Agenda and minutes

1.1 Apologies for absence were received from the following members of the Commission:

·  Cllr Lee Laudat-Scott.

Apologies for absence were received from the following officers:

·  Jacquie Burke, Group Director for Children & Education;

·  Paul Senior, Director of Education.

Apologies for lateness were received from:

·  Deputy Mayor Bramble.

1.2  The following members connected virtually:

·  Cllr Anya Sizer;

·  Cllr Sarah Young;

·  Jo Macleod - (Co-opted Member);

·  Cllr Ben Hayhurst (Health in Hackney);

·  Cllr Sharon Patrick (Health in Hackney);

·  Cllr Claudia Turbet-Delof (Health in Hackney).

2.1 The following declarations were received:

·  Jo Macleod was a governor at a local primary school.

3.1 The Chair requested an urgent update in relation to safety concerns associated with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in schools in Hackney. This was taken after item 3 (Declarations) and recorded under item 11 (Urgent items).

To assess future provision of sexual and reproductive health services in the context of the (Draft) City & Hackney Sexual Health Strategy and the discontinuation of the CHYPS Plus contract.

4.1 The chair noted that the focus for this meeting was to assess future sexual and reproductive health service provision for young people in the context of:

·  The decision to discontinue the CHYPs Plus service;

·  The Draft Sexual Health Strategy (2023-28) and

·  The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2022-23 which sets out priorities for sexual and reproductive health needs of young people.

4.2 In respect of anticipated outcomes it was hoped that the Commission would:

·  Provide feedback on the Draft Sexual Health Strategy;

·  Assess the impact of the discontinuation of CHYPS Plus service

·  Ensure remaining services can meet sexual and reproductive health needs of young people;

·  Determining what future models of provision of sexual and reproductive health services might look like (for example, through plans for a super youth hub).

City & Hackney Public Health

4.3 Officers presented a short summary of the paper submitted to the Commission and also highlighted the following points:

·  There are high levels of sexual health needs in Hackney, with the borough having some of the highest rates of STI infection and re-infection across London.  There are also significant inequalities in the accessibility and uptake of local sexual health and reproductive health services.

·  The Public Health Service have developed a draft sexual health strategy with 5 key priorities to address these needs:

1.  Priority 1- Healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships

2.  Priority 2 - Good reproductive health across the life course

3.  Priority 3 - STI prevention and treatment

4.  Priority 4 - Getting to Zero HIV

5.  Priority 5 - Vulnerable populations and those with complex needs

·  The Annual Director of Public Health Report (2023) also focused on the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people.

·  This was a complex area of service provision with services being commissioned and delivered at NHS level, Primary Care (GP and Pharmacy) and at local authority level (Young Hackney Health and Wellbeing team).  This means that it can be hard for young people and other vulnerable cohorts to navigate and access local services.

·  The CHYPs Plus service provides a holistic clinical and wellbeing service dedicated for young people, including dedicated sexual and reproductive health advice.  The contract to provide this service with the Homerton Hospital ended August 2023, and although this had been extended to the end of November 2023, PH had taken the decision to let this contract expire.  The contract was allowed to expire because the service was not reaching agreed service targets (attendance, reach and new clients).  It was also not reaching broader wellbeing targets around smoking cessation, weight loss advice or onward referral to other services. The PH team did not want to rush into a new sub-optimal commissioning decision to replace CHYPs Plus as there were a number of new and transformational developments happening within young people’s services (e.g. super youth hub) which it would like to reflect in new arrangements.  It would also be important to hear from young people about what they want from sexual and reproductive health services locally.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

In response to Commission’s work on Free School Meals and Food Poverty in schools to note the Hackney Education report ‘Tackling Food Poverty In Education’ and agree any follow up scrutiny for this work.

5.1 In October 2022, the Commission assessed Free School Meal provision and how schools were helping to address childhood food poverty in Hackney and agreed on a number of recommendations which were sent to the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children’s Social Care to inform the planned summit and task force to address childhood food poverty.  On the 1st August 2023, the Council published the outcomes of the childhood food poverty summit, including the publication of a report which sets out recommendations to address this issue across Hackney.

5.2 The Mayor of London announced that £130m of funding would be provided to allow all primary school children in London to receive free school meals for a one year period from September 2024.

5.3 Members were asked to note the report, and identify ways in which this work should be carried forward into this year's work programme or next.

·  Cllr Binnie-Lubbock - in the action plan notes that there will be a Cabinet member who will be responsible for poverty with oversight of tackling food poverty by September 2023, has this been agreed? 

o  Cllr Bramble noted that Cllr Kennedy was the lead for food poverty and Cllr Woodley was the lead for childhood poverty, but a number of other Cabinet members (including the aforementioned) lead a task force to address wider poverty issues including Cllr Chapman, Cllr Williams and herself.

·  Jo Macleod noted that auto-enrolment of FSM had been successful when introduced in other areas (such as Sheffield) and this might be an area which the Commission may wish to follow up on.

o  Cllr Bramble noted that the Director of Education was following up auto-enrolment with primary schools but had to be mindful that the number of parents who continued to sign up for FSM did not trail off.

·  Cllr Suso-Runge noted how important the focus groups with head teachers had been in this process as they provided real insight into the challenges faced by local schools.

5.4  There were a number of key issues for the Commission to follow up:

·  To ensure that there is a local system of learning and practice development so that as many schools as possible are able to continue the FSM entitlement after the Mayor of London’s programme has ceased.

·  To ensure that children in non-maintained schools - mainly children from the Orthodox Jewish Community - are able to access free school meal support.

