Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

Any new or updated declarations of interest will be received.

The following declaration of interest was made at the meeting;-

(a)  Ruth Hobbs – co-opted member – CEO Somerset Parent Carer Forum CIC (agenda item 9 refers)

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 5 September 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.

The Chair will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chair’s discretion.

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

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

(a)  The Committee’s Work Programme

(b)  The Committee’s Outcome Tracker

Please use the following link to view the latest Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website

Executive Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The Committee considered and noted the Committee’s current work programme and outcome tracker and the Executive’s Forward Plan of planned key decisions in coming months.

It was agreed that: -

·         The progress on Ofsted inspection action plan – would be detailed report and debate at the November meeting

·         The detailed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive a verbal update from the Council’s Deputy Director Children’s Services on the Inspection of Somerset local authority children’s services.

The Inspection of the Council’s Children’s Social Care services in July rated the services Good across the board - the inspection report was published on 21 September 2022 (the link to the report is available here)

Note - There will be an opportunity to have a more detailed discussion at the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Council’s Deputy Director Children’s Services, Claire Winter on the Inspection of Somerset local authority children’s services. The Inspection of the Council’s Children’s Social Care services in July rated the services Good across the board and the inspection report was published on 21  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This item will focus on home to school cost management and will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Inclusion Dr Rob Hart, and Strategic Manager, Access & Additional Learning Needs Phil Curd and Service Manager Transporting Somerset John Perrett

For background see 2022/23 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – Month 4 –  End July 2022

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

This item was introduced by the Council’s Assistant Director Inclusion, Dr Rob Hart who referred to the most recent budget monitoring report (2022/23 Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – Month 4 – end July 2022).

Dr Hart highlighted that the following: -

• the month 4 budget position for Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive a presentation providing an overview of statutory duties, demand and developments.

The item will be led by the Council’s Strategic Manager, Access & Additional Learning Needs Phil Curd and Service Manager Transporting Somerset John Perrett.

Note – the Chair will allow 35 minutes for this agenda item.

Following the discussion on the budget position and the major cost pressures across Home to School and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) transport, the Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Strategic Manager, Access & Additional Learning Needs Phil Curd and Service Manager Transporting Somerset John Perrett. They provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

This item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Inclusion Dr Rob Hart, and Strategic Manager, Commissioning, Vikki Hearn.

There are a number of background papers – for sight of these please contact the report author: -

1.    Draft SEND JSNA

2.    SEND Charter - see 2018 02 20 SEND Charter.pdf (somerset.org.uk)

3.    Somerset Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Peer Challenge 23 May 2022 – 26 May 2022 Feedback Report

4.    Impower Somerset SEND Transformation Discovery Report July 2022

Note – the Chair will allow 40 minutes for this agenda item

This item was introduced by the Council’s Assistant Director Inclusion Dr Rob Hart, and Strategic Manager, Commissioning, Vikki Hearn who outlined the on-going work in developing the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy 2023-26.

Dr Hart and Ms Hearn explained that: -

• the strategy will set the priorities for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This is a standing agenda item and will provide details of information sent to Committee members in between meetings, that cover Children & Families Scrutiny policy areas.

The Vice Chair advised that at the last meeting he had requested some information about what is in place to address the impact of COVID on pupil / staff absences and school closures – the Committee noted that the detailed response provided had been shared with all members of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.

There were no other items of business.