Agenda and draft minutes

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

Contact: Salar Rida 020 8359 7113 Email: Salar.Rida@Barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the last Meeting pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor David Longstaff welcomed all attendees and opened the meeting. He also reminded Members that the meeting is both audio recorded and conducted as a paper-light meeting.

 

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous Committee meeting held on 1st July 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

 

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

None.

3.

Declarations of Members Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

None.

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if Any)

Minutes:

None.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if Any)

Minutes:

None.

6.

Members' Items (if Any) pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered two Members’ items as set out below.

6a

Member's Item - Councillor Anne Clarke pdf icon PDF 151 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Anne Clarke presented the Member’s item in her name to the Committee and highlighted the need to understand the Council’s position on this issue going forward.

 

Mr Chris Munday, Executive Director for Children and Young People informed Members about the school funding formula and the Early Years national funding formula. He spoke about the collaborative work undertaken by the Authority together with other Local Authorities in London to advocate funding needs. He also noted that future spending round will be confirmed in the near future which will inform the Annual School Funding update.

 

The Committee requested that an update be provided outside of the meeting to Members when funding settlement details are released. (Action: Mr Ian Harrison)    

 

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED that once funding data is released Members receive an update incorporated as part of the Annual School Funding report at the January Committee.

 

 

6b

Member's Item - Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb introduced the Member’s item in her name. She highlighted the importance of reviewing unregulated placements. 

 

Mr Munday informed Members about the distinction between independent living and supported accommodation. The Committee requested that the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel receive a report on the review of unregulated placements and that the Annual CPAP report be brought to the Committee. (Action: Forward Work Programme) 

 

Following a suggestion from Officers, the Committee RESOLVED that an item be reported back to the Committee on unregulated placements. (Action: Forward Work Programme) 

 

 

7.

Post Ofsted Children's Social Care Reporting Arrangements pdf icon PDF 247 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the item and Mr Munday presented the report to the Committee. The Committee noted the report which sets out the proposals for reporting against the Barnet CYPP to maintain effective scrutiny going forward.

 

In response to a query about sharing lessons learnt with other Local Authority, Mr Munday informed that Barnet is currently supporting two other LAs on their improvement plans and activities to utilise our improvement journey.

 

Following a comment about staffing, the Committee noted the different approaches taken to address this and recruit into staffing roles, including social workers.

 

The Director for Children’s Social Care, Brigitte Jordaan responded to a comment about residential care arrangements and noted the ongoing work of the carer recruitment team and the child-centred approach taken to further increase the number of approved in-house foster carers.   

 

Members noted the importance of monitoring data and data consistency, particularly in respect of re-registrations for children who started on a CO plan. Officers noted that data showed a positive trend which will be monitored closely in light of audit recommendations to ensure that improvements continue to be made.

 

The Committee noted the number of schools registered on the Healthy Schools London Scheme and encouraged Officers to continue to work with other schools to register on the scheme.

 

It was unanimously RESOLVED that:

 

That the Committee agreed the proposed new arrangements for Family Services reporting to Committee.

 

 

 

 

8.

Local Authority School Governor nominations - update and review pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the report which was requested by the Committee previously. Mr Ian Harrison, Education and Skills Director, Barnet with Cambridge Education presented the report and spoke about the current process and reduction in the percentage of LA governor vacancies.

 

It was unanimously RESOLVED:

 

That the Committee noted the information in Appendix A of this report on the nominations of local authority governors to Barnet Schools since September 2018 and agreed that the current process should continue.

9.

Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the standing item on the agenda and that the FWP will be updated to reflect the additional item agreed at the meeting.  

 

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme 2019-2020.

10.

Any other Item(s) that the Chairman decides are Urgent (if Any)

Minutes:

None.