Minutes:
Councillor Elin Weston, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families reported on key priorities from within her portfolio and answered questions from the Panel as follows:
· Since the Panel’s budget scrutiny meeting on 19 December, the government had announced proposals for the National Funding Formula for schools, which would lead to a real terms cash cut for schools of 2.7%. Every school in the borough would be affected to some extent. The changes would be phased in over two years and would need to be taken on board alongside other budgetary pressures. The recent data on test results had put Haringey 10th amongst English local authorities for the Progress 8 performance measure. The budget reductions arising from the National Funding Formula changes could put this position at risk. Representations would be made by the Council concerning this. Haringey was classed as an inner London borough for the purposes of the new funding formula and, as such, Haringey’s schools would be amongst the most badly affected by the proposals in London.
· In answer to a question, she stated that the Council had not invested resources in Tottenham University Technical College (UTC).
· In answer to a question, she stated that she was happy to circulate details of the outcome of the recent consultation on the funding of early years education in the borough. The government’s tight timetable for the three year free early education offer had made putting the necessary arrangements in place challenging. Providers had been broadly supportive of the Council’s proposals, which involved a universal base rate and a supplement of 40p. per child. The additional amount that had been paid in excess of the funded level by the Council to providers of the two year old offer would be maintained but tapered down in the next two years. Responses from residents had shown that most people were prepared to pay between £150 and £300 per week for full time care. This amount did not take into account free hours. Residents expressed concerns about fee increases and maintaining standards. Some settings in the North Tottenham were already experiencing low occupancy rates and the Council was committed to re-examining provision in that part of the borough so that it met the needs of the community.
· The Early Help team had now been in place for over a year. Work had taken place with over 900 families, including 2,500 children. There had been positive outcomes in approximately 500 cases. 493 families had been stepped down from intervention whilst 71 had been stepped up into social care. A new initiative had recently been introduced called Conversation for Change, which involved families being contacted within 24 hours of referral and a meeting arranged within 5 days. Specific work was undertaken by the Early Help team with schools. For example, the Early Help team had established a ‘team around the school’ at Park View to support the school with concerns about behavioural issues. The Schools Forum provided support for the service and had recently re-allocated funding.
· In answer to a question regarding whether there were any nurseries that were struggling, she stated that although there would be significant challenges over the coming months and years, evidence gathered through working with providers as part of the preparation for the early years funding formula changes suggested that nursery schools and schools with nursery classes could survive. The Schools Forum had allocated £700,000 for maintained settings to ease the change to the new funding arrangements. However, there were concerns about some private, voluntary and independent providers.
Councillor Ayisi, the Cabinet Member for Communities, responded to questions on his portfolio as follows:
· There was a need for stable youth provision. There was currently the Bruce Grove Youth Space, which had around 200 visits by young people per week. However, the service did not cover the majority of young people within the borough and consideration needed to be given to their needs as well. If the needs of young people were met early on, there was the potential for long term savings to be made.
· He reported that there were three performance indicators in respect of youth justice. These were;
Ø Reduction in first time entrants;
Ø Reduction in the use of custody; and
Ø Reduction in re-offending.
· The current statistics for violence with injury showed that levels within Haringey were the fifth highest in London and 319 people had been affected.
· The Youth Justice Partnership Board would be responding to the recommendations of the Charlie Taylor review. One initiative of note was the establishment of Campus, a specific free school for young people who had offended with the aim of providing an alternative to custody. The aim was to assist young people at risk into education, employment or training. The Panel noted that efforts were currently being made to identify a suitable site.
· Addressing the issues raised in the Panel’s review on disproportionality was one of his political priorities and action in response was being taken. There was a relationship between the issue and school attainment and there was a specific group within the Council looking at the issue. The Panel noted that a needs analysis of the cohort within the youth justice was taking place and work was also taking place with the DfE and other partners on the Youth Justice Partnership Board. In particular, the complexities were being considered as well as how to ensure that the young people in question accessed employment, education and training.
· Councillor Ayisi stated that he had met with the Borough Commander and there was recognition of the need to avoid criminalising vulnerable young people. It was also acknowledged that a change of attitude was needed amongst some Police officers to improve relationships with young people. Confidence was a key priority for the Police and, in particular, some young people did not have the confidence to report crime.
· In answer to a question regarding provision within the youth offer for girls, he stated that it was critical that space was provided for them, particularly as part of addressing Violence Against Women and Girls. Consideration would be given to the provision of space for women within development proposals. Gill Gibson, Assistant Director for Early Help and Prevention, added that work with girls and the community and voluntary sector was already taking place and would also be an aspect considered in the development of the Youth Zone.
· In respect of the “post codes” issue, he stated that there were 45,000 young people in the borough and only 200 on the Gangs Matrix. The majority of young people travelled freely around the borough. Youth services were only currently provided for a membership of 500 young people, with around 200 visits per week. There had been consultation with young people on what activities that they would like and there was a particular need to get young people active.
AGREED:
1. That a briefing be provided to Panel Members on the development of the Compass Free School; and
2. That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel on the development of Haringey Youth Zone.