To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor SD Williams.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor GJ Powell substituted for Councillor SD Williams.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

Agenda item 7: Update on Home to School Transport

Councillor EPJ Harvey declared a non-pecuniary interest because she paid for a child to use school transport to college.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

It was reported that a member considered reference should have been made to a request at the meeting for information on the trend in business rate income.  It was proposed that the following sentence be added to the minutes as at the end of bullet point 3 on page 8 of the agenda papers:  “It was noted that a member considered that information on the trend in business rate income would be helpful.”

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016, as amended, be approved as a correct record.

To consider suggestions from the public on issues the committee could scrutinise in the future.

(There will be no discussion of the issue at the time when the matter is raised.  Consideration will be given to whether it should form part of the committee’s work programme when compared with other competing priorities.)

There were no suggestions.

To note questions received from the public and the items to which they relate.

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a scrutiny committee meeting subject to the question being directly relevant to an item listed on the agenda below.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than 5.00 pm on Thursday 12 January 2017 to tbrown@herefordshire.gov.uk)

Several questions had been received in relation to agenda item 7:  the school transport update.  Those received within the deadline (all except one) had been published as a supplement together with the answers.  One questioner had requested that their question be dealt with in confidence and that question and the answer to it had been circulated separately to Members of the Committee and to the questioner.

To receive an update on the impact of the revised education transport policy which became effective from September 2015

The Committee received an update on the impact of the revised education transport policy which had become effective from September 2015.

The cabinet member - children and young people introduced the report.  He acknowledged that the policy had its critics, as reflected in the questions submitted by members of the public.  However, the key consideration was how to deliver a statutory service within financial constraints, noting that some £4.8m was spent on school transport annually, and there was pressure to achieve savings.

The Admissions and Transport Policy Manager (ATPM) then presented the key findings of a review of the impact of the revised policy as set out in the report. He considered that the projected annual saving of £250k would be achieved over 5 years as planned. 

In relation to post 16 Special Educational Needs (SEN) students he corrected the figure in paragraph 6c, confirming that the overall number of post 16 SEN students seeking transport via the council had dropped from 63 in September 2015 to 45 (rather than 26) in September 2016.  This reduction was largely a result of courses at Herefordshire College of Art and Holme Lacy College having finished.

In discussion the following principal points were made:

·        The Director of Children’s Wellbeing commented in relation to vacant school places that a balance had to be struck in seeking to ensure that the council could meet its statutory duty to provide sufficient school places.  This necessitated the provision of some surplus capacity.  A capital investment strategy was in place to ensure an appropriate level of provision.  Very few parents chose to send their children outside the County. The ATPM added that a number of high schools including Fairfield, John Kyrle, John Masefield, Weobley and Wigmore were oversubscribed and had agreed to increase their pupil admission number.

The Assistant Director added that the capital investment strategy took account of growth in both academies and maintained schools informing discussions of need with the Education Funding Agency.  Some schools and colleges were arranging their own transport where they found this cost effective.  An “extended rights” scheme was in place to which families facing financial hardship could apply.

·        Clarification was sought on the cost of out of county school transport.  There appeared to be an increase in transportation costs to children outside the County and east to the Malvern area.  Before the policy’s implementation there had been no cost to parents whose children went to Dyson Perrins School in the Malvern area.

·        The oversubscription at John Masefield suggested a lack of capacity, noting also the projected building of an extra 1,000 homes in Ledbury over the next 10 years.  There was currently insufficient capacity at Ledbury Primary School and half the children in the John Masefield catchment area were exported from Ledbury.  John Masefield school was itself subsidising pupil transport costs.  It was questioned whether turning schools into bus companies was the right course.

·        The decision to send a child to a faith school was more than just a lifestyle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

To review the work and activity of the Herefordshire community safety partnership.

The Committee reviewed the work and activity of the Herefordshire community safety partnership (CSP).

