Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor A Hadley (substituted by Cllr S Osborne).

Apologies were received from Councillor Andy Hadley (substituted by Cllr Sue Osborne) and Jo Simons (co-opted member) joined the meeting online.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

There were no new declarations of interest received.

To approve the minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 13 March 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Childrens and Families held on Wednesday 13 March 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Childrens and Families held on Wednesday 13 March 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair to advise the Committee of any items on which members of the public have requested to speak and advise those members of the public present of the details of the Council’s public participation scheme.

For those members of the public who have submitted any questions or statements, please note, a three minute time limit applies to each speaker and you will be asked to speak before Councillors debate the issue.

We are now live webcasting most of our committee meetings and you are welcome to view and listen to the discussion. The link to each webcast will be available on the meeting webpage, please see details under ‘click here to join online meeting’.

There were no questions asked, statements made or petitions presented.

There were no questions asked, statements made or petitions presented.

To receive an update from the Service Manager, Governance Scrutiny. To assist the discussion, the following documents are attached:-

(a)  The Committee’s work programme 2023/2024

(b)  The Committee’s outcome tracker

(c)  Summary meetings overview 2023/2024

(d)  Draft Committee work plan 2024/2025 - to note the items planned for the next meeting on 26 June 2024. Committee members are invited to identify items for consideration at the next few meetings.

Please use the following links to view the latest Somerset Council Forward Plans and Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website:

Somerset Council Forward Plans

Somerset Council Executive Forward Plan

The Committee received and noted the Committee’s current work programme, outcome tracker, meetings overview from 2023/24, draft work programme for 2024/25 and the Executive Forward Plan of planed key decisions in the coming months including Executive meetings.

The Committee received and noted the Committee’s current work programme, outcome tracker, meetings overview from 2023/24, draft work programme for 2024/25 and the Executive Forward Plan of planed key decisions in the coming months including Executive meetings.

The Committee noted the items planned for the next meeting on 26 June 2024, in particular the item on the Children’s Transformation Plan for Childrens Services (deep dive). In preparation for the next meeting, it was agreed that Committee members would to be approached to see if they are interested in being involved in the priorities / areas and also members who have previously been involved should contact the relevant officer(s). The Children’s Services Transformation priorities / areas, are as follows:

• Connect Somerset (Tobie Osmond, Ruth Hobbs).
• Children Looked After (CLA) Transformation (Cllr Evie Potts-Jones, Cllr Martin Lovell).
• Education for Life Strategy (Jo Simons).
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy (Cllr Simon Carswell, Cllr Frances Nicholson).

The suggestions for items for the work plan made by Cllr John Hunt and Cllr Carswell will be reviewed.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – the Chair will allow 30 minutes for this agenda item.

Further to the meeting held on 10 January 2024, the Committee received a presentation which provided a progress update on short break provision. It was noted that the action plan had been shared with the Committee.  The Committee discussed the proposals / model for new homes, budget, timescales and next steps.

The Committee was very supportive of the proposals and direction of travel and looks forward to seeing the project as it moves forward.

Further to the meeting held on 10 January 2024, the Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Strategic Commissioner – Children’s Services Louise Palmer and Head of Service, J Manning, who provided a progress update on short break provision. It was noted that the action plan had been shared with the Committee.

The Committee discussed the update, asked a number of questions, and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, including the following – the proposed 2 new homes; need for and value of engagement, including involving councillor (Tell Local Councillor); the learning from Homes & Horizons work; the budget and timescales and the need to move forward.

The Committee was very supportive of the proposals and direction of travel and looks forward to seeing the project as it moves forward.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – the Chair will allow 30 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation which provided an update on progress on the Education for Life Strategy and the actions and focus for years 2 – 5.

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Service Director Education, Amelia Walker who provided an update on progress on the Education for Life Strategy and the actions and focus for years 2 – 5.

The Committee discussed the update and asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, including the following –  discussion on the proposed localities and their geographical areas, which will be based around schools, SEND, Inclusion, FIS staff; it was noted that are still working on details / early days and will not be exactly aligned to Local Community Networks’ (LCNs) as need to ensure map around schools; ‘co-production’ was stressed and relationships being important, for example with Multi Academy Trust (MAT) CEO’s; view that school clusters better sometimes than geographical area; reference made to the work of the Education Standing Panel, and that other members are welcome to attend the meeting if they wish; the Vice Chair asked whether the panel can be renamed.

The Committee welcomed and noted the progress update.

To receive a verbal update from the Scrutiny Manager on the position with regard to DBS checks for Councillors. A short PowerPoint presentation will be provided at the meeting.

Note – the Chair will allow 10 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee noted the update from the Scrutiny Manager, Jamie Jackosn on the position with regard to DBS checks for Councillors.

