Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel – 26 July 2010

PRESENT: Councillor Wilson in the chair.

Councillors Mrs Bromby, Cawsey, C Sherwood, Simpson, P Vickers and Whiteley.

Statutory Co-opted Members: Mr N Craven and Mrs A Dunkerley (Parent Governor Representatives) and Mr W Egan and Mrs W Witter (Church Representatives).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

154 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.

155 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no public requests received.

156 (7) REVIEW OF SCHOOL ABSENCE – Action Plan – Darren Chaplin and Mary Mayfield – Children and Young People’s Services attended the meeting to update members on the action that and been taken and proposed relating to the recommendations made by the panel in their scrutiny report on School Absence in February 2010.

Resolved – (a) That the officers be thanked for their attendance, and (b) that the information provided be noted.

157 ENTITLEMENT TO EARLY LEARNING AND CARE FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS – Susan Twemlow – Assistant Director Children’s Services, Lynne Ashcroft and Nicola Rains, Learning, Schools and Communities attended the meeting. The chair invited the officers to update members on the entitlement to early learning following the proposed changes to increase the entitlement to 15 hours per week. Members were informed that the authority was on target with the implementation process and an action plan had been drawn up for implementation. All the necessary choices by parents had now been made and officers were currently ironing out any teething problems.

Resolved – (a) That the officers be thanked for their attendance, and (b) that the information provided be noted.

158 SCRUTINY REVIEW – CORPORATE PARENTING – The panel invited Paul Cowling – Service Manager for Children’s Services to attend the meeting. Paul addressed questions that were raised by members on Corporate Parenting in North Lincolnshire focussing on some concerns that had arisen during the review. Members engaged in further discussions with Paul and the reasons why children found themselves in care and the associated problems and concerns that this presented.

Resolved – (a) That the officer be thanked for his attendance, and (b) that the information provided be noted.

159 (8) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – JULY TO OCTOBER 2010 – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council’s Forward plan for July to October 2010.

The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.

Resolved – That the Leader of the Council’s Forward Plan for July to October 2010 be noted.

160 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for discussion at this meeting.