Agenda and minutes

(Assistant to the Chief Executive)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Panel noted that there were no substitute members.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

No declarations of interest were made.

To agree the minutes from the last meeting of this Panel, held on 5 November 2010.

The notes from the meeting held on 5 November 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Confidential Items Commencement: Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require:

(1)        All business of the Council requiring to be transacted in the presence of the press and public to be completed by 10.00 p.m. at the latest.

(2)        At the time appointed under (1) above, the Chairman shall permit the completion of debate on any item still under consideration, and at his or her discretion, any other remaining business whereupon the Council shall proceed to exclude the public and press.

(3)        Any public business remaining to be dealt with shall be deferred until after the completion of the private part of the meeting, including items submitted for report rather than decision.

Background Papers:  Paragraph 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information (as defined in Rule 10) and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

Inspection of background papers may be arranged by contacting the officer responsible for the item.

            RESOLVED:

That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the item of business set out below as it would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act indicated and the exemption is considered to outweigh the potential public interest in disclosing the information:

Agenda                                                                       Exempt Information

Item No           Subject                                               Paragraph Number

6                                            Update on West Children’s                    3

Commissioning and Delivery

Board

To receive draft proposals regarding the West Essex Children’s Commissioning and Delivery Board.

The Chairman and the Assistant Director Community Services advised the Panel that they had attended a meeting of the West Essex Children’s Commissioning and Delivery Board on 20 January 2011. Prior to this meeting, the Assistant Director had been part of a Task and Finish group looking at the Board’s functions and specifically what had worked well and what hadn’t.

This group was made up of representatives from a range of partners and the discussion had been frank and honest. In terms of strengths, it was agreed that there was a willingness amongst the Board to improve children’s and young people’s services, but noted that the Board had not been effective in doing this. The key concerns raised at the group had been the lack of influence that the Board had at Essex level, and particularly in relation to commissioning in Essex. It was also agreed that as financial resources were only available from NHS and ECC, the two largest organisations, they determined the commissioning rather than it being a partnership agreement. It was noted that the District’s had a very good understanding of the gaps in provision, based on local intelligence and the most effective methods of delivery and that these views should be represented through the Board at Essex meetings.

The Board was also far too large which prevented any decision making and effectiveness. A series of recommendations were put forward to address the issues discussed, including: a proposal to reduce membership of the Board, keep it district focused, ensure that the local Board kept in touch with ECC and that all Board members be kept aware of current undertakings and proceedings.

At the meeting on 20^th January the proposals had been put forward and although a couple of Board members had contested the proposed membership reductions the proposals had been well received. It was reported that the membership was now down from 40 to just 19. There were concerns that there should not be providers of services as well a commissioner of services on the same Board; so the providers would now not attend. District Members would no longer be on the Board, but would be representatives on key focus groups. The District Commander of Police and the Essex Probation Service representative would remain on the group.

The Task & Finish group also looked at the frequency of the meetings, noted that a Business Management Group would be established to sit as a small group beneath the Board and that time limited focus groups were also to be established. All the above were agreed apart from the membership. However, it was noted that the Board would be facing a range of challenges due to the significant reductions in funding available across Essex However, if the Board was to become the ‘real’ commissioning board for West Essex, this would  be a more satisfactory way of doing it and ECC were finally getting the message.

The Assistant Director then updated the Panel on Children and Adolescent Mental Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To receive an update report on the planned reductions in Essex Youth Service Provisions.

The Assistant Director Community Services, Julie Chandler, advised that a report had gone to the ECC Cabinet who had agreed a £7 million reduction from EssexIntegrated Youth Services Budget. This will mean a reduction in provision of youth services for this district and as a result it may mean the closure of one youth centre.

To receive an updating report.

Noted that EFDC would lose the ‘Match’ funding for Dads and Children initiative, but that this had already ceased to operate. All other LPF projects would continue to be funded through to the need of their contracts.

To consider implications for the Council.

The Panel noted that added to the youth services cuts, funding currently provided towards reducing ‘NEETs’ (Not in Education, Employment or Training) would be reduced in 2011/12. This was because the District was not now as priority due to the success in reducing and maintaining the numbers of young people falling within NEET.

The impact of the withdrawal and reductions in funding available to the district for provision of young people’s activities could be a significant increase in anti social behaviour and youth nuisance, an increase in cases of child protection and in the long term, the need for significantly higher levels of funding needed to deal with the fall out in this provision.

The Panel suggested that these were core front line services and wondered why the budget had been cut. Questions needed to be asked about alternative funding and how could this be addressed. 

To consider alternative funding opportunities for Children and Young People’s Services.

It was suggested that:

• There was a need to look at alternative funding opportunities by applying for grants etc.;
• There was also a need to work in partnership with the voluntary sector to attract funding streams inaccessible to the Council.
• Local people would need to put in their time and money into keeping their local services going, but where would the energy and enthusiasm come from to contribute to this “big society” as most people work and have little spare time;
• Securing funding was very difficult, partner agencies needed to know the right ‘jargon’ words to use in their applications. They needed people with experience to support them, and that this support would need to come from the Council;
• The funding cuts needed to be explained to local residents and that if they still wanted the same level of local provision they would need to take responsibility for some of the smaller areas of funding;
• Our recommendations for Children Services would be to maintain services to keep the NEETs levels down;
• Perhaps we need to up our profile and publicise this need with the local press;
• The police did not have the funding for Paso’s to keep up their profile in the community; Officers should identify priorities on what could be reinstated, in case funding could be found and Should be mobilised and ready to apply for funding to support local health and well being initiatives when NHS funding is devolved to local GP’s.
• The Panel would like to express their concern in the reduction in youth services although this had been covered in the officer’s letter to the ECC Portfolio Holder sent at the end of last year (copy as distributed at the meeting)

To receive a report outlining the new GP commissioning services.

It was noted that:

• The Panel commented that the Council should look at fostering greater co-operation with GPs.
• Community Services Officers were already developing ‘model packages’ of work to present to GP’s for local commissioning. These would include projects such as the Trampolining programme for children with low self esteem and confidence. 
• The NHS was not sure as yet how GP services were going to work.

The Panel agreed to invite ECC Councillor Ray Gooding and appropriate officers to their next meeting. They would like to formulate most of their questions beforehand and let Essex representatives have advance knowledge of them so they could prepare detailed answers.

(Chairman/Lead Officer) To note the attached Terms of Reference. The Panel are asked to review the document at each meeting.

Terms of Reference:

1.                  The Panel would need to pull together their information gathered so far.

2.                  This had essentially been done and needed to be put together for the final report.

3.                  This was still a work in progress and the final outcome would not be known until after April 2011.

4.                  This had essentially been done and needed to be pulled together for the final report.

The panel also needed:

• to raise their concerns about funds for tiers 1,3 and 4;
• an assessment of what funding the Council would have;
• to secure resources from other funding streams if possible; and
• to assess partnership working with voluntary groups.

To agree a timetable for the production of this Panel’s final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee by April 2011.

A draft report needed to be done before the Panel met with the Portfolio Holder from ECC and then to amend it after that meeting had taken place.

To agree a date for the next meeting of this Panel.

Julie Chandler to arrange a meeting with ECC Councillor Gooding and Officers for some time in March. New meeting date to be circulated to members when known.