Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Rooms 1 and 2, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Bryony Gibbs, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1355; Email: bryony.gibbs@brent.gov.uk
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Declaration of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting any relevant financial or other interest in the items on the agenda. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Deputations (if any) Minutes: There were no deputations. |
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Minutes of the last meeting held on 29 March 2011 PDF 147 KB Minutes: RESOLVED: -
that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 29 March 2011, be approved as a correct record. |
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Matters arising Minutes: There were no matters arising. |
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Tribute and thanks to retiring head teachers PDF 36 KB Minutes: The Chair explained that several of Brent's head teachers, as set out in the report, were retiring in July and December 2011. On behalf of the Committee the Chair wished to formally recognise the tremendous contribution of Brent's head teachers to improving the education service offered in primary schools. Accordingly, the Chair proposed, with the agreement of the Committee, to compose a letter to Brent's retiring head teachers to express the Committee's thanks for their contribution and service to the borough.
RESOLVED: -
that Councillor Gladbaum, as Chair of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, compose a letter on behalf of the Committee to express its thanks to those head teachers who were retiring in the coming months for their significant contribution to improving the education provision in Brent's primary schools. |
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Brent Youth Parliament Update - verbal report Minutes: The Chair of the Brent Youth Parliament (BYP) provided a brief introduction to the Committee on the structure, aims and current work of the BYP. He informed the Committee that BYP had been established in March 2007 and comprised 72 elected members (MYPs). The 72 MYPs were elected via various youth organisations including youth groups and local schools, to represent the 72,000 young people who either lived or attended school in the borough of Brent. BYP aimed to provide a voice for young people in Brent and to engage with issues affecting young people. Currently BYP was engaged in a number of areas of work, including the following: -
· Prevention of Youth Offending task group BYP had worked in partnership with the task group to facilitate and deliver a related workshop to BYP and Care in Action (CIA) and would work to support the recommendations outlined in the report of the task group.
· Regeneration / Civic Centre BYP had sought to be consulted on the design of the new civic centre to ensure that the needs of Brent's young people were also considered. As a result of this consultation, changes were made to the design plans for the Civic Centre and BYP was now regularly updated on the progress of the project. BYP had also received councillor support for the allocation of a dedicated room for BYP at the Town Hall and new Civic Centre.
· Youth Conference A youth conference was scheduled to take place as part of the BYP campaign 'Empower the youth, Power the change' and would encompass the BYP campaign aimed at raising awareness of youth activities.
· Monthly BYP sessions There was good attendance at the BYP monthly sessions and interesting and heated debates on various issues. Most recently a BYP session had discussed the issue of the Council subsidising religious festivals.
· BYP Elections BYP elections were held in October 2010 and resulted in 35-40 new young people joining BYP.
The Chair of BYP noted that copies of the BYP mid-year report would be distributed to the Committee.
A short film created by BYP in partnership with Brent PCT regarding shisha smoking was shown to the Committee. The Chair of BYP advised that the number of people smoking shisha had risen considerably and that it was incorrectly seen by some as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. BYP had wanted to make the film to highlight the facts relating to shisha smoking and accordingly, DVDs of the films would be distributed to all schools in the borough.
The Committee congratulated the BYP members on the short film and the Chair thanked the representatives of BYP for attending the meeting. |
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Provision of services for children with disabilities - verbal report The chair of the committee has asked that a regular item on the provision of services for children with disabilities be included on each agenda. This follows the decision to close the short break service at Crawford Avenue and restructure services for children with disabilities at Clement Close.
Minutes: Rik Boxer (Assistant Director, Achievement and Inclusion) provided a verbal report to the committee on the provision of services for children with disabilities and the implementation of the Executive decision, taken on 23 May 2011, to restructure the short term break offer provided by the Council. This restructure encompassed the closure of the short break unit at Crawford Avenue and the enhancement of the service provision at the remaining centre on Clement Close. The restructure formed part of the council's savings proposals and was in line with the longer term strategy to increase community based provision and the number of more flexible options available for families. The restructure also reflected the agreement already in place to concentrate the council's short break service for children with disabilities in a single site, namely that of the Village School. This centre was due to be open in December 2012 and was currently being redeveloped, with a rebuild scheduled to commence in September 2011.
Rik Boxer confirmed to the committee that the eligibility criteria for accessing such services had not changed and that assessed needs would continue to be met. The restructure would result in a slightly reduced capacity in day provision; however, it was anticipated that there would be sufficient overnight capacity to meet current and long term demand. Reduced capacity might affect the local authority’s ability to offer emergency provision, however in such circumstances, overnight provision could be commissioned by the local authority from providers outside of the borough. With regard to direct payments and community based provision, the local authority recognised that there would be a continued need to stimulate the market to ensure that there were sufficient services to meet a wide range of needs. To support parents choosing to take up direct payments, the local authority would direct them to the various voluntary organisations which provided information and guidance on direct payments and appropriate service providers. In addition, from August 2011 an independent employment adviser would be made available by the local authority to assist parents and provide guidance regarding direct payments.
