There was submitted a report by the Head of Policy and Commissioning, Chief Executive’s Service, Renfrewshire Council relative to the proposed new Community Planning governance arrangements.

The report advised that following discussion with Conveners and Lead Officers of the Community Planning Thematic Boards and agreement by Renfrewshire Council Community Planning Partnership Board, community planning structures in Renfrewshire would be changed from the second quarter of 2017.  The review of community planning arrangements recognised that much good work had been achieved through the community planning Boards since they were established in 2013.  The purpose of the changes to the community planning structures was to build on existing strengths of the Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership, take account of changes to the partnership landscape since 2013 and further strengthen and streamline community planning meeting arrangements. A report detailing the new governance arrangements had been agreed by Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership Board on 7 December 2016 and was attached as an appendix. 

The new arrangements would commence from May 2017, with an early focus on delivery of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) and associated Locality Plans by 1 October 2017.  Engagement with communities on development of the LOIP/Locality Plans would take place in February/March and May/June 2017. The LOIP and Locality Plans would require to be signed off by all community planning partners by September 2017 prior to publication by 1 October 2017.

It was noted that the remaining meeting of the existing Community Planning Board structure would play a key role in shaping the priorities of the new LOIP and ensure that the positive elements of existing partnership working and delivery would transition effectively to the new working arrangements. In particular, the Children and Young People Thematic Board was asked to consider at its next meeting key questions which were detailed within the report.
 
In terms of the Children and Young People Board, it was recognised that significant progress had been made in delivering the outcomes of this theme. The three-year performance report submitted to the Community Planning Partnership Board in September 2016 recorded particular progress in a number of areas. The average school examination tariff score of the lowest attaining 20% of S4 pupils has increased significantly. School days lost through exclusion had improved at both primary level and secondary level. In addition, Renfrewshire was now one of the best performing local authorities in relation to the number of school leavers who were in positive and sustained destinations. 

The report intimated that an Improving Life Chances Group would be established to take forward the remit of the Children and Young People Thematic Board and Tackling Poverty Steering Group. The work programme of the Children and Young People Board would now be included within the development of the Improving Life Chances Board.   Work would take place over the first six months of 2017 to finalise the detail of new arrangements and ensure an effective transition to the new arrangements in the second quarter of 2017. The Children and Young People Thematic Board would have a key role to play in ensuring that its work programme was embedded effectively within the Improving Life Chances Board.

Councillor Henry indicatated that the Board was presently well attended, had full agendas and had made good progress with the action plan.  There would require to be careful consideration given to the agenda balance and board membership in order to keep the focus on Children and Young People.

Discussion noted that there was a need for the Board to engage with the Community Planning Team in the next few months to ensure the key drivers/agenda issues and substructures were detailed and it was agreed that a small working group would be established to look at the key issues.

DECIDED:

(a)   That the changes to the governance structure of Renfrewshire Community Planning Partnership and, in particular, the arrangements for discontinuing the Children and Young People Board and continuing the remit of the Board through the Improving Life Chances Board be noted; and

There was submitted a report and presentation by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Statutory Guidance: Part 3 Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 – Children’s Services Planning.

The presentation outlined the details of the Children's Service Plan; gave a brief overview of the Children & Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and where Part 3 of the Guidance would fit in; detailed the wellbeing data 2013; gave a brief overview of the achievements to date and the actions to be taken forward; indicated the feedback from the Children’s Champions Board; and highlighted the next steps.

The report advised that Part 3 of the Act extended the statutory duty on local authorities and health boards to produce three-yearly Children’s Services Plans.  Statutory guidance for children’s services planning was released on 23 December 2016. The Guidance sought to further embed GIRFEC into all aspects of service planning, delivery and evaluation and to make joined-up, evidence-based, strategic planning the catalyst for transformational change of children’s services. A link to the Guidance was contained within the report.

The Guidance included extensive provisions which regulated the aims, processes for development, implementation and review of children’s services plans. The new provisions presented opportunities for Renfrewshire to further strengthen its strategic planning activity by drawing together related workstreams towards shared objectives to improve the lives of children, young people and families.

A presentation was given by K Tobin, Researcher from Dartington Social Research Unit which detailed the initial findings of the school survey which had been completed at the end of last year.

The presentation gave a brief overview of the timeline; outlined the type of data received; highlighted a series of innovations in the methodology; looked at the data products and accompanying materials; gave an overview of the aspects of wellbeing that was measured; looked at a sample of the data and matched it to needs and services; and detailed population statistics.

It was noted that once the portal was loaded it was the intention to undertake tutorial sessions with interested Community Planning Partners.

Discussion took place on the Children’s Services Plan and it was agreed that a short term writing group would be established to produce the new plan.  Membership would include Community Planning Partners.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the implications of the new Statutory Guidance for Renfrewshire’s Children’s Services Planning processes be noted;

(b)   That the review of the progress and achievements of the current Children’s Services Plan be noted;

(c)   That it be noted that a strategic commissioning approach would be undertaken to develop the new Children’s Services Plan:  A strategic needs assessment would be carried out which would include analysis of children’s wellbeing data (due February 2017, along with the range of other data already available to partners), to identify priorities for next period;

(d)   That it be noted that the statutory and non-statutory planning and reporting activity would be mapped out and opportunities for improvement would be identified; 

(c)  That it be agreed that a writing group would be established to produce the new Plan which was due to be completed by 31 March 2017; and

(d)   That the presentations be noted.