To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Butler, Mr James and Councillor Seldon.

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

Councillor SM Michael acted a substitute for Councillor A Seldon.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in respect of items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting on 1 October 2018.

Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting of 1 October 2018 are approved as a correct record.

The Chairperson provided an update on an action from a preceding meeting of the committee to write to local leisure and cultural providers to promote the provision of a concession for looked after children. It was reported that a local theatre had agreed to provide a discount and a letter would be sent to the organisation to outline the thanks of the committee.  

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 6 November.

Accepted questions and answers will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting. Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

No questions from members of the public were received.

To receive any written questions from members of the council.

Deadline for receipt of questions is 5:00pm on Tuesday 6 November.

Accepted questions and answers will be published as a supplement prior to the meeting. Please submit questions to: councillorservices@herefordshire.gov.uk. 

No questions from members of the council were received.

To consider and approve the recommendations emerging from the spotlight review concerning dental health and childhood obesity.

The committee considered a report which provided the outcomes and recommendations arising from the dental health and childhood obesity spotlight review which took place on 17 September 2018. The Chairperson introduced the report and explained that the review had brought together a wide range of organisations with responsibility for dental health and childhood obesity. It was felt that those organisations in attendance had benefitted from participating in the session which had facilitated coordination and discussions.    

The committee made those comments below in the debate that followed:

Dental Health

·         The discussion at the review concerning the capacity of dentists and people being turned away was raised. It had been the experience of local residents that they had been declined registration at local dentists because they had been at capacity. NHS England West Midlands had reported at the meeting that a number local dentists in Herefordshire had spare capacity. The committee agreed that an additional recommendation in the outcomes of the spotlight review to NHS England West Midlands relating to ‘access to dentists’, would be to: ‘Investigate under-capacity at dentists in Herefordshire and reports of local residents being denied registration and responds to the children and young people scrutiny committee with detail of the outcomes of the investigation.’

·         The review had provided a very useful forum for all organisations in attendance to share details of projects underway and consider how they could coordinate priorities. This was a good template for the scrutiny committee to follow in future years.

·         There was mention of the recommendation raised regarding investigation of a mobile dentist facility and the need to strengthen the recommendation to ensure a response was provided which set out the potential timescales for the introduction of a mobile service. It was felt that this could also be rolled-out to other services including hearing and sight tests. The committee agreed a clause was added to the recommendation in the outcomes of the spotlight review concerning the mobile dental service (under ‘dental access centres and rurality’) to recommend that NHS England West Midland ‘…provide an update following investigations of a mobile dental service; and potential timescales for its introduction.’

·         The committee discussed an additional recommendation to include detail of dental care for new born babied in the ‘Bounty Pack’ handed to parents. The committee agreed the inclusion of an additional recommendation in the outcomes of the spotlight review: ‘To recommend to Bounty the inclusion of information regarding dental care and samples of toothpaste for new-born babies in Bounty packs.’    

·         The committee discussed the wording of the recommendation concerning a campaign to provide advice on foods with a high sugar content. The committee agreed that the ‘sugary food advice’ recommendation was amended to ask the executive to promote a campaign rather than undertake. The proposed change in wording would enable to executive to utilise and build on campaigns already in progress.

Childhood Obesity

·         The committee discussed the prevalence of fast food outlets in deprived areas and the high incidence of childhood obesity in such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

To present the final report of the section 20 task and finish group containing proposed recommendations to the executive.

The committee considered a report which set out the outcomes and recommendations of the section 20 task and finish group. The chairperson introduced the report and expressed thanks to those officers who had supported the work of the group and conveyed details of a complex area of law with clarity and conciseness.

The committee supported the outcomes contained in the report and raised the points below in the discussion that followed:

·         assurances had been presented which meant it was unlikely that the issues would re-occur in the future at this scale;

·         officers presenting material to the task and finish group were commended for the work undertaken which put Herefordshire Council ahead of some of those local authorities now experiencing issues with the historic application of section 20;

·         it was recognised that more work was required to retain and recruit social workers;

·         the planned audits and the report to the audit and governance committee was supported;

·         the Council was commended for the open and forthcoming manner in which it acknowledged the historic issues. The admission of past failings had allowed for constructive and speedy progress to be achieved. The new arrangements and processes had resolved existing problems and would ensure they would not be repeated in the future.

The DCF explained that issues with the application of section 20 had been significant to those children affected and there was no complacency at the Council with efforts to ensure the continued lawful use of section 20. The Council had been approached by another local authority which had experienced problems with the historic application of section 20 and had shared details of new arrangements including the threshold of care panel and performance and case management processes.

The DCF explained that the capacity of social workers was an issue and the executive had made investments to improve retention and recruitment.  Recruitment was ongoing. The Cabinet Member Children and Families explained that the executive was investing in social work arrangements to enable improvements, including capacity and quality of practice. Problems with recruitment were acknowledged but programmes to increase the intake of social workers were in place at the Council.

RESOLVED: that the committee agrees the submission of the report and recommendations of the section 20 task and finish group to the executive.

To review the attached work programme for 2018/19.

The committee received and noted its work programme for the remainder of the 2018/19 municipal year. The Chairperson explained that the childcare sufficiency report would be circulated to members of the committee as a briefing note, the report of the outcomes of the scrutiny panel concerning the reduction of looked after children would now be reported to the budget meeting of the committee on 29 November and young carers would be invited to the meeting of the committee in Leominster on 4 March 2019.

The committee considered arrangements for an additional meeting in January 2019 to consider any alternative budgets proposed by members of the Council. It was agreed that a prospective date of Monday 28 January 2019 would be added to the calendar of committee meetings.

RESOLVED: that the committee agrees a prospective date of 28 January 2019 for the consideration of any alternative budgets proposed by members of the Council.