To provide Members with an overview of government initiatives that affect children’s services.

The Committee were provided with an overview of government initiatives that affect Children’s Services.

The Assistant Director – Planning, Performance and Development reported that the coalition government had introduced a range of measures to address the economic situation as well as a number of policy initiatives that would have an effect on services received by children and young people in the County.  His report covered the areas of: schools; 11-19 Agenda; 14-19 Team; Connexions; Youth Service; Early Years and Extended Services; Social Care: Vulnerable children and young people; Playbuilder and Children’s Trust. 

The Committee considered the report and appreciated that further information was being issued by government sources on a weekly or in some cases daily basis.  In view of the major changes indicated by government, particularly in schools and children’s services, the Committee wished to ensure that the Council’s Executive, through the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services and ICT, Education and Achievement, provided an attractive service to schools thereby ensuring that schools continued to purchase services from the authority.

While discussing the many Government initiatives the Committee noted the cuts to the Playbuilder scheme. They endorsed the valuable work done at community level to compile and submit schemes and appreciated that communities were disappointed that schemes, particularly those ready to proceed, had been stopped.  The Committee questioned, through the Cabinet Members, whether the Youth Service through the range of work it undertook in the community, could give any support to schemes so that they could proceed in some form.

The Committee also debated the effect Academy status could have on both schools with and without the status. 

In view of the confusing times with cuts or changes to various funding or learning programmes, e.g. in the area of 16-19 learning, the Committee wished to ensure that the authority gave clear information and assistance to young adults during their transition to adult life.

The Committee considered that when the Director of Children’s Services collates a corporate response to Government Ministers concerning the initiatives he should liaise with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman for this Committee’s input.

In view of the number and range of initiatives the Committee requested that it be regularly updated.

RESOLVED: That

a) the contents of the report and possible implications for the Children and young people of Herefordshire be noted;

b) the Committee Recommends that the Cabinet Member(s) consider whether the Youth Service can provide any support towards those Playbuilder schemes ready to proceed so that the impetus at community level isn’t lost.

c) The Committee Recommends that the Cabinet Member(s) ensure that the services offered by Children’s Services are attractive thereby ensuring that schools continue to purchase services from the authority

d) The Committee Recommends that the Cabinet Member(s) ensure that there are clear, fully coordinated, joined up links in the 16-19 area to ensure that young people have clear information and assistance during their transition to adult life.

e) That the Committee be regularly updated on government initiatives during this period of rapid change;

f) The Director of Children’s Services liaise with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman concerning the collating of strategic concerns to be considered as part of any corporate response to Government Ministers concerning the many initiatives.

At this point the Committee adjourned for 10 minutes and resumed at 11.20am