Officers took the Committee through each indicator that required comment. The first, ‘The percentage of schools judged good by OFSTED’, was discussed and it was outlined that two further schools were expected to receive ratings in the near future increasing the performance of this indicator from 80% to 87%. It was predicted the Council would exceed its target. Officers reassured the Committee they were taking supportive action on the schools that were borderline failing their inspections. It was confirmed this was a non-statutory indicator and schools yet to be assessed were currently being scheduled by OFSTED. 

The Committee discussed the indicator relating to ‘Looked After Children’ and officers stated that the outcomes for those not in education, employment or training (NEET) would need to be reviewed to understand whether there were more meaningful educational outcomes for children with learning disabilities. Of the children making up the indicator eleven (27%) were asylum seekers and only one of these had missed education entirely. Nine had Special Educational Needs (SEN) and were undertaking entry level courses. Less than 50% of the cohort were working below GCSE level, while fifteen were studying for their GCSEs but not attaining five qualifications. The group was mainly working below C Grade.

The Committee discussed meaningful outcomes for children who were failing educational attainment and clarified that asylum seekers received the full range of support offered to all other looked after children when leaving care. Achieving five A to C grades was a statutory indicator. Members felt a non-statutory indicator could be added to measure other useful outcomes for these children.

‘The rate of children subject to child protection plans’ was usually affected by the increase in children entering the system who needed the plans. It was a demand led indicator. Although Thurrock did not have a large amount of children subject to these plans it was affected by the low rate of children leaving the plans once they were on them. There was a procedure in place for managers to sign children off of plans when ready to improve the performance.

‘The percentage of older people still at home 91 days after discharge from hospital’ had been a challenge in the final quarter of the year but Thurrock’s service was high performing and would be in the top quartile performance for England. It was confirmed that older people meant those over 65 and only a small percentage of these were not put through reablement, mainly those suffering advanced dementia or end of life care. The NHS provided a full reablement package lasting six weeks.

‘The percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or anaerobic digestion’ was discussed briefly and a communications plan to inform residents how to dispose properly of waste was being developed. Members wondered whether the communications strategy could be funded by the fines collected from fly tipping. The Committee felt waste and recycling was a major issue that needed urgent and focussed attention.

Abandoned vehicles were highlighted and Members wondered why all costs were not recovered as the cars could be traced back to the owners through the DVLA. Officers stated that not all vehicles abandoned were reported and this could cause a discrepancy in the number of reports compared to the numbers of vehicles collected.

The Committee discussed the format of the report and felt that the direction arrows could also appear in the header of each page and the amber indicator was not required.

Resolved That:

1. The committee notes the performance at this stage in the year and   

    asks all comments above to be noted and progressed by officers.

2. The areas In Focus be circulated as appropriate to relevant overview

     and scrutiny committee chairs.

3. A non-statutory indicator be added to the suite of indicators to show

    domicile and non-domicile educational progress.

4. The Portfolio Holder and Director of Environment provide a report to

     Full Council to bring the issues and challenges of waste and      

     recycling into focus.

5. The Performance Board remove the Amber indication on the reports

     and include direction of travel arrows on the header of each indicator.