Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Law and Governance

The Group Director of Operations submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that consideration be given to this Scrutiny Committee’s work programme and to consider any additional areas which Members would like to suggest should be included in the previously approved work programme.

Members proposed the Transitional Service Update, SEND Policy Review, Transport Review, and Autism Review be added to the Work Programme. Discussion ensued around adding further items these included Calm in Communities for quieter times in restaurants for parents with SEND children. Another proposed item was around the Councils website and how it can promote what is going on in Darlington for children and young people.

Members proposed a report on Home Education, how the number of children educated at home has increased and how do parents receive support for this. Members wanted to understand how parents are supposed to support uniform alterations and purchasing additional equipment that might required for the academic year.

Discussion ensued around Key Performance Indicators, Members wanted to clarify how to review and scrutinize KPIS’s. Members spoke about the Gap Analysis and measures of KPIS’s should be one of the main focuses when reviewing them. Further discussion ensued around organising a training session for Education and Children and Young Peoples KPI’s for members of Scrutiny to get a better understanding.

 A discussion was held around inviting care leavers and children in care to the Scrutiny meetings to allow the opportunity to give their own views and ask questions. Members of the Corporate Parenting Panel encouraged other Scrutiny Members to come along to these meetings.

RESOLVED – That the work programme be noted.