Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr J Snell and R Hobbs (co-opted member). Cllr J Hunt and Cllr A Hadley joined the meeting remotely.

Apologies were received from Cllr J Snell and R Hobbs (co-opted member). Cllr J Hunt and Cllr A Hadley joined the meeting remotely.

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 )

The following additional declaration of interest was made:

(a)  Cllr E Potts-Jones – advised that is now working for a Member of Parliament - personal interest.

The following additional declaration of interest was made:

(a)  Cllr E Potts-Jones – advised that is now working for a Member of Parliament - personal interest.

To approve the minutes from the meeting held on Wednesday 26 June 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families held on Wednesday 26 June 2024 be confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families held on Wednesday 26 June 2024be 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

(b)  The Committee’s outcome tracker

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 and the Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions in the coming months including Executive meetings.

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

The Chair highlighted that the next meeting is on Wednesday 18 September at 10am and will be held in the Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater. Items to be considered at the meeting will include:-

(a) Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group – Cllr Nicholson had attended the meeting of the Group on 25 July 2024 on the Chairs behalf and will forward her specific points / comments to the Chair. The Chair mentioned the item for information on the agenda (item 10), which included information from the Joint Scrutiny Group meeting;

(b) Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) of Somerset - serious youth violence -action plan

The Chair also said that he wants to have a conversation to identify and review the issues the Committee should be looking at in its work plan.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – the Chair will allow 20 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation which provided an update on the budget position for Children’s Services - Month 3 (2024/25), with a £5.4m forecast overspend (3.8% of budget). The overspend predominantly relates to external placements (residential, unregistered), education cost pressures, DSG High Needs Block.

The Committee noted the update position.

The Committee received a presentation from the Council’s Head of Finance Business Partnering, C Evans who provided an update on the budget position for Children’s Services - Month 3 (2024/25), with a £5.4m forecast overspend (3.8% of budget). The overspend predominantly relates to external placements (residential, unregistered), education cost pressures, DSG High Needs Block.

The Committee discussed the update, asked a number of questions and made a number of comments, which were responded to at the meeting:-

·      query about external placements and information in the table on page 27 – mentioned the ‘residential parent and child’ placement is not one used very often and is usually ordered by the Family Courts – when do use them, they are very expensive because the risks are so high and due to its nature, is also unpredictable; there are delays in the Family Courts system as well because the court system is overwhelmed which can have an impact on this.

·      external placements and query about the ‘other’ figure in the table on page 27, and what is included – this includes other smaller placement types such as secure placements; leaving care accommodation costs – further details will be circulated to the Committee.

·      query about the £5.4m forecast overspend figure. The Chair mentioned that the two main areas of overspend have been external placements and home school transport and the Committee has done Task and Finish Group’s on both issues – the item on the agenda later at the meeting on Transport will reference this – in response to the points referenced, do try to pull every lever to do best thing for child; for example the Homes and Horizons intervention is helping to disrupt the marketplace.

·      requested details on the ‘unregistered placements’ and information about the impact of the pause of Homes and Horizons – the Executive Director provided current position on the 5 unregistered placements and also the impact Homes & Horizons is having; 5 are open and 3 are being built but have been delayed due to capacity in corporate teams – homes 6 and 7 are delayed between 4 and 6 months; home 8 is delayed by about 3 – 4 months; having an impact on savings as homes and horizons for the most complex children is significantly lower cost than unregistered placement. She also referenced the Children’s Transformation Board which is chaired independently.

·      the Committee agreed to ask the Executive to highlight if there are any Council related blockers to try to resolve them.

·      query whether the budget setting is realistic in the first place – budget is based and set on very clear / in depth modelling, but number of children in care has rise by 15% and this was not expected as the number of children in care has been reasonably consistent over a number of years – split between children under 2 in foster placements and 10-15 year olds with complex needs and are in residential care; insufficiency of foster placements both in the Council and nationally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

The overview presentation will be given by Claire Winter, the Council’s Executive Director, Children, Families and Education and senior representatives from partner agencies will be joining the meeting for this agenda item.

The report from the inspection, in the form of an ungraded letter has been published and is available here - https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50252825  

Note – the Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation which provided details of the outcome from the recent Somerset Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) – serious youth violence.

In May, the Care Quality Commission, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, Ofsted and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation jointly inspected the Somerset area’s multi-agency response to children over 10, who are at risk of, or affected by, serious youth violence in the county. The report from the inspection, in the form of an ungraded letter was published on 18 July 2024 – JTAI of Somerset.

