(Public Pack)Agenda Document for Learning & Culture Overview

Notice of a public meeting of Learning & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee To: Councillors Reid (Chair), Fitzpatrick (Vice-Chair), Scott, Potter, Gunnell, Brooks and Taylor Mr Thomas (Co-opted Statutory Member) and Mr Pennington (Co-opted Statutory Member) Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2014 Time: 5.30 pm Venue: The Thornton Room - Ground Floor, West Offices (G039) A G E N D A 1. Declarations of Interest At this point, Members are asked to declare: any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests any prejudicial interests or any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in respect of business on this agenda 2. Minutes (Pages 1 - 10) To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 22 July 2014. 3. Public Participation At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday 16 September 2014. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee. To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officers for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda. Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast or audio recorded and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if sound recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting. Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting. Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officers (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting. The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present. It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_ webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings 4. York Theatre Royal: 2013/14 Part Year (Pages 11 - 22) Performance Update This report is to inform the Scrutiny Committee of the progress and performance of the York Theatre Royal under the current Service Level Agreement (SLA). 5. Single Equality Scheme update and Refresh (Pages 23 - 32) The purpose of this report is to inform Members on the refresh of York’s Equality Scheme. They are requested to note progress made in the refresh of York’s Equality Scheme and: i. comment on: a) The draft priorities as detailed in Annex 1 and; b) The draft measures relevant to this committee, as tabled in paragraph 9. ii. Advise whether these priorities and measures should be the area of focus in the revised equality scheme or are there any others that should be considered. 6. 2014/15 First Quarter Financial Monitoring (Pages 33 - 38) Report This report analyses the latest performance for 2014/15 and forecasts the financial outturn position by reference to the service plan and budgets for all of the relevant services falling under the responsibility of the Director of Communities & Neighbourhoods and the Director of Children’s Services, Education & Skills. 7. Update on Parks Development (Pages 39 - 52) Members will receive a presentation on recent developments and future plans for parks and open spaces across the City. 8. Annual Report of the City of York Safeguarding (Pages 53 - 76) Board 2013/14 This report will give the Committee an indication of key areas of progress in implementing actions from the previous annual report and business plan between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014. It identifies areas for further improvement and key priorities for safeguarding across the city for 2014/15. The Committee are asked to consider these priority areas in its scrutiny activities where appropriate. 9. School Improvement Update (Pages 77 - 84) This report provides an update on primary and secondary school performance in 2014, together with information about the position of York schools according to Ofsted judgements during 2013-14. 10. Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny (Pages 85 - 86) Committee Workplan 2014/15 Members are asked to consider the Committee’s workplan for the 2014-15 municipal year and receive a verbal update on ongoing reviews. 11. Urgent Business Any other business which the Chair considers urgent. Democracy Officers Catherine Clarke and Louise Cook (job share) Contact details: Telephone – (01904) 551031 Email [email protected] and [email protected] (If contacting by email, please send to both Democracy officers named above). For more information about any of the following please contact the Democratic Services Officers responsible for servicing this meeting: Registering to speak Business of the meeting Any special arrangements Copies of reports and For receiving reports in other formats Contact details are set out above. Page 1 Agenda Item 2 City of York Council Committee Minutes Meeting Learning & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee Date 22 July 2014 Present Councillors Reid (Chair), Fitzpatrick (Vice-Chair), Scott, Potter, Gunnell, Brooks and Taylor Apologies Mr Thomas and Mr Pennington 8. Declarations of Interest At this point in the meeting, Members were asked to declare any personal interests not included on the register of interests, any prejudicial interests or disclosable interests which they might have in respect of the business on the agenda or any other general interests they might have within the remit of the committee. None were declared. 9. Minutes Resolved: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Wednesday 18 June 2014 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record. 10. Public Participation It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Councils Public Participation Scheme. 11. York Theatre Royal: 2013/14 End of Year Performance Update As the Chief Executive of York Theatre Royal was unable to attend the meeting Members agreed to defer this item and receive an end of year progress and performance update at the next meeting. Resolved: That this item be deferred until the next Learning & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting due to take place on Wednesday 17 September 2014. Reason: To fulfil the Council’s role under the Service Agreement. Page 2 12. 2013/14 Finance and Performance Year End Report Members received a report that analysed the latest performance for 2013- 14 and forecasted the outturn position by reference to the service plan and budgets for all of the relevant services falling under the responsibility of the Director of Children’s Services, Education and Skills and the Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods. The Finance Manager gave an update and informed Members that although reducing expenditure in non essential services had resulted in Children Services, Education & Skills Directorate decreasing their amount of overspend there was still significant financial pressures in Looked After Children (LAC). The Director of Children’s Services & Education added that the performance in LAC had provided an impressive reduction in the numbers of children placed inside and outside the City. Members discussed the financial pressures related to LAC and raised concerns regarding the overspend reported, the financial pressures on the service and why the reduction in LAC had not achieved any savings. In answer to Members questions officers confirmed that: the number of cases outside the City was around the late teens/low twenties. the Virtual Head monitored the academic side of all LAC placed outside the City. the reason for the projected 5% overspend in Children’s Specialist Services was mainly due to LAC, including the out of City placements. they would contact Members to confirm why the Libraries and Archives projected overspend was over 10%. The Director confirmed he was working to reduce the budget pressures in LAC to ensure they were not repeated in future years. He stated that although significant progress in reducing the number of LAC had happened, the associated reduction in expenditure had not been has significant as predicted. To allow the Directorate to achieve a balanced budget at the end of 2014-15 officers would be looking at other budget areas within Children Services. He confirmed that a proportion of children were now in joint care between the Local Authority and parents which reduced figures but not costs. Members thanked officers and suggested that future reports contain the performance strength and weaknesses to enable them to scrutinise the service. Page 3 Resolved: (i) That the report be noted. (ii) That Members be informed on the Libraries and Archives projected overspend.1 Reason: To update the committee on the latest financial position for 2013-14. Action Required Confirm to Members why the Libraries and RH Archives projected overspend was over 10% 13. Bi-Annual Safeguarding Update Members considered a report which provided them with a six monthly update on key children’s safeguarding issues, in particular key local and national safeguarding developments since January 2014. The Director of Children’s Services & Education stated that the Ofsted thematic inspection, which took place on 21 and 22 January 2014, had been published in July 2014. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors who reviewed the quality and effectiveness of the early help offer, in particular, the arrangements that were in place across City of York Council (CYC) and its partnerships to prevent any issues escalating to the point where statutory intervention was needed. The Director confirmed it was a relatively short inspection and he highlighted the strengths, weaknesses and conclusions listed in the report.

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