Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andy Paraskos and John Mann and from Gary McVeigh-Kaye, Amanda Newbold, Howard Emmett and Nicki Watkinson. Councillor George Jabbour attended as substitute member for Councillor Mann and Ross Strachan attended as substitute co-optee member for Gary McVeigh-Kaye.

Resolved

That, the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice (to include the text of the question/statement) to Alice Fox, Senior Scrutiny Officer (contact details below) no later than midday on Friday 24 January three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

·         at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·         when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chair who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

It was confirmed that no public questions or statements had been received.

Any correspondence, communication or other business brought forward by the direction of the Chair of the Committee. 

The Chair had no remarks.

Considered

A report from the Care Experience as a Protected Characteristic Task and Finish Group, presented by Maggie Allen, Team Manager Leaving Care and Jonny Hoyle, Developmental Lead Child Permanence Family Reunion.

Maggie and Jonny gave a summary of the report that had been included in the agenda papers and thanked the task and finish group for their contributions.  Members of the committee had a number of questions:

If training is being developed for all Council officers and Councillors to help them understand care experience, could this training also be made available to businesses across the county?

As part of our wider offer, we already work with partners to help inform them about the barriers, challenges and stigma for people from a care experienced background. We are happy to explore more opportunities to work with a wider network.

Do the NHS or any universities recognise care experienced as a protected characteristic?

Since this is not national legislation, it is not formally recognised, but some partners do a lot of good work to support care experienced young people. For example, the NHS recognise that care experienced apprentices don’t always have the support of their parents and offer a free lunch pass to care experienced apprentices working at sites that have an on-site canteen. By creating the right environment for someone to sit with their team and eat together, without fear that they can’t afford lunch, they create the right environment for people to get to know each other and support each other.

Is there more information around the cost implications of recognising care experience as a protected characteristic?

From a staffing perspective, an officer within Children’s Services will be appointed to lead on the implementation and this will be absorbed into their “day to day” work.  It is difficult to say what the overall cost will be.

Is there any data from other Councils who are already recognising care experience as a protected characteristic?

We have contacted several Councils and asked for data but so far, none have responded.  The national picture is that some Councils have been more proactive than others in demonstrating meaningful change.

If a young person chooses to not declare themselves a care experienced, can they change their mind later?

The protected characteristic can be declared as and when the young person chooses to and not everyone will declare. Adopting this characteristic will protect them in the same way as other equality characteristics.    As a Corporate Parent, we should be supporting them as much as possible.

It was agreed that it is better to use the word “equity” rather than “equality” as some people need more support than others.

The Committee agreed that it was an excellent and thorough report, especially within the short timescales. They especially welcomed the opinions from young people and thanked them for their contribution. If the policy is adopted, Members recognised the importance of collating data to measure the impact. Jonny explained that the Council is working with the Health Determinants Research  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Considered

The Chair informed Members that the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee had agreed a Motion “that the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee conduct a review of current SEND provision across the former Selby and District to address the gaps”.

The Chair has considered the Motion and as the Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a very detailed strategic SEND report at the December 2024 meeting, the request will be directed back to the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee to liaise directly with SEND officers, particularly as the information being requested is area specific data.

Resolved

a)    That, the Selby and Ainsty Area Committee is advised to go directly to SEND officers for the area specific data they have requested.

b)    That, the work programme be noted.

Any other items which the Chair agrees should be considered as a matter of urgency because of special circumstances

The Chair advised that she has no other items for business to raise.

Wednesday 19 March 2025 at 10am

Wednesday 19 March 2025, County Hall, Northallerton, commencing at 10.00am

AF