Meeting documents

Notice of Meeting

Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee Tuesday 27 September 2005 at 10.00 am at County Hall, Oxford

Membership

Chairman – Councillor Mrs Anda Fitzgerald O’Connor

Derek Bishop
Head of Democratic Services

September 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.

About Scrutiny

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 12 July 2005 (CH3) and to note for information any matters arising on them.

4. Speaking to or Petitioning the Committee
   
   
5. Scrutiny Work Programme 2005/06

10:15

Background Information:	During this round of meetings, each Committee will be asked to undertake a fundamental review of its work programme, taking into account the key issues and drivers identified at its previous meeting. This process of review should ensure that each Committee’s work programme is adding value to the Council’s work, is outcome focused, and is using the best method of working to achieve this. A grid containing suggested work programme options for this Committee is attached for consideration at CH5 (download as .doc file). All members were asked to give their suggestions for the work programme by 18 August and were sent a briefing note prior to the work programme meeting, which included suggested items for the work programme. The attached grid sets out options based on criteria circulated to members prior to that meeting. The grid is intended to provide guidance and support. It should not be interpreted as precluding Members from suggesting further options at the meeting.
Why has it been included?	To enable the Committee to agree the items that will be included in the work programme for the coming year and to prioritise those items.
When is the Committee going to do this piece of work?	During this meeting. However, the work programme will be reviewed on a quarterly basis, where members of this Committee will be given the opportunity to continue with or alter their ongoing work programme. Items from stakeholders or members of the public submitted during the year will also be fed into this process and considered for possible inclusion in this Committee’s work programme.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the grid, in preparation for the discussion. This is attached at CH5 (download as .doc file).
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None.

6. Children & Young People’s Plan

10:45

Background Information:	There is a new statutory requirement to produce a single, strategic Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) for all local services for children and young people. This includes services provided by the local authority and all relevant partners. The duty to prepare the CYPP is given to the County Council, alongside its duty to secure co-operation among partners to improve the wellbeing of children and young people. The local authority is expected to prepare the Plan jointly with partners. The first plan must be in place by 1 April 2006. The Plan should support local authorities and their partners to agree clear targets and priorities for all their services to children and young people, to identify the action needed to achieve them and to ensure delivery. On 22 June 2005 the Cabinet approved a draft outline CYPP for consultation and further development. At that meeting the Cabinet Members for Children & Young People gave an undertaking that the draft would be referred for comment to this Committee before a revised draft of the CYPP is presented to Cabinet in October for approval for wider consultation.
Why has it been included?	To enable this Committee to comment on the report prior to consideration by the Cabinet.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session. The Committee is asked to consider what advice, if any, to offer to the Cabinet.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	All Members of the Committee. Ms Gillian Tee, Head of Children’s Services will attend to give a brief presentation on the Plan and to answer any questions which the Committee may wish to ask.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report CH6, in preparation of the discussion.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None.

7. Children’s Centre Strategy

11:15

Background Information:	On 18 October 2005, the Cabinet will be recommended, subject to consideration of any comments on the part of this Committee, to approve outline proposals for wider consultation for Children’s Centres in Oxfordshire. These proposals are set out in the report on the Children’s Centres Strategy (CH7) A summary document ‘Children’s Centres in Oxfordshire 2005-2010’ to be used for public information and discussion purposes has been circulated to all members of the Committee and a copy has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre. A copy is also available for public inspection.
Why has it been included?	To enable this Committee to comment on the report prior to consideration by the Cabinet.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session. The Committee is asked to consider what advice, if any, to offer to the Cabinet.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	All members of this Committee. Mr Rick Harmes, Head of Community Learning will attend in order to give a brief presentation on the Strategy and to answer any questions which the Committee may wish to ask
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report (CH7) , in preparation of the discussion.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	Members are asked to bring their copies of the summary document to the meeting.

8. Youth Green Paper, "Youth Matters"

11:45

Background Information:

On 2 November 2005, the Cabinet will be recommended, subject to consideration of any comments on the part of this Committee, to respond to the Government’s Youth Green Paper "Youth Matters". The Paper sets out the Government’s vision for the organisation and delivery of services for young people. The Green Paper builds on the reforms implemented as part of the Children Act 2004 and Every Child Matters. A report by the Director for Learning & Culture, which includes the executive summary of the Green Paper, is attached at CH8. The Green Paper itself is on the DfES web site - http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/youth/ - and is in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Why has it been included?

To enable this Committee to comment on the report prior to consideration by the Cabinet.

 

How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session. The Committee is asked to conside what advice, if any, to offer to the Cabinet.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	All members of this Committee. Mr Rick Harmes, Head of Community Learning will attend in order to give background information on the Youth Green Paper and to answer any questions which the Committee may wish to ask.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report CH8, in preparation of the discussion.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None.

