Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Driver, County Councillor Green and County Councillor Charles.

County Councillor Atkinson took the Chair in the absence of County Councillor Driver.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

No pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests were disclosed.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on the 6^th December 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Matters Arising

The Cabinet Committee noted that a report on Academy Orders would be presented to the June meeting.

Information in relation to Young Carers had been circulated to Committee Members.

Stephen Belbin, Head of Schools Improvement, presented a report on the summary of standards at KS4 across Lancashire.

It was reported that pupil attainment comprised of two key measures combined: attainment and progress.  The Committee noted that the A*-G grades for English and Mathematics had been replaced by the new grades 1 (low) to 9 (high) with grade 4 (standard pass) being equivalent to a grade C and grade 7 being equivalent to grade A.  In a move to raise standards, the new Grade 5 had been named as a 'strong pass', with no equivalent in the A*-G system.

Information was provided to Committee Members on the following:

·  Percentages of pupils achieving English and Mathematics grades of 4 and above, and grade 5 and above (the Basics Measure);

·  Average Attainment 8 score per pupil (calculating a pupil's total grades across eight subjects);

·  Proportion of pupils achieving a specific grade in all five of the English Baccalaureate subject areas (English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages), published at the following two levels for 2017:

o  Proportion achieving A*-C in Science, Humanities and Languages, with a standard pass in English and Mathematics (Grade 4+);

o  Proportion achieving a strong pass in English and Mathematics (Grade 5+) and A*-C in the other subjects.

·  Progress 8 – the progress pupils made from KS2 to KS4 measured across 8 subjects as outlined above.

It was reported that, as the English Baccalaureate, Attainment 8 and Progress 8 measures all required a specific combination of subjects, the results in these subjects would vary, depending upon the specific curriculum offered by individual schools.

A query was raised on how problems were identified in schools in particular boroughs within the Districts.  Stephen Belbin reported that local data was provided to officers which would highlight areas of concern in individual schools.

The Committee noted that the areas of focus were Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn.  However, it was noted that rates of improvement in these 3 districts were greater than the rate across Lancashire, and that these rates of improvement were mirrored at KS2.  Stephen Belbin informed the Committee that County Councillor Driver had requested that a Recovery Plan be presented to the June CCPI meeting on this.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note the report.

A report was presented by Paul Bond, Head of Legal and Democratic Services, providing an updated (Quarter 4) Corporate Risk and Opportunity Register for the Cabinet Committee to consider and comment upon.

The Cabinet Committee noted the following highlights for this quarter:

·  No new entries to the Register;

·  Three new opportunities: Income Optimisation, completion of County Hall Old building refurbishment including development of The Exchange conferencing facility, and development and implementation of improved recruitment and retention practices;

·  Allowing for mitigating actions, the residual risk score for the entries as detailed in the report, remained at 12 or above and therefore these issues remained on the Register.

Updated text had been received for CR16 since the agenda had originally been published and copies were handed out to Committee Members.

In response to a query from County Councillor Crompton, David Graham, SEND Senior Manager, confirmed that the predominant use of agency staff in Children's Services was to cover long term absence, or to fill the gaps until appointments to certain posts were made.  The Committee noted that there was a challenge to recruit Social Workers nationally although, on a positive note, there had been a reduction in the percentage of the workforce being newly qualified staff and there was now a rolling recruitment strategy.  In addition, caseloads were now more manageable for Social Workers and we were recruiting good staff. 

In relation to CR20, CC Crompton expressed concern about the new packages of care for ASC and asked how much this was going to cost.  CC Crompton was also concerned about housing and how we worked with registered landlords. 

In relation to CR21, CC Crompton expressed concern about OT assessment waiting times, safeguarding and social care reviews.  The Committee noted that there was a move throughout ASC and CYP to move from acute care to care in the community.

Paul Bond agreed to take these queries away and arrange for the relevant officer to provide a response.

Resolved:  That the Cabinet Committee note the updated Corporate Risk and Opportunity Register.

A report was presented by Donna Talbot, Head of Service, Business Intelligence, providing an overview of performance activity across the Council covering September to December 2017 (Quarter 3).  The Committee noted that there was a new format for this report.

Start Well

It was reported that there had been an improvement since the last quarter in the amount of contacts which had led to a referral.  There was a low conversion rate from referrals received from the Police; the Director of Children's Services was meeting with the Assistant Chief Constable to discuss this.

The percentage of completed assessments which took over 45 days was still at an unacceptable level, although Amanda Hatton confirmed that management action was being taken on this.

It was reported that the number of Children Looked After and Children in Need (CIN) needed monitoring.  The number of CLA had continued to increase and, in November, had been the highest figure ever recorded for the Authority, although the figure was significantly lower than the regional rate.  The Committee noted that the highest proportion of CIN plans were for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  The number of newly qualified social workers (ASYEs) had reduced which meant that retention was improving.  In addition, the Social Work Academy had had a positive impact.

There had been an improvement on the previous quarter on the average time taken between a child entering care and moving in with their adoptive family.  It was also reported that there had been fewer first time entrants into the youth justice system.  However, published data from the Ministry of Justice suggested that the proportion of Lancashire youth re-offending was still higher than the national and regional rates.  These figures were monitored by the Youth Justice Board. 

Live Well

The Committee noted that the reduction in recycling, re-use and composting was due to increased residual waste at both kerbside and HWRCs, together with reductions in the amount of green waste collected at kerbside, following the introduction, in some districts, of collection charges.

It was reported that there had been a decrease in the volume of loans from libraries, which was a national trend.  However, it was noted that some library users rarely borrowed books or did not borrow in high numbers but regarded their library as enabling them to use a community space, have digital access, feel less isolated and have access to information and community activity.  It was noted that the figures in the report included those for mobile libraries.  County Councillor Buckley had requested District information figures, and also by individual library, which Michael Walder confirmed had been sent.

In relation to the DTaP/IPV/Hib vaccine for babies, the Pennine Lancashire Immunisation Uptake Group had been created to address the decline in uptake figures.  The Committee noted that the figure was still lower than satisfactory, but that there were several improvement projects underway.

Steady improvements had been made to the number of NHS health checks completed since the beginning of the programme,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

An item of Urgent Business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Members' intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

Members are asked to note the following schedule of meetings for 2018/19, following the timetable of meetings being agreed by Full Council on 26^th October 2017:

Wednesday 18^th April 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room D

Wednesday 27^th June 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 4^th October 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Wednesday 5^th December 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 21^st February 2019 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 18^th April 2019 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Members were asked to note the following schedule of meetings for 2018/19, following the timetable of meetings being agreed at Full Council on 26^th October 2017:

Wednesday 18thApril 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room D

Wednesday 27thJune 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 4thOctober 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Wednesday 5thDecember 2018 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 21stFebruary 2019 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B

Thursday 18thApril 2019 at 2.00pm, Committee Room B