Agenda and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Wilkinson.

At this point Members must declare whether they have an interest, whether personal or prejudicial, in any of the items on the agenda. Members must also declare if they are subject to their party group whip in relation to any items under consideration.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2009 were approved as an accurate record.

The decision notice for each decision will bear the date on which it is published and will specify that the decision may then be implemented on the expiry of 3 working days after the publication of the decision (not including the date of publication), unless a request for call-in of the decision is received from any two Members of a Scrutiny Committee or Scrutiny Commissions.  If a request for call-in of a decision is received, implementation of the decision remains suspended for consideration by the relevant Scrutiny Committee or Commission.

There were no requests for Call-in to consider.

To scrutinise the current services available for Carers and make recommendations on areas where improvement or alternative approaches may prove more effective.

TheExecutive Director of Adult Social Services introduced the report and informed the Committee that the Carers Strategy and Action Plan had been put in place to provide a framework for delivering support and services that would help achieve the best outcomes for carers.

There were a large number of carers in Peterborough who did not recognise themselves as carers and part of the action plan had been to raise awareness of the support and services available and to increase the ways of identifying carers.  New initiatives had already increased the number of assessments and new money had also been found to fund more breaks for carers. 

The Director introduced a group of seven young carers who gave personal accounts of their lives as carers.  All of the carers were either currently responsible for looking after someone or had in the past caring responsibilities which ranged from looking after parents with severe depression to looking after severely disabled siblings.  In some cases the carer was looking after parents and siblings with multiple problems.  All of the carers stated that they had grown up very quickly and felt that they had missed out on being children but attending the Young Carers Group had made a difference to their lives.  They informed the Committee that young people who were carers often missed out on doing the normal things that other young people liked to do including attending after school clubs, school trips and going out to play with friends.  They often felt different from other children and had on occasions been bullied at school because the other children had not understood their circumstances.  The Young Carers Group had given them opportunities to go on trips and take part in activities away from their daily responsibilities as carers and it also gave them the opportunity to talk to other young people who were in similar situations and who understood the difficulties they faced.

Observations and questions were raised and discussed including:

·         Members told the young carers how proud they were of them and what special people they were to be coping with such enormous responsibilities at such a young age.  They also commented on how brave they were to attend the meeting and give their personal stories and thanked them for coming to the meeting.  Members commented that they had been unaware of the types of responsibilities young carers had to cope with and would support them in raising awareness of this.

·         When asked by Members what else could be done for them, the young carers asked for:

                     i.            24 hour access to someone who they could talk to when in difficult situations.

                   ii.            Raised awareness of the Young Carers Group to help people understand more about their lives.

                  iii.            Provision of transport to help them get to activities.  Activities were put on for the carers but sometimes they could not go because they could not get there.

                 iv.            More support at school.

                  v.            The opportunity to go on trips abroad as this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and University gave a presentation to the Committee about the progress that had been made on delivering the 14 – 19 Agenda in Peterborough.  

The Committee were informed that four Diplomas had been successfully launched in September 2009 and three further Diplomas had been approved for implementation in September 2010 and 186 learners had taken up the diplomas so far.  Under vocational learning a strategy was in place for a growing number of apprenticeships through the public sector and 18 learners were studying for Level 2 Young Apprenticeships in Construction.  From September 2010 there would be a Level 1 Young Apprenticeship programme targeted at potential NEETs (Not in Education, Training or Employment).  Team Peterborough had continued to drive development of structures to support city-wide curriculum collaboration through:

–        Common timetabling arrangements

–        Common application processes 14 -19

–        Common protocols and agreements

470 learners moved to other centres across the city to experience part of their learning.  200 businesses had become involved in Diploma delivery in the City, including the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society who were working with students on the IT Diploma and the developer behind Peterborough’s Garden Park project who supported the Diploma in construction and the built environment.

The performance for NI 117 - 16 to 18 year olds who were not in education, training or employment (NEET) had improved on last years figure.  In October 2009 the figure was 9.5% (569 young people) compared to October 2008 when the figure was 9.7% (761 young people).  The percent of young people who were in a ‘not known’ situation had also improved from last year, in October 2009 ‘not known’ was 5% (315 young people) compared to a October 2008 figure of 12.2% (1086 young people).  The Committee was advised that there had been 200 less jobs this year which meant more children had become NEET’s.  A panel had been set up to look at employer involvement and was currently working with 200 employers and there were also plans to offer 36 placements for NEETs in the Council, of which most would be in Children’s Services.  The Council was also looking to offer young offenders work experience.

Observations and questions were raised and discussed including:

·         Members asked what was happening with the John Mansfield Skills Centre as it had a good reputation for dealing with NEETs.  The Cabinet Member advised that if courses were not going to be funded at John Mansfield then they would run elsewhere.

·         Members asked the Cabinet Member what was the most challenging part of his portfolio.  The Cabinet member advised that Peterborough had a low skills level and the challenge was to attract a higher level of skilled employment and therefore raise attainment levels in Peterborough and raise aspirations.  The Cabinet Member was working with young people to produce a leaflet on raising aspirations.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services gave a presentation to the Committee on the progress that had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To scrutinise the progress made on the action plan put in place following the unannounced Ofsted Inspection of contact referral and assessment services and to make any necessary recommendations.

Further to the last meeting where the inspection letter and action plan from the recent Ofsted unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment services were considered, the Executive Director for Children’s Services was now reporting on the progress of the delivery of the action plan.   The Executive Director advised that Members should feel assured that all the issues raised in the Ofsted letter had now been addressed and were being fully implemented. 

ACTION AGREED

Members noted the report and felt assured that if Ofsted were to arrive unannounced the action plan would have addressed all the issues raised at their previous inspection.

To consider the latest version of the Forward Plan.

The Committee received the latest version of the Council’s Forward Plan, containing key decisions that the Leader of the Council anticipated the Cabinet or individual Cabinet Members would make during the course of the following four months.  Members were invited to comment on the Plan and, where appropriate, identify any relevant areas for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme.

            ACTION AGREED

The Committee noted the Forward Plan and agreed that there were no items to bring to the Committee.

To agree the current work programme and discuss future items.

Members considered the Committee’s Work Programme for 2009/2010 and discussed possible items for inclusion.

ACTION AGREED

To confirm the work programme 2009/10.

19 January 2010

19 January 2010