Agenda item - Chair's Communications

66.1    If I ever feel like I’m shouting into a void with my Chair’s communications, I’d like to report on two recent developments which suggest otherwise.

The first is that we have recently been written to by Government, indicating that as a city we will be able to make a ‘substantial bid’ to the Youth Investment Fund very soon. While the fund is smaller than the £500m advertised, these are encouraging signs.

The second is that I can confirm as of today, there are no Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) being held in two hotels in our city. I believe this is simply because late last year, the Government made accepting transfers under the National Transfer Scheme (NTS), mandatory for a temporary period.

This temporary period of mandation meant that UASC were taken into care in other local authorities quickly and therefore the hotels which were operating as an extension of the Kent intake centre were able to be emptied.

These are both things that I have not only repeatedly spoken about in Chair’s Communications, but also written to Government about on occasion and I’m delighted to give that positive news.

I would like to inform you that I have asked officers to begin a consultation process on the expansion of specialist provision for learners with autism.

The requirement for this additionality has been identified through the SEND Sufficiency work undertaken as part of the SEND Strategy. A full report detailing the outcome of the consultation and asking Members to make a decision whether to proceed with the proposals will come to June committee, however, we will ensure that the consultation papers are shared with relevant members of Children, Young People and Skills Committee in the meantime.

The proposal is around the creation of specialist Autistic Spectrum Conditions provision on mainstream school sites in the city. This will be for both the primary and secondary phases.

I am pleased that we are responding to the increased need in our city for this particular cohort of children and young people.   

Committee will note that tomorrow is International Women’s Day and last year I celebrated the work of the brilliant team of women who lead the Families, Children and Learning Directorate, and I would like to start by making that celebration again. I would also like to thank the vibrant community and voluntary sector organisations in our city who do brilliant work for young women and girls, including Black and Minority Ethnic Young People’s Project and the Hangleton and Knoll Project.

Finally, due to illness the Young Carer’s presentation will not be presented today but I’m hoping we can have it at a future meeting.