To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received by Cllr Luxton

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on June 26^th 2018.

Resolved unanimously: that the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2018 were approved as a true and correct record subject to it being noted that Cllr Airey gave her apologies. 

It was noted that the DfE letter regarding SEND would be circulated when available.

To consider the contents of the report.

The Panel considered the latest Financial Update report due to be presented to Cabinet.

The Director of Children’s Services informed the Panel that paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 of the report showed that Children’s Services were predicting a net overspend of £911.000.  The main driver for the overspend continued to be placements for children in care outside of the local authority area in independent fostering and residential care.  There also continued to be pressure regarding agency costs for staffing the MASH. 

The actual overspend was predicated to be £1.5 million but mitigating action in other areas had reduced this to the £911,000.  The overspend was in line with that reported in previous years but for this year other areas of the authority were not able to help mitigate the pressures.

The placement of young people in care was a national issue with costs increasing from £3,000 to £6,000 per week.  There were further pressures on providers from the regulator which had resulted in increased costs for challenging children. 

(Cllr E Wilson joined the meeting)

Although the services were in a regulated framework the financial side was not.  This was a national issue.  Other local authorities with a higher number of care homes were also now asking for increased contributions towards placement costs and support services. 

Children’s Services were trying to get more local foster placements and Achieving for Children were looking at becoming an independent fostering agency.  Officers were trying to encourage the market place to have more care home in the borough and they were seeing if this was possible via the RBWM Property Company. 

Agency staff costs continued to be an issue with on average agency staff costs being £20,000 more expensive than permanent staff.  Less money could be offered to agency staff but this could result in higher turnover.  Where possible agency staff would be replaced by permanent staff.   

The Chairman felt that local authorities should join together in asking the Government to regulate the finances of providers.

The Lead Member for Children’s Services reported that she was a member of the Local Government Association Children and Young People Board and that the issues raised were national issues and work was being done around the shortfall in funding.  As Lead Member she was working with officers to find long term solutions as previously mentioned.  With regards to foster care between 70% to 80% of the RBWM cohort were aged 13 and over, officers were looking at the associated issues and costs. 

Cllr Richards asked if the reason for placing young people outside the borough was due to the lack of foster careers.  The Panel were informed that this was the reason for the majority of placements but there were also some that needed to be placed outside the royal borough for child protection reasons. The majority of foster careers take children under the age of five.  Where placements are required the council does also look to place them near schools that were rated as good or outstanding. 

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To review the ongoing Work Programme.

The Panel noted the report and agreed to add:

·         Alternative Provision to include home schooling.

·         Add an update on the Girl’s Policy Forum to December.

·         Update on fostering in December.

·         Adult Learning Joint meeting with Slough BC to be arranged.