Rik Boxer further advised that the implementation of the restructure was currently underway. The consultation with staff at both centres had now been completed and all parents and carers affected had been consulted prior to the decision. It had been determined that for many service users the transfer to the Clement Close centre would be straightforward; where this was not so, the local authority was reviewing care plans accordingly. To ensure that the Clement Close centre was appropriately equipped to meet a range of needs, it would be closed for three weeks from 12 September 2011, during which time various adaptations would be made and a staff training programme would commence. It was intended that the new unit at Clement Close would open on 3 October 2011.
During member discussion, Councillor Harrison commented that a three week period did not seem sufficient to retrain staff appropriately, given the range of needs that they would be required to ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Impact of the budget on future service delivery including schools budget PDF 88 KB This report provides detailed information regarding the 2011/12 revenue budget for the Children and Families Department (C&F) including the impact of savings necessary to reach the agreed cash limit for the Department. Additional documents: Minutes: Rik Boxer presented a report to the committee outlining the Children and Families revenue budget for 2011/12 and the considerable financial pressures affecting the department. The committee heard that the grant funding from central government on which the local authority was heavily dependent, had been cut by an average of 11.3% for 2011/12 and 7.4 for 2012/13. These cuts had taken place in the context of rising costs due to inflation and a range of growing service pressures. In addition, the department had to contend with spending pressures from the 2010/11 financial year, including an overspend of just under £400k. Rik Boxer drew the Committees attention to the table at paragraph 5.1, noting that the Children and Families department had also experienced a significant reduction in other specific grants and that overall there had been a 17.1% reduction of the department's budget from 2010/11 to 2011/12.
The level of budget reductions meant that the Children and Families department had been required to fundamentally review how services to children and young people should be delivered. Referring to Appendix A, Rik Boxer detailed several areas where savings had been made for 2011/12, including those which had received significant media coverage. Amongst others, reductions in spending had been made via children's centres, the school improvement service and the youth and connexions service. Turning to Appendix B, Rik Boxer advised that some grants which had previously been distributed via the local authority were now allocated direct to schools. Via the Schools Forum, the local authority had discussed the amounts to be retained by the local authority to continue to fund centrally provided services to schools. Following these discussions, the Schools Forum had determined that the amount of central holdback by the local authority should be reduced, with a greater proportion of the grants going direct to schools.
During Members’ discussion, the Chair sought further details regarding the relationship between the Schools Forum and the local authority. Rik Boxer advised that the Schools Forum was constituted under government regulations and comprised representatives for Head teachers and governing bodies as well as representatives for private and voluntary organisations related to the early education sector. It principally operated in an advisory capacity, however did have some direct powers such as deciding whether various grants should go direct to schools or should be partially retained by the local authority. Rik Boxer emphasised that the nature of the relationship between the Council and Brent’s schools was very good and was reflected in the Schools Forum.
The Chair noted that the Youth Offending Task Group had recognised the importance of early intervention services for children and families and had made a series of related recommendations including that Brent develop a comprehensive Prevention Strategy. Given the financial position of the department, the Chair queried whether the implementation of these recommendations would be possible. Rik Boxer advised that the local authority did have to prioritise the delivery of statutory services.
With reference to Appendix A, the Chair noted that several posts ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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The implications of the Government's policy on academies and Free Schools in Brent PDF 127 KB This report considers the implications of the Government’s policy with regard to expanding the number of academies and free schools as set out within the White Paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’ published in November 2010 and the subsequent Education Bill 2011 published on 26th January 2011.
Minutes: Cathy Tyson (Assistant Director Policy) presented a report to the Committee on the implications of the Government’s policy with regard to expanding the number of academies and free schools as set out within the white paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’, published in November 2010, and the subsequent Education Bill 2011, published on 26 January 2011. Along with other reforms to the education system and teaching, the white paper proposed to enable more schools to apply for Academy status and to enable groups to establish Free Schools. This policy was founded on the concept that creating a more diverse range of education providers, free from central or local government control, would increase standards of education, enhance parental choice and increase accountability for educational attainment. The proposed Education Bill 2011 added to this by significantly curtailing any statutory right of local authorities to influence or intervene in the managerial operation of their local schools. Although, it was highlighted to the committee that the local authority had performed a primarily strategic role since the introduction of local management of schools in 1988
Cathy Tyson further advised that under these proposals the local authority was still responsible for ensuring that there was a sufficient number of good quality school places, adequate special educational needs (SEN) provision and that admissions processes remained fair, with a right of appeal available to parents. The means of achieving these goals would be made more difficult by the proposals set out in the Education Bill to remove the duty on schools to cooperate with local authorities to improve the wellbeing of local children and to terminate the requirement for every school to have a local authority school improvement partner. In particular, the removal of the duty to cooperate could lead to a fragmented and unequal pattern of school provision and associated services, with the most vulnerable children being excluded from opportunities. With regard to Brent’s school improvement service, the committee was informed that it was well regarded by local schools and had helped to significantly raise the standard of local education provision and achievement. However, the removal of the requirement for local schools to be part of the schools improvement partnership, combined with the move towards the creation of improvement chains or federations between schools, will mean that in the future the school improvement service would be provided on a completely commercial basis.
