Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Councillors John Currall, Mark Dearing, Geoff Shacklock and Kevin Watt.

The Chair invited those who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

There had been no requests to address the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed, subject to:

Minute 80 – Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 April 2023

Add additional paragraph – “The timetable for the Green Burials Scrutiny Review would be considered by the new Scrutiny Management Board after the Annual Meeting of the Council.”

There had been no requests for call-in.

The Scrutiny Commission considered an Ofsted report on the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Fostering Agency which provided information about the independent fostering agency which had been registered on 1 November 2020.  This was the second inspection since registration.  The agency offered a range of placements, including short and long-term, connected persons and remand placements.

At the request of the Chair, the Children’s Trust were asked to explain how far they had progressed with addressing the issues raised in the report.

During discussion on the report, the following key points were made:

i.        The inspection frameworks for Local Authority Fostering Services (LAFS) and Independent Fostering Services (IFS) were separate.  The only way to run a fostering service in a Children’s Trust was to be an IFS.

ii.       IFS did not have access to children’s social care files.  Separate children’s records had now been introduced so the Trust were able to follow the journey of the child.

iii.      There had been a story in the local press that a child’s bedroom had been found to have drug paraphernalia.  This cycle would continue, and members sought reassurance that something was being done to address this issue and to prevent children being caught up with county lines gangs and grooming.  In response, officers advised that there was now a tighter policy around bedroom checks.  Training had also been tightened around safeguarding, including exploitation.  Systems had previously not been able to track training, but they now did.  Each child now had a safe care plan and they were seen every eight weeks.

iv.      The report made very worrying reading.  It was concerning that Ofsted did not recognise the system of reporting and what was the Trust doing to address this.  In response, it was clarified that agreement had now been received from councillors to procure a new system in August.  There would then be a schedule of training for staff.  Ofsted would return in early July and then will inspect the Trust in 6 – 12 months.  It was hoped that Ofsted would take the new system into account.

v.       Gaps in practice which had been identified had been accepted by the Trust.  Systems had now been developed to take this work forward.

vi.      What had been the impact on staff following the report and what was the level of vacancies?  In response, officers advised that a large amount of improvement work had been undertaken.  Between inspections, some members of staff had left.  Some had found the level of scrutiny difficult and had decided not to stay.  However, the Trust were now in a better position.  The picture was improving and some of the vacancies had now been filled.  The change of culture and expectations had been difficult for some staff, but processes were now being put in place.

vii.     Recruitment and retention of foster carers was a focus of the Trust’s work, including support to carers.  There had been 18 new fostering households in 2022/23, which made a total of 323 fostering households, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item SC/90

Members are requested, where possible, to identify those area they wish to understand in further detail with the report author at least three working days prior to the meeting.

The Scrutiny Commission considered a report of the Executive Director of Finance and Performance which provided an update on the Council’s performance across a wide range of services, as measured by performance indicators.  The report provided a summary of the performance of Council services and further detail including trend lines and exception reports. 

Comments on several specific indicators were made, including:

•        Number of rough sleepers (AFL12) – the number of rough sleepers remained the same.  They were a transient population and it was believed the majority were in Wellingborough.  Officers undertook to establish the information behind the data.

•        Care leavers involved in the criminal justice system – was it possible to measure this going forward.  Officers undertook to look into whether it would be possible to monitor it or to establish what was reported locally.

•        % gross affordable housing delivered (STP24) – a recent Freedom of Information request showed that NNC had not built a single affordable house since 2018.  Officers responded by stating that the data came from returns which were submitted to Government, so there was confidence in the data.  there was quite a lag on the data and what was reported was the position at March 2022, it may be possible to look at trajectories for the future.

•        Affordable housing was now often dependent on social housing providers, NNC needed to start thinking how we can build homes.  Was there a policy and when would it come forward?  Officers advised that they would make the Housing Affordability ratios available.

•        % of schools judged good or outstanding by Ofsted (BBF12 & BBF13) – only primary and secondary schools were reported, could nurseries be included going forward.  Officers undertook to look at whether nurseries could be reported.

RESOLVED:

To note the performance of the Council and its services. 

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business because exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, may be disclosed.

The Scrutiny Commission considered a report of the Senior Democratic Services Officer which requested the Commission to consider the draft Quality Report 2022/23 of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.  At the request of the Trust, the draft report should be treated confidentially at this stage.

During discussion on the report, Members requested that officers liaise with the Trust about how the report can be brought earlier to Scrutiny to enable more meaningful consultation.

RESOLVED:

i)     To note the report.

ii)    That the feedback and comments on the draft Quality Report be forwarded to the Trust.

As this was the last meeting of the Commission, the Chair wished to thank all of the Commission and officers for their support over the last two years.  She also wished to thank Councillor Mark Pengelly, as Chair of the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair thanked members and officers for their attendance and closed the meeting.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.