Agenda and minutes

County Councillor P. Jones declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest regarding the item in respect of Scrutiny of the performance of the South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS).  She is a Local Authority Member of the Adoption Panel.

We received a Call-In request in respect of the decision taken by Cabinet on 3^rd February 2016 regarding the proposed changes to the Funding Formula for Schools.

The Scrutiny Manager explained the Call-In process to the Select Committee so that the contribution of all participants at the meeting was understood, in order to fulfil the Council’s corporate objectives of openness and transparency in decision making.  The Children and Young People Select Committee will consider the appropriateness of a decision that has already been taken by the Council’s Executive, a decision that has already been ‘called in’ by Members of the Children and Young People Select Committee.  This Select Committee was not able to make a decision upon the Funding Formula for Mounton House School, but having followed the Council’s Call-In procedure, could do one of three things:

1.    Accept the Cabinet’s decision.

2.    Refer the matter back to Cabinet for re-consideration (with reasons).

3.    Refer the matter to Council for consideration (with reasons).

The Call-In process allowed for the Members who requested the decision be called-in to speak first, outlining their reasons for calling-in the decision.

Reason for the Call-In:

In the light of new information brought to the Children and Young People Select Committee on 14^th January 2016, concerns were raised concerning the size and immediacy of cuts, the effect it will have on the school and the absence of a strategic plan for the school.

The following information was provided by the Members who had called in the Cabinet decision:

·         Mounton House School was currently operating in a deficit budget and would be facing a further cut in its budget of £250,000.

·         It was considered that the views expressed by the NAHT Trade Union had not been taken sufficiently into account.

·         There had been neglect of the school’s funding in previous years.

·         Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Provision had not yet been completed.

·         This matter had been discussed previously at Council and it was considered that the minutes of that meeting had not reflected the discussion in depth.

·         Cabinet had not taken on board the concerns that had been raised.

The Cabinet Member for Education outlined the following points:

·         There was no representation from the Select Committee at Cabinet in respect of this matter.

·         The Schools’ Funding Formula was reviewed annually which allows equity across the County.

·         All schools and Trade Unions are consulted on this matter.

·         The Schools’ Funding Formula is then presented to the Budget Forum.

·         With regard to residential funding at Mounton House, the teaching element is funded for 42 children.  The residential aspect had been based on 42 children but there are now only 10 residential children at Mounton House.  In future the residential aspect will be funded for 18 children.

·         Across the County, Cabinet is looking at only funding what is being used.  Therefore the proposal is to fund 18 residential places and for 42 children at Mounton House.  Therefore, funding is only being cut for the residential aspect of the school.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Context:

·                    To provide Select Committee Members with information on the forecast revenue outturn position of the Authority at the end of reporting period 3 which represents month 9 financial information for the 2015/16 financial year.

·                    The report will also be considered by Select Committees as part of their responsibility to,

•     assess whether effective budget monitoring is taking place,

•     monitor the extent to which budgets are spent in accordance with agreed budget and policy framework,

•     challenge the reasonableness of projected over or underspends, and

•     monitor the achievement of predicted efficiency gains or progress in relation to savings proposals.

Key Issues:

The Select Committee received an update on the revenue and capital monitoring 2015/16 Month 9 outturn forecast statement.

Member Scrutiny:

·         Concern was expressed that Monmouthshire Youth Service had taken on a difficult mandate by being generator of income and providing its core business which was to provide a Youth Service.  Therefore, creating pressure on the service. It was considered that the Select Committee would benefit from receiving an update on its service.

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question it was noted that professional fees for 21^st Century Schools provision was funded via capital funding.

·         The Finance Manager would provide the Select Committee with a breakdown of costings in respect of professional fees.

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question, the Finance Manager stated that early interventions were put in place to prevent schools going into deficit. With regard to the schools currently in a deficit budget, it was noted that these schools were reducing their budget deficit.

·         A budget had been set in the sum of £83M in respect of the new schools at Caldicot and Monmouth.  However, tenders received had been in excess of this figure.  In order to reduce costs, certain aspects of the tender were being reviewed.

·         It was intended to reduce the number of agency staff working in Social Services with the aim of employing a permanent work force.  The Social Services Directorate had been avidly recruiting for permanent social workers but had not been successful as there was not a large pool of social workers in the current market.  However, the Directorate was looking to appoint newly qualified social workers which would be mentored internally.

