Meeting documents

People Scrutiny Committee
Tuesday, 28th January, 2014 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
699 New Year Honours
 The Chairman informed the Committee that Councillor D Norman had been awarded an MBE in recognition of services to adult education and the Vice Chairman advised that Carol Compton had been awarded an MBE for services to children and families.

The Committee asked that its congratulations be forwarded to both Councillor Norman and Carol Compton for their well deserved awards.
700 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Morgan (no substitute), Councillor D Norman (no substitute) and from Mr Copeland and Mr Rickett (co-opted members).

The Chairman advised that this would be last meeting attended by Megan Sylvester, as her term of office as Youth Mayor will shortly be coming to an end. On behalf of the Committee the Chairman thanked Megan for her contributions and wished her all the best for the future.
701 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Holdcroft, Courtenay and Salter - interest in the pre-Cabinet scrutiny/referred/called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;
(b) Councillor Woodley - agenda item relating to - Provision of Primary Places - non-pecuniary - Governor at Thorpe Greenways School;
(c) Councillor Betson - agenda item relating to Provision of Primary Places - non-pecuniary - Governor at Heycroft Primary School;
(d) Councillor Betson - agenda item relating to Draft Capital programme - non-pecuniary - Board member South Essex Homes;
(e) Councillor Walker - agenda item relating to Draft Capital programme - non-pecuniary - Board member South Essex Homes;
(f) Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Provision of Primary Places - Governor at Friars Primary School and Bournes Green Infant School;
(g) Councillor Dr Caunce - agenda item relating to Provision of Primary Places - non-pecuniary - Governor at Barons Court School;
(h) Ms Clarke - agenda item relating to Adoption Service Annual Report - non-pecuniary - have a privately fostered child in care;
(i) Councillor Kaye - agenda item relating to in house day services for people with learning disabilities - non-pecuniary - Mental Health Act Manager SEPT, Chairman for Hearings;
(j) Councillor Robertson - agenda item relating to in house day services for people with learning disabilities - non-pecuniary - NED with Affinity Trust.
702 Questions from Members of the Public.
 There were no questions from members of the public.
703 Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013 be confirmed and signed.
704 Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 26th November, 2013
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 26th November, 2013 be confirmed and signed.
705 Draft Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18
Business for item 705
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the current approved Programme for 2014/15 to 2017/18 of £66.1m, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the changes to the approved Programme, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be noted.

3. That the proposed new schemes and additions to the Capital Programme for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years) totalling £60.7m, of which £52.7m is for the General Fund and £8m for the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, be noted.

4. That it be noted that the proposed new schemes and additions, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, along with other adjustments as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, will result in a proposed capital programme of £132.4m for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years), as set out in appendix 8 to the submitted report.

5. That it be noted that the level of external funding supporting the total programme of £132.4m for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years) is £35.4m.

6. That it be noted that a final exercise is being undertaken on the 2013/14 projected outturn, with the results to be included in the report to Cabinet on 13th February 2014."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
706 Draft Fees & Charges 2014/15
Business for item 706
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"That the proposed fees and charges for each Department as set out in the submitted report and appendices, be endorsed."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
707 Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2014/15
Business for item 707
Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the 2014/15 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the draft budget has been prepared on the basis of a Council tax freeze and consequent acceptance of the Government's Council Tax freeze grant offer for 2014/15.

3. That it be noted that the 2014/15 draft revenue budget has been prepared using the provisional finance settlement and that the outcome from the final settlement will need to be factored into final budget proposals for the Cabinet and Council.

4. That the 2014/15 draft revenue budget, as approved, be referred to the Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet, which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council.

5. That the Schools budget position and recommendations from the Schools Forum on 15th January 2014, as set out in Appendices 14 and 14(i) to the submitted report, be noted and referred to People Scrutiny Committee before going to Cabinet and Council.

6. That the direction of travel for 2015/16 and beyond, as set out in section 15 of the submitted report, be endorsed."

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on the 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
708 Corporate Performance Management 2014/15
Business for item 708
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

"1. That the corporate performance measures to be monitored via the Monthly Performance Report for 2014/15, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the corporate priority actions to support the implementation of the Council's 2014/15 Corporate Priorities, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
709 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 7th January, 2014.
 
Provision of Primary School Places
Scrutiny Comment for item 709
Business for item 709
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of the Federated Thorpe Greenways Infant and Junior Schools to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

2. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

3. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of Hamstel Infant and Junior Schools to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

4. That a statutory joint consultation be undertaken with the Diocese of Brentwood concerning the provision of primary places in central Southend, that being the significant enlargement of: Hamstel Infant and Junior Schools, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, St. Helen's Catholic Primary School and The Federated Thorpe Greenways Infant and Junior School.

