Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

Councillor English and Pickersgill sent apologies; Councillor Wellington was substitute for Councillor Pickersgill.

Councillors Godwin and Holland sent their apologies.

To note any declarations of interest from the Councillors. They are asked to

indicate the relevant agenda item, the nature of the interest and in particular

whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest.

Any declaration of interest made at the meeting which is not on the register of

interests should be notified to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion.

Councillor Kent declared that a member of his family had an Education Health Care Plan.

Councillor Phipps was nominated by Councillor Massey and seconded by Councillor Kent.

There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED;

That Councillor Celia Phipps be Vice Chair for 2020-21.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd October 2020 were agreed as a true record.

The Action Tracker was noted.

To note any announcements from the Chair

·      The Chair formally noted the 3 Deputy Cabinet Members on the Commission;

They each confirmed their responsibilities;

o  Councillor Carole Johnson, Deputy Cabinet Member to Asher Craig (Communities, Equalities, and Public Health).

o  Councillor Brenda Massey, Deputy Cabinet Member to Anna Keen (Education and Skills).

o  Councillor Celia Phipps, Deputy Cabinet Member to Helen Holland (Adult Social Care).

It was confirmed that the Deputy Cabinet Member would not take part in a scrutiny session where the item was within the remit of their responsibility.

·      The Chair explained that there was a change of order for agenda items 8 and 9 (amended agenda was circulated and published)

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

Any member of the public or Councillor may participate in Public Forum.  The detailed arrangements for so doing are set out in the Public Information Sheet at the back of this agenda.  Public Forum items should be emailed to democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk and please note that the following deadlines will apply in relation to this meeting:-

Questions - Written questions must be received 3 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your question(s) must be received in this office at the latest by 5 pm on Tuesday 8^th December.

Petitions and Statements - Petitions and statements must be received on the working day prior to the meeting.  For this meeting this means that your submission must be received in this office at the latest by 12 noon on Friday 11^th December

Register to Attend - Your intention to attend and speak to your Public Forum submission must be received 2 clear working days prior to the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your registration to attend must be received in this office at the latest by 5pm on Wednesday 9^th December.

The following Public Forum submissions were noted;

Questions

Statements and Petitions

Written answers to the questions were published, accessed via the link below:

People Scrutiny Commission 14 December 2020 Agenda

RESOLVED;

·      That the Public Forum be noted;

·      That the statements about maternity services be referred to the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee;

·      That the EHCP complaints and communication process be reviewed.

The Health Equity Lead introduced the report. Dr Mamluk and Dr Jones from Bristol University also spoke to the report.  Also present who spoke to the report were Cllr Craig, Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Bristol Race Equality Covid-19 Steering Group, and Dr Brooks, Sirona Health Care and Vice Chair of the Bristol Race Equality Covid-19 Steering Group.

·      The Commission was advised that the report was based on national data and was published before the Public Health England report. There had also been local engagement which informed the report.

·      It was agreed that the report was an important step forward; including the provision of mechanisms for understanding wards and local communities.

·      The Commission noted that the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities was an important aspect of the findings of the Health Scrutiny Working Group.

·      The Commission was advised that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who were dispersed around the city could be better supported by Covid Marshalls and leaders within communities; that there was a need for positive messages from trusted voices, with an understanding that communities were not  homogenous; flexibility and an understanding of difference was needed.

·      The Deputy Mayor said that there were communication tools readily available to share with councillors who had access to networks and communities and could help communicate information.

·      The report was commended and it was agreed it required wider dissemination. It was recommended that the report should be shared across the Council including other committees, across the organisation, and in the community via local networks.

·      The Commission was advised that the Race Equality Covid-19 Steering Group had a set of policy recommendations with related actions and Councillors could engage with any appropriate actions.

·      Members were told that although some aspects were driven by data and so could be easily measured, there were some aspects which were longer term which meant impacts might not be seen for a while.  There had been evidence of impacts from local people and schools using qualitative data.

·      The Deputy Mayor advised the Commission that there were daily ward figures which had been used to track impact of Covid-19; and that the next stage of work would be about vaccines and how uptake could be improved, including a need to overcome scepticism about it. There would a piece of work, including communication about the vaccine to diverse communities.

