To review the budget and corporate plan proposals for 2020/21 relating to the remit of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.

The committee considered a report from the Leader of the council which contained the budget proposals for 2020/21 and the draft corporate plan as relating to the remint of the children and young people scrutiny committee. The chief finance officer (CFO) and the director of children and families (DCF) provided the presentation attached to the circulated report.

During the course of the debate the following points were raised:

·         It was queried how the corporate plan took account of the priorities contained in the children and young people’s plan. The DCF explained that the corporate delivery plan, underpinning the corporate plan, made specific reference to the children and young people’s plan.

·         The reduction in the number of new entrants to care was welcomed and it was queried how this reduction could be explained. It was queried whether the application of thresholds for admitting children to care had in the past been too cautious. The DCF explained that a number of initiatives over the previous 18 months accounted for the reduction including the alternatives to care panel, early help assessments and the more co-ordinated approach which ensured that needs were identified and co-ordinated support provided. The assistant director safeguarding and family support (ADS&FS) commented that the alternatives to care panel had been established in September 2018 to provide a process to challenge the grounds on which children were taken into care. The Panel ensured that professional were held accountable for ensuring that all potential services had been made available to children and families prior to becoming looked after. The leaving care looked after children reduction strategy was also raised and the focus on reunifying children with their families and seeking special guardianship orders. The ADS&FS commented that without undertaking a review of earlier cases the application of thresholds would be difficult to appraise but it was noted that in June 2018 Ofsted had found that all children in the care system were there appropriately.  

·         There was a query regarding the social care pooled budget of £2 million. The CFO explained that funding had been provided from central government for social care and a budget had been established to enable funding to meet identified need, such as children transitioning to adulthood who continued to require social care. Proposals were being developed for the operation and allocation of the pooled budget which would be reported to the committee in due course.

·         The rate of inflation used to calculate the cost of the replacement of Peterchurch primary school was queried; at 6% the rate of inflation was considered to be in excess of the general inflation rate. The CFO explained that the rate used in the calculation was based on the inflation of prices and costs in the construction industry which exceeded the general inflation rate.

·         It was queried whether the consultation results that had identified investment in council-owned care homes as a priority was supported by other forms of evidence and feedback from local residents. It was queried whether the investment allocated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36