9. County Facilities Management - Best Value Review

12:15

Background Information:	The Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group on 25 May agreed that the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee would be responsible for completing the outstanding Best Value Review of the cleaning and catering services provided by County Facilities Management (CFM) which had commenced under the former Best Value & Audit Committee. The study had arisen from growing concerns over the financial viability of the services.
	The Best Value & Audit Committee in April had approved further research on identified options for the future of CFM to be brought back to the Committee for further consideration; and on the role of the County Council in service provision/delivery in the context of the Government’s statement ‘Healthy Food in Schools – Transforming School Meals’. The Committee had particularly asked that the Review Team "look at Best Value in the round, including education and healthy eating and the advantages of healthy food for children as learners". This report sets out the results of the further research to date. More work is required to provide definitive information on some of the options, but this will to an extent depend on what actions the Council considers desirable to pursue. Decisions on such action will be for the Cabinet, in the light of the recommendations of this Committee in the light of the Best Value Review work.
Why has it been included?	In May 2005 the Council allocated the Best Value function to the Scrutiny Committees.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session. The Committee is RECOMMENDED to refer this report to the Cabinet, together with any further comments and recommendations, as the outcome of the Best Value Review, drawing the Cabinet’s attention to the further work which is urgently required to give a basis for decisions, subject to appropriate consultation with stakeholders, on the future of the catering and cleaning services provided by County Facilities Management.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	Councillor David Wilmshusrt and Mr Robert Capstick have been invited to attend for this item to answer any questions which the Committee may wish to ask.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report (CH9) (download as .doc file), in preparation for discussion on this item.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None

10. Tracking Scrutiny Items

• County Music Service

1. the accounting arrangements for the Service;
2. the future funding of the Service, including the potential for increasing its income;
3. the handling of the accrued deficit;
4. the future management remit of the Music Service House Committee.

11. Realignment of Directorates

2:00

Background Information:	On 18 October 2005, the Cabinet will consider a report on proposals to enable the implementation of its decision to re-designate the Directors for Learning & Culture and Social & Health Care as Director of Children’s Services and of Adult Social Services respectively. A draft of the report is attached (CH11) (download as .doc file).
	The report sets out a structure for the realigned directorates, which are proposed to be titled "Children, Young People & Families" and "Social & Community Services", and covers funding, risks and transitional issues.The report contains specific proposals for: the new titles of the directors and directorates; the configuration of services within the directorates and their titles; the timetable for implementation; and the arrangements to enable officers to transfer staff to the new services.
Why has it been included?	To enable this Committee and members of the Health & Community Services Scrutiny Committee to comment on the report prior to consideration by the Cabinet. The Committee is asked to consider what advice, if any, to offer to the Cabinet.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session, in which members of the Health & Community Services Scrutiny Committee have been invited to participate.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	All Members of the Committee and the Health & Community Services Scrutiny Committee. The Cabinet Members for Children & Young People and Health & Community Service, the Chief Executive, the Director for Social & Health Care and the Director for Learning & Culture will also attend for this item.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report CH10 (download as .doc file), in preparation of the discussion.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None.

12. Best Value Review of Services for Vulnerable Children and Young People: Implementation

3:00

Background Information:	The Executive, on 19 April 2005, received a report from the Best Value & Audit Committee on its wide-ranging review of services for vulnerable children and young people. The Best Value Review made a wide range of recommendations. A number of these have been, or are being, implemented through the realignment of the Directorates. All of the remaining recommended actions in the Best Value Review of Children’s Services have been incorporated in the new Children and Young People’s Plan. A detailed report on the Plan is elsewhere on the agenda.
	This report now presented (CH12) focuses in detail on proposals for implementing the Best Value Review in relation to two key developments: - the Children and Young People’s Commissioning Trust - Integrated Support Services and Locality Teams. The report concludes that the County Council should move forward to develop a Children and Young People’s Strategic Board for Oxfordshire. This purpose is to effect significant changes in the co-ordination, organisation and delivery of children’s services across the county. The Strategic Board will fulfil the requirements of a Children’s Trust approach for Oxfordshire. It is recommended that proposals for the development of a Children and Young People’s Strategic Board should be approved for wide consultation and that officers undertake further detailed work on the proposals including terms of reference. The Best Value Review proposed the establishment of multi disciplinary locality teams to ensure responsive and well co-ordinated services for vulnerable children and young people in localities throughout the County. The report includes proposals for these, which it is recommended should be for wide consultation.
Why has it been included?	In May 2005 the Council allocated the best value function to the Scrutiny Committees.
How and when is the Committee going to deal with it?	During a one meeting session. The Committee is invited to comment on the proposals set out in the report for: (a) the development of a Children and Young People’s Strategic Board; (b) the development of local multi-disciplinary teams; and to forward their advice and recommendations to the Cabinet.
Who is going to take part in this piece of work?	The Cabinet Member for Children & Young People and Ms Gillian Tee, Head of Children’s Services will attend to answer any questions which the Committee may wish to ask.
Work to be done prior to the meeting:	Members are asked to consider the report (CH12), in preparation for discussion on this item.
Documents Members should bring to the meeting:	None.

14. Forward Plan

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