To receive apologies for absence, including notifications of any changes to the membership of the Board.

It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative Group, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillor Brooks in place of Councillor Foster.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 19 September 2019.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 9 September were confirmed as a correct record subject to the following amendment (in bold) to the report attached to the minutes:

The Chairman of the Board invited Councillor Kennedy to present her report, which set out a number of questions.  The Interim Director of Place, provided responses to the questions that he could and referred to email correspondence from the officers monitoring the fund, and undertook to provide answers to remaining questions to Councillor Kennedy. The Board was concerned at the level of discretion being applied to the award, giving the impression that the contract wasn’t being complied with.  This was further compounded by what Members considered to be a lack of communication and delays in the provision of information relating to the award of LRF funding.

Council on 26 September 2019 formally received the attached report prepared by Healthwatch Torbay – ‘What does it feel like to be a young person living in Torbay?’.  Members may wish to consider the findings in the report in conjunction with the latest Ofsted monitoring visit feedback and revised improvement Plan.

The Board considered a report entitled ‘What does it feel like to be a young person living in Torbay?’, prepared by Healthwatch Torbay.

Patricia Teague, Healthwatch Trustee, responded to Members questions.  It was noted that that the report showed young people’s biggest concerns included crime, violence, gangs, homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse and bullying.  Members paid particular attention to crime, violence and gangs raising concerns in respect of reports of gangs operating in Torbay.

To receive an update on the findings in the Ofsted Monitoring Letter and the subsequent revised Improvement Plan.

The Board received an update on the findings in the Ofsted Monitoring Letter and the subsequent revised Improvement Plan.  The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Director of Children’s Services and Deputy Director of Children’s Services responded to Members questions in relation to:

• The proposed response to addressing the critical weaknesses identified by Ofsted
• The role of the Department for Education Innovations Team
• How the Council can better engage our partners

Resolved:  (i)  that the Director of Children’s Services provide the Overview and Scrutiny Board, quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the Improvement Plan;

(ii)  that the Deputy Director of Children’s Services consider the use of elected members to support the ongoing Improvement Plan; and

(iii)that the Deputy Director of Children’s Services arrange for the Overview Scrutiny Lead for Children’s Services and other Members to visit a ‘good’ Ofsted rated local authority to learn from them and provide feedback to the Board.