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Current Scrutiny Reviews |
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Detail |
Proposed Completion Date |
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Initial Scoping Reviews |
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Subject area for initial scoping |
Detail |
Proposed Dates |
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Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review Topics |
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Suggested Topic |
Detail |
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Transport for all age care |
At its 2024 away day the Committee discussed the challenges in transport for care and home to school transport and agreed that this, in collaboration with Children’s Services and Adult Social Care and Health, could be a potential topic for a future scrutiny review. |
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Carers Partnership Strategy
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At its 2024 away day the Committee agreed to recommend that a report on the progress of the Carers Partnership Strategy be brought to the Committee and that it may wish to consider this topic for a future scrutiny review. |
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Recruitment of foster carers
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At its 2024 away day the Committee discussed the vital role of foster carers and agreed that exploring ways to improve the recruitment and application process, including seeking best practice in other local authorities, could be a potential topic for a future scrutiny review. |
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Elective Home Education |
The Committee heard at their 2021 work planning awayday that issues relating to the increase in the numbers of children being electively home educated (EHE) remain a concern for the Children’s Services Department and expressed an interest in scrutinising the work the Department is doing in response.
The Committee received additional updates on the local situation, as well as national updates, at their November 2022 and November 2023 meetings, including information at the November 2023 meeting on a DfE Consultation that has opened on revised home education guidance for Local Authorities to provide more clarity about ‘suitable education’ and support to be provided for home educators. In the absence of legislation for a statutory register, the guidance proposes Local Authorities set up a voluntary registration scheme for parents who home educate.
The Committee agreed at the November 2023 meeting to retain this as a potential area for review but will await further information from the DfE consultation. |
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Reference Group Title |
Subject area |
Meeting Dates |
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School Attendance |
The Committee agreed in July 2024 to convert a planned scrutiny review on attendance into a Reference Group to provide timely input into targeted programmes which were developing at pace. The Group would review attendance data, including data on children who were persistently absent, as well as children with SEND and those who were disadvantaged.
The Group met in January 2025 and considered the latest attendance data, national guidance and legislation, and progress of current initiatives. The Group welcomed the number of initiatives underway to improve school attendance and discussed engagement with parents and support for families, attendance for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and mental heath support. The Group agreed to receive an update report in the summer on progress on the initiatives underway and agreed to consider the future of the Reference Group at its work programme item at the Committee’s March meeting. Membership of the Reference Group: Cllrs Field and Howell and John Hayling (Chair) Parent Governor Representative. |
TBC |
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Prevention in Children’s Services
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The Committee agreed in March 2023 to convert a planned scrutiny review on prevention in Children’s Services into a Reference Group in order to provide regular and timely input into key projects and programmes which were under development and progressing at pace. The Group has considered work to develop preventative approaches including Family Hubs and the Family Safeguarding model, and has provided ongoing scrutiny challenge.
This Reference Group last met on 17 June 2024 and agreed that after several meetings, it was assured the Department was developing a range of work focused on prevention and that an update on progress of this work to the whole Committee in 6 months would be an appropriate way forward. It was agreed to pause the Reference Group on the understanding that the Group would reconvene if there were significant work or policy developments that would benefit from scrutiny input.
Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors Cross and Howell, and John Hayling Parent Governor Representative (Chair) |
TBC pending further developments |
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CQC Preparation Reference Group |
The Reference Group last met on 17 June 2024 and received a presentation from the Department on findings from the recent LGA Peer Review and the Department’s response to these findings, including the development of an ASCH Departmental Priority Action Plan. The Group welcomed the positive findings from the LGA report, discussed some of the areas for consideration, and agreed to continue to provide scrutiny support to the Department in its preparations for the upcoming CQC assessment.
The next meeting is planned for autumn 2024 and will consider progress on the Departmental Priority Action Plan.
Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors Cross, Geary (Chair), Howell, and Webb. |
March 2025 |
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Health and Social Care Integration Programme (HASCIP) Reference Group
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The Committee agreed to establish a Reference Group to monitor progress of the East Sussex Health and Social Care Integration Programme and identify areas for future scrutiny. It reviews HASCIP progress reports provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board and meets on an ad hoc basis as required to consider issues arising in more detail. The Group last met on 24 June 2024 to consider the Shared Delivery Plan year 2 refresh. The Group welcomed the progress of integrated care in East Sussex and discussed the new governance arrangements, hospital discharge, NHS funding, and the specific are of focus in the SDP on Children and Young People at a pan-Sussex level.
Membership of the group: Councillors Clark, Geary (Chair) and Webb. |
Next meeting: TBC
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Educational Attainment and Performance Scrutiny Reference Group |
The Committee agreed in June 2018 to establish a Reference Group to focus on reviewing data on educational attainment in East Sussex and related issues. The Group meets on an annual basis.
The Group met on 27 March 2024 to consider attainment results for the 2022/23 academic year. Members discussed the impact of Covid on attainment for all key stages, the role of Multi Academy Trusts in providing local support to communities, and the impact of short term government funding. The Group agreed the Department was working to support schools through a range of challenges.
Membership of the group: Councillors Cross, Field (Chair) and Howell. |
Next meeting: 18 March 2025 |
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The Committee agreed at its 2022 work planning awayday to establish a Reference Group to consider the impact and implementation of the national Adult Social Care reforms. Implementation of the reforms was subsequently delayed in the 2022 Autumn Statement from October 2023 to October 2025 and the first meeting of the Group will take place closer to implementation.
Membership of the group: Councillors Geary and Ungar. |
TBC pending further developments |
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) Board
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RPPR Board meets annually to agree detailed comments and any recommendations on the emerging portfolio plans and spending and savings proposals to be put to Cabinet on behalf of the scrutiny committee. |
Next meeting: December 2025 |
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Subject Area |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
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Title of Training/Briefing |
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Proposed Date |
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Author |
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17 March 2025
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Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) Annual Report |
To update the Committee on the work of SACRE. |
Chairman of SACRE / Director of Children’s Services |
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Equality and Inclusion in ASCH Scrutiny Review |
12 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations. |
Director of Adult Social Care and Health |
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School Exclusions Scrutiny Review |
12 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations. |
Director of Children’s Services |
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National policy developments in Children’s Services |
To inform the Committee on key national policy developments relating to Children’s Services, including the Children’s Wellbeing Bill. |
Director of Children’s Services |
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Committee Work Programme
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To manage the Committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping boards, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information. |
Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser |
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) |
To continue the Committee’s work on the RPPR process for 2024/25 financial year. |
Chief Executive
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14 July 2025
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6 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations. |
Director of Adult Social Care and Health |
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SEND inspection report |
To update the Committee on the outcomes of the recent SEND inspection and the Department’s response. |
Director of Children’s Services |
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Committee Work Programme
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To manage the Committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping boards, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information. |
Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser |
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)
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To commence the Committee’s involvement with the RPPR process for 2025/26 financial year by reviewing the information in the Quarter 4 (end of year) (2024/25) Council Monitoring report and the State of the County report. |
Chief Executive |
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22 September 2025
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Committee Work Programme
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To manage the Committee’s programme of work including matters relating to ongoing reviews, initial scoping boards, future scrutiny topics, reference groups, training and development matters and reports for information. |
Senior Policy and Scrutiny Adviser |
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) |
To continue the Committee’s work on the RPPR process for 2024/25 financial year. |
Chief Executive |
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Safeguarding Adults Board - Annual Report
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The Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) Annual Report outlines the safeguarding activity and performance in East Sussex during the previous financial year, as well as some of the main developments in place to prevent abuse from occurring.
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Chair, Safeguarding Adults Board |
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Items to consider for future work programme
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Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)
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At its 2024 away day the Committee agreed to recommend that a report on the impacts of any agreed savings be brought to the Committee in September or November 2025 as part of its Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) item. |
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