The Committee noted the headline findings, covering governance and multi-agency safeguarding practice.

The Safer Somerset Partnership and the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership are already collating action plans from all relevant organisations and strategically on behalf of each Partnership to improve partnership working in reducing serious youth violence and criminal exploitation in Somerset. These plans will be submitted to Ofsted by the Chair of the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, on behalf of the 3 Lead Safeguarding Partners by 25^th October 2024.  (This is the date set by the Inspectorates) .

Noted that the multi- agency action plan will be considered at the next meeting of the Committee.

The multi-agency plans will also be overseen and tested for effectiveness via the Integrated Care System Children and Families’ Board, which meets every 2 months.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting for this agenda item - C Winter - Executive Director of Children, Families and Education, L Simpson, Area Commander, Somerset and North Somerset (Avon & Somerset Police) and M Davis, Designated Nurse, Safeguarding Children (ICB) attending on behalf of S Meldrum Chief Nursing officer & Director of Operations (ICB).

The Committee received a presentation which provided details of the outcome from the recent Somerset Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) – serious youth violence. In May, the Care Quality Commission, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, Ofsted and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation jointly inspected the Somerset area’s multi-agency response to children over 10, who are at risk of, or affected by, serious youth violence in the county. The report from the inspection, in the form of an ungraded letter was published on 18 July 2024 – JTAI of Somerset.

They explained that in relation to the headline findings for the area inspection, it was not a positive outcome:

·      the inspection found that partnership working between organisations is not effective in identifying, understanding or responding to the extent of serious youth violence and criminal exploitation of children in Somerset.

·      the oversight of partnership working, led by the Safer Somerset Partnership and the Somerset Safeguarding Children’s Partnership lacks rigour, drive and challenge. These issues were accepted by both partnerships during the inspection process and work began immediately to plan a more impactful approach. 

·      serious weaknesses in multi-agency practice across organisations has meant that risks are not identified at the earliest opportunity. 

·      good practice was identified, for example in the system overall that responds well when there is clear and immediate risk to children at risk of serious youth violence.

·      are determined to improve and was disappointing and worrying outcome from inspection.

·      the Safer Somerset Partnership and the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, currently Chaired by Ms Winter has already met and are already collating action plans from all relevant organisations and strategically on behalf of each Partnership to improve partnership working in reducing serious youth violence and criminal exploitation in Somerset. These plans will be submitted to Ofsted by the Chair of the Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, on behalf of the 3 Lead Safeguarding Partners by 25October 2024. (This is the date set by the Inspectorates)  - intend to submit in September as already understand what need to do and already working on the actions in the action plans.

·      the multi-agency action plan will be considered at the next meeting of the Committee and the multi-agency plans will also be overseen and tested for effectiveness via the Integrated Care System Children and Families’ Board, which meets every 2 months.

The Committee discussed the headline findings, covering governance and multi-agency safeguarding practice, asked a number of questions and made a number of comments, which were responded to at the meeting:-

·      would like to understand what ‘exploitation’ includes – includes County Lines, criminal exploitation, wide range of issues; will provide precise definition to the Committee.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider Report.

Scrutiny Committee are asked to:

1.    Reconfirm their commitment to equality Due Regard being part of their Scrutiny function.

2.    Support further training opportunities that are provided for the delivery of this commitment.

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

The Committee considered a report on the responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, namely scrutiny members duty to have Due Regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty as part of their role as Scrutiny members.

The Committee:

1.  Reconfirmed their commitment to equality Due Regard being part of its Scrutiny function.

2.  A briefing paper for scrutiny be provided and to support further training opportunities that are provided for the delivery of this commitment.

The Chair welcomed the Council’s Health Promotion Manager, Equalities, T Rutland to the meeting for this agenda item.

The Committee considered a report on the responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, namely scrutiny members duty to have ‘due regard’ to the Public Sector Equality Duty as part of their role as Scrutiny members, following the peer challenge in relation to compliance with the quality framework for local government and the areas to focus on.

The Committee discussed the issues, asked a number of questions and made a number of comments, which were responded to at the meeting – covering, the role of scrutiny; access to training which is available to members and mention about the work of the Member Development Panel and looking to updating the members’ pages on the website to signpost to training opportunities available; referred to the links set out in part 6 of the report and in particular the link to the Council’s Constitution, which highlights the responsibilities and the requirements that scrutiny should be doing around the equality impact assessments and equalities agenda.

