Agenda item

The interview themes are attached.

5.1  The chair welcomed Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, to the committee for her annual interview.

5.2  The chair introduced the first theme, concerning the amount of progressthat has been made in reducing childhood obesity in the borough and if the introduction of universal free school meals has had any measurable effect. The cabinet member noted that this is a relatively new manifesto pledge and that the impact of the free healthy school meals on obesity will not be fully known for a few years; however she noted that the child measurement programme is showing some improvement. She reported that the council is considering asking schools to measure children in year 1. The cabinet member explained that the programme is not just about obesity - in same cases lunch may be some children’s first hot meal of the day.

5.3  A member asked if the possibility of providing a free breakfast rather than lunch had been considered. The cabinet member responded that the council has been looking at breakfast clubs and she said that she would like this; however there would be a cost to provide both. She commented that since the committee’s recent discussion on child malnutrition this has been all over the news, including reports that rickets is returning.

5.4  A member asked the cabinet member how she felt about Southwark Council being a leader in the provision of free healthy school meals, and if the cabinet lead thought that central government had a responsibility for this too, as well as other agencies. The cabinet member agreed that the council is showing a leadership role, and that everywhere the council goes we are being asked about this. She reported that the council is working with the Children's Society and Kids Company, and noted that the website of former commended the council’s scheme, and perhaps with their pressure the council might get additional funding.

5.5  A member asked if the programme helped parents to cook and the cabinet lead said that children are now growing food and tasting a wider variety of foods, and asking parents to cook this at home.

5.6  .A member commented that she was surprised that the scheme is now only considering measuring children in reception. The cabinet lead responded that there is an extra cost involved and setting up the scheme was resource intensive. In addition to this she explained there is the existing child measurement programme. An officer explained that they are looking to do a comparison study as it will take until 2017 to get the full results.

5.7  A member referred to a question raised at council assembly and noted that there is variation in the amount spent on free school meals and constraints. An officer explained that the council has have been helping schools, as commissioners, to negotiate a good deal, and that officers can offer support.

5.8  The chair invited members to ask the cabinet member about the second theme, which asked if the cabinet member was satisfied with the way in which the council responded to the horse meat scandal. The cabinet member responded that the council has been following the FSA and food safety advice. She explained that one school asked for extra assistance and ended by saying she is happy with the council’s response.

5.9   The committee moved on to the third theme: ‘how realistic are the council's plans to cope with increasing primary school pupil numbers?’ The cabinet lead explained that the council have done an audit and that the Education department has been responding quickly. However, she explained that the council only got the settlement on 1 March. She said the council will be able to meet the demand for places and it will be engaging with head-teachers and schools.

5.10  A member asked how this will translate in terms of forms and places and Sam Fowler, Southwark Schools for the Future Director, explained that this will mean that seven schools will provide an additional 30 places and three schools will provide an additional 15 places. Officers were asked if they had considered the impact of the widening of the EU and people’s right to move. Kerry Crichlow explained that pupil place predictions are an art rather than a science. She explained that they are making temporary plans so the council and schools can move to permanent arrangements. She explained that they have to predict for September based on January requests. She added that there is also a need to meet parental choice, but not over-provide.

5.11  A member referred to the fourth theme on the ideal size of primary schools and mentioned that she had been doing some reading that suggested that class sizes do not always correlate with quality. Another member commented that there could be an impact on quality if a bulge class opened in a school which is only performing at a ‘Satisfactory’ level, as this could put an additional pressure on the school. The cabinet member and officer explained that the council is supporting all schools, and said that the council does intend that all schools will be good or outstanding. She explained that all investment from the school investment programme is carefully considered.

5.12  The cabinet member was asked if she had been looking at whole new schools, and she responded that the council had been looking at expanding classes, particularly in the south of the borough. An officer added that there is a mapping of demand to places and emerging free schools.

5.13  The chair asked the cabinet member about the fifth theme and asked if the Cabinet member would agree that it is likely that there will be a need for another secondary school in the south of the borough in the fairly near future. The cabinet member said that people in the south of the borough will be considering secondary schools further afield, as will the council in its planning. A member commented that Haberdasher’s has a strict criteria, and to get a place a child would normally need to be local or have a sibling in the school already. An officer explained that in the short term there is a problem of over provision, however he agreed that longer term there could be a need. He noted that there is a new school on the Aylesbury and an ARK school. A member commented that she had been investigating neighbouring schools in Lewisham and Lambeth and remarked that some are very large. An officer said that they are talking to secondary schools and there is strength of feeling among secondary schools around demand, however he assured member that they are reviewing the situation so the council can be light on its feet and a report will be produced for cabinet in the autumn.

5.14  A member commented that most secondary schools are academies and so can choose to do there own thing.  An officer responded that the council do not really try and force anything and that the approach is more about engagement. He added that the type of school is not so important and the council found it is more about the individual approach of schools. He ended by saying some were more engaged than others, but the council is seeking consensus. 

5.15  The chair introduced the sixth theme on Young People - provision of facilities and activities and Youth Employment and asked the cabinet member to comment. She explained that the council have moved to a hub and spoke model, which has involved investing in buildings and mini buses. The service now has less duplication and the council is still managing to deliver a good service on limited resources.

5.16  A member queried the value for money achieved through the scholarship scheme, and noted a £287,000 spend to support 13 students since the start of theprogramme (page 10, supplementary agenda, Community Restoration Fund, report paragraph 29). The cabinet member said that the Youth Fund is a good scheme but she did not have the details on this particular stream of funding.  The member queried this and the cabinet member said there might be a good reason, for example special needs, and advised the member that she would respond in writing.

5.17  A member asked about opening times, and noted that young people have requested later opening times. The cabinet member responded that they use fewer buildings and offer a wider range of services. The chair noted that the young people suggested more marketing and the use of social media. He said that the officers indicated that they would take this suggestion up, and the cabinet member concurred that this would be very good.

5.18  The chair referred to the final theme and asked what effect the government's Troubled Families initiative has had in Southwark.  The cabinet member responded that Southwark are ahead of the game, and reported that the council has been able to claim a reward grant of £31,000 because of met targets. The chair said he was disappointed with the ending of the arrangement with CVS. Kerry Crichlow commented that this was by mutual agreement and that the council has invited experts in these areas to contribute. She explained that there is a focus on gangs membership and a new team is being recruited; Family Focus Plus. She remarked that families with gang associations don’t like being called troubled families, and reported that they remark that all families can be troubled at times. She commented that the issue of domestic violence is a big concern, and noted that SYC mentioned this. A member noted that Southwark’s work with gangs and the council’s Family Focus approach has been in the media. The cabinet member commented that the issue is really knowing who these families are, and enabling teachers to refer has helped in identification, for example. She said it was then important to meet the needs of families in a timely and early fashion.

ACTION

The cabinet lead member will get back to the committee with details on the value for money achieved through the Youth Fund scholarship scheme, which supported 13 young people at a cost of £287,000.