Issue - items at meetings - Brighton and Hove Children and Young People’s Plan

Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy to follow).

1.       That written feedback be provided by all partners to the Draft CYPP (as set in Appendix 1 to the report) from their respective organisations.

2.       That it be agreed that a final CYPP be received for approval at the next meeting of the Board on 2 November 2009.

25.1    The Board considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services, concerning the draft version of the Brighton & Hove’s second Children & Young People’s Plan (CYPP). The draft plan, which was based on extensive consultation with service users, partners and staff, brought together the city’s shared vision and concerns, and set out the improvements in outcomes the city want to make and how these would be achieved (for copy see minute book).

25.2    The Assistant Director, Strategic Commissioning and Governance, presented the item. He highlighted the main points about the draft CYPP (see appendix 2 to the minutes). He noted the particular emphasis given to safeguarding at national level, which also needed to be reflected locally and had primary focus in the current draft. 

25.3    The Director of Children Services noted the statutory status under which this plan had to be constructed. She reported that the plan aimed to build on what had been achieved by the first and previous CYPP, whilst also incorporating new legislation. She referred to the sharper focus on the Children & Young People’s Trust’s objectives and noted that the plan also reflected and took account of the view of service users. The Director also recognised the importance of the plan being owned by all partners, and noted that the plan had been delayed in order to ensure that it contained everything required of it.

25.4    Discussion took place and members noted that budget constraints, alongside the increasing number of children in care, would be at the background of this plan and concerns were raised as to whether the plan could deliver within its budget; members also requested that closer consideration was given to the issue of child poverty and requested that focus was also not detracted from issues such as special needs and disabilities.

25.5    Members further noted the deprivation scales shown for the city, which seemed to indicate that there had been no improvement in tackling this issue. It was recognised, however, that even though the process seemed to be long and slow, the city had been much more focused than before and it needed to continue to improve its focus in order to turn around those statistics, continue to do well, and have better outcomes for young people.

25.6    Gail Gray, Women’s Refuge, referred to the issue of domestic violence. She noted that this was a matter which had not yet been considered at the Board, and noted that the matter seemed to have been overlooked in the current report as well.

25.7    Members agreed that there was a need for the Board to consider the issue of domestic violence, which occurred not only at adult level, but also among young people, and requested that a report be brought to the Board about this issue.

25.8    The Chairman noted the attention drawn to the issue of domestic violence and agreed to the request of bringing this matter to the Board at a later stage. 

25.9    The Assistant Director, Strategic Commissioning and Governance, also noted the issue raised about tackling child poverty and the issue of domestic violence, and accepted that a more targeted focus was required on those areas. 

25.10  Members welcomed the report, noted the plan’s focus and intentions, and welcomed the opportunity to have a conversation about the plan’s aspirations and how all partners could commit to delivering it. They noted that the initial deadline of 18 September, given for the return of the responses to the questionnaire in appendix 2 of the report, might be too close for an adequate response and requested an expansion of this deadline.

25.11  The Chairman and the Director of Children’s Services were agreeable to this extension. The deadline for the return of responses was extended to the end of September 2009. The Director indicated that she would welcome considerations on how the plan could be introduced as the CYPT’s and the Board’s plan. 

25.12  The Assistant Director, Strategic Commissioning and Governance, also agreed to circulate an electronic copy of appendix 1 and 2 to all members.

25.13  RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Board accepted the following recommendations:

(1)      That written feedback be provided by all partners to the Draft CYPP (as set in Appendix 1 to the report) from their respective organisations.

(2)      That it be agreed that a final CYPP be received for approval at the next meeting of the Board on 2 November 2009.