5. That the decision to proceed to the statutory stage be delegated to the Corporate Director for People, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, if there are no strong objections.

6. That the permanent expansion of Darlinghurst Primary School to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny on 26th November 2013 (Minute 541 refers).
710 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 7th January, 2014.
 
Adoption Service Annual Report
Scrutiny Comment for item 710
Business for item 710
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Adoption Service Annual Report, be noted.

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

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
711 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 7th January, 2014.
 
Report on Early Years, School Standards and Inspection Outcomes
Scrutiny Comment for item 711
Business for item 711
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the school performance and inspection outcomes, be noted.

2. That the approach to schools causing concern, be noted.

3. That the implementation of the Southend Challenge (the strategy for the third and final year of Improving Learning Together), together with its aspiration of increasing the level of challenge within and between schools, be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
712 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 7th January, 2014.
 
Annual Report on Safeguarding Children
Scrutiny Comment for item 712
Business for item 712
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That the report and 2014/15 priority areas, be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
713 Annual Report on the Implementation of Southend on Sea's Strategy for Children Age 0 - 25 with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities: Early Help, Partnership Choice and Ambition 2013 - 2016
Business for item 713
Resolved:

1. That the annual report and progress of the Strategy is noted.
2. That the report be endorsed for submission to Cabinet at its meeting on 18th March, 2014, with the inclusion of the following:
(a) Performance framework - minor amendments to Appendix 3;
(b) Strategy (Appendix 1) - be more specific in showing how the voices of child / young person are included within the plan.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
714 Outcome of the Formal Consultation on the Proposals for the Future Provision of In-house Day Services for People with Learning Disabilities
Business for item 714
Resolved:-

That the draft report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 18th March 2014, with the inclusion of the following:

• listen to the soft data / views expressed;
• revise the way the summary and analysis of the findings from the consultation is expressed (amalgamation of the data from service user responses / on-line survey responses).

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
715 Monthly Performance Report (MPR)
Business for item 715
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
716 Chairman's update
Business for item 716
Resolved:

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.
2. That, as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the Report, Councillor Anne Jones be appointed as a further representative to attend the regional Scrutiny event being held on 24th February 2014.
3. That the Care Quality Commission Compliance Manager be invited to attend a further member briefing session.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.
717 Minutes of the Meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 20th January, 2014
 Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 20th January, 2014, be received and noted and the recommendations therein endorsed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.
18.30 / 20.35

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Kaye (Chairman), Councillors Flewitt (Vice-Chair), Betson, Carr, Dr Caunce, Chalk, Crystall, Day, Grimwade, Hadley, A J Jones, A P Jones, Robertson, Walker and Woodley

Ms Semmence, Mr Keay and Ms Clarke (co-opted members) and M Sylvester (observer)
In attendance:
Councillors Holdcroft, Courtenay and Salter (Executive Councillors)
Councillors Gilbert, Longley and Ware-Lane
R Tinlin, D Simon, F Abbott, S Leftley, Dr Atherton, J Theadom, K Marks, I Ambrose, M Singleton, R Baker, S Bingham, H Newing and D Keens

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
709 Called in by Councillors G Longley and P Collins.
Final call on 15/01/2014 at 14:44
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of the Federated Thorpe Greenways Infant and Junior Schools to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

2. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

3. That subject to 4 below, the permanent expansion of Hamstel Infant and Junior Schools to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved.

4. That a statutory joint consultation be undertaken with the Diocese of Brentwood concerning the provision of primary places in central Southend, that being the significant enlargement of: Hamstel Infant and Junior Schools, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, St. Helen's Catholic Primary School and The Federated Thorpe Greenways Infant and Junior School.

5. That the decision to proceed to the statutory stage be delegated to the Corporate Director for People, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, if there are no strong objections.

6. That the permanent expansion of Darlinghurst Primary School to provide one additional form of entry from September 2015, be approved."

Executive Councillor: Courtenay
This matter had previously been subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny on 26th November 2013 (Minute 541 refers).
710 Called in by Councillors G Longley and P Collins.
Final call on 15/01/2014 at 14:44
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Adoption Service Annual Report, be noted.

