Issue - meetings

The Leader invited the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny to address the Cabinet and to report on the outcome of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the Cabinet’s decision on the Award of Contract for the Provision of SEND Transport Transformation Consultancy Services on 12^th November 2019.

The Cabinet noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered each of the items raised in the call in form and heard evidence from officers, the Cabinet Member for Children and Families, parents of children with special educational needs as well as a head teacher of Lancastrian School. The Committee had further considered the officer response to each of the issues raised in the call in form and had discussion in the exempt part of the meeting. It was clear that the SEND service provision required attention and that there was a desire from families to participate in the decision making and involvement in co – production to improve the service.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee did not find the decision to be outside the budgetary framework nor the policy framework and continued to refer the decision back to Cabinet for reconsideration along with some clear recommendations on how the work should take place with parents, carers and families.

The Cabinet considered the following Overview and Scrutiny recommendations and the Cabinet Member provided a response to each of the recommendations, which were all accepted and agreed.

Response to the recommendations made by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Recommendation 1: That Cabinet strengthens co-production in the

SEND transport transformation process prior to phase 1 of the contract

Agreed. It was further proposed that Cabinet receives assurance from the Lead Member and the Director of Children’s Services that co-production is, and will continue to be, an essential element of decision making in regard to the identification and implementation of SEND Transport transformation Priorities.

Recommendation 2: That Cabinet follow best practice in good

Governance in formulating the Steering Group referred to during the

Meeting, and in doing so that it refer to parent and carer advocates and

Respected co-production organisations.

Agreed. It was proposed Cabinet further receives assurance from the Lead Member and the Director of Children’s Services that best practice in good governance has been and will continue to be followed in formulating the Steering Group. This was referred to during the meeting, along with its membership and leadership, which also refers to parent and carer advocates and respected co-production organisations. An Action going forward would be establishing the Reference group with access to respected coproduction organisations. The group will include parents, carer advocates. It was proposed Cabinet receive an assurance report at least annually from this group.

Recommendation 3: That Cabinet co-produce the terms of reference for

The Steering Group and that the membership of the group follows best

Practice examples.

This was agreed and the service would further support implementation, and further strengthen the recommendation by adding the co-produced expected ethos and behaviours of the group. It was further added that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 106