Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 12 May 2016 as a true and correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 May 2016 were agreed as a true and correct record.

To consider the appointment of Mr Fred Kershaw as a diocesan co-opted member to the Committee and Ms Frances McErlane as a parent governor co-opted member of the Committee.

Mrs Sharon Davis, Scrutiny Manager presented a report to allow the Committee to appoint Dr Sam Johnson and Mrs Frances McErlane as co-opted members to the Committee.

The Committee agreed:

To appoint Dr Sam Johnson and Mrs Frances McErlane as co-opted members to the Committee.

To consider any applications from members of the public to speak at the meeting.

The Committee noted that there were no applications for public speaking on this occasion.

To consider the Executive and Cabinet Member decisions within the remit of the Resilient Communities Scrutiny Committee. 

The Committee considered the Executive Decisions taken since the last meeting of the Committee and asked a number of questions regarding PH39/2016 ‘Grass Cutting Prioritisation’. In response, Councillor Cain, Cabinet Secretary advised that a return to a full grass cutting programme might never be possible due to the extensive funding cuts that continued to be required. He added that it had been important to identify priority areas for grass cutting such as cemeteries and the promenade and that a range of options had been considered that might allow further grass cutting to take place but that none had been affordable.

Members also asked a number of questions pertaining to PH43/2016 ‘Children’s Social Care and Early Help’ in relation to the additional funding. In response, Councillor Cain advised that he was confident the additional resource would have an impact. Mrs Del Curtis, Director of People added that the number of Looked After Children continued to increase as did the complexity of cases and that the appointment of six additional social workers would alleviate significant pressure on caseloads. She reported that the progress made in implementing the decision was being closely monitored.

In response to a further question regarding the dedicated resource being used to address specific anti-social activity in the town, Councillor Cain advised that the activity referred to was a specific cohort of young people. Mrs Curtis added that there were safeguarding issues to address with the young people involved and that the activity being undertaken with regards to anti-social activity would beextended to siblings and other connected young people. The mapping was being overseen by a dedicated short term team and was being supported by Police Analysts.

To consider the content of the Council’s Forward Plan, June 2016 – September 2016, relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary.

The Committee considered the items contained within the Forward Plan, June 2016 – August 2016 within the portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary and requested an update on ‘School Place Planning Next Steps’ and was advised by Mrs Curtis that a decision had not yet been taken by the Department for Education on the free school bid. She added that the Department for Education had not published a timescale for the decision.

The Committee to consider the Workplan, together with any suggestions that Members may wish to make for scrutiny review.

The Chairman highlighted the ‘Implementation of Recommendations’ table and requested that the list of Councillors attending Dementia Awareness training be updated for the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee also noted that the request for further Families In Need performance data to be circulated was outstanding and Mrs Curtis, Director of People agreed to provide the information following the meeting.

The Committee agreed:

1.      To approve the Scrutiny Workplan.

2.      To note the ‘Implementation of Recommendations’ table.

3.      To request that the list of Councillors attending Dementia Awareness training be updated.

4.      To receive the performance data regarding the ‘Families In Need’ service following the meeting.

To inform Scrutiny Committee of the work undertaken by Children’s and Adult Services on a day to day basis and to update on the progress and implementation of developments within the areas in order to ensure effective scrutiny of services.

Mrs Del Curtis, Director of People, presented the Children’s and Adults Services Report and the Chairman invited questions from the Committee.

The Committee considered the update provided on the Emergency Duty Team and queried the ratio of agency to permanent staff on the Team. In response, Ms Karen Smith, Deputy Director of People (Adults Services) reported that the Team heavily relied on casual staff to fill the rotas around the core of permanent staff. Members welcomed the proposal to submit a final update of the review of the Team to the Committee in July 2016.

In response to questions regarding Head Start delivery and framework, Mrs Curtis advised that the Head Start programme was a pilot programme and would be externally evaluated. She added that the Council would be informed on 15 June 2016 if it had been successful in securing further funding for a substantive programme by the Big Lottery.