The Committee:

1.  Reconfirmed their commitment to equality ‘due regard’ being part of its Scrutiny function.

2.  A briefing paper for scrutiny be provided and to support further training opportunities that are provided for the delivery of this commitment.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Note – The Chair will allow 20 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received a presentation which provided an update on the school transport project.

Noted that School Travel Cost Management Strategy work had been presented at Scrutiny in October 2022 and the member-supported Task & Finish Group was proposed. In May 2023, Edge Public Solutions published its review of home to school transport in Somerset and this work had also been shared and discussed with the Task and Finish Group and Scrutiny members.

The Committee welcomed and noted the on-going work, successes (licensing) and innovation around procurement.

The Chair welcomed the Council’s Strategic Manager, Head of Education Places, P Curd and the Council’s Service Manager Transporting Somerset, J Perrett to the meeting for this agenda item and which was introduced by the Lead member for Children, Families and Education, Cllr Shearer.

The Committee received a presentation which provided an update on the school transport project.

The Committee discussed the presentation, asked a number of questions and made a number of comments, which were responded to at the meeting:-

·      noted that school transport is a significant cost pressure for the Council (mainstream and specialist settings) and the work being done / intervention to offset cost increases.

·      query about disabled access transport, suitable and needs being met – explained that operators have to meet certain criteria and buses are required to be accessible.

·      the data provided about transport costs is helpful - are performing well per capita head rate compared to comparator authorities; the School Travel Cost Management Strategy work had been presented at Scrutiny in October 2022 and the member-supported Task & Finish Group was proposed. In May 2023, Edge Public Solutions published its review of home to school transport in Somerset and this work had also been shared and discussed with the Task and Finish Group and Scrutiny members; identified a number of supply side initiatives which could result in savings including around procurement; findings from the review helped inform Transport Review Project, overseen by new Transport Board; the new purpose built data dashboard is crucial to decision-making.

·      query if can include for example, data from Devon CC in the comparative data – will see if can pool data from county council’s and add to the dashboard.

·      question about the use and take up of extended / additional transport entitlement grants (page 42) – will respond to query outside of meeting.

·      reverse auctions, SEN contracts and continuity of staff – is condition of contract that they do everything can to maintain that continuity and this is monitored, to see how it works with the 20 contracts that have gone out on that basis.

·      query about access / accessibility to paid seats – advised that the Public Sector Vehicle Accessibility Regulations applies to school transport as well; there are accessible coaches but are very expensive to operate; the situation currently is that have prioritised the routes that go into sixth form schools and still offering pay seats on those routes and using exemptions which are still available to deliver that.

·      query about the costs per head of transporting pupils and whether use existing bus routes – most of the public transport network, particularly that is funded, is focussed on getting students to the 5 FE colleges in Somerset; do buy tickets where can on local bus services.

·      query about safe transport – make use of geo mapping data and as part of the project have undertaken a review of all of those unsafe routes to see if there are corrections which can be made, which can help take vehicles  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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)  Suicide Prevention Strategy for Somerset Consultation - circulated on 25 July 2024

(b)  2024 KS2 headline data – circulated on 25 July 2024

(c)  Briefing note on academisation / decision making process and procedure – circulated on 30 July 2024

(d)  Information about the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 July which considered the Adopt South West Annual Report 2023/24 – circulated on 30 July 2024

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.

The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  Suicide Prevention Strategy for Somerset Consultation - circulated on 25 July 2024.

(b)  2024 KS2 headline data – circulated on 25 July 2024.

(c)  Briefing note on academisation / decision making process and procedure – circulated on 31 July 2024.

(d)  Information about the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group meeting held on 25 July which considered the Adopt South West Annual Report 2023/24 – circulated on 30 July 2024.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 18 September 2024 at 10am and will be held in the Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater.

The Committee noted the following items for information:

(a)  Suicide Prevention Strategy for Somerset Consultation - circulated on 25 July 2024.

(b)  2024 KS2 headline data – circulated on 25 July 2024.

(c)  Briefing note on academisation / decision making process and procedure – circulated on 31 July 2024.

(d)  Information about the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group meeting held on 25 July which considered the Adopt South West Annual Report 2023/24 – circulated on 30 July 2024.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 18 September 2024 at 10am and will be held in the Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater.