Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Watts welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly Councillor Vivien Cutler, Chair of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Watts noted that this would be the last Executive meeting attended by Alan Layton, the Director of Financial Management.  Councillor Watts thanked Alan for his many years’ service to the borough and wished him well in retirement.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Comer-Schwartz.

None.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting on 21 May 2019 be agreed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to report

Councillor Ward introduced the item and advised that this contract provides additional roofing support to the in-house Housing Repairs Service during busier ‘peak’ times.

RESOLVED:

2.1     That the procurement strategy for Roofing Repair Works (with Provision
          for Scaffolding) as outlined in this report be approved.

2.2     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Housing to
          award the contracts following consultation with the Executive Member
          for Housing and Development be agreed.

Reason for decision – to meet the duty to keep housing property in a good state of repair.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to report

In the absence of Councillor Comer-Schwartz, Councillor Watts introduced the report. Councillor Watts advised that the government asked every local area to review its safeguarding arrangements.  We undertook a very thorough review involving all our partners and arrived at a new model which is very similar to the one in place now.  Ofsted recognised that the current arrangement was working well and have confirmed they are happy with the new proposals.  The new arrangements will take effect from 1 September 2019.

RESOLVED:

2.1     That the new multi-agency safeguarding arrangements between
          Islington Council, Islington Clinical Commissioning Group and the
          Central North Basic Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police Service
          be agreed.

Reason for decision – to fulfil the new statutory requirement to implement multi-agency safeguarding arrangements and to retain the strengths of our safeguarding arrangements

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to report

Councillor Vivien Cutler, Chair of Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee introduced the report. 

Councillor Cutler advised that changes to the curriculum, league tables, cuts to finances and zero tolerance had led to a general rise in the number of exclusions. However, there was significant disparity in the number of exclusions between very similar schools, particularly at primary level, where a small number of schools were significantly distorting the overall figures.

The committee felt that the investigation should focus on why rates had risen so much in some schools compared to others. The committee received a lot of written evidence, presentations and spoke to parents, young people and head teachers.  It became clear that not all schools were as prepared as they could be and in some schools more could be done to support staff who were unable to cope with children presenting challenging behaviour other than relying on exclusion.  The committee has made a number of recommendations in relation to this, including the creation of a best practice guide.

The committee also looked at the role of school governors and leaders in schools and how they can be helped to challenge a negative culture and poor processes and how parents can be supported.

Councillor Cutler suggested that the approach had to be to provide the strongest possible support to help children remain in mainstream education, not only because education itself is important, but to reduce the risks of children becoming victims and/or perpetrators of crime.

Councillor Cutler hoped that the committee’s recommendations would be accepted by the Executive.

Councillor Webbe expressed concern at the disproportionate number of BAME children excluded and enquired about the section of the report at the top of page 8 titled ‘Supporting parents and carers’.  Councillor Webbe thought that there should be a recommendation linked to this, even though some work had already been undertaken, so that the Executive was able to address it in their response. It was agreed that this would be picked up in the Executive response regardless of not being a numbered recommendation.

Councillor Watts thanked Councillor Cutler and the members of the committee for all their work on a very valuable and timely scrutiny.

Reason for decision – to allow the Executive to receive the recommendations of the scrutiny committee.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.