·      The Commission heard that although there was national policy on NHS charging, some local people able to access health care were not due to communication issues.  The Council would bid for funding to research how national policy on health care charging could be implemented locally; this was an area of important focus to ensure equitable access to health care.

·      The Deputy Lord Mayor commended the work of the Health Equity Lead and Drs Brooks, Jones and Mamluk; and stated that Covid had exposed racial disparities; that the report was evidence based; and that although uncomfortable, it should be embraced.

·      The Deputy Mayor commended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

The Director of Education & Skills introduced the report.

·     The Cabinet Member for Education stated the advice had been that this would be a difficult site to bring forward. It was expected that the application may be called in by the Secretary of State, which had now happened.

·     The Cabinet Member for Education advised the Commission that she had invited the BS5 Secondary Forum to meet with her last December and had worked with them closely since.  There had been a real desire to engage, to keep parents informed and be open and honest throughout.

·     The understanding of the Cabinet Member for Education was that Oasis had supported the plans for the school, but had reached a point in January 2020 where they halted the provision of a head teacher as a result of the fact there was no opening date and the post was not funded.

·     The Commission was advised that the communication between the Department for Education and the Council had needed improvement.

·     The Chair stated only Oasis had pitched for the school; that the plan was ambitious and difficult to manage; that it was important that Oasis provided their view on the status of the project.

·     At the time it was thought the Free School route would be quicker.  The Chair stated that she had experience as a parent who waited for a school, and that it was time to move forward and deliver for children.

·     The Director of Education and Skills clarified that there had not been an opportunity to bring this matter to scrutiny earlier; it was in response to the risk of potential call in raised in August; and after the position was known from the DfE that the school would not open in temporary accommodation a solution had to be found very quickly before December Cabinet.

·     The Commission was advised that it was confirmed the Year 7 cohort in 2021 would remain with CLF throughout, and there would not be a separate transition.

·     There was still a risk that temporary accommodation would not be ready for Temple Quarter site for 2022, and so a 2 year response had been built in.

·     The original plan was to place temporary accommodation on a CLF site.  The Council was not responsible for temporary accommodation linked to Free Schools. It had been decided that, rather than use the £4.5M for temporary accommodation, this money should be ring-fenced and put to a longer-term strategic intent for the CLF. 

·     There was an agreement that MPs should be used more to ensure issues not in control of the local authority were brought to the attention of the DfE.

·     The Commission was advised there was a risk and concern that the planning consent would not be given; and so part of the parallel planning was that if the planning consent was not granted or the DfE decided to not proceed, then there was a need for a separate solution. As the Council needed to wait for DfE direction, alternatives had been unclear.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

The Director of Education & Skills introduced the report.

·      The Commission was advised that the timing of the Evidence Day as good because the recommendations informed review of the actions in the Written Statement of Action (WSoA).

·      The Commission was advised that as well as progress reviewed by scrutiny, including today, there was also a 4 monthly formal scrutiny of the Written Statement of Action by the DfE and NHS England.

·      The WSoA responded to 5 areas of significant weakness; and so this was wider than the Evidence Day focus on EHCPs.

·      Officers were thanked for their hard work and progress to improve the EHCP process.

·      It was noted that it was unclear whether reports on the Portal were accessible to all, and Members’ view was professional reports should be accessible by parents carers and children.  The Director for Education and Skills advised the Commission that the Portal should be accessible for everyone; and that it was not known how wide access to reports would be; and as part of the co-production with families the view of the Commission would be considered.

·      The ending of funding of EHCPs via top up was welcomed.

·      The Commission was advised that the Council was on track to complete the EHCP 2019 backlog by the end of 2020.

·      It was the intention to provide examples of BCC good practice for EHCPs after the Time for Change piece of work had been concluded.  It was confirmed that each plan should be individual and not copy and pasted from templates.

RESOLVED;

·      That the Commission would be updated on the status of the development of a Bristol Support Plan;

·      That access to professional reports be considered as part of the co-production of the Portal;

·      That it be confirmed whether there is an automatic communication process at 20 weeks for EHCPs.

Members to note the report; the next scheduled meeting (8^th March 2021) to include response to recommendations.

RESOLVED;

That the report be noted, and a response to the findings and recommendations to be brought the Commission on the 8^th March 2021.

RESOLVED;

That the work programme be noted.