Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

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 declaration of interest was made at the meeting:-

(a)  Cllr P Clayton – non-pecuniary – agenda item 9 refers – is a Consultant independent Panel member Adopt South West

To approve the minutes from the previous meeting held on Wednesday 7 August 2024.

Resolved that the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee - Children and Families held on Wednesday 7 August 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’.

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.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

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

The Committee received a presentation which provided an update on the budget position for Children’s Services – Month 4 (2024/25).

The Council is asking for views on proposals which aim to ensure provision for children with additional needs – the consultation runs to 18 October 2024 and will be discussed at the October meeting of the Committee.

The DSG Deficit Management Plan will be considered at a future meeting of the Committee.

The Committee noted the update position.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

Notes - The Chair will allow 40 minutes for this agenda item. There will be an extraordinary meeting of the SSCP to finalise the JTAI plan and the presentation will be available to circulate on 16 September.

Further to the meeting held on 7 August 2024, the Committee received an update presentation on the Somerset Joint Targeted Area Inspection of the multi-agency response to serious youth violence in Somerset.

The Executive Director advised the multi-agency action plan needs to be signed off by Ofsted before it can be brought into the public domain.

Noted that once the action plan is formally published, the SSCP has responsibility for its implementation.

It was agreed that the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, will contact the ICB with regard to concerns about the implementation time for single system; and the Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, regarding the action re police intelligence and sharing of information, for her views / plans to improve the system.

The Committee will receive an update in 3 months (February 2025).

Agreed will present the work on ‘Transform’ in Somerset to a future meeting of the Committee.

To consider PowerPoint presentation.

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

The Committee received a presentation on the deep dive undertaken on Children Looked After and areas being explored and further areas to explore.

Agreed that the Executive Director will write to the President of the Family Division formally and ask support in trying to reduce the length of time Court proceedings are taking, as there are judicial areas, including Taunton which are taking longer than other areas.

To receive and note the Report from the meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Group held on 25 July 2024 and the current Terms of Reference.

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

The Committee received and noted the report from the meeting of the Regional Adoption Agency Joint Scrutiny Group, held on 25 July 2024 and the Groups’ current Terms of Reference.

Agreed that the Chair, Vice Chair, Cllr Nicolson and the Executive Director will meet to review the terms of reference, with a view to formulating a response which will then be shared with the Committee.

It was noted that there will need to be further discussion by the Scrutiny Group about the terms of reference and its review by the Strategic Board before the Scrutiny Group can sign it off.

To consider update.

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

Further to the meeting held on 13 September 2023, the Committee received and noted the update on the recommendations made by the External Placements Task and Finish Group.

To receive update from the Service Director, Education and the Chair of the Panel, Councillor E Potts-Jones.

Note – the Chair will allow 5 minutes for this agenda item.

The Committee received and noted the update from Cllr E Potts-Jones on recent work undertaken by the Standing Panel for Education Standards.

The next meeting of the Panel will be on 13 November 2024 and all committee members are welcome to attend. The notes from the meetings will now be shared with committee members.

Introduction from Service Director, Education – the full proposal and action plan will be brought to the October meeting of the Committee

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

The Committee received and noted the presentation which outlined details of the audit requested by the Director of Children’s Services. This audit had been initiated because of complaints made by parents about delays in the Education Health and Care Plan payments process.

It was agreed that the action plan will be shared, and the audit report will be considered at the next meeting of the Committee on 21 October 2024.

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)  2023 KS4 and KS2 outcomes / performance for each MAT – circulated on 8 August 2024

(b)  Somerset Council Engagement and Participation AR for 2023-2024 – circulated on 12 August 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)2023 KS4 and KS2 outcomes / performance for each MAT – circulated on 8 August 2024

(b)Somerset Council Engagement and Participation AR for 2023-2024 – circulated on 12 August 2024

The next meeting will be held on is on Monday 21 October 2024 at 10am and will be held in the JMR, Deane House, Taunton.