Agenda item

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

72.1    The Committee discussed its Work Programme which is comprised of a number of ongoing scrutiny reviews, reference groups and planned reports.   Set out below is an overview of the key items discussed. </AI6>

Current Scrutiny Reviews

School Exclusions

72.2    The Committee agreed at its meeting in June 2019 to appoint an Initial Scoping Board to explore issues relating to the high rate of school exclusions in East Sussex.  Having discussed the Board’s findings, the committee subsequently agreed at its meeting in March 2020 to proceed with a formal scrutiny review.  However, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the availability of schools to contribute to the review, the committee agreed to continue to pause activity with the intention to recommence it at a suitable future date, with the committee set to review the situation at its meeting in November 2020. 

Initial Scoping Reviews

Loneliness and resilience.

The Committee agreed to undertake scoping work for a potential scrutiny review of issues relating to loneliness and resilience within East Sussex.  The subject matter of the scoping exercise had been identified by the People Scrutiny Committee in 2018 as one of four potential scrutiny reviews which form part of an overarching scrutiny review of the ‘Changing Care Market’.   However, in light of the impact of COVID-19 on the Public Health Team’s ability to support the review,the committee agreed to defer meeting until January 2021.

Suggested Topics

72.3   The Committee discussed its ongoing interest in developments relating to the coronavirus national emergency and the challenges facing the Adult Social Care and Children’s Services departments.    The committee therefore agreed to update the work programme to include a further option to explore the impact of Covid-19 on departments and the services they provide.  

Scrutiny Reference Groups

Educational Attainment and Performance Scrutiny Reference Group

72.4   As a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the disruption it has caused to both school exams and attendance, the Committee were informed that relevant educational performance data would not be available in January 2021.  With that in mind, the Committee welcomed the Director of Children’s Services offer of a briefing session on the work being undertaken by the Standards and Learning Effectiveness Service (SLES) to support schools with their preparations for the exams anticipated to take place in summer 2021. 

Health and Social Care Integration Programme Reference Group

72.5    Councillor Davies informed the Committee that the Director of Adult Social Care and Health had undertaken to provide an update briefing to the reference group on progress with the integration programme in October 2020.

Strategic Commissioning Review of Early Help - Scrutiny Reference Group

72.6   The Director updated the committee regarding the implementation of the proposals agreed by the Lead Member for Children and Families on 7 October 2019.   The committee agreed to review progress with the implementation of the revised Early Help strategy in spring 2021, but also noted that as some changes were postponed, this might be subject to review.

72.7    The Committee RESOLVED to update the work programme in line with the items agreed in paragraphs 72.2, 72.3, 72.4, 72.5 and 72.6 above.