Minutes:
The Chair welcomed the Minister for Children, Nadhim Zahawi MP to the Board and thanked him for taking the time to engage directly with elected members following his earlier speech.
Nadhim Zahawi MP thanked the Chair and stated that key messages regarding funding from this Board had been heard, that the challenges faced by councils have been recognised, and that it was understood that funding is fundamental. Although the funding received in the Autumn Budget was an achievement, the Minister recognised that more work had to be done to prepare for the spending review.
The Minister praised the LGA’s leading role in this area and identified that the Bright Futures report had a strong focus on Local Leadership. The Minister explained that partnership work between local authorities and agencies were critical, therefore, the Department is improving work with this.
The Minister asked members for their comments and feedback. The following discussion took place:
- One member raised concerns surrounding funding pressures on children services due to child poverty and the roll-out of Universal Credit, and asked whether funding for the Troubled Families would be extended beyond 2020. The Minister responded that government recognised that local authorities have used this troubled families funding to underpin core elements of the wider system of support for children and families and reassured the Board that the future of this funding is an issue under active consideration.
- Concerns were raised regarding the role of private foster care agencies, which were felt to be making large profits at the expense of hard pressed local authorities. . The Minister responded that this had been considered in an independent review of foster care undertaken by Mark Owers and Sir Martin Narey, which concluded that the relationship between the private foster care system and the rest of the system is well balanced, and there are often negative repercussions when you tinker with an already complex system.
- A member raised the issue of NHS spending on children with complex needs, such as special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or mental health issues. The Minister recognised this challenge and stated that along with the additional £20 billon funding that has gone into the NHS, there is a need for the Leadership Board to become a task force on joint commissioning in order to focus on this particular issue of building partnerships.
- Home-to-school transport was raised as a significant financial pressure with a particular impact on rural areas that is not being factored into funding. The Minister noted that this is an area that will be under review, and Cllr Bramble highlighted that the LGA would be undertaking work on this shortly.
- A member raised the issue of funding in relation to young people remanded into custody, highlighting that accommodation and other support for over 18s was funded by the Home Office while children’s services were expected to cover the full cost for under 18s.The question posed to the Minister was whether there was scope to share the care cost. The Minister agreed that young offenders fall into different categories dependant on the cut-off age, and is why the DfE want to work with the Home Office to establish and shape the direction of a new youth fund.
- A member asked for the Minister to help support councils by helping to strengthen the relationship between local authorities and schools, as one member felt that some mainstream schools had become less accommodating towards Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children. The minister again recognised the funding challenges and pressures of population growth. The Minister emphasised that every school should be a SEND school and that they have been working in the departments to ensure training is delivered for SEND children.
The Chair thanked the Minister for his time and for participating in the session.