Agenda item

Report of the Statutory Scrutiny Officer

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, Ailsa Barr, Interim Corporate Director of Children and Education Services, and Lee Kimberley, Head of Sold Services to Schools, presented a report updating the Committee on progress made in delivery of the Children’s and Education Services 2024/25 budget savings programme, and the delivery of transformation within Children’s Services. The following points were raised:

a)  Both Children’s and Education Services needed to put forward savings towards achieving the Council’s 2024/25 budget, while continuing to deliver an ongoing major transformation programme. Nevertheless, ensuring that Nottingham is a Child-Friendly City remains a clear objective of the current Strategic Council Plan.

b)  Within Education, activity is taking place to ensure the delivery of ongoing efficiencies as part of managing the overall budget. The provision of School Catering services have been reviewed to ensure that best value is achieved, with a slight uplift in pricing coming into effect. Properties within the Education estate that are no longer required are being sold and, instead of being provided though general funds, the School Uniform Grant is now being supported through the specific Household Support Fund. Discretionary elements of the Education Partnership Service have been reduced, along with Education Psychology costs. Income from the Health and Safety in Schools service is being maximised. The Colwick Park Activity Centre has been closed, but work is underway to find an alternative provider for this outdoor activity resource.

c)  It has not been possible to secure additional national grant funding to support dedicated transport for pupils with special educational needs and disability, but alternative means of delivering the savings target have been identified. A full review of commissioned high-cost school transport routes is underway as part of the Council’s general fleet review, to seek to develop in-house provision wherever possible.

d)  Within Children’s Integrated Services, a restructure of staffing, roles and responsibilities has taken place within the Youth Justice Service, to ensure that it operates more efficiently. The closure and disposal of the Ridge Adventure Playground and the Bulwell Play and Youth Centre is moving forward, with youth services now being targeted directly to the young people in most need, wherever possible. The overall transformation work is on target in helping the Service operate more efficiently, and resources for administrative support work have been reduced.

e)  Steps are being taken to decrease care placement costs as much as possible. As part of this work, there is a substantial focus on the delivery of effective early support and prevention, to seek to lower the demand for high-cost intervention services – particularly the requirement to bring children into care. As much as possible is being done to address needs effectively in the shortest period of time, with Social Workers being deployed only to cases where they are required. The recruitment and retention of foster carers is being increased, with an outreach campaign taking place in partnership with other Local Authorities in the area.

The Committee raised the following points in discussion:

f)  The Committee asked how best value was achieved in school catering services. It was explained that a robust tendering process is in place to ensure the best value delivery of school catering, with all contracts designed to achieve a viable surplus. Due to inflation in food costs, meal pricing has had to increase from £2.50 to £2.70 – but a great deal of work is done to ensure the delivery of seasonal menus, while taking proper account of specific dietary requirements. There is recharge in place that aligns with the funding that schools receive to provide Free School Meals, and any changes to national funding are tracked and accounted for.

g)  The Committee asked what the primary challenges to the delivery of the 2024/25 Education budget targets were. It was reported that the most significant challenge is in the delivery of savings within transport costs, given that it was not possible to secure a higher national grant. However, a great deal of activity is taking place across the Service to increase efficiency and deliver the savings requirement, which remains on target.

h)  The Committee asked what work had been done to recruit and retain foster carers, and to ensure that they felt valued. It was set out that the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education attended many of the foster carer network meetings and events, to ensure a strong dialogue and engagement, and support retention. The Mockingbird project has been launched to deliver sustainable foster care, with a particular focus on working to reduce the number of breakdowns in placements. There are also a number of opportunities for fostered children to mix with each other and form peer support networks.

i)  The Committee raised concerns that the closure of youth centres could result in poorer outcomes for young people, particularly in the context of the Council seeking to deliver a Child-Friendly City and needing to establish new Young Futures Hubs. It was explained that discussions are underway on alternative means for how the Ridge Adventure Playground could continue as a community resource, and consideration is being given to how existing community and children’s centres could also be used to provide an offer to teenagers.

j)  The Committee sought assurance that the Youth Justice Service would still receive a proper level of funding and resource to be able to work effectively. It was set out that only a small reduction has been made within Youth Justice, which still has an overall budget of around £1 million to ensure that it remains a strong and effective service.

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, the Interim Corporate Director of Children and Education Services, and the Head of Sold Services to Schools for attending the meeting to present the report and answer the Committee’s questions.

Resolved:

1)  To request that further information is provided:

a)  on the Young Futures Hub and how this provision will work;

b)  from Property and Estates on how disposed-of Children’s Services buildings will be used going forward; and

c)  on how the Council is preparing for using funding streams such as the Family Hubs Programme.

2)  To recommend that work is done to understand the needs and reasons for children coming into the Council’s care, and whether the Transformation Programme is still meeting those needs effectively.