Agenda and minutes

To note the appointment of Councillor Versallion at the Special Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 5 June as Chair of the Sub-Committee for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

RESOLVED:  To note the appointment at the Special Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 5 June 2006 of Councillor Mark Versallion as Chairman of the Sub?Committee for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that (1) the following interests were declared:

(2) in future, declarations of interest be circulated prior to meetings of the Sub-Committee.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub-Committee for the Municipal Year 2006/2007.

RESOLVED:  To appoint Councillor B E Gate as Vice-Chairman of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub?Committee for the 2006/2007 Municipal Year.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2006 of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub-Committee (being the predecessor body to this Committee), having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 April 2006 of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub-Committee (being the predecessor body to this Committee), having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To note the terms of reference of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

Members discussed the terms of reference of the Sub-Committee and commented that there were five Portfolio Holders the Sub-Committee could invite to meetings and hold to account. The Sub-Committee discussed the most appropriate time to prepare questions for the Portfolio Holders and which meeting Portfolio holders would attend.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the terms of reference be noted;

(2)  an informal meeting of Members take place on 4 December 2006 to prepare questions for the Portfolio Holders;

(3)  the Question and Answer session with Portfolio Holders take place on 9 January 2007.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents/organisations under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

Report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy which asked for Members’ comments on the work programme of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub-Committee and the work programme of other Scrutiny Sub-Committees.  Members made many suggestions and comments which were noted by officers, in particular that the Work Programme should allow the Sub?Committee to be reactive and be able to respond to issues that arise, for example the spending review.  Areas to be prioritised and the different methodologies that could be used were discussed.  Officers suggested that the Every Child Matters priorities be considered by the Sub?Committee in their reviews.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the work programmes of the Sub?Committee and other Sub?Committees be noted;

(2)  the Sub-Committee complete two light touch reviews before the next meeting, one focusing on Healthy Lifestyles and School Nurses and the other focusing on Children Looked After, and that Members of the Committee be divided into two groups which would each focus on one review;

(3)  the work programme for Year 1 be agreed;

(4)  the Chairman liaise with officers to introduce two of the Every Child Matters priorities into the Work Programme each year;

(5)  the Work Programme allow the Sub-Committee to be reactive and if serious issues arose Special Meetings of the Sub?Committee be arranged;

(6)  there be six-monthly updates on the Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate and that this be included as a topic for Year 3;

(7)  Scrutiny officers provide Members with scopes for the light touch reviews and arrange meeting dates for the reviews.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a covering report of the Director of Children’s Services, attached to which were a number of progress reports on issues that had previously been raised by the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Sub?Committee.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Children’s Services which updated Members on the Harrow Children and Young People Plan. Members were advised that the Plan had been produced and that consultation would continue to inform annual updates.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Children’s Services which provided an update on SEN provision.  A Member suggested that Members receive data on the uptake of the Parent Partnership Service.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the report be noted;

(2) officers circulate data on the uptake of the Parent Partnership Service to Members as soon as possible and if Members have subsequent questions, this be an agenda item for the next meeting.

(i)                 School Nurses: 

Elizabeth Robb, Director of Nursing at Northwick Park Hospital, will be in attendance for this meeting.

(ii)               Update on Healthy Lifestyles:

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Children’s Services which updated Members on the work that was being done to promote healthy lifestyles in schools.

In response to questions from Members, an officer explained that schools had been undertaking a self-survey on the provision of drinking water in schools and that a site survey was being undertaken as part of the Healthy Eating Initiative.  Feedback from schools was that children could have bottled water on their desks during lessons except in ICT suites and some science lessons, and officers that had visited schools had seen water on desks.

In response to questions from Members about measuring the height and weight of children in Reception classes, an officer explained that feedback had been positive.  Training had focused on sensitive handling, children viewed the process as part of normal school routine and schools had been provided with new equipment that could be used in lessons.

The Sub-Committee also received an update report from the Director of Nursing at Northwick Park Hospital on School Nurses which outlined a number of options for the future provision of service.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of Lifelong Learning which updated the Sub?Committee about the bid to the Learning and Skills Council 16?19 Capital Fund to establish the Borough-wide Harrow Sixth Form Collegiate.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 6.7 it was

RESOLVED:  (1)  At 10.00 pm to continue until 10.05 pm.

An officer invited Members of the Sub-Committee to attend an event at Rooks Heath High School between 4.45 pm and 7.15 pm on 11 July 2006.

An officer reminded Members of the Scrutiny Members’ Evening taking place on 11 July 2006.