Agenda for Children & Young People's Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 25th June, 2008, 5.00pm

PROCEDURAL BUSINESS

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Minutes:

1a        Declarations of substitutions

 

1.1             Councillor Pete West for Councillor Ben Duncan.

 

1b       Declarations of interests

 

1.2             There were none.

 

1c        Declaration of party whip

 

1.3             There were none.

 

1d       Exclusion of Press and Public

 

1.4             The Committee considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of any items contained in the agenda, having regard to the nature of the business to be transacted and the nature of the proceedings and the likelihood as to whether, if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of confidential or exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A, Part 5A, Section 100A(4) or 100 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

1.5             RESOLVED - That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

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Minutes:

2.1             RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 April 2008 be approved and signed by the Chairman. 

CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

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Minutes:

3.1           The Chairman welcomed everyone to the first meeting of CYPOSC under the new arrangements.

COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE

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Minutes:

4.1      The Interim Head of Scrutiny introduced the report of the Director of Strategy and Governance on the committee’s terms of reference. He drew members’ attention to Appendix 2 detailing how the scrutiny review process worked. In response to questions, he clarified that it was the responsibility of CYPOSC to set their own work programme and the role of the Commission was one of co-ordination.

 

4.2       RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

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Minutes:

5.1       There were none. 

QUESTIONS AND LETTERS FROM COUNCILLORS

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Minutes:

6.1       There were none.

NOTICE OF MOTION REFERRED FROM COUNCIL

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Minutes:

7.1       There were none.

SCRUTINY AND THE COUNCIL'S FORWARD PLAN

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Minutes:

8.1             The Interim Head of Scrutiny introduced the report of the Director of Strategy and Governance and explained what the Forward Plan was and its function.  He highlighted it as a key document for scrutiny.

 

8.2             In response to a question on the decisions of the Cabinet Member, the Assistant Director, Quality and Performance, Children & Young People’s Trust, stated that the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services had offered to attend the meeting of CYPOSC on 19 November 2008 to outline their priorities for the coming year.

 

8.3       RESOLVED –

 

(1) That the report be noted.

 

(2) that the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services be invited to the next meeting.

 

TOWARDS A WORK PROGRAMME

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Minutes:

9.1             The Interim Head of Scrutiny introduced the report of the Director of Strategy and Governance.  He stressed the importance of a robust work plan and suggested that a developed work programme be presented to the September meeting.

 

9.2           A letter from Councillor Duncan was circulated with some suggestions for the work programme (see minute book). The Committee discussed primary school admissions and agreed that this item would be included in future discussions on the work programme. 

9.3           Cllr Wakefield-Jarrett requested that an update on Falmer Academy be given at every meeting of CYPOSC.

9.4             The Committee agreed that they would receive a report on the Food for Life standards following a referral by the Sustainability Commission.

 

9.5           The Deputy Chairman raised concerns over the preponderance of education items on the work plan when compared with items on children’s health.  The area of children’s health was discussed, including the interface with the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

9.6             Cllr Smart suggested that the operation and success of the Children’s Centres as an item for consideration within the work programme.

 

9.7           The following amendment was moved by Councillor Allen and seconded by Councillor Wakefield-Jarrett:

 “to set up a working group to develop a draft work programme for consideration at the next meeting of the committee.”

The amendment was put to the vote with the following results; For (6), Against (0), Abstain (2).  The amendment was therefore carried. The working group will consist of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and a member of the Green Group.

 

9.8      RESOLVED –

(1) That the Committee agree to set up a working group to develop a draft work programme for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee in September.

(2) That the Committee receive an update on Falmer Academy at each meeting.

 

(3) That the Committee receive a report on the Food for Life standard following a referral from the Sustainability Commission.

CO-OPTED MEMBERS TO CYPOSC

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Minutes:

10.1         The Scrutiny Officer introduced the report and explained the background to it. The Social Care co-optee noted that he was, in fact, more representative of youth and youth integrated services.  It was agreed that his title be changed and he would fulfil the youth justice co-opted place.

 

10.2       The Committee discussed the recommendations including: the difficulties in finding suitable co-opted members with expertise in social care; and the optimum ways of encouraging youth representative input to the Committee.  It was agreed to look into other ways of involving young people and to work more closely with the Youth Council. The Youth Council will hold their elections in November 2008 and hope to send a representative for the 25 March 2009 CYPOSC meeting.

10.3         A representative from the Community Voluntary Sector Forum has been co-opted as a non-voting member of CYPOSC and will be present at the 24 September 2008 CYPOSC meeting.

 

10.4       The Deputy chairman suggested that the recommendation (1) be amended to delete the end of the sentence “but that no further social care representative is sought” and this was agreed.

           Recommendation (2) was agreed. 

Recommendation 3 was put to the vote with the following results: For (5), Against (0), Abstain (3).  The recommendation was agreed.

 

10.5   RESOLVED –

(1) That the current co-optees with expertise in children’s social care and health matters be asked to continue their membership of the Committee;

(2) That the Chairman write to the Youth Council to invite closer working and request that the Youth Council may refer relevant issues to the Committee but that no youth representative is necessarily required on the Committee;

 

(3) That the Committee agrees to the inclusion within its co-opted membership a representative from the community and voluntary sector forum.

 

ITEMS TO GO FORWARD TO CABINET OR THE RELEVANT CABINET MEMBER MEETING

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Minutes:

11.1    There were none.

ITEMS TO GO FORWARD TO COUNCIL

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Minutes:

12.1    There were none.