Agenda item

The Committee considered a joint report of the Corporate Management Team which presented progress against the council’s corporate performance framework for the Altogether Better for Children and Young People priority theme for the second quarter of the 2016/17 financial year, covering the period October to December 2016 (for copy see file of minutes).

The Strategic Manager, Performance and Information Management reported that the recent recruitment of social workers had been successful and that the oversight of the Corporate Parenting Panel would be strengthened with the inclusion of Scrutiny and Cabinet Members.

With reference to looked after children the Committee were informed that there had been an increase from 661 cases last year to 785 this year. This area would be closely monitored as could have some budget implications moving forward.

A more positive message was reported for children in care with the number of referrals dropping to 3723 from 4616, with the re-referral rate dropping by 20%.

There had been improvements in the latest figures for child protection reviews, up to 94% at the end of the year, and the under 18 conception rate continued to reduce.  However, childhood obesity continued to see an increase.  Four local authorities would take part in a pilot programme for Public Health England with a focus on early years and the ante-natal unit.

The Chairman expressed concerns at the childhood obesity figures rising, despite the Committee’s best efforts to raise awareness and put measures in place.

Councillor Nicholls said that to give children the best start in life it was important for schools to teach PE, and encouraged that this came back on board.

The Strategic Manager, Performance and Information Management said that a survey had been conducted with all primary and secondary schools with one of the questions asking how children see PE in school.  The feedback from this may help understand how children take part in physical activity in and out of school.  He would feed this back to members.

Councillor Hart commented that some schools have individual programmes to support PE and best practice should be shared.

Mrs Swift said that it was a challenge for schools and that most schools would make PE a priority if they had time however, Maths and English were priority subjects.  She suggested that lifestyle challenges such as children using iPads, being taken everywhere in cars instead of walking and the diet were part of the problem.  She said that head teachers like herself had asked what could they stop doing in order to fit in more PE.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.