Apologies for absence were received from Councillor L Davies (substitute Cllr B Ayling), Councillor D Garston (substitute Cllr D McGlone) and E Lusty (co-opted member).

In the absence of Councillor Davies, Councillor Borton acted as Vice Chair at the meeting.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

(a)       Councillors Salter and Courtenay (Executive Councillors) - interest in the called in / 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 item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives in the Chalkwell Schools catchment area;

(c)       Councillor Salter – agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee – updates - 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;

(d)       Councillor Nevin - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives in area affected by proposals;

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

(f)        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;

(g)       Councillor Boyd - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary interest – owns a property in Leigh-on-Sea;

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

(i)        Councillor Arscott - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives within Darlinghurst School catchment area;

(j)         Councillor Walker - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – wife is teacher at West Leigh School;

(k)       Councillor Walker – agenda item relating to Schools progress report – non-pecuniary – Head Teacher at school referred to in report is involved with Southend Choirs Trust;

(l)        Councillor Bright - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – uncle is on Board of Governors at West Leigh School and lives in affected catchment;

(m)     Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – Governor at Bournes Green school;

(n)      Councillor Buckley - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – Eastwood primary school is in ward;

(o)       Councillor McGlone - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – Eastwood primary school is in ward;

(p)       Councillor Habermel - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives in Chalkwell Schools catchment area;

(q)       Councillor Mulroney - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives in North Street school catchment area;

(r)        Councillor Phillips - agenda item relating to School Admissions for Community Schools – disqualifying pecuniary interest –main residence is affected by Model K and would be removed from catchment / house value change - withdrew from meeting during consideration of this item.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 366.

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

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 11^th July, 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

This item will be referred direct to Scrutiny.

[A hard copy of the report will be circulated separately].

The Committee considered Minute 364 of Cabinet held earlier on 10^th October 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to the Scrutiny Committee, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This outlined the reasons to review Admission Arrangements and summarised the recent public engagement exercise regarding changes to catchment areas for primary schools in Leigh-on-Sea.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the proposed Admission Arrangements for Southend Community Schools for the academic year 2019/20 (incorporating revised admission criteria), as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved for a formal consultation process in accordance with the Admissions Code 2014.

2. That the proposed changes to catchment areas for primary community schools in Leigh-on-Sea, as set out in Section 5.10 of the report (and Appendix 2) be approved for a formal consultation process in accordance with the Admissions Code 2014.

3. That the formal consultations referred to in recommendations 1 and 2 above be undertaken between 6^th November and 15^th December 2017 in accordance with the Admissions Code 2014.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor: Courtenay

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called-in by Councillors Terry and Woodley.

Members are asked to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending July 2017. Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 308 of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017 which had been referred direct by Cabinet and also called in to Scrutiny, together with the Monthly Performance Report covering the period to end July 2017, which had been circulated recently.

In response to comments on CP3.8 (number of people successfully completing 4 week stop smoking course), the Director of Public Health said that the target would be reviewed going forward.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 316 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 5 refers)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert, Jones, Mulroney and Wexham

The Committee considered Minute 316 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) presenting the draft Suicide Prevention Strategy for Southend, Essex and Thurrock entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide.’

In response to questions, the Deputy Chief Executive (People) said that he would look into issue of whether there is a Council protocol in place for example Revenue & Benefits staff.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the Suicide Prevention Strategy and associated actions, be approved.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Eligible for call in to: People Scrutiny Committee

Executive Councillor: Salter

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (People)

(This is a pre-Cabinet scrutiny item).

The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Chief Executive (People) by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny. This presented the draft of the Local Account of Adult Social Care services in 2016/17, including priorities and plans for 2017/18.

In response to questions, the Director of Adult Services and Housing responded to comments / questions on the following matters:

·                Tables in report which indicate that official published figures are awaited (Append 1, pages, 8, 9 10) - confirmed the figures will be released mid / end October;

·                Spend for ASC by primary support reason (Appendix 1, page 7) – the new Liquid Logic system is a more sophisticated system and will be able to show greater level of  detail on spend;

·                ‘Keep Safe’ (Appendix 1, page 11) – agreed to provide figures on take up of the service and the list local businesses who participate in the scheme.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and there was general consensus and support for this local account and about the content of the report.

Resolved:-

That the draft report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 7^th November 2017.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Salter

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Committee received a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which informed Members of the current position with regard to the performance of all schools, including those causing concern and updated on known Academy developments and actions the Council is taking to support further improvements in schools.

The Director of Learning was pleased to report the pupil outcomes at end of EYFS and KS2 and KS4 in particular.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Report of Chief Executive

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive which updated Members on a number of scrutiny matters.

The Committee noted a special meeting of the Committee has been arranged for Wednesday 18^th October at 6.30 pm, to consider the following items:-

·           Presentation from the East of England Ambulance Trust on new ambulance standards; and

·           Mid & South Essex Sustainability & Transformation Partnership.

A member briefing by EPUT will also be arranged at a later date on the new clinical model for mental health services across the county.

In response to questions on the St Luke’s Primary Care Development, set out in Appendix 4, the Scrutiny Officer agreed to find out further details about the membership of the stakeholder group.

Resolved:-

That the report and actions taken be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function