Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Habermel (substitute Cllr Evans), Councillor Stafford (substitute Cllr Woodley), Councillor Wexham (substitute Cllr Mulroney), E Lusty (co-opted member), A Semmence (co-opted member) and A Clarke (co-opted member).

Members asked that their best wishes be forwarded to Ms Lusty who had recently broken her leg. The Chairman advised that Ms Clarke will be stepping down as the Carers Forum representative on the Scrutiny Committee, due to a change in circumstances. The Committee asked that their thanks and best wishes be forwarded to her.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

(a)       Councillors Lamb, Salter and Courtenay (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)       Councillor Salter – agenda items relating to Draft General Fund Revenue Budget; Scrutiny update – non-pecuniary interest – husband is Consultant Surgeon at Southend Hospital and holds senior posts at the Hospital; son-in-law is GP; daughter is a doctor at Broomfield Hospital; Highlands Practice mentioned during debate;

(c)       Councillor Lamb - agenda item relating to Scrutiny update - non-pecuniary – Governor at Southend Hospital;

(d)       Councillor Lamb – agenda item relating to Schools progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at West Leigh Junior School; Governor of Southend Adult Community College;

(e)       Councillor Nevin - agenda item relating to - Scrutiny update - non-pecuniary – 2 children work at MEHT; sister works at Basildon Hospital; NHS employee outside area; previous employee at Southend and MEHT Hospitals;

(f)        Councillor Arscott – agenda item relating to Fostering Service – non-pecuniary – member of Southend Fostering Panel;

(g)       Councillor Arscott - agenda item relating to Schools Progress report – non pecuniary – Governor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School;

(h)      Councillor Boyd - agenda item relating to School Progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at Westcliff High School for Girls and South East Essex Academy Trust, south east Essex Teaching School Alliance;

(i)        Councillor Borton - agenda item relating to School Progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at Milton Hall School;

(j)         Councillor Borton – agenda item relating to MPR – non-pecuniary – SEPT mentioned and is daughters’ employer;

(k)       Councillor Jones – agenda item relating to Schools Progress report – non-pecuniary – parent of child attending school and governor;

(l)            Councillor Jones - agenda item relating to Fostering Service – non-pecuniary – member of Fostering Panel.

Councillor Courtenay, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning responded to a written question from Mr Webb and Councillor Salter, the Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Social Care responded to a written question from Mr Webb.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 29^th November, 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 19^th January 2016. The relevant Minute and report will be referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 645 of Cabinet held on 19th January 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees, together with a report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s corporate approach to performance management for 2017/18.

In response to questions about Corporate Priority 33 (% of children in good or outstanding schools), and the new achievement data at KS4, the Executive Councillor said that he would consider whether to include this in the Schools Progress update. The Deputy Chief Executive (People) also said that he would be happy to arrange a training session for Members on this new annual set of data.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1.     That the Corporate Priority Performance Indicators to be monitored via the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) for 2017/18, as set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2.         That the MPR will also include a small basket of indicators (as outlined in paragraph 4.3 of the report) relating to areas where the Council does not have lead responsibility or direct control.

3.         That the Corporate Priority Actions, to support implementation of the Council’s 2017/18 Corporate Priorities, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function
Executive Councillor:- Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 19^th January 2016. The relevant Minute and report will be referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 648 of Cabinet held on 19th January 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees together with a report of the Corporate Management Team setting out the draft programme of capital projects for the period 2017/18 to 2020/21.

In response to questions about new scheme C16 (ICT – Children’s and Adult Social Care – Development of the Liquid Logic Case Management System), detailed in Appendix 7 (page 9/28), the Deputy Chief Executive (People) said that he would be happy to meet with Members to provide an outline of the system and is also providing a full update to the next meeting of the Audit Committee.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

Note:- This is an Executive Function save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 14th February 2017 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 19^th January 2016. The relevant Minute and report will be referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 649 of Cabinet held on 19th January 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees, together with a report of the Corporate Management Team detailing the fees and charges for services in 2017/18 included in the budget proposals for 2017/18.

In response to questions from the Committee about the forecast average unit cost of all home care per hour, in Appendix 1 (item 5, page 2), the Deputy Chief Executive (People) agreed to circulate by email clarification on the charge and also the average hourly rate paid to suppliers.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 14^th February 2017 is a Council Function.

Executive Councillor:- Lamb

The report has been circulated with the Cabinet Agenda for its meeting on 19^th January 2016. The relevant Minute and report will be referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees for consideration.

The Committee considered Minute 650 of Cabinet held on 19th January 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all three Scrutiny Committees, together with a report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2017/18.

In response to questions concerning PE2, Learning (Appendix 13, page 3/9), the Director of Learning said that he would supply details of the Schools which the authority provides services to.

With regard to Appendix 7 and 8, draft budget for Children & Learning and for Health & Adult Social Care, the Group Manager, Financial Management, said that he would provide written response on employee costs / overspends and also about the apparent increase in Children and Learning government grants.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 14^th February 2017 is a Council Function.

Executive Councillor:- Lamb

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending November 2016 which was circulated recently.  Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 596 of Cabinet held on 10^th January 2017 together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end November 2016, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 598 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 9 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 598 of Cabinet held on 10^th January 2017, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) on the annual assurance assessment in respect of the Council’s responsibilities for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in Southend.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the report be noted and that the actions detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the submitted report, be approved”.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillors:- Courtenay and Salter

Minute 599 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 10 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 599 of Cabinet held on 10^th January 2017, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) on the activities of the Adoption Service for the period January – December 2016 and, set out for approval, the updated Statement of Purpose.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

“1. That the Annual Report, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the updated Statement of Purpose, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Minute 600 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 11 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 600 of Cabinet held on 10^th January 2017, which had been referred direct to scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which presented the Fostering Service Annual report and the updated Statement of Purpose.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the Annual Report, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, and Statement of Purpose at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Minute 605 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 16 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 605 of Cabinet held on 10^th January 2017, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny by Cabinet.

Resolved:

That the submitted report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item

Report of Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive which updated the Committee on a number of health scrutiny matters and other matters relating to the work of the Committee.

The Scrutiny officer advised that with regard to the protocol with the CCG, set out in Appendix 1 to the report, some minor comments had been received from the CCG which will be incorporated into the protocol.  

Resolved:-

1.         That the report and any actions taken be noted.

2.         That the updated protocols between the Scrutiny Committee and NHS Southend CCG (as amended), Healthwatch Southend and the Health & Wellbeing Board attached at Appendices 1, 2 and 3 be agreed and published on the internet.

3.         To note that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Scrutiny Officer will be attending a half day session on scrutiny and Sustainability & Transformation Plans on 6^th February 2017.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Committee received and considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which informed the Committee on the current position with regard to schools causing concern, including Academy developments. The Director of Learning also provided a verbal update on recent Ofsted Inspections.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay