Meeting documents

Mr David Babb.

To declare any Personal or Dislosable Pecuniary Interests.

None.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th March 2015 to be confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 10 March 2015 were confirmed as a correct record.

Katrina Wood requested that she be referred to as ‘Ms Wood’, rather than ‘Mrs Wood’, in the minutes.

Public Questions is an opportunity for people who live, work or study in the county to put a question to a Scrutiny Committee about any issue that has an impact on their local community or the county as a whole.

Member of public, who have given prior notice, will be invited to put their question in person.

The Cabinet Member and responsible officers will then be invited to respond. 

Further information and details on how to register can be found through the following link and by then clicking on ‘Public Questions’.

http://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=788

None received.

For the chairman of the Committee to provide an update to the Committee on recent scrutiny related activity.

Chairman attended Safeguarding Children Board on 17th March to present findings of Internet Safety Inquiry report. Cabinet on 16th March 2015 was cancelled so will be presenting it to the next meeting.

Members of the Select Committee are invited to attend as observers at future BSCB meetings.

Agreement reached on which members are to attend the improvement work streams – Chairman attended Improving Leadership, Governance & Partnerships work stream meeting on 26 March with Committee Adviser.

Letter from Edward Timpson MP sent to Leader on 25th March confirming that BCC will be able to lead its own improvement programme – this was circulated to ESC Select Committee on 26th March.

For members of the Committee to update the Committee on any issue they are investigating on behalf of the Committee.

None.

A report to update the committee on progress of implementation of the Children’s Services Improvement Plan (all workstreams). DCI Richard North (TVP) will be attending to give a partner perspective on this item.

Contributors:

·         Carol Douch, Interim Service Director - Children and Family Services

·         Fran Gosling-Thomas, Chair – Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board

·         DCI Richard North, Protecting Vulnerable People Buckinghamshire, Thames Valley Police

Members addressed the following lines of enquiry with the Service Director and the DCI for Protecting Vulnerable People:

·         Early Help Panels and early help generally

·         The role of IT in the improvement journey, with a particular focus on the upgrade to ICS version 10.3 – the looked after children process in particular needed to be improved

·         Social care staff recruitment and retention – there was particular interest in the news that a neighbouring authority was undertaking a significant recruitment drive; a new Head of Service appointment had been made the previous Friday

·         Data – the ideal would be to have real time reporting but this was some way off. A significant amount of work had taken place on developing the performance scorecard

·         What the ideal children’s service would look like – this was addressed in particular to to the DCI in order to get the partner perspective

Ofsted will be visiting on 8^th April to evaluate the handoff from First Response to Child in Need Teams.

SEE PAPERS/WEBCAST FOR CONTENT

Contributors:

·         Carol Douch, Service Director, Children and Families

Members received an update on work underway to address the issue.

The Committee Adviser described how the Thames Valley Police & Crime Panel had agreed on 27th March to set up a sub-committee to monitor the issue.

ACTION: CAROL DOUCH TO SUPPLY THE COMMITTEE WITH THE REPORT ON CSE THAT HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED

SEE PAPERS/WEBCAST FOR CONTENT

To update members of the Select Committee on progress and current status of the Bucks Youth project to establish an alternative delivery model for young people.

Contributors:

·         Mr. Ben Cahill, Project Manager – Bucks Youth

The Committee considered the report of the Bucks Youth Project Manager and addressed the following  lines of enquiry:

•           The different options considered

•           Costs associated with the project

•           What similar services were provided by other local authorities

SEE PAPERS/WEBCAST FOR CONTENT

Members will discuss the Committee Work Programme and forthcoming Committee items.

The work programme was agreed.

To note the next meeting of the Education, Skills and Children’s Services Select Committee on 5^th June 2015 at 10am in Mezzanine Room 2, County Hall, Aylesbury.

Friday 5th June 2015 at 10am in Mezzanine Room 2.