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.

There were no new declarations of interest made at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The Minutes of the meeting held on Monday 7 November 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.

At the last meeting, Mr Whittaker had asked a number of questions relating to the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Services and to policies and procedures in Somerset in particular relating to Special Guardians. The Executive lead member, Cllr Tessa Munt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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 the coming months.

The Vice Chair queried whether the Education White Paper item still needed to listed as a future agenda item the outcome tracker – the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To receive a progress update - Presentation (to follow).

This item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Education Partnerships and Skills Amelia Walker.

Note – the Chair will allow 15 minutes for this agenda item.

The Council’s Assistant Education and Partnerships and Skills, Ms Walker advised that the Strategy is still being discussed (with SLT, Executive and Department for Education) and will bring back to Scrutiny / engage with Scrutiny as part of any consultation.

Item DEFERRED.

This item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Education Partnerships and Skills Amelia Walker.  To consider Report (attached)

(There is a Covering Report, DRAFT Executive Key Decision Report and Appendices 1-5).

Note – the Chair will allow 50 minutes for this agenda item.

Pre Executive item

The Committee considered a report and received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Assistant Director Education and Partnerships and Skills, Ms Walker regarding the proposals for changing the current support offer for Local Authority Maintained Schools.

The Committee held a thorough discussion of the options after  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider Report and to receive Presentation (to follow).

This item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Commissioning Richard Selwyn, Strategic Manager, Vikki Hearn and Strategic Manager Public Health, Patsy Temple

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

The Committee considered a report and received a presentation from the Council’s Assistant Director Commissioning, R Selwyn and Strategic Manager Public Health, P Temple, who provided details of the Somerset Connect pilot, (a community-based model) and links to the Frome LCN development. M Wide Deputy Leader Frome Town Council and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive an update on the Committee’s Task and Finish Groups: -

(a)  Sufficiency of external placements

(b)  Home to School Transport

The Chair provided a verbal update on the Committee’s Task and Finish Groups and also advised that the original timeline has been amended due to the SEND Inspection: -

Sufficiency of External Placements

·         Membership of the Task and Finish Group - Cllr Leigh Redman (Chair), Cllr Simon Carswell, Cllr Susannah  ...  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.

(a)  2022 key Stage assessment results – correspondence sent to the Leader Somerset County Council on 14 November and Response received on 15 November;

(b)  Somerset Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report 2021 – 22 - circulated on 15 November

(c)   Peninsula Fostering Framework Agreement - Decision taken on 16 November 2022 – circulated on 21 November

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

The Committee noted the following items for information: -

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.

There were no other items of business.