Agenda and minutes

Cllr P Batstone, Vice Chairman in the Chair.

Chairman's statement

In consultation with Group Leaders, the Chief Executive had exercised his delegated powers to revert to virtual informal meetings of council committees until the webcasting equipment has been installed and tested.

Members were advised that where a decision was required, the appropriate Corporate Director would be the responsible individual to make the decision, whilst considering the views expressed by the wider committee membership.

The reports on today’s agenda were for review by the committee, to seek comments from the committee and support for the direction of future work and also provide the committee with information to determine if any additional areas should be added to the forward plan for further review.  

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Mike Parkes.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interest as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

To receive questions or statements on the business of the committee from town and parish councils and members of the public.

Members of the public who live, work or represent an organisation within the Dorset Council area, may submit up to two questions or a statement of up to a maximum of 450 words. All submissions must be sent electronically to fiona.king@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk  by the deadline set out below. When submitting a question please indicate who the question is for and include your name, address and contact details. Questions and statements received in line with the council’s rules for public participation will be published as a supplement to the agenda.

Questions will be read out by an officer of the council and a response given by the appropriate Portfolio Holder or officer at the meeting. All questions, statements and responses will be published in full within the minutes of the meeting.

The deadline for submission of the full text of a questions or statements is 8.30am on Thursday 4 November 2021.

Please refer to the guide to public participation at committee meetings for more information about speaking at meetings.

There were no submissions from town or parish councils.  However, there was a question from a member of the public which is attached, with the response given, as an annexure to these minutes.

To receive any questions from members in accordance with procedure rule 13. The deadline for the receipt of questions is 8.30am Thursday 4 November 2021.

No written questions were received from members.

To consider a report from the Executive Director for People, Children.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director for People, Children which updated members on the current Care Leaver Offer and highlighted the work that had taken place from April until October this year. It was noted that the Financial Policy, that had been agreed at a previous meeting of this Committee, had now been successfully implemented.

Areas of discussion/questions

Further survey in January 2022.

Care Leaver Delivery Group.

Confirmation that this report would be going to the next Corporate Parenting Board meeting 

Statutory responsibilities of Corporate Parents were highlighted.

Harbour work with adolescents highlighted.

Time of transition into adulthood noted as very challenging.

The Lead Member for Health advised the Committee how proud she was of this piece of work and aimed to continue this work in her new role in Adult Services. She assured the team that this area would become an area of priority for Adult Services also.

‘Minded to’ Recommendation

That the People and Health Overview Committee supported the Care Leaver Offer update.

The Executive Director of People, Children, having heard the debate, confirmed the ‘minded to’ Recommendation, under delegated powers on behalf of the informal meeting of the People and Health Overview Committee.

To consider a report from the Executive Director for People, Children.

Members considered a report from the Executive Director for People, which set out the cohort of children and young people that Dorset Council intended to place at the new special school at the Dorset Centre of Excellence.  It also included the types of special educational needs that the setting will be able to provide for and the process of transition and induction.

Areas of discussion/questions

The possibility of children returning to mainstream education.  There were examples happening locally that some do return to mainstream. However, the expectation is that the majority of children would continue their education at the Centre of Excellence.

How much notice needs to be given for those children currently out of county but aiming to join the Centre of Excellence. A managed transition would take place which involved working closely with the child and family.

It was hope that parents would see the opportunity for their children at the Centre of Excellence.

Following a question about the governance arrangements at the Centre, officers explained the distinction between commissioning and governing.

The Commissioning Bard were currently working on a Shareholder Agreement.

Assurance sought from officers that when looking at the pupils attending the preference would be given to those children who resided in Dorset. Offices advised that as the Centre was so close to the border of Wiltshire there would inevitably be some children from over the border but the majority of places being commissioned would be for Dorset children.

From an educational aspect the centre would cater for those aged 5-19 although the statutory duty for care of SEND children was 0-25.

In respect of any analysis that had been carried out on the proportion of young people being educated out of county that could come back to Dorset, the Corporate Director for Education undertook to provide a full response outside of the meeting.

Conversations were ongoing about the school nurse and many other specialist roles working in partnership at the Centre and who would pay for them.

Helpful to add in the Health and Wellbeing section of reports which part of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) was being addressed.

Would the initial intake of 60 be increased over the years? The Corporate Director advised they would start with an initial cohort of 60 to ensure a managed transition. Over time he anticipated the school growing to 280 places. There were 250/300 children currently being educated out of county at present.

Initially day placements would be offered at the Centre.

There were residential facilities on site but this would continue to be looked at.

Moving children was disruptive, assurance was sought there would be a balanced decision to move a child. The Corporate Director wanted to ensure that the Centre of Excellence was the most appropriate setting for a particular child. Communication with families would be key.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help highlighted that the Centre of Excellence wanted to meet the needs of our children in Dorset. There would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

To consider the Committee's Forward Plan and that of the Cabinet.

The Committee considered its Forward Plan and that of the Cabinet.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4)b) of the Local Government Act 1972.  The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items of business.

To move the exclusion of the press and public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.

There was no exempt business.