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

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
711 Called in by Councillors M L Borton and I D Gilbert.
Final call on 15/01/2014 at 14:42
Supported by G Longley, P Collins
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the school performance and inspection outcomes, be noted.

2. That the approach to schools causing concern, be noted.

3. That the implementation of the Southend Challenge (the strategy for the third and final year of Improving Learning Together), together with its aspiration of increasing the level of challenge within and between schools, be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function
Executive Councillor: Courtenay
712 Called in by Councillors M L Borton and I D Gilbert.
Final call on 14/01/2014 at 16:50
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

"That the report and 2014/15 priority areas, be noted."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor: Courtenay

Business

ItemBusiness
705The Committee considered Minute 674 of Cabinet held on 21st January 2014, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team setting out a draft programme of capital projects for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18.

In response to questions from Councillor Woodley, the Corporate Director for People said that he would provide the following information:
• Appendix 7 Page 7 / 19 - works in default - provide details on number of properties;
• Appendix 7 Page 8 / 19 - empty dwelling management orders - number of properties, and when be self funding.
706The Committee considered Minute 675 of Cabinet held on 21st January 2014, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team detailing fees and charges for services included in the budget proposals for 2014/15.
707The Committee considered Minute 676 of Cabinet held on 21st January 2014, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2014/15.

In response to a question from Councillor Longley, the Corporate Director for People confirmed that, with regard to Appendix 13 - page 5 /10 - PE22, the heading should be amended to 'Increased income from Adoption Service'.
708The Committee considered Minute 677 of Cabinet held on 21st January 2014, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with a report of the Chief Executive & Town Clerk, detailing the Council's approach to performance management for 2014/15.
709The Committee considered Minute 643 of Cabinet held on 7th January 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People outlining proposals to secure sufficient reception school places across the Borough.

The Executive Councillor confirmed that the School Places Working Party had now been established and its first meeting will be on 13th February 2014.

In response to questions, the Council's Head of Learning said that she would be happy to bring a report on the use / effectiveness of the Pupil Premium in Southend schools.
710The Committee considered Minute 645 of Cabinet held on 7th January 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People on the activities of the Adoption Service in 2013 and set out the updated Statement of Purpose. The Adoption scorecard (Appendix 3) was circulated at the meeting.
711The Committee considered Minute 647 of Cabinet held on 7th January 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People advising Members of the educational standards achieved by Southend pupils at the end of the academic year 2012/13 and the rate of exclusions and school absence during the same period. The report also advised Members of the inspection outcomes for schools inspected under the new framework.

In response to questions, the Council's Head of Learning said that she would be happy to keep the Committee updated on progress with regard to free school meals for early years. She also confirmed that a more detailed report on the issues in the report would be brought to the next Scrutiny Committee.
712The Committee considered Minute 648 of Cabinet held on 7th January 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with a report of the Corporate Director for People providing an annual assurance assessment in respect of the Council's responsibilities for safeguarding children in Southend.
713(This is a pre-Cabinet scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for People by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This reported on progress of the implementation plan for the strategy for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities; provided a summary progress report on the 5 key proposals and the action plans that take the strategy forward, set out in Appendix 2 and the accompanying SEN profile report setting out the progress within the agreed performance framework, in Appendix 3.

There was general consensus and support for the direction of the strategy and content of the report.
714(This is a pre-Cabinet scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for People by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny. This requested the Committee to consider a draft report to Cabinet on the options for the future provision of in-house day services for people with learning disabilities.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and the Council's Head of Adult Services fully responded to questions and said that Members of the Committee were very welcome to visit Project 49. She also advised that further options for developing the Viking Service would be brought back in due course.
715The Committee considered the Monthly Performance Report covering the period to the end of November 2013 and the Exceptions Report which had been circulated on 24th January 2014.
716The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which updated Members on some scrutiny matters, as follows:

(a) Update on pupil premium grant - information set out in 3.1 of the report - noted;
(b) Update on request from November meeting (Minute 551 refers) re Schools Progress - information set out in 3.2 of the report - noted;
(c) Information on a regional event on 24th February - the Chairman and officer will be attending and there is the opportunity for another Member to attend - information set out in 3.3 of the report;
(d) Update on St Luke's GP led health centre - set out in 3.4 of the report - noted;
(e) Details of member briefings and invitation to Care Quality Commission to discuss inspection plans etc - set out in 3.5 & 3.6 of the report;
(f) Update on the in depth scrutiny project - 'Southend primary schools' falling grammar school entry figures' - set out in paragraph 4 of the report - noted.

 

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