Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and attendees noted this information.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with under Item 13 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 16 below).

There were no items of urgent business.

A Member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A Member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

On occasions part of the Cabinet meeting will be held in private and will not be open to the public if an item is being considered that is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “Regulations”), members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

This agenda contains exempt items as set out at Item 14: Exclusion of the Press and Public. No representations with regard to these have been received.

This is the formal five clear day notice under the Regulations to confirm that this Cabinet meeting will be partly held in private for the reasons set out in this Agenda.

There were no representations received on the exempt items.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2022 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings held on 13 September 2022 as a correct record.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no deputations, petitions, or questions.

Agenda Item 9 contains the Scrutiny Review on Child Poverty and includes the Cabinet response to the recommendations.

The Chair advised that the scrutiny report on  Child Poverty would be considered as part of item 9.

The Scrutiny Review on Child Poverty to be introduced  by the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families.

Cabinet to respond to the recommendations of the scrutiny review.

Cllr Gunes, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, introduced the Scrutiny Review on Child Poverty, and thanked fellow Panel members and Co-opted members and all of those who participated in the review. It was noted that child poverty was increasing, both nationally and within Haringey. It was explained that the scrutiny panel had considered how child poverty could be addressed strategically within the Borough Plan which was currently being updated. It was stated that there were 11 recommendations from the review and noted that Cabinet had accepted 10 recommendations and partially accepted one recommendation. In relation to the partially accepted recommendation, Cllr Gunes stated that the scrutiny panel had felt strongly that Free Schools Meals (FSMs) should be made universal but thanked Cabinet for accepting the recommendations.

Cllr Brabazon, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families, welcomed the report and noted that this was an increasingly important issue in the challenging economic situation. It was stated that the recommendations of the scrutiny panel were helpful and that Cabinet was recommended to accept all of the recommendations. The Cabinet Member was grateful that the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel recognised the caveat on the recommendation about universal Free School Meals. It was highlighted that the Council would want to provide universal Free School Meals but that, like most authorities, it was not financially possible. It was highlighted that the Council did have an extended Free School Meals programme in place which provided Free School Meals for an additional 500-600 children, including throughout school holidays. It was added that the Council supported the principle of universal Free School Meals and, alongside others, had lobbied national government on the issue.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the review and  recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) attached at Appendix A.

2.    To agree to the proposed response to each of the proposed recommendations, as set out in Appendix B.

3.    To note the letter to the secretary of State for Education attached at Appendix C.

Reasons for decision

On the 17th March 2022 the Overview and Scrutiny Committee approved the report and its recommendations and agreed that it be submitted to Cabinet for response.

Alternative options considered

The Cabinet is committed to considering and responding to Scrutiny reviews. No alternative options were considered.

Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families.

Following public consultation, Cabinet approval is required to implement the Haringey School Travel Assistance Policy for home to school transport for children and young people with SEND.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families introduced the report which, following public consultation, sought Cabinet approval to implement the Haringey School Travel Assistance Policy for home to school transport for children and young people with SEND.

The Cabinet Member outlined that the suite of final draft policies set the framework and underpinned the Home to School travel for children and young people including those 16- 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These had been developed over a significant period, following a review process which was initiated in 2019 but then delayed and suspended due to the pandemic. As soon as was possible, post-pandemic, an initial policy review was held with a group of key stakeholders, including special school representatives, a member of the Haringey Parent/Carer Forum and SEND officers.

The Cabinet Member reminded Cabinet that  the review had led to a set of draft policies and policy changes  that were brought to Cabinet on March 8, 2022, where it was agreed to proceed to a full public consultation. This ran from 9th May 2022- 31st July 2022. The proposed changes were now set out in para 4.3 of the report.

It was noted that the consultation was very extensive using as many avenues as possible to engage and communicate with partners, families and stakeholders.

In response to questions from Cllr Cawley-Harrison, the following information was provided:

• The policies put forward to Cabinet were lawful and in keeping with statutory duties. A point of clarification would be sought from legal services on the Dudley Legal case 2012 referred to which had successfully challenged eligibility criteria relating to the parental preferential choice for school and access to travel assistance. The Head of Legal and Governance further confirmed that a written response would be provided and if there was any issue this would be flagged but this report had been subject to legal advice.

• The impact of inflation was an evolving issue and would be part of the wider consideration of costs across Children’s services. This would be alongside the service considering competing demands and budgetary pressures. A more specific response would be provided, in writing, on the consideration of personal budgets as part of this policy.

• Regarding the sharing of consultation responses with parents, it was necessary to publish these in October instead of September to coincide with the publication of the report. Parents had made the service aware of the previous message on publishing consultation responses in September and an immediate notification was provided in the SEND local offer that this would occur in October.

• There was a commitment in the SEND newsletter and SEND local offer to take forward a Q&A session on the changes to the policies . The session would also be responding to the fact that there had not been as many consultation responses then would have been liked, despite extensive promotion. The SEND service recognised that the polices were also detailed and wanted to provide an easy to read document  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing

15 September 2022

29 September 2022

30 September 2022

RESOLVED

To note the minutes of other bodies.

To note the delegated decisions taken by Directors.

RESOLVED

To note the significant and delegated actions.

There were no items of urgent business.

Note from the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager

Items 15-16 allow for consideration of exempt information in relation to items 3 and 6.

TO RESOLVE

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as items 15-16 contain exempt information as defined under paragraphs 3 and 5, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of agenda items 15 to 16 as they contained exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972; Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information; Paragraph 5 – information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

To confirm and sign the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2022as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2022 as a correct record.

There were no new items of exempt urgent business.