To consider the following pertaining to the Children’s Services Directorate:-

(i)            draft Budget (2014/15);

(ii)          updated Medium Term Financial Plan (2014-18); and

(iii)         Capital Programme (2014/15 to 2017/18).

Papers relating to these items were circulated to Members in the Executive agenda for 14 January 2014 (Items 08 and 09 refer).  In addition to the covering report included in this agenda Members are requested to bring their copies of the Executive report with them to the meeting.  The report is available to view and print at the following website:-

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=4397&Ver=4

The Executive Member introduced a report that outlined the Council’s draft Budget for 2014/15, Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme, which had been presented to Executive on 14 January 2014.  In addition to the proposed budget the report set out the efficiencies and key pressures on the directorate.  Cllr Versallion emphasised the increasing demand on children’s social care as a result of demographic change and the difficult context within which the Council had drafted a budget for Children’s Services.  The Executive Member thanked colleagues and the remainder of the Executive for their support in setting the budget.

In light of the report and the further clarification provided by the Executive Member the Committee discussed the following issues in detail:-

·         Whether a £300k pressure relating to the disaggregation of the adoption and fostering service (CSP1406) was realistic.  In response the Executive Member commented that the quality of service had remained high and he was confident that £300k was a realistic figure.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services also commented that £300k was a realistic figure at the present time, although long-term assurances were difficult due to uncertainty over demographic change.  In addition the Committee were informed that careful monitoring was undertaken of children’s homes and other placements in order to ensure that, where it was appropriate to do so, children and young people were placed close to home.

·         Whether there were proposals to change arrangements for adoptions panels in light of the disaggregation of the service.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services advised the Committee that several options were being considered to make the process more efficient without losing the quality of service.

·         The impact of changes in the numbers of school improvements advisers employed by the Council and the services that could be delivered.  In response the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services advised the Committee that where some schools experienced difficulty interpreting the Council’s policies on raising standards a strategic community approach to supporting school improvement was necessary.  A commissioning approach to the issues was in place.  The Executive Member also commented that £1.5m had been allocated for school improvement commissioning and recent Ofsted inspections had been positive in relation to school improvement. 

·         The manner in which the Council was able to respond to pressures in school transport and progress in relation to walking assessments.  The Executive Member advised the Committee that a revised policy was being developed and walking assessments were about to be underway, although in some cases the outcome of the assessment may result in the Council needing to fund improvements.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services also advised the Committee that the role of the Children’s Services directorate was to set the policy, it was important for the directorate not to be involved in the commissioning or delivery of the service as these were technical matters.  It was also noted that the Department for Education were thinking of changing the school transport formula in 2015/16. 

·         The level of progress the Council had achieved in relation to rationalising existing transport for children with disabilities at Ivel Valley.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services agreed to provide an update to the Committee outside of the meeting.

·         The level of progress in relation to bringing children back into local placements, which address their Special Educational Needs (CS3).  The Executive Member commented that work was underway to bring children back into Central Bedfordshire.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services clarified that the approach was to ensure children preferably did not go out of area in the first place rather than bringing them back into Central Bedfordshire after they started school.

·         Whether a reduction of 25 Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placements by 2015/16 was feasible.  In response the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services advised the Committee that the target was ambitious but possibly achievable and would need careful monitoring in the future.

In addition the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services confirmed that the report should be revised in relation to the new efficiency (CSE1410) that was identified in the report alongside the reallocation of school improvement activity (CS10).

RECOMMENDED that the Council’s draft Budget for 2014/15, Medium Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18 be endorsed in light of the challenges faced by the Directorate.