People Scrutiny Panel – 8 May 2012
PRESENT: Councillor Bromby in the chair.
Councillor Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).
The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.
81 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.
No whip was declared.
82 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 6 December 2011, 17 January 2012, 14 February 2012, 13 March 2012 and 10 April 2012, and the special meetings of the panel held on 28 November 2011 and 8 March 2012, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.
83 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.
84 CABINET MEMBER AND SERVICE AREA PRIORITIES – The Chairman welcomed Councillor Waltham, the council’s Cabinet Member for People, to the meeting. Councillor Waltham had been invited to the panel meeting to update members on any key decisions, important business or key developments which had occurred during the last quarter.
Discussion centred around the following –
- The Ofsted / Care Quality Commission review into safeguarding and Children in Care.
- The proposed Children’s Campus,
- The school improvement programme,
- Day centres,
- The transfer of Public Health to the authority, and
- Adult community learning.
Resolved – (a) That the verbal update be noted; and (b) that the Cabinet Member for People be thanked for his attendance, the verbal update and for answering members’ questions.
85 NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH’S ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 – The Chairman welcomed Frances Cunning, the Director of Public Health, to the meeting. Frances had been invited to the panel meeting to present her Annual Public Health Report 2011/12 and to discuss relevant public health issues, including the transfer of public health responsibilities to the local authority in April 2013.
A range of issues were discussed, including the locality model, life expectancy, health inequalities and ongoing public health challenges.
Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that Frances Cunning be thanked for her attendance, presentation and for answering members’ question.
86 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT – The Chairman welcomed Peter Thorpe, North Lincolnshire Council’s Assistant Director, Learning and Development. Peter had recently joined the authority and had been invited to hold an informal discussion with the panel on his priorities and work for the coming months. Peter named a number of issues that he would be seeking to work on in the near future, including raising educational attainment levels, ensuring that children stay in school, and exploring how education might be linked to the regeneration agenda.
Resolved – (a) That Peter Thorpe be thanked for his attendance, and (b) that the situation be noted.
87 PLANS AND EXPECTATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING CARE – The Chairman updated the panel on additional work undertaken by the panel, and a discussion was held to explore members’ views and findings.
Resolved – That a report containing these views, conclusions and findings be drafted, agreed by the panel’s Chairman and Vice-Chair, and passed to the council’s cabinet for consideration.
88 DEVELOPMENTS IN CHILDREN’S SERVICES, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE – Members received a short, verbal update on developing issues relevant to the panel’s terms of reference.
89 THANKS TO THE PANEL’S CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIR – As it was possible that the panel’s membership would change in the 2012-13 municipal year, it was requested that the work of the chairman and vice-chair be acknowledged.
Resolved – That the Chairman and Vice-Chair be formally thanked for their work throughout 2011-12.