Agenda and minutes

1.            Apologies had been received from Mr Balfour (Mr Brazier was substituting), Mr Wright (Mr Cooper was substituting) and Mrs Beresford. 

2.            Members of the Pupil Premium Select Committee had been invited to attend the meeting and apologies had been received from the following; Mrs Bell, Mrs Game, Mr McInroy and Mrs Cole. 

1.             In response to a question the Chairman confirmed that in future the minutes of each meeting would include apologies and substitutes given at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2018 were a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair.

1.            The Chairman introduced this item and explained that it was an opportunity for the Cabinet Member and Officer to give Members an update on the previous 3 months progress of the Select Committee recommendations.

2.            Mr Gough (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education) explained that the comprehensive report of the Select Committee was welcomed.  The Committee had focussed on some areas which the Directorate were already working on, such as Early Help and Preventative Services, which enabled further input into the relevant issues.  Mr Gough set out some of the highlights of the update report.  

3.            Keith Abbott explained that the delivery of a number of the recommendations were the responsibility of The Education People and that further information would be available post-Christmas.  It was confirmed that as the ‘commissioners’ KCC was accountable but the day to day delivery sat with The Education People.  

4.            In response to a question about the difference between ‘in progress’ and ‘on-going’ Mr Gough explained that in some cases the recommendations built on work which in some areas was already taking place (on-going) and in progress related to those recommendations where work was just getting underway since the report was approved. 

5.            The Chairman took comments and questions on each recommendation in turn.

6.            Recommendation 1:  A Member asked about the timeline for the work and progress relating to this recommendation.  Mr Abbott explained that it was hoped that the proposals and the timeline would be available before Christmas and the proposals should be in progress in Terms 3 & 4.  It was requested that a timeline be produced showing the projected dates for progression of the recommendations.  

7.            A Member asked whether it would be possible to have comparative data from within the schools to enable Members to find out which schools were doing well with registration of children eligible for Free School Meals and Pupil Premium Funding.  Mr Gough confirmed that this information would be circulated. 

8.            Recommendation 2: In relation to the Improvement Advisors, a Member asked whether the signposting would be in the form of an easy to read version which could be shared with schools.  In addition, would the visits to school be ongoing?  Mr Abbott confirmed that the visits by the Improvement Advisors would be ongoing.  In response to a question Mr Abbott would circulate further information to the Committee outside the meeting about how the best practice would be captured and shared amongst schools. 

9.            It was requested that Members be advised of District Governor briefings taking place, it was considered beneficial for Members to have the opportunity to attend these briefings.   

10.         Recommendation 3:  In response to a query about the pilot projects taking place in Swale and the subsequent reduction in demand into Children’s Social Care in East Kent Mr Gough explained that, for Education purposes, Swale was in East Kent.  Further information relating to the pilot projects would be circulated to Members.  The intention was for the pilot projects to be scaled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

1.            Mr Hills, the Chairman of the Flood Risk Management Committee introduced the report of his Committee which included work undertaken over the past year.  The Committee was an outward facing body looking at flood risks and water management across the County.  The Committee encouraged the external groups to attend and it was well supported by experienced officers. 

2.            The Chairman asked Mr Hills how his committee engaged with other organisations in relation to the delivery of water services to serve the high levels of housing that districts were due to build?

3.            A Member also asked about the round England footpath.  Mr Hills confirmed that this was a concern, and it would be necessary to revisit this in the future.  The Committee asked that the Council take a positive stance in protecting every inch of the County’s coastline. 

4.            Members welcomed the report, concerns were raised about the impact of significant housing producing high levels of waste alongside increased rainfall resulting in systems operating at capacity.  Was there more that KCC could do to draw attention to this, perhaps in conjunction with the planning authorities?  Mr Hills explained that extreme weather conditions were putting pressure on the drains, but officers were working hard to ensure that the drainage systems were in the best condition possible to cope with such weather conditions.  In relation to housing, some sites were being developed with grey water and others were looking at how water and waste could be used in the future. 

5.            Members discussed the issues associated with climate change and the challenges facing Kent.  The Committee was constantly evaluating the information available from the relevant agencies. 

6.            A Member referred to paragraph 7.2 of the report, and attendance by Committee Members.

7.            Members welcomed the report and one Member asked about water resource and reduction in leakage, was there enough emphasis on water leakage reduction?  Mr Hills explained that his Committee took this issue very seriously and had heard recently from Southern Water who had a target of reducing water usage per person per day.  It was a changing world and in fact water usage in Kent had reduced in the last 20 years because of the change in industrial practices.

8.            In response to a question about gulley clearance, whether this was done sufficiently, and the associated road safety aspects of flash flooding.  Mr Hills explained that more information would be available after his meeting next week, it was important to ensure that accurate information regarding flooding was disseminated to members of the public.  Mr Hills would report back to the Committee on this issue.  

9.             In relation to prevention, was there any way in which KCC could help prevent flooding issues?  Mr Hills explained that it was preferable to divert or hold back water before it reached towns and villages; natural management of water.  This was a slow process which required negotiation with land owners etc.  it was important, and Mr Hills confirmed that his Committee would continue to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Please note the dates and times of the Scrutiny Committee for 2019/20.  All meetings will begin at 10am and will be held in the Council Chamber.

-       Tuesday 15 January 2019 (previously agreed)

-       Thursday 7 February 2019 (previously agreed)

-       Wednesday 3 April 2019 (previously agreed)

-       Wednesday 8 May 2019 (previously agreed)

-       Tuesday 9 July 2019

-       Friday 26 July 2019

-       Tuesday 15 October 2019

-       Tuesday 19 November 2019

-       Wednesday 18 December 2019

-       Thursday 23 January 2020 (Budget)

-       Wednesday 12 February 2020

-       Thursday 16 April 2020

-       Tuesday 19 May 2020

RESOLVED that the future meeting dates for 2019/20 be noted. 

That, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

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

EXEMPT ITEM

(During this item the meeting is likely NOT to be open to the public)

RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

“Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular

person (including the authority holding that information)”

RESOLVED that the exempt minute of the meeting held on 4 October 2018 was a correct record and that it be signed by the Chair.

1.            Dr Sullivan declared an interest in the Pupil Premium Select Committee item as her husband was employed as an Early Help Worker for Kent County Council.