Children's Committee Minutes 19 September 2001

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CHILDREN'S COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 2.00 PM

Present :

Mrs T M Butchers, Mrs D Gardiner, Mr C R Hancock, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs J L Wareham, Mr D G Williams

Apologies :

Mr A J Mellor, Mrs M J Miller

1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED :

THAT Mrs J L Wareham be elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

2. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2001 be confirmed.

3. TERMS OF REFERENCE

Members were reminded that the Children's Committee had been established following agreement by the Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee on 23 June 2000 and by the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee on 28 June 2000. The Committee enabled elected Members to ensure that the Council's obligation and performance as a corporate parent, to agreed objectives and performance indicators, were fulfilled in relation to Looked After Children and Children in Need and to give consideration of issues relevant to both Education and Social Services.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Terms of Reference be approved.

4. TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND SEXUAL HEALTH

The joint report of the Director of Social Services and Housing and the Director of Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning was received regarding teenage pregnancy and sexual health. The report had been produced in response to a question raised by Mrs S White, a member of the public, on the benefits of sex abstinence education in schools at the Education, Community Development and Life Long Learning Select Committee and the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee earlier in the year.

Members were advised of the establishment of the Teenage Pregnancy Unit by central Government, following the production of a report on Teenage Pregnancy commissioned in 1999, and the Government's aim to reduce teenage pregnancies by 50%, by 2010. The 1999 report outlined 3 major policy areas to underpin the aim, which had subsequently been incorporated into a number of associated plans covering Health, Education and Social Services on the Isle of Wight. The findings of research conducted of the approach adopted in USA and Holland were noted. The Isle of Wight Health Authority had also commissioned research into the sexual health needs of looked after children on the Island.

It was reported that the Health and Local Authorities of Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and the Island had produced a local Teenage Pregnancy Strategy April 2001 - March 2011. The Strategy included a three year action plan in order to meet national targets and to reduce the long term social exclusion of teenage parents and their children. A multi-agency Implementation Group would meet regularly to monitor and evaluate local actions to ensure the plan was delivered and objectives maintained. The Strategy adopted a comprehensive, inclusive and informative approach to dealing with the problem and responded to the Department of Health directive in relation to emergency contraception as part, but not the only method of reducing pregnancies. In discussion, a copy of the Strategy was requested to be circulated to all members of the Committee. Members noted that Government funding had been made available for the appointment of a Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator to promote a comprehensive approach to sex education, information and advice. It was also reported that, as part of the Sure Start Project, a dedicated midwife for teenage pregnancies was based in Ryde. Sex abstinence education formed part of a holistic approach to tackle the problem along with education on better prevention, better contraceptive advice and better support for teenage parents.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the position set out in the report be noted;

(ii) THAT a copy of the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire joint strategy be circulated to all members of the Committee;

(iii) THAT a further report be presented to the Committee six months following the appointment of the Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator.

5. CHILDREN (LEAVING CARE) ACT 2000

Draft regulations and guidance on the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 had been issued for consultation earlier in the year. The final version of the regulations were issued recently with the final guidance documents still awaited. The report of the Director of Social Services set out the progress of and implications for the Authority in implementing the new legislation, which would become effective from 1 October 2001. The Act amended and supplemented the Children Act 1989, specifying a series of new duties for Local Authorities with respect to young people in or leaving care age 16+. The Independent Support Project (ISP), formed by the Council in 1995, had in partnership with representatives from a number of agencies, formed an intra agency implementation group to examine in detail the proposed legislation. The broad proposals resulting from the consultations were set out in the report together with the necessary action determined. The initial requirements could be met through adapting existing resources and procedures. The Island had been set a budget of �293K for implementation of the Act, which reflected existing expenditure together with new ring-fenced funding. It was not known if this took into account the financial costs of living on an island. It was highlighted that additional funding maybe achieved through partnership arrangements with the voluntary sector agencies. The Act was not retrospective in its effects and the full impact would not be experience for 2 to 3 years. The terms of the Act were to be implemented through a continuing process of service development, monitored by a periodic review of the Council's services for young people leaving public care, in 6 and 18 months time

RESOLVED :

THAT the action proposed be noted and for a further report to be presented to the Committee in six months.

6. CHILDRENS FUND ALLOCATION

The Director of Social Services and Housing provided a brief oral update on the Councils progress to achieve success in the 2^nd waive of the Children's Fund Allocation. Members were made aware of the tight timetable to be adhered to. A steering group, comprising of representatives from Voluntary Sector Groups and Statutory Agencies, the other partners involved, had been established to develop an appropriate scheme. Member representation would be welcomed. The Proposal was subject to various considerations and should tackle exclusion and promote inclusion for children between 5 and 13 years of age.

RESOLVED :

THAT the report be noted.

7. DATE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

RESOLVED :

THAT it be agreed that meetings of the Children's Committee be held on 5 November 2001 and 17 January 2002.

CHAIRMAN