Other Members in Attendance:

Councillor Ruth Houghton – Portfolio Holder for Social Care

Councillor Andy Hall – Portfolio Holder for Children and Education

Councillor Roger Evans – Portfolio Holder for Finance (remotely)

Councillor Dawn Husemann – Group Leader (remotely)

Officers in Attendance:

Sophie Foster – Overview and Scrutiny Officer 

Tom Dodds – Scrutiny Manager

Tanya Miles – Interim Chief Executive & Executive Director DASS

David Shaw – Director Children's Services

Sonya Miller – Service Director Children's & Young People

Natasha Moody - Families First Partnership (FFP) Strategic Lead

John Rowe – Head of Education Quality and Safeguarding

Jo Kelly – Virtual Head Teacher

Michelle Williams – Service Manager Long Term Support

Apologies were received from Councillor Duncan Kerr (Substitute: Julian Dean), Councillor Alan Mosley, Councillor Terri Trickett and Gemma Martin, Diocesan Board of Education.

Members are reminded that they must declare their disclosable pecuniary interests and other registrable or non-registrable interests in any matter being considered at the meeting as set out in Appendix B of the Members’ Code of Conduct and consider if they should leave the room prior to the item being considered. Further advice can be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

None received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd October 2025.

Contact: Shelley Davies – Committee Officer.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 22nd October 2025 be confirmed as an accurate record.

To receive any questions from members of the public of which notice has been given. The deadline for this meeting is 12.00 pm, Thursday 8^th January 2026.

A public question was received from Mr John Palmer, in relation to the Children’s services reforms.

The full question and response provided can be found on: Public Question - POSC 14.01.26.pdf

As a supplementary question, Mr Palmer asked the Chairman if he would have liked to have seen even more professionals attending the meeting, excited by the positive actions being introduced in children's services reforms.

The Chairman, Councillor Andy Davis, noted his appreciation to the Officers and Portfolio Holders for their presence and acknowledged the considerable work undertaken in preparing the report.

To receive any question of which Members of the Council have given notice. The deadline for this meeting is 12.00 pm, Thursday 8^th January 2026.

There were no member questions.

The Chairman announced that item 7, Children’s Services Reforms, would be taken first, followed by item 6, Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report. The remaining items would proceed as originally scheduled.

To receive the Children’s Services Reforms Report. (Report attached)

Contact: David Shaw - Director Children's Services

David Shaw, Director Children's Services presented the report which gave an overview of the recent national reforms to children’s services. He referred to the wide-ranging and fundamental nature of the reforms, describing them as the most significant changes in many years and highlighted the principle of "One Council" working together to achieve the best outcomes for children, young people, and families in Shropshire.

Natasha Moody, Families First Partnership Strategic Lead gave a presentation detailing the following five key reform programmes: 

·       Families First Partnership

·       Family Hubs/Best Start in Life

·       Youth Strategy

·       Private Law Proceedings Pathfinder

·       SEND and Alternative Provision Reform

It was explained the reforms, which focused on early intervention and prevention in response to poorer outcomes and a rise in the number of children in care since 2010, were being integrated into a single transformation programme and delivery plan, with key personnel appointed from the local authority, police, and health.

Natasha Moody provided an overview of the progress made to date and encouraged the Committee to ensure that the partnership remains accountable for achieving its objectives and asked members to share feedback from their communities with the Impact Board.

In response to questions members were advised that:

·       Existing performance data and documents such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment were being used to identify family needs.

·       A "needs and harms analysis" was required by the Department of Education to review various indicators across local areas. It was mentioned that the results of this analysis would be presented at a future meeting.

·       Schools were actively involved in the programme with a School Leader and Academy Chief Executive leading the "family help" task and finish group.

·       The fire service should be included as a partner and the importance of involving other partners such as the voluntary sector to make the programme successful was also highlighted.

·       Transport was a significant barrier for young people, especially in rural areas which affected access to work and services. It was emphasised that transport challenges cannot be solved by Children's Services alone and required a corporate, Council-wide approach.

·       Shropshire and the West Midlands regularly share of good practice across the region although there was a recognition that needs differ across communities.

·       Suitable places need to be identified to ensure that services are delivered where people actually go and feel comfortable such as community centres and family hubs.

·       The strategy was to select sites based on data showing areas of deprivation and need, but it was acknowledged that there might be challenges to locate available buildings in those priority areas.

·       The Council expects anyone engaging with children, including school clubs and similar roles, to have safeguarding training but a response would be provided in relation to the query about whether minibus drivers were required to have safeguarding training.

Officers were thanked for their report.

RECOMMENDED:

That the report be noted and the Committee receive an update on progress in 12 months.

To receive the Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report. (Report attached)

Contact: Tanya Miles - Executive Director DASS/ Interim Chief Executive.

Tanya Miles, Interim Chief Executive and Executive Director DASS introduced the Performance Monitoring Report Quarter 1 which gave an update on key areas of performance across Care & Wellbeing and Children and Young People services.

John Rowe, Head of Education Quality and Safeguarding outlined key areas of the report in relation to the Designated Schools Grant (DSG).  It was explained that the DSG was made up of several blocks: schools, early years, high needs, and central school services and that Shropshire faced significant pressure in the high needs block, currently running a £41 million deficit.

John Rowe noted that the deficit was not on the Council’s core budget sheet due to a statutory override and was driven by a 70% increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since 2019, more children in independent and special schools, and increased top-up funding for mainstream schools. Strategies to manage the deficit were outlined and it was noted that the Council was working with the Department for Education and the Schools Forum on a management plan, but the future of the statutory override and any government bailout was still uncertain.

In response to questions in relation to the DSG members were advised that:

·       The team was not spending significant time modelling various hypothetical scenarios for the DSG deficit as these were uncertain and efforts were instead focused on managing the current situation and bringing the deficit back to balance using available strategies.

·       The Schools Forum was advisory but also a formal committee which made recommendations on funding formulas and resource allocations. It has a specific subgroup overseeing the DSG management plan and their involvement ensured schools understand the challenges faced by the Council.

·       The increase in children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was not only in the UK but also seen across Western Europe.

·       The Chairman recommended that a briefing for all Members on the DSG be arranged, as it was a complex topic involving the allocation of funds to local authorities and schools, with various categories and significant financial implications.

Jo Kelly, Virtual School Headteacher, outlined key areas of the report in relation to Elective Home Education (EHE). She explained that safeguarding was a concern since these children were less visible to authorities and that Shropshire’s EHE rate, currently at 791 was slightly above the national average. It was noted that priority visits target those on child protection plans, and Shropshire was proactively preparing for new laws that will generally require children under protection plans to return to school, barring exceptional cases.

In response to questions members were advised that:

·       There was a rise in EHE numbers after COVID, with figures increasing from 539 in 2022-23 to 791 at present.

·       The Council tracks children eligible for free school meals who were electively home educated but does not provide meals as responsibility shifts to parents once a child is home educated. It was added that the team monitored this group in their data and encouraged a return to school if needed,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Verbal update on the work programme of the Committee. (Work Programme attached)

Contact: Sophie Foster – Overview and Scrutiny Officer.

Sophie Foster, Overview & Scrutiny Officer noted that she had noted a number of topics that had been suggested during the meeting and she suggested that an additional meeting be arranged to discuss the priorities for the Committee.

RECOMMENDED:

That an additional meeting be arranged to discuss the Work Programme.

To note that the next meeting of the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be held at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday 22^nd April 2026.

Members noted that the next meeting of the People Overview and Scrutiny Meeting will be taking place on at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday 22^nd April 2026.