Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ. View directions

Contact: Salar Rida 020 8359 7113 Email: salar.rida@barnet.gov.uk 

Note: Public Questions and Comments must be submitted by 10am on the third working day before the meeting. The deadline for this meeting is 10am on Wednesday 13 September 2017. 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Hutton confirmed that her declaration of interest should read “West Locality Advisory Board” and “Barnfield Children’s Centre”. 

 

Subject to the above amendment it was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee on 18 July 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

 

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from:

                

·         Councillor Val Duschinsky who was substituted by Councillor Stephen Sowerby

·         Gladys Vendy – Co-opted Member

 

3.

Declarations of Members Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Anne Hutton declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Items 7-10 by virtue of being a Trustee of the Barnet Carers Centre and on the Board of the West Locality Board.    

 

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

None.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if any) pdf icon PDF 683 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the responses to the Public Questions which were published and circulated prior to the meeting.  The questioner was not present to ask any supplementary question. 

 

6.

Members' Items (if any)

Minutes:

There were none.

7.

Update report on the Ofsted Improvement Action Plan implementation progress pdf icon PDF 473 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the item and asked Mr Chris Munday, Strategic Director of Children and Young People and Ms Brigitte Jordaan, Operational Director Corporate Parenting to present the report.

 

The Committee noted the presentation delivered by Mr Munday. Mr Munday briefed the Committee about the workstreams as part of the Improvement Plan.

 

It was noted that since the Ofsted inspection, significant work has been underway which includes the appointment of an improvement partner and independent chair of the improvement board, personnel changes and engagement with partners and improvements in the MASH (multi agency safeguarding hub).

 

Mr Munday informed the Committee about the five themes which underpin the development of the improvement plan in order to drive sustainable improvement as (1) Leadership, governance, partnership (2) Practice leadership (3) Thresholds (4) Improving assessments and (5) Improving planning to ensure decision making is child centred.

 

He also noted that Essex County Council have been commissioned to review the audit approach for accuracy and consistency. In addition, Essex have been commissioned to check the MASH arrangements and review the child protection conference chair and independent reviewing officer functions. 

 

In relation to the process for measuring improvements, Mr Munday informed the Committee about the need to use both quantitative and qualitative information. The Committee also heard about the need to avoid setting targets which undermine the audit approach, to keep a consistent approach and review additional management capacity.

 

The Chief Executive, Mr John Hooton underlined the importance of ensuring that responsibility for improvements are shared across all Council services and partner organisations.  This included services aimed at improving employment opportunities, community safety and the relationship between adults social care and children’s services. He emphasised that the improvements were the top priority of the Council. 

 

The Chairman welcomed the Department for Education Commissioner, Ms Frankie Sulke to the table. Ms Sulke spoke about her role. The Committee noted that Ms Sulke has been appointed to assess whether the Council has the capacity and capability to turn the service around to ensure sustained improvements at pace or whether the services should be taken outside of Council control.

 

Ms Sulke spoke about her role in terms of understanding the reasons for the finding of the Ofsted inspection, the barriers for improvements and how best to remove them.

 

She noted that following her findings, the DfE will review the evidence provided and consider whether alternative delivery arrangements are necessary for Children’s Services in Barnet.

 

Ms Sulke informed the Committee about the various stages of the process and noted that her report will be published in the public domain by the end of November.

 

In light of the recommendations from the inspection, the Committee enquired about improving core social work skills. Mr Munday spoke about plans underway to implement a cultural change and training of social workers and other staff.

 

Ms Jordaan highlighted the need to increase understanding around conducting and recording purposeful home visits to children and young people. As part of this improvement work, Ms Jordaan noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Planning for new school places 2018/19 to 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 367 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the report and invited the Programme Director for Education and Learning, Ms Val White to present the report. Ms White briefed the Committee about the content of the paper and the opportunity to expand on the number of school places.  The Committee raised concerns about school planning being taken out of the Council’s control and the need to ensure that schools are in the right location to meet demand.  Ms White confirmed that there was growth in the East and West of the Borough and the Council had a statutory duty to ensure provision of sufficient places.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee noted the projected future requirements for school places up to 2022/23.

2.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee noted the progress in delivering new primary, secondary and special school places to date.

3.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee noted the school expansions that are underway and the free school proposals that are in development as part of the government’s free school programme that will contribute to meeting future need.

 

9.

School meal price for September 2017/2018 pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Committee agreed to maintain the price of a school meal offered by the council’s contracted school meal provider at its current level for the academic year 2017/18 at a maximum cost to the council of £282,000

 

10.

Early Years Performance Report - Progress Update pdf icon PDF 353 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the progress of the Early Years’ service performance 2016/17.

 

11.

Children, Education, Libraries & Safeguarding Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the standing item on the agenda which lists the reports due to forthcoming meetings during 2017-18. The Committee agreed to receive the Ofsted Improvement Action Plan as a standing item on the agenda at future Committee meetings. (Action: Forward Work Programme)

 

It was therefore RESOLVED that the Committee noted the items on the Forward Work Programme for 2017-2018 as amended during this meeting.

 

12.

Any item(s) that the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

None.