·  As an authority, to make sure Hackney is harnessing the support of the strong local voluntary sector in this area (e.g. Chefs in School).

5.5 Cllr Goldberg noted that 95% of children from the Orthodox Jewish community attend independent schools.  A question arose around representation of the Orthodox Jewish community in assessing funding applications to the Household Support Fund, which, as was outside the scope of this item, Cllr Kennedy agreed he would respond to outside the meeting.

5.6 Members noted the report. 

To note the response from Claire Countinho MP (Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing) to the Commission’s letter on safeguarding risks of unregistered educational settings.

6.1 Following further scrutiny of the Commission’s review of unregistered educational settings in January 2023, members agreed to write to the Secretary of State setting out their ongoing education and safeguarding concerns around their operation in Hackney.  A letter setting out these concerns was sent to the Secretary of State in March 2023. 

6.2 The response from Claire Coutinho MP, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing was received on 26th June 2023 was enclosed for transparency, and for members to note.

6.3 In relation to the attached letter, the Chair asked if the Cabinet member had managed to meet with the Minster as offered? 

·  The Cabinet member noted that this meeting had yet to be arranged but would take place as soon as this could be scheduled.  The Cabinet member has met the Children's Commissioners this year and urged her to take up the issue of unregistered schools.  It was noted that the White Paper on Education had been shelved together with expected increase in regulatory powers over unregistered schools.

6.4 The Chair stated the Commission’s disappointment with the letter as the Minister failed to understand that local authorities continue to lack the powers to take action against unregistered schools meant that not all children could be effectively safeguarded.  In this context, the Chair noted that unregistered educational settings would remain on the Commission’s work programme agenda for 2023/24.

6.5 Members noted the letter.

To note the response of the Commission to the informal consultation on the School Estates Strategy (Falling School Rolls) and proposals to close two and merge a further four primary schools.

7.1 On June 26th 2023, the Commission scrutinised proposals from the School Estates Strategy to address falling school rolls in Hackney and specific proposals to close two schools and merge a further 4 schools.  Hackney Education conducted an informal consultation on these proposals which closed on 16th July 2023.  The Commission submitted a response to the consultation on the 15th July 2023 which is attached for transparency.

7.2 The outcome of the informal consultation and the decision to formally consult is being taken by Cabinet at the upcoming meeting on 25th September 2023.  The Commission will be better able to identify its role in this process thereafter, however. In acknowledging that falling school rolls will be with the authority until 2029/30, the Chair noted that there would likely be an ongoing role for the scrutiny Commission particularly in relation to probable impact on local secondary schools.

7.3 In this context, falling school rolls is likely to remain on the agenda of the Commission to ensure that as an authority, we are doing all we can to minimise the impact this has on local schools.  The Commission will continue to liaise with the Cabinet member and senior officers as to suitable and positive opportunities for scrutiny.

7.4 Cllr Binnie-Lubbock thanked the Chair and Vice Chair for the consultation response.

7.5 Members noted the response to the falling school rolls consultation.

To note and discuss the outline report and draft recommendations of the Commission.

To Follow.

8.1  The Commission received an update on its recommendations to improve the recruitment and retention of in-house foster carers in 2022.  To supplement this session, the Commission undertook a survey of all in-house foster carers (mainstream and connected carers) and a focus group. 

8.2 The Commission has produced an outline recommendations - which it will consult upon with children and families and of course, Hackney Foster Carers Council.  The Scrutiny Officer presented the outline recommendations to the Commission (as attached)

8.3 The recommendations, together with the background report would be circulated for consultation and agreement prior to finalisation.

To note draft work programme for the Commission for 2023/24.

9.1 Following the work programme consultation (full list of suggestions here) members were invited to prioritise those issues to take forward into the work programme for 2023/24.  The Chair and Vice Chair have been meeting with Senior Officers and Cabinet members to scope and agree topics prioritised by the Commission - and the programme is still being finalised. 

9.2 The Commission is mindful of the upcoming inspections of Children's Social Care and SEND, and will try and tailor the programme around when these are expected, to reduce pressures on officers. A draft programme is attached for members to review and to note:

·  There will not be capacity to cover all these areas and that some items may need to be carried over;

·  Some items will need to be scoped further;

·  Cabinet Q & A topics have yet to be agreed - and these could reflect priorities in the work programme.

To note and agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on 27^th June 2023.

10.1 The minutes of the last meeting held on 27th June 2023 were noted and agreed by members of the Commission.

Agreed: Members agreed the minutes of the CYP Scrutiny Commission meeting held on 27th June 2023.

RAAC in Schools

11.1 In their absence, the Chair read out a statement from the Director of Education t about  Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in schools in Hackney which was as follows:

“Nationally, all schools identified as being at risk of having Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) have been inspected following DfE guidance. No RAAC has been identified locally in Hackney. If any local school is contacted by the DfE we will immediately arrange to have a further survey carried out as a precaution.”

11.2 The Chair thanked the Director of Education for providing this statement.  The Chair noted that whilst it was reassuring that no schools had to date been identified with RAAC, it was likely that a number of children who live in the borough were attending affected schools in neighbouring boroughs.  The Chair also noted that RAAC may now also be of concern beyond school buildings which may have implications for wider estate management in Hackney (if it is identified in other settings).  Scrutiny will want to retain oversight of this issue to provide assurance to members and the wider public.

Next Meeting

11.3  The next meeting of the Commission will be held on 30th October 2023.

11.4  There was no other business and the meeting concluded at 9.55pm.