Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Jessica Feeney, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

19.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 75 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 15 September 2015.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on the 15 September 2015, were approved as a correct record subject to:

 

           Patricia Wilson being referred as the Church of England Representative instead of the Roman Catholic Church Representative.

           Patricia Wilson being marked as present.

           That Item 14, paragraph 6 must read that St Clere’s Trust legally could not open a nursery.

20.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

21.

Declaration of Interests

Minutes:

Councillor Gamesters declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the meeting, because his Daughter worked at a Nursery in Ockendon.

 

Reverend Barlow declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the meeting, as his wife was a teacher at Thameside Primary School, and he has children at the Convent School and Palmers College, He is also a vice chair of the William Palmer Trust.

22.

Education Transport - Service update pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee requested an update on Education Transport and the progress made with respect to the various aspects of policy reviewed since October 2012 when an Education Transport Project Group was set-up around transport to post 16 facilities, transport for children aged 8-11 years, transport to faith schools, transport for children with SEND, the Travel Training programme and the establishment of the Exceptional Circumstances panel.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

Reverend Barlow felt that there was no option for those seeking a Christian faith school in Thurrock; it was added that the annual cost of £1117 took the option out of families’ hands. The Contacts and Performance Manager explained that other parents of other faiths also had no option of religious schools within Thurrock, it was clarified that the equality acts from 2010 stated that religion as characteristic was not covered under the heading of denominational transport and was not a statutory obligation to the Council.

 

Patricia Wilson informed the Committee that many parents sent their children to faith schools for the faith aspect not for teaching standards, it was questioned how parents would afford to transport more than two children to faith schools. The Contracts and Performance Manager explained that the Council may not be able to cater for families not receiving benefits.

 

Councillor Little questioned the expenses used for transporting looked after children to schools. The Contracts and Performance Manager explained that the Council had to make quick decisions at times and depending on some circumstances taxis were the only option. It was confirmed that £1633 had been spent on taxis in the current financial year. The Committee were informed that the taxi contracts had been revised and reviewed at Cabinet this year.

 

Councillor Little questioned if the budget had been affected by the Rural Bus Service discontinuing in Horndon and Fobbing. The Contracts and Performance Manager informed the Committee that a small number of children were being transported to schools by taxi.

 

Councillor Gupta questioned why the post commissioned transport service users had decreased to 108. It was explained to the Committee that more students were using other types of transport such as the discounted bus pass which was found more beneficial by students due to the flexibility of use at weekends and evenings.

 

The Chair of the Committee felt concerned that the Council had not investigated the 1.2 million expenditure gap for mainstream education. The Contract and Performance Manager explained that mainstream education was consulted on last year and that Contract and Performance team would be looking further across the board in the future.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That Children’s Overview and Scrutiny consider the aspects of transport reviewed in this report and comment upon the progress and/or recommend next steps.

 

23.

Thurrock Childcare Sufficiency Annual Assessment 2015 pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Learning & Universal Outcomes Officer outlined Thurrock’s Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2015, it was explained that the report broke down geographically early years places and identified areas where the council had both a surplus and deficit of places. The Committee were informed that the report was part of the statutory duty as set out in the Childcare Act 2006 which stated that Local Authorities need to ensure that the Council meet the requirements of early years entitlement with due regard to planning and growth across the Local Authority.

 

The Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer informed the Committee that there was currently sufficient nursery provision in Tilbury for two, three and four years olds, although it was added that with new housing developments the current provision would no longer be adequate, the Committee were enlightened that the Council would be working with outreach to resolve the problem. Councillor Little felt that the Council must encourage and make families aware of the benefits to fulfil nursery places.

 

The Chair explained that the Thurrock Childcare Sufficiency Annual Assessment 2015 report was emailed to all members prior to the Committee, concerns were raised that no comments regarding nursery provisions in Thurrock were received.

 

Councillor Little questioned Officers regarding the number of Travellers currently in childcare. The Learning and Universal Outcomes Officer informed the Committee that the travellers support service would regularly visit traveller sites to encourage the take up of education across the board.

