Agenda item

Task and Finish Group / Overview and Scrutiny Panel Updates

Minutes:

The Committee were provided with recommendation tracking reports, which outlined provided a “RAG” (Red, Amber or Green) rating on the implementation of the recommendations made by Task & Finish Groups and an Overview & Scrutiny Panel.

 

Domestic Violence Task and Finish Group:

 

The Committee considered the Recommendation Tracking report for the Domestic Violence Task and Finish Group.  The Committee noted that the recommendations of this Task and Finish Group had been made to the Safer Communities Partnership Board rather than the Cabinet due to the multi-agency nature of the issue and responses to recommendations.

 

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor Brian Salinger, advised the Committee that he continued to be concerned about the amber statuses on the recommendations which involved the NHS.  He noted that it could be difficult to influence the work of the NHS and noted the high turnover of NHS staff as a challenge.  Councillor Salinger advised the Committee that there was a role for NHS staff in identifying people who were suffering from domestic violence, including the children who were exposed to it.

 

A Member commented that the Task and Finish Group Update for Recommendation One  (relating to commissioning of psychological support services) did not make it clear if the projects referred to had been supported by physiologists. 

 

Contract Monitoring Task and Finish Group:

 

The Committee considered the recommendation tracking report for the Contract Monitoring Task and Finish Group.  The Committee Chairman noted that all but one of the recommendations was green and commended the progress made.

 

Secondary School Places Overview and Scrutiny Panel

 

The Chairman of the Committee read a comment that had been submitted by the Panel Chairman, Councillor John Marshall:

 

I should like to welcome the progress which has been made on several of the recommendations. In particular I welcome the creation of the Archer Academy which will meet the need for additional places in the N3 and NW11 areas. I welcome the additional places which have already been planned by the Authority. I am disappointed that more progress has not been made in relocating the Pupil Referral Unit. The need for better vocational education is also pressing.”

 

The Committee noted that in the new education landscape statutory responsibility for school place planning had been retained by the local authorities which could potentially be an issue with the increased number of free schools and academies in Barnet.   Officers advised Members that Council had agreed to establish an Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee which would consider the issue of school place planning and it was anticipated that a report on this issue would be presented to the first meeting of the Committee on 1 July 2013.

 

A Member questioned the methodology behind the RAG rating system and suggested that Recommendation Five (relating to the accommodation for the Pupil Referral Unit) should have been labelled as red, not amber. 

 

Early Intervention and Prevention (Children’s Service) Task and Finish Group

 

The Committee considered the updates provided by the service area on the Early Intervention and Prevention (Children’s Service) Task and Finish Group.

 

Referring to the response on Recommendation Three (relating to Nurture Groups), the Task and Finish Group Chairman, Councillor Salinger, advised the Committee that the update did not make it clear how officers had conveyed messages regarding Nurture Groups conveyed to all primary schools in the Borough, or how many have put in for support for those of primary school age. 

 

Referring to the update on Recommendation Four (which recommended that the Children’s Service undertake urgent discussions with the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust about the role of CAMHS and the level of service available to support young people in Barnet), Councillor Salinger advised that the Council would never be in a position to say that it could meet all of the need, and considered that this recommendation should not be green.

The Committee raised concerns with the accuracy of the “RAG Rating” system.  The Overview and Scrutiny Manager advised the Committee that the service areas responsible drafted the updates and provided a RAG rating for each recommendation.  He added that it was the responsibility of the Committee to challenge the information provided to ensure that recommendations accepted by Cabinet were fully implemented.  The Chairman requested that a report be produced for the next meeting of the Committee on the topic of the “RAG Rating” system used for tracking update reports for Task and Finish Groups / Overview and Scrutiny Panels. 

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)     The Committee note the updates as set out in the Task and Finish Group / Overview and Scrutiny Panel Recommendation Tracking Report.

 

2)     That Committee request that the “RAG Rating” for the updates on Recommendations Three and Four of the Early Intervention and Prevention (Children’s Service) Task and Finish Group be revisited.

 

3)     The Committee note that the Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee will receive an item on School Place Planning and do not consider it necessary to reconvene the Secondary School Places Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

 

4)     The Committee request to receive an item at their next meeting on the “RAG Rating” of Task and Finish Group recommendation tracking reports.

 

Supporting documents: