To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 March 2011 and note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Childrens’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 1 March 2011 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to an amendment to the titles of Mr J Reynolds as a Church of England Co-optee and not a Roman Catholic Co-optee and Mrs F Image, Roman Catholic Co-optee and not Church of England Co-optee.

To receive from Members any declarations and the nature thereof in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

(c)     any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman had no announcements or communications.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman confirmed that no questions, statements or deputations from members of the public had been received in accordance with Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to the call-in of a decision.

No decisions from the Executive were referred to the Committee fro review in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.10 of Part D2.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No items were referred to the Committee for consideration at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

To receive a verbal update from the Portfolio Holder regarding current issues within Children’s Services.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services provided the Committee with the following information:-

·        Councillor Mrs A M Lewis thanked the Committee for all of its help and work throughout the year.

·        The Council had received a grant following the Henley Review of music services which was 10% less than the grant received in 2010.  There was now a shortfall in the cost of providing the music service.  Additionally, the non availability of previous subsidies results in the potential increase in fees and charges.

·        The consultation on the changes to the music service provision ended on Monday 28 March 2011, results were to be evaluated.

·        A meeting had been held on Tuesday 22 March 2001 at Dunstable Fire Station, to which all stakeholders associated with the music service were invited.  It was reported that only 18 people attended which was very disappointing.  In response to this, several Members of the Committee raised concern that they did now know that the meeting had taken place and that they did not receive an invite and therefore questioned the method of communication taken to inform stakeholders of the meeting.  Following a detailed conversation about these concerns, Councillor Mrs A M Lewis clarified that a letter had been issued to all stakeholders and that schools had been asked to cascade the invite to all parents.

·        It was noted that several letters and phone calls had been received from parents about the Special School review in Houghton Regis, wanting further information.  It was noted that a further update with regard to the situation would be available when the new Council was in place.

·        PRU – It was noted that the process was continuing and disaggregation was due to take place on 31 March

·        A meeting had been held to discuss Youth service Commissioning and over 70 people had attended.  The results of the commissioning process would be reported to the Executive on 31 May 2011.

The Head of Early Intervention &Prevention gave a presentation on child poverty and early intervention.

A copy of the presentation slides are attached to these minutes at Appendix A.

The report sets out the projected full year forecast as at 31^st December 2010.

The Committee received and considered the Budget Management report quarter ended 31 December 2010, which set out the full year forecast overspend of £1.43 million.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services updated the Committee on the current situation with regard to the fostering of an abandoned baby in Central Bedfordshire and congratulated Children’s Services on how efficiently and effectively they had dealt with placing the baby in foster care.

Members raised a number of queries regarding the budget information, which were addressed by the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and the Interim Assistant Director for Children’s Services.

RESOLVED

(1)   that the current projected full year forecast of £1.43 overspend be noted

(2)   that management actions as set out in paragraphs 43-45 of the report of the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services be agreed

(3)   that the budget virements as  set out in paragraph 46 of the report of the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services be noted.

The report highlights the Quarter Three performance for the Children’s Services Directorate.

The Committee received and considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services which set out the quarter three performance for the Children’s Services Directorate.

RESOLVED

That the report of the Portfolio holder for Children’s Services which set out the quarter three performance for the Children’s Services Directorate be noted.

The report provides Members with details of the currently drafted Committee work programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.

Members considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided details of the current Committee programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.

RESOLVED

That the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme 2010-2011 be noted.