 

Reverend Barlow felt that the number of good or outstanding early education and childcare providers was good, however Members questioned what was in place to improve the remaining childcare providers who were not good or outstanding. The Learning and Universal Outcomes Officer explained that a number of the providers were awaiting Ofsted inspections and support packages had been put in place. The Chair requested that an update on addition childcare provision would be reported to the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee later in the municipal year.

 

Councillor Gamester queried how the Aveley and Uplands ward was indicated as a high priority area, The Learning and Universal Outcomes Officer explained that priorities were calculated around methodology and projections. Councillor Little informed Officers that there were 129 proposed housing developments for Orsett instead of 37. The Chair requested that Members should refer to the Director of Children’s Services outside of the meeting for any further clarifications.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    To support further early years & childcare development in Aveley & Tilbury recognising the deficit outlined in the sufficiency report.

 

2.    To promote and encourage more schools to consider eligible 2 year old intake.

 

3.    To support public village hall use for the increase of early education particularly related to costs associated with tenancy

 

4.    To consider early education future needs before decision are taken in relation to capital assets across the Local Authority

 

5.    That the Director of Children’s Services would liaise with Communications Officers to publicise the encouragement of take up in early year’s education.

 

6.    That the Learning and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Pupil Premium pdf icon PDF 243 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee were informed that the report compared the performance of children and young people in receipt of Pupil Premium funding in Thurrock schools and academies for the academic year 2014/15. It was explained that the Hathaway Academy and Harris Academy were examples of good practice. This was presented by detailed information on their use of pupil premium to raise standards and narrow the gap for young people in receipt of the additional funding.

 

The Interim Strategic Lead, on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer explained that final results would be available later in the year as the data used in the report remained non-validated by the DfE. It was also added that the report did not contain comparisons for GCSE results as the results were subject to a significant number of re-marks of tests specifically in English and Mathematics. 

 

The Chair of the Committee questioned how the Council is ensuring that the practice shown by Hathaway Academy and the Harris Academy is being exercised across all schools. It was explained that narrowing the gap between pupil premium and non-pupil premium students was a key focus; Officers added that the Council wish to take this across all ten secondary schools by demonstrating how affective the additional funding was.

 

Reverend Barlow questioned who the academies gave account to when evaluating and allocating the additional funding; the Committee was informed this would be determined by the leadership and governing body of the academy.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Overview & Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the impact of pupil premium for the academic year 2014-15 in primary schools across the borough and seeks an update for secondary schools when the data is fully validated.

 

2.    Acknowledges the actions taken by The Hathaway Academy and Harris Academy Chafford Hundred

 

3.    That the Interim Strategic Lead, on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer organises a conference for all schools in Thurrock to discuss the Pupil Premiums best practice.

 

 

25.

School Results/School Performance pdf icon PDF 283 KB

Minutes:

Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer explained that raising achievement in all areas of education remains a key priority and that the Council had seen considerable success in the last four years as attainment and progress had risen significantly, particularly in the primary sector. Further strategies had been put in place as a result of the recommendations from the Education Commission Report, the impact of which had been to place the local authority in a strong position when in comparison with other statistical neighbour local authorities.  At primary level Thurrock had rapidly improved being just below the national average for good and outstanding schools nationally.  Secondary schools remained well above the national average for good and outstanding schools. The Committee was enlightened that the data was still provisional, although an updated report would be submitted to the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee at a later stage.

 

The Committee were informed that the key stage two data results were incorrect as a school was missed off during the calculation; Officers informed the Committee that this would be corrected in December. Reverend Barlow queried whether the missing data would increase or decrease the results; the Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer estimated that the missing data would increase the results.

 

The Chair questioned what the Council was undertaking for those students that did not receive a strong early year’s education. The Director or Children’s Services explained that this was aworking progress and informed the Committee that the pupil premium children aged five achieved better results in 2015 than all children in 2014. 

 

The Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer highlighted that the Council had not received all GCSE results for 2015 due to remarks. The Committee were informed that this was an issue nationally, but assured members that a report regarding this would return to the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee later in the municipal year.

 

The Director of Children’s Services predicted that Thurrock Councils GCSE’s results would be lower than national average for the year 2015. The Committee was informed that there were factors within Thurrock schools regarding the Maths Edexcel and English IGCSE exams papers which are taken by many schools in the borough, but not by many nationally.