The Committee noted the update from the Council’s Scrutiny Manager, Jamie Jackson on the position with regard to Disclosure and Barring Service Clearance, DBS checks for Councillors.

The Committee discussed the update and asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, including the following – the ‘portability’ of DBS’s; mention that candidates standing for election as a councillor were made aware that there is an expectation they will need to complete an enhanced DBS check as part of the role; complete a DBS; query about the regularity of DBS check and expectation for second round in period of term of office and this will be checked.

The Committee noted the position and requested a further update in the near future.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – the Chair will allow 25 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation on the care experience as a Protected Characteristic. The Council in May 2023 agreed to 8 recommendations to implement care experience as a Protected Characteristic and the Committee noted the actions arising. In March 2020 the Council signed the national Care Leaver’s Covenant and Committee to meeting its five core outcomes. Noted the Somerset definition of ‘care leavers and care experienced’ and the proposed next steps / considerations for implementation.

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Participation and Partnerships Business manager, Fiona Phur on the care experience as a Protected Characteristic. The Council in May 2023 agreed to 8 recommendations to implement care experience as a Protected Characteristic and the Committee noted the actions arising. In March 2020, the Council signed the national Care Leaver’s Covenant and Committee to meeting its five core outcomes.

The Committee noted the Somerset definition of ‘care leavers and care experienced’ and the proposed next steps / considerations for implementation and the Somerset definition has now been agreed - ‘In Somerset ‘care-experienced’ refers to anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked after. Care may have been provided in one of many different settings, such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care or through being looked after at home with a supervision requirement.’

The Committee discussed the update and asked a number of questions and made a number of comments which were responded to at the meeting, including the following  - the ambition for children / Corporate Parent Board (CPB) role; the Somerset definition now agreed by legal team is quite wide-ranging definition; need to be clear on parameters; with definition can move forward / on journey; around influence and encouragement; do support beyond 25 if able (but not a lifelong service); the role of CPB.

With regard to the data provided and number of those who experience homelessness (slide on page 56 – slide 6), the Committee asked officers to seek more information / breakdown of figures in more detail and this could be looked at a later date - the Executive member mentioned the ‘Big sleep out’ on 15 June.

The Committee noted the update and requested an update on care experience as protected characteristic at some point to a future meeting, (including views of those who are care experienced). The Committee noted that the CPB is where can and do hold people to account and that the data dashboard produced for the CPB is interesting and informative.

1. This is a standing agenda item and will provide details of information sent to Committee members in between meetings, that cover the Committee’s policy areas.

(a) LGA virtual event - Improving support for care leavers – circulated on 15 April 2024

(b) Update on Academisation Programme – link to website - Academisation Pipeline Page | Support Services for Education- circulated on 25 April 2024

(c) Note about Education Standards Standing Panel – to be circulated

If Committee members have any questions or comments on the information, please contact the Committee Administrator on democraticservicesteam@somerset.gov.uk in the first instance and before the date of the meeting.

2. The Committee is asked to note the proposed meeting dates for 2024/2025 - the meetings will be held in Deane House, JMR, Taunton except where indicated:-

·         Wednesday 26 June @ 10am.

·         Monday 5 August @ 1.30 pm.

·         Wednesday 18 September @ 10am (Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater).

·         Tuesday 29 October @ 10am.

·         Monday 9 December @ 1.30pm.

·         Wednesday 22 January @ 10.30am.

·         Monday 10 March @ 1.30pm.

·         Wednesday 23 April @ 10.30am.

1.   The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  LGA virtual event – Improving support for care leavers

(b)  Update on Academisation Programme – link to website – Academisation Pipeline Page | Support Services for Education

2.   Noted the proposed meeting dates for 2024/2025:-

The meetings will be held in Deane House, JMR, Taunton except where indicated:-

·      Wednesday 26 June @ 10am.

·      Monday 5 August @ 1.30 pm.

·      Wednesday 18 September @ 10am (Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater).

·      Tuesday 29 October @ 10am.

·      Monday 9 December @ 1.30pm.

·      Wednesday 22 January @ 10.30am.

·      Monday 10 March @ 1.30pm.

·      Wednesday 23 April @ 10.30am.

1.   The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  LGA virtual event – Improving support for care leavers

(b)  Update on Academisation Programme – link to website – Academisation Pipeline Page | Support Services for Education

2.   Noted the proposed meeting dates for 2024/2025:-

The meetings will be held in Deane House, JMR, Taunton except where indicated:-

·      Wednesday 26 June @ 10am.

·      Monday 5 August @ 1.30 pm.

·      Wednesday 18 September @ 10am (Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater).

·      Tuesday 29 October @ 10am.

·      Monday 9 December @ 1.30pm.

·      Wednesday 22 January @ 10.30am.

·      Monday 10 March @ 1.30pm.

·      Wednesday 23 April @ 10.30am.