Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Reith, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People.

The Committee received the briefing and answers to advance questions (tabled and on the Council’s website) on Councillor Reith’s Cabinet portfolio for Children & Young People.

The Committee noted that the Children’s Services department faced challenges in increasing children’s centre provision due to the substantial withdrawal of grant funding arising from the financial deficit in central government.  The Cabinet Member agreed to keep Councillor Newton informed of developments for children’s centre provision in Fortis Green (action no. 24.1).

The Committee requested further analysis of school exclusions including comparisons in numbers of exclusions in different schools, unique circumstances, recurring issues and how different schools dealt with exclusions.  It was noted that there was no universal model of how schools should deal with exclusions but within the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme discreet spaces were being provided at new schools to provide an alternative to exclusion (action no. 24.2).

The Scrutiny Manager agreed to circulate the recent scrutiny review report on school exclusions to the Committee (action no. 24.3).

The Committee noted that Haringey was seeing a larger increase of teenagers (particularly asylum seekers and those with no recourse to public funds) coming into care than pre-school although this was not consistent with other local authorities.

Further to question 23 on Muswell House children’s home the Director of Children and Young People’s Service assured the Committee that an audit had taken place and all CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks were up-to-date.

The Committee would be provided with details on the process for CRB checks after expressing concerns at the length of time it takes to get the results of a CRB check (action no. 24.4).

Further to question 23 the Committee was informed that Haringey was expected to meet the national average for school exam results in 2010.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member briefing be noted.