North Yorkshire Council

Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 28^th February 2024

Draft Work Programme – 2024/2025

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 To seek Members views on a draft Work Programme for the 2024/2025 Council Year.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1 The current Work Programme only goes up to this meeting on 28^th February. Therefore, the Committee needs to consider and agree a Work Programme for 2024/2025.

2.2 Meetings of the Committee are scheduled for June, October and December 2024 and February 2025. Accordingly, the Work Programme will cover the period from June 2024 to February 2025.

2.3 The main role of the Committee is to scrutinise the planning, commissioning and delivery of services for children, young people and their families, including education, care and protection and family support.

2.4 The Committee comprises sixteen elected Members and nine Co-opted Members, who represent a range of Sectors.

2.5 Enclosed, at Appendix A, is a draft Work Programme for consideration.

2.6 The rationale for the inclusion of Items in the draft Work Programme is based on them being a mix of areas that the Committee:-

a) has tended to consider on an annual basis (such as the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report);

b) has considered previously, that have been of particular interest to Members and which Members may want to be updated on (for example, children accessing alternative provision - including health needs); and

c) has not considered previously at a formal meeting (for instance, criminal exploitation)

2.7 Appendix B contains a list of other potential Items.

2.8 In relation to point b), in paragraph 2.6, above, any Items suggested in this category are pencilled in at least 12 months since they were last/initially considered, to ensure that the information/data will be different to what was previously reported and that the conversation is current.

2.9 Whatever content for the Work Programme is agreed, it is not set in tablets of stone. It can be updated as circumstances change – at either the Mid Cycle Briefing or the formal Committee meeting – but the benefit of earmarking particular Items for particular meetings is that it enables officers within the Children and Young People’s Service Directorate and (where appropriate) partner organisations to plan the work required.

2.10 Whilst there is no set limit to the number of Items to be considered at each meeting, the presentations are often quite detailed and experience has shown that the Committee usually seek responses from the presenters on a number of questions. This discussion is, of course, a positive aspect but, for these reasons, it is suggested that you might want to continue to concentrate on a maximum of two or three topics per meeting.

2.11 Please bear in mind also that, as well as highlighting the Agenda for the forthcoming meeting and considering the Work Programme, the Mid Cycle Briefing can be used to receive a presentation on a subject that will increase Members awareness of a particular area. Examples during 2023/2024 have included SEND General Update and Youth Provision outside of Schools. Members may want to continue to utilise the Mid Cycle Briefing for this purpose.

2.12 It should also be noted that the potential to examine a topic in greater depth is available to the Committee via establishing a Task and Finish Group. As an example, Members will recall that during the past year there was a piece of scrutiny undertaken on SEND Provision in the Scarborough and Whitby Area, via a Task and Finish Group.

3.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 There are no direct financial implications.

4.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1 There is a statutory requirement upon the Council to establish Overview and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, as amended by the Localism Act 2011.

5.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

5.1 There are no equalities implications.

6.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

6.1 A Climate Change Impact Assessment Screening Form has been completed. This indicates that there is no need for a full assessment to be carried out.

7.0 RECOMMENDATION

7.1 The Committee is asked to consider what areas it wishes to be included in its Work Programme for the 2024/2025 Council Year.

Barry Khan

Assistant Chief Executive (Legal and Democratic Services)

Report Author:

Patrick Duffy, Principal Democratic Services Scrutiny Officer

North Yorkshire Council

County Hall, Northallerton

Tel: 01609 5345346

Email: Patrick.Duffy@northyorks.gov.uk

February 2024

Background papers relied upon in the preparation of this report – None

APPENDIX A

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – DRAFT WORK PROGRAMME 2024/2025

SCOPE OF THE COMMITTEE

The interests of young people, including education, care and protection and family support.