·         It was noted that demand was increasing within Children’s Services.

·         The Chief Officer stated that a report regarding recruitment of social workers would be presented to a future meeting of the Select Committee.

Recommendations:

We resolved to support the following recommendations proposed to Cabinet:

·         That Members consider the position concerning the third period of revenue monitoring in 2015/16 (£162,000 overspend), and seek assurance that Chief Officers will continue to work on delivering the £1.6 million Recovery Plan reported to December 2015 Cabinet.

·         That Senior officers follow the requirement of the Protection of Employment Policy which requires that all redundancy and pension costs must be reported to and agreed by Cabinet before final approval.

·         Members consider the position concerning period 3 (Month 9) Capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Context:

To scrutinise the progress that had been made by the South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS) since it was formed in as part of the National Adoption Service in April 2014.

Key Issues:

South East Wales Adoption Service (SEWAS) commenced on the 1^st April 2014.

• The report from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council provided the background and context to the service and provided the data from a national perspective. The report also advised a note of caution as the data contained in the report had been collated for the first time. A need for improved data collection had been recognised and put in place.

• The report did not provide specific data regarding Monmouthshire as the requirement from the National Adoption Service was to provide this on a national and regional basis.

• The local experience since SEWAS was formed has been very positive with an increase in focus on older and more complex children having the same opportunity for a ‘forever’ family.

• There had been an increase in adoptions as shown in the table below. Figures can vary for adoptions as not all children will have a plan for adoption as an outcome from the Care Proceedings in Court.

• The psychology support pre and post adoption had been very effective to moving children on to and settling into their adoptive placements. Work to develop this service further continues with SEWAS.

Member Scrutiny:

·         The Committee expressed support for the report.

·         It was noted that good work was being undertaken within SEWAS with regard to older children.

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding governance, it was noted that there were no plans to undertake any changes with regard to adoption legalities.

·         In response to a Select Committee Member’s question regarding the average time from initial enquiry to approval as adopters and that South East Wales was the lowest in Wales, it was noted that various discussions had been held at regional and National level regarding the data and the differences across Wales.  There was a caveat in the report regarding the data and it was noted that investigations were being undertaken as to how the data was being used going forward.

On behalf of the Select Committee the Chairman thanked the Head of Children’s Services for the work that she has undertaken for the Authority and wished her the very best in for the future.

Context:

To brief the Children and Young People’s Select Committee on the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014, which provides the legislative basis for social services in Wales from April 2016. The report also sets out the implementation actions required at a regional and local level.

Key Issues:

In February 2011, the former Deputy Minister for Social Services published, "Sustainable Social Services for Wales – A Framework for Action", the Welsh Government strategy to "renew social services and social care for the next decade". Sustainable Social Services made it clear that radical transformation was needed to address the significant challenges to traditional social services as a consequence of the changed social and financial context. Factors such as changes in family structures, demography, expectations about voice and control for service users, more fragmented communities and the impact of issues like substance misuse meant traditional solutions were not sustainable. Social services departments responded positively to this challenge, developing transformation programmes to achieve a paradigm shift in culture, practice and commissioning. These are programmes of continuous and sustained improvements, moving from deficit based, service led practice towards a person centred approach which focuses on strengths and individually agreed outcomes. 

The Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 received Royal Assent and became law in May 2014.  The Act provides the statutory framework to underpin the changes in culture and practice. It sets out duties for local authorities corporately and partners in the NHS, as well as social services departments. Authorities are required to integrate social services, to support people of all ages with a focus on well-being, prevention, early intervention, and greater voice and control for people. The Act promotes independence and prevention of the need for commissioned services.  By integrating and simplifying the law, the Act seeks to deliver greater consistency, promote equality, improved quality and enhanced access arrangements across Wales. 

This paper provides:

·         A briefing on the 11 parts in the above Act. 

·         The local and regional position regarding implementation.

Member Scrutiny:

·         The Select Committee expressed its support for the Act.

·         The Select Committee was invited to an ‘open afternoon’ in which Members could meet with staff in order to understand the changes to the service as a result of the implementation of the Act in April 2016.

·         Regular monitoring by the Select Committee would be undertaken.

·         Staff were ready for the changes that will occur.

We resolved that the next Children and Young People Select Committee meeting would be held on Thursday 17^th March 2015 at 2.00pm.

The meeting ended at 4.35pm.