Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Matt Golby. Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Chief Executive (WNC) and the Executive Director of Customer and Governance (NNC).

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on the 7^th September 2022.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Trust Joint Committee held on 7 September 2022 be agreed.

RESOLVED that: the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Trust Joint Committee held on 7 September 2022 be agreed.

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

None declared.

To receive communications from the Chair.

The Chair welcomed all those present to the meeting.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

The Chair advised that there was no urgent business.

RESOLVED that: the Children’s Trust Joint Committee:

a)    Noted the provisional contract sum for Northamptonshire Children’s Trust for the 2023/24 financial year.

b)    Approved the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Business Plan for the 2023/24 – 2026/27 period.

c)    Requested that the completed Strategic Risk Register for the Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Business Plan 2023/24 – 2026/27 be circulated to Joint Committee members.

d)    Supported that the Department for Education should be contacted to seek a discussion with the owning authorities about future democratic oversight of Northamptonshire Children’s Trust.   

e)    Supported that Joint Committee meetings should take place on a quarterly basis in 2023/24.

At the Chair’s invitation the Executive Director Finance (WNC) introduced the report, advising that the provisional 2023/24 Contract Sum and Business Plan for 2023/24 – 2026/27 had resulted from development work and negotiation between the relevant parties in autumn 2022. Delivery against the Contract Sum and Business Plan would be monitored across the year ahead.

The Executive Director Finance (NNC) and Chief Executive (NNC) highlighted the importance of recognising both the challenges facing Northamptonshire Children’s Trust (NCT) and the need for it to deliver effective services that represented value for money. The owning authorities had provided further investment to support NCT’s improvement journey and were working closely with it to mitigate financial risks. The Valuing Care model should also help to deliver value for money.

The Committee considered the report and members made the following points during the course of discussion: 

·         A lack of confidence was expressed that NCT would be able to deliver the 2023/24 Contract Sum as planned. The owning authorities had a duty to support young people but also needed to secure value for money from services.  

·         It would be beneficial if the Committee could have more oversight of how resources were used. This would give assurance on matters such as use of the additional funding provided to support high risk cases.

·         There would need to be a significant focus through the year ahead on delivering the budget even taking into account demand pressures. The owing authorities and the Committee would continue to provide support and challenge to NCT on this.

·         The Business Plan presented to the Committee included some sections that were not yet complete. The Committee should seek further information on the Strategic Risk Register in particular to ensure that it provided the necessary assurance.

·         There should be more of a role for councillors in overseeing NCT than was provided for in the arrangements set by the Department for Education (DfE). Councillors were corporate parents and were accountable to residents for the effectiveness of services. Councillors needed to be able to see that key challenges were being addressed. They could also provide different perspectives that would assist in doing this.

·         NCT did not seem to have made much progress so far with service transformation compared to the aims that were projected when it was being developed.

·         Proposed savings to be delivered in 2023/24 were predicated on additional investment from the owning authorities. This was not a sustainable approach. Service transformation and effective core services were needed to manage budget pressures. 

·         The Leader of NNC had written to NCT to seek its response to various matters of concern.

The Executive Director of Children’s Services (NNC) made the following points during the course of discussion:

·         The Operational and Strategic groups had discussed the use of funding provided to support high risk cases at meetings earlier that week to seek assurance on this.

·         The Intelligent Client Function (ICF) would be analysing how NCT had used additional funding for early help and fostering provided by the owning authorities. If  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.