 

Councillor Little felt that a strong governing body was a contributing factor when looking to enhance schools academic achievements. The Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer informed the Committee that a team of Officers currently pursued vacancies for school governors and organised regular training sessions.

 

Councillor Gamester asked for clarification regarding the key stage two trend data graph that did not increase during 2013 and 2015. The Interim Strategic Lead on School Improvement, Learning and Skills Officer explained that the graph was an area for improvement, and that one of the priorities was to maximum the potential of able children. The Committee were informed that the assessment arrangements were changing and that levels were now  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

26.

Child Poverty - Opportunity for Every Child pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Child Poverty Strategy builds upon the work of the Councils previous strategy developed in 2011.  The strategy and action plan builds on the work undertaken and looks to provide opportunities for all children recognising and looking to embed the concept of ‘Child Poverty Every Body’s responsibility’

 

It was explained that the Council works towards a place where every child has the same chance to achieve his or her potential; where no child lacks food or the basic necessities of family life, or lives in poor housing, or in families where parents are unable to work; where every child attends a good school; and where every child has ready access to a range of leisure, cultural and sporting opportunities.

 

The Chair of the Committee agreed that school attainment and education was the main route out of poverty, however it was recommended that the Council also considered work skills and local employment opportunities. The Learning and Universal Opportunities Officer explained that increasing apprenticeships and other local employment opportunity’s was a key priority.

 

Councillor Gupta enquired what feedback had been received from families affected by poverty. The Learning and Universal Outcomes Officer explained that the Troubled Family’s conference demonstrated how some the hard work and Councils procedures had made changes.

 

The Chair of the Committee felt that it would be beneficial to make a clear distinction between poverty and poverty crisis’. The Learning and Universal Outcomes Officer explained that this was something that the Council would look to capture through the action plan which included crisis intervention and the use of Thurrock food banks.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider the Child Poverty Strategy 2015-2020 and endorses the strategy and action plan.

 

2.    That the progress made since the 2011-2014 strategy is recommended. 

 

 

27.

Serious Youth Violence

Minutes:

 

The Strategic Lead, YOS, Adolescent Services, Troubled Families Officer gave an overview of the issues surrounding Serious Youth Violence (gangs) and the duties, responsibilities and strategies of the YOS, Thurrock Council and partner agencies in combating those issues. The Committee discussed the following items;

 

·         Examples of gang’s territory and signs of crime.

·         The definition of a gang, and the public’s views of gangs.

·         How to make Thurrock unattractive to gangs members to prevent them operating within the borough.

·         Gang members living in Thurrock but committing crimes in London and how this could potentially lead to gang violence in Thurrock.

·         That the prevention of gang violence was a responsibility of everyone living and working in the borough.

 

Councillor Ojetola questioned how the Council monitored people moving into Thurrock from London Boroughs. The Committee was informed that intelligence was a key aspect when monitoring movements it was added that authorities were obliged to inform Thurrock Council when families were being moved into the area.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Public Protection was concerned that many gang members were academically capable and rose by stable families, Officers questioned the motivation to become a gang member. It was explained that the Chafford Crew grew out of a bunch of young people who wanted to be gang members, many young people have been influenced to join a gang for money and change of lifestyle.

 

Councillor Ojetola was concerned about gangs recruiting members in Chafford hundred and also how the layout of Chafford hundred caused intimidation for many members of the public. Councillor Ojetola asked for assurance that there were procedures in place to prevent crimes in the dark evenings during the winter. The Strategic Lead, YOS, Adolescent Services, Troubled Families Officer explained that this was a responsibility of the Police but ensured the Committee that the Community Safety Partnership would also take a lead on this.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That Thurrock Council continue to support the work of partner agencies to prevent gang related activity from becoming a major issue in the borough.

 

2.    That the Committee writes to the chairs of all Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s in London borough’s to raise awareness of Thurrock Councils Concerns.

 

3.    That the Committee writes to Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police to inform them that of the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees concerns.

 

4.    That the Committee write a letter to all Schools in Thurrock, Thurrock Faith Matters , and the LGA Safer Community Board regarding the work that the Council are currently undertaking around serious youth crime.

 

 

28.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Officer explained that there was a new agenda item and that the work programme would be amended then circulated electronically.