Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee agreed to include Councillor Slocombe as an attendee at the meeting that took place on 9^th March 2015, and to make minor amendments to item 8, prior to the approval of the minutes. The Committee therefore approved the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th March 2015.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Naqvi, Councillor Challice and Gladys Vendy.

The following interests were declared:

There was none.

Details of the question asked and the published answer were provided with the agenda papers for the meeting.

Ms Barbara Jacobson made a public comment in relation to Agenda Item 6a (Libraries).

Following consideration of the Member’s Item in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton, Councillor Anne Hutton - seconded by Councillor Arjun Mittra – moved the following motion:

Committee requires officers to report to the next Committee with a new consultation timetable including:

1.    Draft proposals for how Barnet can respond positively to the ideas in the independent Sieghart report on England's public libraries

2.    Proposals for:

·         maximising the use of alternative funding streams such as developer contributions and government digital investment funds;

·         more ambitious and creative income generation, working with local businesses and community organisations;

·         developing libraries as community hubs for skills, culture, learning and improving community cohesion and literacy;

·         drawing on best practice models from London boroughs and across the country

The logical way to achieve this would be to establish a cross party sub-committee or Panel to act as a focus to gather information and to feed back to the committee, and I therefore ask that the Committee establishes this cross-party sub-committee with immediate effect.

The votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was therefore declared lost.

The Chairman introduced the report. The Strategic Director for Commissioning subsequently provided an overview of the content of the report.

The Committee discussed the body of the report, which included a review of the authority’s approach to addressing the risk of child sexual exploitation in Barnet.

Following discussion of the report, the Chairman moved to the recommendations included in the cover report. The Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee note the content of the report and the details set out in Appendix A.

2.    Members of the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee are invited to consider the mechanisms set out in paragraphs 1.6 to 1.8 to enable the Committee to receive further information regarding progress in addressing child sexual exploitation in Barnet.

3.    Members of the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee are asked to agree the recommendation that the independent Chair of Barnet Children’s Safeguarding Board is a co-opted member of the Barnet Children’s Trust Board and Safer Communities Partnership Board in line with paragraph 1.9.

The recommendations set out in the report were therefore carried.

The Director of Family Services introduced the item and provided an overview of the content of the report.

The Committee discussed the body of the report, which included a Placements Commissioning Strategy for the Committee to consider.

Following discussion of the report, the Chairman moved to the recommendations included in the cover report. The Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee approve the new commissioning strategy for the placement of looked after children contained in Appendix A to improve support for children and families, to increase the number of local placements through improving support for foster carers and to reduce the long term costs associated with residential placements.

2.    The Committee is asked to approve the recommendation that the Corporate Parenting Panel is requested to oversee the implementation of the strategy.

The recommendations were therefore carried.

The Director of Family Services introduced the item and provided an overview of the content of the report.

The Committee discussed the body of the report, which related to the development of the free early educational offer for disadvantaged two

year olds in the Borough.

Following discussion of the report, the Chairman moved to the recommendations included in the cover report. The Committee unanimously

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee note the current performance and the significant challenge facing the Council in delivering the targeted number of places for free early years education for disadvantaged 2 year olds and note the work programme which is underway to improve performance.

2.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee agree to champion the offer of early education for two year olds among residents and members, as set out in paragraph 1.4 and seek ways to help support the development of new places.

The recommendations were therefore carried.

The Committee considered the report.

It was noted that the new Director of Children’s Service, Chris Munday, is starting at the London Borough of Barnet on 11^th May 2015. The Committee noted that this was the last meeting where Ms Kate Kennally would be present as Director of Children’s Service and thanked Ms Kennally for her work whilst in her post.