Councillor Morgan, cabinet member – health and wellbeing, chair of the community safety partnership introduced the report.  A series of presentations were given on various aspects of the Partnership’s work.  A shortened version of the presentations circulated as appendix 1 to the report was delivered to the meeting.

In discussion the following principal points were raised:

Domestic violence and abuse (presentation by Detective Chief Inspector J Roberts - West Mercia Police)

It was suggested that levels of abuse were high compared with the rest of the West Mercia area.  In response Detective Chief Inspector Roberts commented that there were good protocols in place across the west mercia area.  Herefordshire Housing had had a perpetrators programme in place.  The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) had allocated funding for an initiative and the outcome of that was awaited.  A significant proportion of perpetrators were repeat offenders and these were being mapped and tracked.  Overall it was an improving picture but it was recognised that there was a need to target resources better.

·        Councillor Morgan commented that the partnership had improved its recognition of this issue.  The PCC was reviewing approaches across the west mercia area seeking to explore new ideas to address the issue.

·        A member observed that the council needed to consider what it could contribute more as a partner; funding of women’s aid was one element.

·        When people were exposed to abuse this could influence their own behaviour. It was asked whether enough was being done to address the impact on children experiencing abuse.

·        DCI Roberts commented that some 50 children were exposed to abuse.  The risk was recognised. 

He added that in relation to people with a history of abuse the domestic violence disclosure scheme (Clare’s law) was being delivered.

The issue of male victims of domestic abuse was also recognised and following the closure of male domestic abuse services locally support was being provided by Women’s aid.

·        In response to a question as to whether domestic violence was a disproportionate problem in Herefordshire, he commented that whilst he did not have the precise figures to hand the level of domestic abuse had slightly reduced.  Historically Herefordshire had been just above the national average.

Probation Services (presentation by Mr G Branch - Head of Service West Mercia Community Rehabilitation Company)

·        A concern was expressed that the new model for the probation service had created a fragmented system with a duplication of resources. In reply Mr Branch of the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) commented that the service was subject to ongoing review with a further report to be made in April, although this would not look at whole system change.

·        Assurance was sought that community rehabilitation staff were being trained to the same level as National Probation key stage 3 probation staff.  In reply it was noted that reducing recidivism was very important.  Concerns had been expressed about comparative terms and conditions of National Probation Service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

To update the committee on the movements in the 2017/18 draft base budget.

The committee received an update on the movements in the 2017/18 draft base budget.

The Interim Director of Resources presented the report.

Some concerns were expressed about the funding that would ultimately be generated for the authority through the new homes bonus, noting some recent statements by government.  In relation to a question about the government’s allocation of savings from the new homes bonus to local authorities through an adult social care support grant, the Director for Adults and Wellbeing commented that Herefordshire was a net loser in this initiative, as the reduction in the amount of new homes bonus payable was some £300k greater than the value of the adult social care grant that had been made available. In terms of the better care fund, the Director noted that national guidance was still awaited.  The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had largely completed its budget process already, which included signed contracts with providers for 2 years.  Although the national guidance had not yet been received, it was understood that this would require the CCG to cover the cost of the protection of adult social care funding in real terms.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To consider the committee’s work programme and related scrutiny activities.

The committee considered the committee’s work programme and related scrutiny activities.

The Chairman reported that the following items were likely to require consideration:

·        Proposals to change the homepoint system for allocating social and affordable rented housing.

·        The Travellers Sites Development Plan Document.

He also suggested that the proposed discussion with Welsh Water should also include the Environment Agency.

It was remarked that whilst the Cabinet was understood to have paused the Community Infrastructure levy pending the outcome of a government review it would be helpful to have a response to the recommendations the Committee had made to the executive on the matter.

RESOLVED:  That: the draft work programme as set out at appendix 1 to the report be approved.

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday 7 March 2017 at 10.00 am.

Tuesday 7 March 2017 at 10.00 am.