The Committee discussed the New Models of Care schemes developed to provide care to people in the community and queried whether the funding for social workers at Moor Park Health Centre would continue. Ms Smith reported that the funding would cease as the Extensive Care Service the positions were providing had not grown as expected. She added that the Enhanced Primary Care approach had demonstrated the need for social workers and that it was important to place social workers in the right areas.

The Committee went on to discuss the projects provided by Better Start and queried the extent to which projects would be provided universally. In response, Mrs Curtis advised that Better Start had been funded based on the provision of projects within the seven identified wards. However, where permitted by the Big Lottery, Better Start was providing universal services and Mrs Curtis would circulate a full list of universal services following the meeting.

Members noted the engagement programmes on offer for young people at risk of becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) and requested data on the outcomes of the programmes. Mrs Curtis advised that an outcome report had been finalised and she would arrange for it to be circulated.

Concern was expressed by Members of the Committee that Montgomery Academy had not improved as quickly as it might have been hoped, with a recent Ofsted inspection moving the school from Serious Weaknesses to Requires Improvement. In response, Mrs Curtis advised that the School Improvement Team monitored and projected improvement across all schools, providing support where appropriate. She added that the Ofsted Inspection Report had been particularly positive around the effectiveness of leadership and management.

Members queried whether the Montgomery Academy inspection outcome was a further indication of an increasing gap between the quality of primary and secondary education in the town and were informed by Mrs Curtis that the Blackpool Challenge Board considered the transition between primary and secondary schools as a priority and was investing in a number of pilot schemes to target transition. She added that a key concern was the number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To provide an overview of the Infusion research and consultation service now based at Blackpool Council.

Mr Adam Pearson, Infusion Service Manager reported that Infusion was an income generating service designed to gather the views and perceptions of local people and stakeholders to inform public service delivery and encourage involvement in the decision making process. In response to questions, Mr Pearson advised that some groups were more difficult to reach than others, but that consultation was undertaken using a variety of methods in order to engage a wide range of people, including face to face and by post.

Mr Pearson reported that the Infusion Service undertook work for a variety of public sector organisations across the north west and had also run a number of consultations in Blackpool including those on Public Space Protection Orders, Library Opening Hours and an Illuminations Visitor Survey, all in 2015.

The Committee discussed the importance of engaging with the local community and commented that it was important to undertake open ended surveys to allow responders to be honest and that involvement of the community when developing questions should be considered.

In response to questions, Councillor Maria Kirkland, Cabinet Member for Third Sector Engagement and Development advised that she was considering different ways of engaging with the community as part of her portfolio and considering how innovative methods of engagement could be utilised to target minority groups. Members requested that an update be provided to the Committee in approximately nine months on developments in community engagement, including an update on the work carried out by the Infusion Service.

The Committee agreed to receive a report in approximately nine months on developments in community engagement, including an update on the work carried out by the Infusion Service.

To consider the Action Plan of the Pupil Referral Unit Scrutiny Review Panel in order to review progress made against recommendations.

The Committee discussed the action plan of the Pupil Referral Unit Scrutiny Review Panel and considered progress made against the recommendations. In response to questioning, Mrs Curtis, Director of People advised that Recommendations One, Two and Three had been actioned and had been identified as ‘ongoing’ because they were not one off actions.

Members agreed that Recommendations One, Two and Three be signed off subject to a final report to be provided on the work of the Blackpool Challenge Board on progress made on the recommendations. It was agreed that Mrs Curtis would liaise with the independent chairman of the Blackpool Challenge Board to provide the report.

With regards to Recommendation Four, Mrs Curtis advised that the submission of the bid to the Department for Education Transformation Fund was expected to be made in July 2016. A further update would be provided to the Committee on the recommendation following the outcome of the bid later in 2016.

The Committee agreed:

1.        To receive a final report on Recommendations One, Two and Three from the Blackpool Challenge Board at a future meeting.

2.        To receive an update on Recommendation Four following the outcome of the funding bid.

To note the date and time of the next meeting of the Committee as Thursday 14 July 2016, commencing at 6pm.

The Committee noted the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 14 July 2016, commencing at 6pm in Committee Room A.