the current Forward Plan on which it may wish to have an opportunity to offer advice to the Cabinet before any decision is taken.
Councillor Fooks has asked that the Committee considers:
Children's
Centre Strategy
Future
of Children's Services
(Please bring along to the meeting the latest copy of the Forward Plan which, at the time of writing, covers July 2005 to October 2005).
(Members are asked to contact the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and/or the Committee Officer at least 3 days before the meeting should they wish to raise an item on the Forward Plan for possible consideration).
If you have any special requirements (such as a large print version of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice as possible before the meeting |