(a)        Chair’s Introduction

Prior to the consideration of the matters set out in the agenda, the Chair outlined their expectations of the standard of conduct and behaviour to be shown at the meeting.

(b)        Apologies for Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Badger (no substitute), Councillor K Murphy (no substitute) and Councillor M O’Connor (substitute: Councillor M Borton).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

a)    Councillor T Cox – non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – has a child in receipt of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and another child undergoing the process of a SEND diagnosis.

b)    Councillor M Faulkner-Hatt, Minute No 39 (update from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) – parent is a health visitor.

c)     Councillor J Harland, Minute No 39 (update from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) – family member is employed at Southend Hospital and trustee of Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation.

d)    Councillor L Salter, Minute No 39 (update from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) – Husband is a consultant surgeon at Southend Hospital; Daughter is a consultant at Basildon Hospital; Son-in-law is a general practitioner in Southend-on-Sea.

e)    Councillor J Norman – non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – Board Member of South Essex Homes.

f)      Councillor S Habermel, Minute No 39 (update from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) – sister and nephew employed at Southend Hospital.

g)    Councillor C Nevin, Minute No 39 (update from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) – employed at external National Health Service Trust; family members employed at Mid and South Essex Trust hospitals.

h)    Councillor S Nadeem – Minute No 42 (Biannual reporting of SEND and Strategic Action Plan Update) – child has Special Educational Needs (SEN) and is a user of the Home to School Transport service.

i)      Councillor P Kinsella, non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – employed by a Chairty supporting those with additional needs.

j)      O Richards (co-opted Member, Healthwatch Southend), non-pecuniary interest in all agenda items – Independent Councillor for Leigh Town Council.

The Committee noted the response of the Chair of People Scrutiny to a question presented by Ms Mitchell.

The Committee noted the response of the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and SEND to a question presented by Ms Cowdrey.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday, 4^th December 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The Committee received a paper that provided an update from the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT). This included further detail regarding the Lampard Inquiry, the Quality of Care Strategy, the ‘Time to Care’ programme and the development of the joint electronic patient record programme which was being rolled out across mid and south Essex services.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Executive Nurse and Operations Director for South East Essex. The Committee thanked L. Gale and A. Sheridan for their attendance at the meeting.

Resolved:

That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Strategy & Change), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that provided an update on the corporate performance indicators and delivery plan for quarter 3 (October to December 2024).

The Committee discussed the report and asked questions that were responded to by the relevant Cabinet Member.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor D Cowan (Leader of the Council)

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Children & Public Health) that set out the revised home to school travel assistance policy for Southend-on-Sea City Council.

The Cabinet Member advised the policy had been subject to a full public consultation and responded to a number of questions, which included:

·       The scope of travel assistance – concern that children spending part of the week at a different address may not receive home to school travel assistance at one of those addresses. It was clarified that officers exercised discretion on the implementation of the policy to take exceptional circumstances into consideration.

·       Independence travelling to school, with those with SEND and independent travel training.

·       Personal travel budgets and how parents were informed that they had other travel options.

·       Concern that children were missing out on accessing after school clubs, due to the impracticalities of the Home to School transport.

Councillor T Cox suggested that the wording in the policy be strengthened to clarify that applications would be considered and determined on a case-by-case basis to afford officers greater flexibility and allow adjustments to be made in the implementation of the policy. The Cabinet Member and Leader of the Council confirmed that this wording would be strengthened to include ‘case-by-case basis’ for the purposes of clarity before the policy would be considered by Cabinet.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor L Burton (Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and SEND).

The Committee received a report from the Executive Director (Children & Public Health) that provided an update on the progress made against the SEND Area Strategic Action Plan.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and SEND, who also agreed to provide a written response in relation to:

·         Further detail on the backlog of educational psychologists and the timeframes for waiting for an assessment.

·         Partners and EHCP assessments – update on realistic waiting times from application to assessment.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor L Burton (Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and SEND).