Agenda

The minutes of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Meeting held on Thursday 7 November 2024, as circulated, to be agreed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required where a matter arises at a meeting; 

1. Which directly relates to Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (‘DPI’) as set out in Appendix B, Table 1 of the Code of Conduct, to disclose the interest, not participate in any discussion or vote and not to remain in room. Where members have a DPI or if the matter concerns an executive function and is being considered by a Cabinet Member with a DPI they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with the matter.

2. Which directly relates to the financial interest or well being of a Other Registrable Interest as set out in Appendix B, Table 2 of the Code of Conduct to disclose the interest and only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak at the meeting but otherwise must not take part in any discussion  or vote on the matter and must not remain the room.

3. Which directly relates to their financial interest or well-being  (and is not  DPI) or the financial well being of a relative or close associate, to declare the interest and members may only speak on the matter if members of the public are also allowed to speak. Otherwise, the member must not take part in discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room.

4. Which affects the financial well-being of the member, a relative or close associate or a body included under the Other Registrable Interests column in Table 2, to disclose the interest and apply the test set out at paragraph 9 of Appendix B before deciding whether they may remain in the meeting.

5. Where Members have or a Cabinet Member has an Other Registerable Interest or Non Registerable Interest in a matter being considered in exercise of their executive function, they must notify the Monitoring Officer and arrange for somebody else to deal with it. 

NB Any member needing clarification must contact monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk.  Members are referred to the Code of Conduct which contains the matters above in full. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

This is the second Annual Report of the Northumberland Children and Adults Safeguarding Partnership (NCASP) which integrated in April 2022. This Report satisfies the statutory requirements for both Children and Adults Safeguarding and outlines our progress so far in integrating our new partnership arrangements.  

The Annual Report 2023-24 highlights actions and progress against the key priorities for Northumberland Skills.

The Annual Report highlights actions and progress against the key priorities for Education, SEND and Skills 2023-2024 and was presented to Cabinet on 10 December 2024.  It is being reported to this Committee for information and to allow any further comments to be made.

The School Organisation Plan 2021-24 has been updated with the latest data and information in relation to schools and academies in Northumberland. Members are asked to comment on the plan prior to it being circulated to all schools and academies, and published on the Council’s website.

The Council’s five year SEND Capacity and Place Planning Strategy was approved in November 2022 and subsequently published.  The strategy has been refreshed with updated data and information and is presented for information to FACS members before publication and wider circulation to schools, academies and relevant partners.

To receive a verbal update on the Berwick Partnership.

(a)  Forward Plan

To note the latest Forward Plan of key decisions. Any further changes to the Forward Plan will be reported at the meeting.

(b) Family and Children's Services OSC Work Programme

To consider the work programme/monitoring report for the Family and Children's Services OSC for 2024/25.