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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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Home to School Trasport |
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.
An initial scoping board was held in May 2025 where Members considered current statutory duties around transport in both adult social care and education; cost pressures; and programmes of work, planned and underway, to address these.
In relation to ASCH transport, the Board agreed that it was not currently the right time for a scrutiny review into this area, due to work in progress, but that potential upcoming changes to transport policy in ASCH would be brought to the Committee when appropriate.
The Board was keen to scrutinise areas in Home to School Transport and agreed that a rapid review in the autumn into some specific aspects could add value. A further scoping board took place in October 2025 which considered the current pressures, costs and statutory responsibilities related to Home to School Transport; cost avoidance measures in place to mitigate these; and national developments, including anticipated significant reforms in the awaited Schools White Paper. The board agreed that in light of pending national reforms, a broad review of Home to School Transport would be unfeasible, however there was value in conducting a focused scrutiny review on Personal Transport Budgets and Independent Travel Training, aiming to identify barriers to uptake and explore supporting increased engagement.
Membership of Scoping Board: Cllrs Belsey, Cross, Howell and John Hayling (Parent Governor Representative). Review Board Membership TBC.
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To report to March 2026 Committee
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Suggested Potential Future Scrutiny Review Topics |
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Suggested Topic |
Detail |
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Children’s Mental Health Support |
At its 2025 away day the Committee discussed increasing demand for Children’s services due to parental and children’s mental health needs and agreed to include children’s mental health support, including its role in school attendance, to its work programme as a potential topic for a scrutiny review. |
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Carers Partnership Plan
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At its 2024 away day the Committee agreed to recommend that a report on the progress of the Carers Partnership Plan be brought to the Committee and that it may wish to consider this topic for a future scrutiny review.
The Committee discussed this again at its 2025 awayday, noting findings in the recent CQC assessment report that the plan had not been published at the time of writing, and agreed that although the Carers Partnership Plan had now been published, there was a role for scrutiny in monitoring the implementation of this. |
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Reference Group Title |
Subject area |
Meeting Dates |
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The Committee agreed at its March 2025 meeting to convert the existing Prevention in Children’s Services Reference Group and the Attendance Reference Group into a single Reference Group focused on national reforms relating to Children’s Services, with a particular focus on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The Reference Group will consider the impact of these reforms on ESCC and scrutinise the Department’s response to these. The Committee agreed to look at the recruitment of foster carers as part of this work. The Group met in June 2025 and received a presentation on key reforms in children’s social care and the department’s work in response to these, including the establishment of the Transformation Board. The Group agreed that the next meeting would focus on the expected SEND White Paper. At its 2025 awayday, the committee agreed to hold further meetings to focus on SEND pressures and reform. Membership of the Reference Group: Cllrs Belsey, Cross, Field, Geary and Howell and John Hayling (Parent Governor Representative)
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8 December 2025 |
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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 CQC assessment. ASCH spokespeople attended additional briefing sessions ahead of the CQC visit.
At the Committee’s 2025 awayday, it was agreed that the Group would explore areas identified for improvement by the CQC, including data sharing amongst partners.
The next meeting is planned for January 2026 and will consider the outcome of the assessment and progress on the Departmental Priority Action Plan.
Membership of the Reference Group: Councillors Cross, Geary (Chair), Howell and Webb.
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January 2026 |
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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 6 October 2025 to consider quarterly progress on the Shared Delivery Plan, focusing on Integrated Community Teams, hospital discharge, and the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Group also received an update on ongoing reforms to Integrated Care Boards and the wider NHS, discussing potential impacts for East Sussex.
Membership of the group: Councillors Belsey, Clark, Geary (Chair) Howell and Webb.
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TBC
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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.
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Next meeting: 11 December 2025 |
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Subject Area |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
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For the Committee to receive the final Climate Change Health Impact Assessment.
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March 2026 |
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Title of Training/Briefing |
Detail |
Proposed Date |
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Carers Partnership Plan |
To brief members on the Carers Partnership Plan as this was identified as an area of interest for a potential topic for a future review. |
TBC |
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Schools White Paper |
To receive a briefing on the Schools White Paper to develop Member’s understanding of key reforms and implications on local services. |
TBC (depending on publication of White Paper) |
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Relevant upcoming Member Training Programme items (open to all Members) |
- SEND and mainstream Home to School Transport - Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing for Children and young people
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19 November 25 26 November 25 |
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Author |
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12 March 2026
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To update the Committee on the education attainment results for the 2023/24 academic year. |
Director of Children’s Services |
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Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) Annual Report |
To update the Committee on the work of SACRE. |
Roy Galley, Chairman of SACRE / Director of Children’s Services |
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SEND update |
To update the Committee on progress on the SEND action plan; SEND White Paper and any local implications/programmes of work. |
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 2025/26 financial year. |
Chief Executive |
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Healthy Ageing Scrutiny Review |
12 month monitoring report on progress with the Review’s recommendations. |
Director of Adult Social Care and Health |
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13 July 2026
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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 2025/26 financial year. |
Chief Executive |
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21 September 2026
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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 2025/26 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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Annual Review of Safer Communities |
To update the Committee on performance in relation to Safer Communities in 2024/25 and the priorities and issues for 2026/27 that will be highlighted in the Partnership Business Plan. |
Director of Adult Social Care and Health |
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23 November 2026
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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 2025/26 financial year. |
Chief Executive |
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East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership (ESSCP) Annual Report |
Presentation of the annual report of the East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership.
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Independent Chair, East Sussex Safeguarding Children Partnership |
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