Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Buckley (no substitute), Councillor M Butler (no substitute), Councillor C Endersby (substitute Cllr M Terry), Councillor D Garston (substitute Cllr D McGlone), Councillor A Jones (substitute Cllr H McDonald) and Councillor P Wexham (substitute Cllr C Mulroney) and A Semmence and L Crabb (co-opted members).

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman welcomed M Riley, Youth Mayor and Y Bey, Deputy Youth Mayor to their first meeting.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

(a)       Councillors Salter and Courtenay - 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 Scrutiny Committee – updates – non-pecuniary - 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;

(c)       Councillor Salter - agenda item relating to Local Account  – non pecuniary – Chair of Health & Wellbeing Board which was referred to during discussion;

(d)       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;

(e)       Ms E Lusty - agenda item relating to Schools Progress report – non- pecuniary – 1 child attends West Leigh School and 2 children attend Southend High School for Boys;

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

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

(i)        Councillor Walker – agenda item relating to Schools progress report – non-pecuniary – wife teachers part time at West Leigh Schools;

(j)         Councillor Terry - agenda item relating to Schools Progress report – non-pecuniary – partner is a teacher at a school locally;

(k)       Councillor Chalk - agenda item relating to Schools Progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at Bournes Green Infants School.

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 Special Meeting held on Monday, 18^th September, 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 10^th October, 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on Wednesday, 18^th October, 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Referred direct to Scrutiny

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

The Committee considered Minute 439 of Cabinet held on 7^th November, 2017 which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the Monthly Performance Report covering the period to September 2017, 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 440 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 6 refers)

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called in by Councillors A Jones and C Willis

The Committee considered Minute 440 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th November 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all 3 scrutiny committees and called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Chief Executive which presented the annual report on compliments and complaints received throughout the Council for 2016/17. This incorporated separate sections on Adult Social Care Services, Children’s Social Care and a report from the Monitoring Officer on decisions by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.

With regard to the section on Adult Social Care Services, set out in Appendix A to the report, the Committee asked questions about monitoring processes of missed calls for domiciliary care and residential care, using ‘CM2000’ and how this data could be reflected in the MPR for 2018 / 19. The Deputy Chief Executive said that this would be a decision for Cabinet and the Councillor will need to raise it with Cabinet at the appropriate time.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the Council’s performance in respect of compliments, comments and complaints for 2016-17 be noted, including the summary of decisions by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillors: Courtenay, Cox, Lamb and Salter

Minute 450 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 16 refers)

Called in by Councillors A Jones and I Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 450 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This outlined the activities of the Southend Adoption Service between April and September 2017.

A number of questions were raised at the meeting on behalf a Councillor who was unable to be present (around recruitment of adopters for example) and the Director of Children’s Services agreed to provide a written response.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the submitted report be noted.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor: Courtenay

Minute 451 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 17 refers)

Called in by Councillors A Jones and M Borton

The Committee considered Minute 451 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This presented the annual report on the work of the Corporate Parenting Group (CPG) regarding the progress and outcomes of children who are looked after by the Council.

In response to a question from Councillor Nevin regarding workforce challenges and recruitment and retention in Children’s Services, the Director of Children’s Services outlined the work being undertaken and the reduction in agency staff and advised that he would prepare a report setting out the present position.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the annual report set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the overarching priorities set for 2017/18 set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

3. That the Corporate Parenting Strategy for Looked After Children 2017/18 set out at Appendix 3 to the report, be approved.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor: Courtenay

Minute 451 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 17 refers)

Called in by Councillors A Jones and M Borton

The Committee considered Minute 452 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This presented the Local Account of Adult Social Care services in 2016-17, including the priorities and plans for 2017-18.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the Local Account of Adult Social Care services in 2016-17 be noted as the Council’s self-assessment for these services.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Salter

Minute 453 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 19 refers)

Called in by Councillors A Jones and I Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 453 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7^th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This set out the progress of the first year (financial year April 2016-March 2017) of the implementation plan.

A number of questions were raised at the meeting on behalf a Councillor who was unable to be present (budget etc.) and the Executive Councillor agreed to provide a written response.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the progress and areas that require further improvement as indicated in the submitted report for the first year of “Working together to improve outcomes”, be noted.

2. That a full review of the provision for SEND area and refresh of the current strategy, with a view to presenting the updated version to Cabinet by the end of the current financial year, be approved.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

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.

Resolved:-

That the report and the overall performance of schools 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.

Referring to section 5.1 of the report regarding St Luke’s Primary Care Development, officers were asked to clarify when the contract was awarded to Virgin Care and also asked to find out some further information on the stakeholder group (when meets, if papers are available etc.).

Referring to section 5.4 of the report, the Scrutiny Officer clarified that the briefing for members by EPUT on the new clinical model for mental health services across the county, will be held on the evening of Monday 11^th December 2017.

Resolved:-

That the report and actions taken be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 20^th November 2017 be received and noted and the recommendations therein endorsed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.