Cathy Tyson highlighted to the committee that there were several incentives for schools to become academies including greater freedom from the local authority and greater funding per pupil, direct from central government. Whilst it was acknowledged that the council had an extremely good relationship with Brent’s schools, it was noted that if a significant number of Brent’s schools were to become academies, there could be financial implications for the local authority, in addition to the challenges outlined above. The Academies Bill Impact Assessment proposed interim arrangements to provide funding for academies, whilst a new national education funding formula was created. The interim arrangements saw funding for ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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Youth Offending Task Group PDF 76 KB This report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Preventing Youth Offending Task Group, which are being presented to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its endorsement. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced the final report of Preventing Youth Offending Task Group to the committee, which detailed the findings and recommendations of the task group. The Chair explained that the task group had been convened to review youth offending, with an emphasis on the prevention agenda and had comprised herself, Councillor Hunter and Councillor Harrison.
The Chair further elucidated that the remit of the task group had originally envisaged examining those services targeted at preventing young people from falling into offending behaviour; however, in the course of evidence gathering, the task group had shifted to focus on the decisive factors occurring much earlier in a child’s life, all of which could influence a range of outcomes for that child, including the likelihood of becoming a youth offender. The Chair noted for instance, that it was evident that there was a direct link between several wide ranging factors including poverty, unsettled lives and the development of anti-social behaviour. The task group had therefore focussed on seeking a holistic approach to youth offending issues by examining those services which aimed to affect those early decisive factors, and which interacted not just with the child but with its family as well. The committee further heard that a report by the Audit Commission in 2004 used a case study to demonstrate how missed opportunities to intervene following early warning signs, led to a much higher expense overall to the public purse. The Audit Commission report went on to estimated that effective early intervention in the lives of just 10% of young offenders could save an circa £100 million each year.
The committee was advised by the Chair that the task group had obtained evidence from local young people and had reviewed current service provision by consulting officers of the council and a long list of partner and related organisations. The Chair also outlined the literature reviewed by the Task Group and drew the committee’s attention in particular to The Graham Allen Review of Early Intervention. This review had recommended 72 intervention programmes, with 19 programmes in particular, providing the greatest return on the funding invested in terms of outcomes achieved.
The Chair advised that the task group had made 19 recommendations, as set out in its final report. She added that it was hoped that the committee would endorse these recommendations and, after thanking Mark Cairns (Policy and Performance Officer) for the support he provided to the task group, asked him to comment on how the findings of the task group would be taken further. Mark Cairns advised that should the committee chose to endorse the task group’s recommendations, the task group’s report would go to the executive in September 2011. As part of this process the Children and Families department would be asked to comment formally on the recommendations. If the Executive agreed the recommendations presented by the task group, an update on its implementation would be brought back to the scrutiny committee in circa February 2012.
Councillor Matthews thanked the members of ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |
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School places update - verbal report Minutes: Rik Boxer presented a verbal report updating the committee on the present situation regarding school places within the borough. He advised that there continued to be acute pressure on primary school places and that currently there were 417 unplaced children in Brent. He added that whilst there were 465 vacancies within primary schools at present, these did not correspond to the year groups or geographical areas under demand. There continued to be greater demand than places currently available for year groups reception, 1 and 2. In addition to this, there continued to be a significant flow of people moving into the borough. The local authority was working to ensure that demand could be met and additional permanent primary school places were being created for September 2011. In the interim, the council had delivered a range of temporary projects to meet demand for education provision. Unfortunately, in the longer term, the capital required to allow the council to meet the projected need for school places was insufficient. The council was lobbying to make Brent’s case very clear.
With regard to the applications for school places for the academic year commencing in September 2011, Rik Boxer advised that 4,642 applications had been received for primary schools in Brent and more were being received each week. Of these applications, approximately 500 were from outside of the borough. There were 311 children without an offer of a place for 2011 and 58 vacancies. The local authority was applying a range of schemes to manage demand. He added that further updates would be brought to future meetings of the committee.
There was presently no concern regarding the Secondary School transfer process as all applications had been met with an offer of a school place, although not all of these had been accepted by parents at present.
RESOLVED: -
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Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme PDF 52 KB The Work Programme is attached. Minutes: Andrew Davies advised that the work programme for the committee was set out in the agenda. If any members wished to raise any issues for the committee’s consideration, they were invited to contact Andrew Davies.
It was noted that there were already several items scheduled for the forthcoming meeting of the Committee due to be held in October 2011.
RESOLVED: -
That the work programme be noted. |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny meeting is scheduled for Minutes: The committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled to take place on 6 October 2011. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: None raised. |