Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Philippa Crowder (John Crowder substituting) and John Glanville (Phil Martin substituting).

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.  Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The Chairman announced details of the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 15 July 2014 and authorise the Chairman to sign them (attached).

The Committee agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2014 as an accurate record and authorised the Chairman to sign them.

Presented by the Young Member of Parliament for Havering

A member of Havering’s Youth Parliament, Tolu Akindayi spoke on behalf of her members to the Committee. The Youth Parliament had a vision to eliminate child poverty in Havering and break the third generation cycle by encouraging students to stay in education or become an apprentice.

The Youth Parliament felt there was a lack of support and information from schools in regards to students’ options when they leave school. In particular, there were concerns among Youth Parliament members that schools did not offer sufficient work experience opportunities. In response officers advised they had only limited influence over secondary schools’ policies as most Havering secondary schools were now Academies.  It was however suggested officers meet with Youth Parliament Members on a regular basis. The Chairman suggested the Youth Member spokesperson propose this idea to the other Youth Parliament Members. It was also felt it would be beneficial for Committee Members to attend a session of the Youth Parliament and efforts would be made to arrange this. 

To discuss with the Head of Asset Management issues relating to school transport for children with special educational needs.

A Co-opted Member submitted to the committee a list of transport issues compiled by the Positive Parents group. Parents were extremely concerned about how early their children were being picked up and having to remain on buses leading to the children often being unsettled when they reached school. The Member also raised concerns over safety issues with inadequately trained staff.

The Head of Asset Management confirmed that all staff working on SEN transport received appropriate induction and training, both for drivers and welfare officers. New SEN transport arrangements would need to be introduced as part of the Children & Families Act and meetings were planned with head teachers to discuss this further, to take place by the end of September. School transport routes had been rationalised but this had been undertaken in conjunction with Learning and Achievement officers. Officers were keen to improve SEN transport, bearing in mind existing budgets and future savings required.

Officers felt there were most pressures in getting children to school at Dycorts as well as one rout to Corbets Tey. The routes to Ravensbourne generally performed better.

The Chairman would seek to discuss these areas further with the Lead Member. The Head of Asset Management would discuss the whole area of SEN transport further with the Head of Learning and Achievement.

The Committee NOTED the position with SEN transport.

Presentation of annual report of Heathwatch Havering (attached).

A director of Healthwatch Havering presented the organisation’s annual report and informed the committee that Healthwatch were now working closely with the Positive Parents group concentrating on the welfare of children with disabilities. It was planned to concentrate on incremental changes for the better rather than promising huge changes that may be unable to be sustained.

It had been discovered that a large number of people with learning disabilities were not getting their annual healthchecks to which they were entitled. A recent Healthwatch Havering survey found only 23 out of 796 people entitled to these checks had received them. Officers would check if the healthchecks carried out in schools by community paediatricians covered the required healthchecks for children with learning disabilities. Officers confirmed that annual healthchecks were also required for all children in care.

The Committee requested that Healthwatch Havering look at how annual healthchecks could be made more meaningful and robust.

The Committee NOTED the annual report of Healthwatch Havering.

Verbal update by Mary Pattinson, Head of Learning and Achievement.

Officers reported that 40 children had presented without school places on the first day of term but all had now been successfully been placed. The statistics for first choice school placements were:

Primary school – 89% of children offered first choice school

Secondary school – 80% of children offered first choice school

The Chairman felt that these figures represented a positive outcome for Havering children and their parents.

To consider a report on corporate performance information for quarter 4 that was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 30 July 2014 (attached).

A Member questioned whether a target of 4% for the percentage of children becoming subject to a Child Protection Plan was putting too much pressure on agencies. The Chairman commented that a target is set to be challenging but must also be realistic.  Officers would check how a comparison could be made for the number of schools below the floor standard where fewer than 40% of pupils achieve 5 or more A* - C grades at KS4.   

With reference to looked after children, the data indicated that performance was below target. This was partly due to the fact that recruiting foster carers for teenagers was proving more difficult. A campaign to encourage carers to foster teenagers would continue through to 2015.

Officers would also confirm the benchmark area for Havering in addition to Bexley, Medway and Solihull.

Summaries of work of:

·         Corporate Parenting Panel

·         Local Safeguarding Children Board

·         MASH

·         Other reports to follow if available.

The Chairman advised the committee that a summary of recent meetings of the Corporate Parenting Panel, Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub had been requested for Members’ information. Any questions relating to the information in the reports pack would need to be raised between publication of the agenda and the meeting itself. The Committee noted the summary reports.

Committee Members are invited to indicate to the Chairman, items within this Committee’s terms of reference they would like to see discussed at a future meeting. Note: it is not considered appropriate for issues relating to individuals to be discussed under this provision.

It was suggested that the use of Education Healthcare Plans be added to the agenda for the forthcoming meeting concerning children’s health issues. The Committee also wished to consider the implications for Havering of the Rotherham inquiry and asked that representatives of the Children’s Society be invited to join the discussions.

Officers would also feed back to the Committee on how often schools’ child protection policies were reviewed.

To consider any other item in respect of which the Chairman is of the opinion, by reason of special circumstances which shall be specified in the minutes, that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

The Committee noted the Local Ombudsman’s Annual Letter and that there had been a problem of statistical inaccuracy with the report.

The Committee also expressed concern at the broadening of use of the term ‘maladministration’ and the likely impact this would have on public confidence.