Issue - meetings

This report analyses performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all of the services funded through the Children’s Services budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

·        Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Children’s Services budget and agree the budget virements set out at Table 1 in the report

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To enable the corporate service plan monitoring requirements to be fulfilled and to facilitate effective budget management.

Members considered a report that analysed performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all of the services funded through the Children’s Services budget.

It was noted that the monitoring reports demonstrated particularly encouraging progress against the following themes:

·        Integrated Services

Ø      The planned children’s centre development remained on timescale

Ø      Official opening events at the city centre one stop shop had taken place

·        New Provision

Ø      Plans were on track for an additional new Enhanced resource Centre for pupils with Autism

Ø      The planned Danesgate Skill Centre would be operational from late October 2007

Ø      Duke of Edinburgh schemes had been extended

·        Organisational Effectiveness

Ø      The recently published Accessibility Strategy and the Access to the Curriculum documents were particularly noteworthy

·        Specific Performance Outcomes

Ø      It was specifically encouraging to note that there had been an increase in assessments of children in need completed within timescales, the completion of all statutory assessments of children’s special educational needs within timescales and in increase in looked after children with a personal education plan in place.

·        Challenges

Ø      The scale of the looked after children population in the city continues to pressurise existing resources and as a result creates financial pressures through the greater use of independent fostering agency placements.

·        Staff Survey results

Ø      The findings see the Learning, Culture and Children’s Services Department scoring with 80% of staff having overall job satisfaction and 92% of staff believing they achieve something useful.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

·        Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Children’s Services budget and agree the budget virements set out at Table 1 in the report

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED:             That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:                  To enable the corporate service plan monitoring requirements to be fulfilled and to facilitate effective budget management.