PROGRAMME FOR FORMAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS (PLEASE NOTE: SOME ITEMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE/CONFIRMATION)

FRIDAY 21^ST JUNE 2024 - COMMITTEE MEETING AT 10.00 A.M.
ITEM	DRAFT OUTLINE/COMMENT	METHOD	LEAD
Annual Report of the Young People’s Champion	· Summary of the work of the Young People’s Champion, covering her year in the role	Report	Councillor Alyson Baker
FEAST (Food. Entertainment. Arts. Sport. Together)	· An update on this initiative, which offers children and young people the opportunity to get involved in a range of activities during the School Holidays	Report and presentation	Head of Localities

FRIDAY 4^TH OCTOBER 2024 - COMMITTEE MEETING AT 10.00 A.M.
ITEM	DRAFT OUTLINE/COMMENT	METHOD	LEAD
Strategic Review	· Update on this review	Presentation	Corporate Director
North Yorkshire Youth Commission – feedback from Young People	· Feedback from young people on the work they are doing as part of the Commission and their priorities for the year ahead (Link in with Children and Young People’s Service Participation Team)	Presentation	Assistant Director, Children and Families
Child Death Overview Panel – Annual Report 2022/2023	· Information on the number of children who have died; whether the death was expected or unexpected; and the category of death	Report and presentation	Assistant Director, Children and Families
Children Accessing Alternative provision (including Health needs)	· General update; numbers; reasons, etc	Presentation	Assistant Director, Inclusion

FRIDAY 6^TH DECEMBER 2024 - COMMITTEE MEETING AT 10.00 A.M.
ITEM	DRAFT OUTLINE/COMMENT	METHOD	LEAD
North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) - Annual Report 2023/2024	· Summary of the work of the Partnership between 1st April 2023 and 31st March 2024.	Report and presentation	Corporate Director and Executive Chair and Independent Scrutineer of NYSCP
SEND Provision in the Scarborough and Whitby Area	· Update on progress against the suggested actions in the report of the Task and Finish Group on SEND Provision in the Scarborough and Whitby Area - one year on from when the report was presented to this Committee	Report	Assistant Director, Inclusion
North Yorkshire SACRE Annual Report 2023/2024	· Examination results in Religious Education. · How SACRE has engaged with Schools · Progress against its Development Plan	Presentation	Assistant Director, Education and Skills

FRIDAY 21^ST FEBRUARY 2025 - COMMITTEE MEETING AT 10.00 A.M.
ITEM	DRAFT OUTLINE/COMMENT	METHOD	LEAD
Schools Update	· The current picture, in terms of figures for all North Yorkshire Schools and Academies, including: - Performance and standards - Funding - Strategic planning · Financial position	Report/Presentation	Assistant Director, Education and Skills and Assistant Director, Strategic Resources
Criminal exploitation	· An update on those areas where criminals seek to exploit children and young people. For example, County Lines	Presentation	Assistant Director, Children and Families
Director of Public Health Annual Report	· Director of Public Health to share the main outcomes and conclusions from her Annual Report, together with priorities for the year ahead	Presentation	Director of Public Health

ITEM(S) FOR WHICH A DATE HAS TO BE ALLOCATED

ITEM

DRAFT OUTLINE/COMMENT

METHOD

LEAD

Foster Carers Services

· General update – to include:-

- numbers/trends

- recruitment of Foster Carers (including new rates from 1^st April 2024)

Report/Presentation

Assistant Director, Children and Families

ITEMS FOR MID CYCLE BRIEFING

DATE	POTENTIAL ITEM
Friday 26^th April 2024 at 11.00 a.m. (in respect of the Committee meeting on 21^st June)	To be determined
Friday 12^th July 2024 at 11.00 a.m. (in respect of the Committee meeting on 4^th October)	To be determined
Friday 8^th November 2024 at 11.00 a.m. (in respect of the Committee meeting on 6^th December)	To be determined
Friday 24^th January 2025 at 11.00 a.m. (in respect of the Committee meeting on 21^st February)	To be determined

APPENDIX B

POTENTIAL OTHER AREAS THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER
AREA	OUTLINE OF WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED/COMMENT
School attendance	How it is monitored; how we support Schools, etc
School Admissions	Are the processes still working well?
Attainment Results	Comparison with previous years.
North Yorkshire Coast Opportunity Area	How well are the desired outcomes on social mobility across Scarborough, Whitby and Filey being met?
One Adoption Agency - Yorkshire and Humber - Annual Report	Performance and how it compares to previous years Trends
Glasses in Classes Scheme	Progress – any impediments?