Agenda and minutes

Members were welcomed to the meeting.  It was confirmed that there were no apologies and members noted that County Councillor Keith Iddon replaced County Councillor Albert Atkinson.

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.

There were no declarations of interest at this time.

Resolved: Minutes from the meeting held 7 March 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Paul Bond, Head of Service Legal and Democratic Services, presented the report on the Risk and Opportunity Register to members.  It was confirmed that there had been one addition (CR28) and no deletions to the register.

It was reported that the Risk and Opportunity Register was presented at the Audit and Governance Committee and it was requested at that meeting a further report be provided to the Audit and Governance Committee on the civil contingency/emergency planning.

Members were advised that currently the residual risk around emergency planning is less than 12 which is why it does not appear on this risk register.

In addition, members were informed that a Liquid Logic update report was presented at Audit and Governance Committee and a request was made at that meeting for a further report to be provided to the Audit and Governance Committee in September.

Members requested further information around the potential impact of Brexit particularly in relation to current EU funding.  It was confirmed that information would be requested to come back to the next meeting of the Committee.

Resolved: That:

1. The updated Risk and Opportunity Register be noted.
2. Report be presented at the next meeting of the Committee around the potential impact of Brexit.

Donna Talbot, Head of Service Business Intelligence, presented the Quarterly Corporate Performance Monitoring report for Quarter 4 to the Committee.

It was highlighted that in relation to the information provided around Child Protection Plans, additional contextual data including referral information would be presented in the next quarterly report.

In relation to the adoption figures reported, it was confirmed that further explanation and breakdown of measures was required to understand this data in more detail. It was agreed that further information would be provided in the next quarterly report.

It was also agreed that further information would be provided to members relating to the annual national adoption scorecard.

It was confirmed that the proportion of newly qualified social workers varied across Lancashire and that the Improvement Board was looking at this in greater detail.

The number of looked after children detailed in the report was confirmed to be all Lancashire children. 

Members were advised that the increased rate of admissions to care homes was linked to levels of deprivation.

Ofsted Post Inspection Update

Amanda Hatton, Director of Children's Services provided an update to the Committee on the Ofsted post inspection work (outlined below):

• The next Ofsted monitoring visit will be on 25/26 July and would focus on children looked after.
• The action plan from the Practice Improvement Model was being reported to the 0-25 Board.
• In relation to Child Sexual Exploitation it was confirmed that Police had significant resources in different teams to support this work.
• It was confirmed that the Ofsted rating would not be known until the next inspection although it was reported that the peer challenge later in year may give an indication.

Resolved: That;

1. The reported performance for Quarter 4 and the Ofsted post inspection update information and comments be noted.
2. The  Access to Finance data be reviewed
3. Further information on debt management arrangements be provided
4. Report to the next meeting of the Committee on children killed or seriously injured be provided

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.

The next meeting of the Committee is Monday 2 October at 2pm, Cabinet Room B, County Hall, Preston

The next meeting of the Committee is 12 September at 1pm, Cabinet Room B, County Hall, Preston