Agenda and draft minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members will be invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on the agenda.  A list of general personal interests previously declared is attached.

The following Members and Co-optees declared a general personal interest in the items on the agenda  :

Councillor Runciman – Governor of Joseph Rowntree School and York College, and Trustee of the Theatre Royal.

Councillor Aspden – Governor of Knavesmire Primary School. Member of the National Union of Teachers (NUT). Teacher at Norton College, Malton, North Yorkshire.

Councillor Bradley – Governor of Poppleton Ousebank School

Councillor Cuthbertson – Governor of Headlands Primary School

Councillor Hopton – Governor of Manor School, Rufforth Primary School.  Her husband is a governor at Hob Moor Oaks.

Councillor Kind – Governor of Burnholme Community College; Haxby Road Primary School

Councillor Livesley – Governor of Bishopthorpe Infant School.

Councillor Scott – Governor of Clifton Green School.

Dr D Sellick – Governor of Derwent Junior School

Mr A Lawton as governor of Canon Lee School

Ms F Barclay – ATL: Branch Secretary for City of York and Teacher at All Saints School.

Mrs J Ellis – Governor of Burton Green Primary School

Mrs A Burn – Headteacher and Governor of Yearsley Grove Primary School.  Secretary of the York branch of the NAHT

Ms B Reagan is a teacher at Joseph Rowntree School, SENCO and Secretary of the York Association of the National Union of Teachers.

Mr M Thomas is the secretary of the York Association of NASUWT.

The following interests were also declared:

Councillor Kind declared a personal and prejudicial interest in  Agenda Item 5 ‘Standard charges for the use of Residential Homes and Foster Carers, Sharing Care, Adoption and Residence Order Weekly Allowances’ as she was a foster carer. She left the room and took no part in the discussion thereon.

Councillor Livesley declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 ‘Admission Limits for Primary and Secondary Schools in York from September 2007’ as he was a governor of Bishopthorpe Infant School. He exercised his right to remain in the room and took part in the discussion.

Dr Sellick declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 ‘Admission Limits for Primary and Secondary Schools in York from September 2007’ as he was a governor of Derwent Junior School. He exercised his right to remain in the room and took part in the discussion.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Executive Member for Education and Advisory Panel, held on 21 March 2006.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the last meeting of the Executive Member and Advisory Panel, held on 21 March 2006 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Panel’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Monday 15^th May 2006 at 10am.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak under the Council’s Public Participation scheme.

It was raised that there were some members of the committee who attended very infrequently. The Chair agreed to write to the members concerned and query if they wished to nominate someone else.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the Service Plans for council services that are wholly or partially funded from the Children’s Services budget.

The annex to this report, which contains the Service Plans, is available at www.york.gov.uk (see meetings). A paper copy is available for viewing at the Guildhall, York. Please contact the Democracy Officer on the details at the foot of this agenda. Copies will be available at the meeting.

Members will be able to view the Service Plans in the Members’ Library and on the Members’ drive.

If you are already viewing the online version of this agenda, then the annex will be incorporated into the agenda.

Members received a report which sought approval for the Service Plans for Council services that were wholly or partially funded from the Children’s Services budget. Service Plans came under the following: School Improvement and Staff Development, Access and Inclusion, Children and Families, Lifelong Learning and Leisure and Resource Management.

The Sports and Active Leisure Manager provided an update on the service, and circulated a leaflet about the Jorvik School Sport Partnership. The following was discussed:

·        The Sports and Active Leisure service would contribute to the Extended Schools service by using sport to encourage community involvement, including both parents and local residents.

·        Feedback had been sought from young people on provision of sports and activities in schools.

·        Officers were trying to quality assure coaches for schools.

·        Officers suggested that for future service plan reports and monitoring reports, Members could request to focus in on particular services.

·        Members raised if the Primary Care Trust budget cuts would affect the funding provided by the Trust. It was reported that there was no indication that funding would be withdrawn.

Advice of the Advisory Panel:

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the Service Plans attached to this report.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            To support effective Performance Management.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval for the level of charges to other local authorities for the use of services within the Children and Families portfolio for residential care homes. The report also considers proposed foster care, sharing care, adoption and residence order weekly allowances for 2006/07.

Members received a report which sought approval for the level of charges to other local authorities for the use of services within the Children and Families portfolio for residential care homes. It also considered proposed foster care, sharing care, adoption and residence order weekly allowances for 2006/07.

There were no alternative options regarding the standard weekly charges for residential care homes as there was a legislative requirement that the charges were calculated following national guidelines provided to all local authorities.

There were a number of options for setting the foster care, sharing care and adoption allowances as the authority had the discretion currently to set the rates at whatever level it deemed appropriate and affordable. These included:

·    Option A - to increase the foster care, sharing care and adoption allowances to the amounts proposed within the report;

·    Option B - not to increase the foster care, sharing care and adoption allowances but leave them at the 2005/06 rates or to increase them by less than the amounts proposed within the report;

·    Option C - to increase the foster care, sharing care and adoption allowances by more than the amounts quoted within the report.

The following was discussed:

• Concerns were raised that the foster care system was vital if the number of children’s homes was to be reduced, and that foster carer numbers may reduce if the 2.3% increase on the minimum payment of foster carers was below the rate recommended nationally. It was reported that the payment covered weekly allowances and there were additional payments for skill levels. 60% of carers were at the higher skill level.
• Rates were competitive with other local authorities as there was now a professional foster carer scheme. Although other authorities had a higher basic allowance, this authority provided additional payments no longer provided by others.
• Carers received ongoing training, and it would be decided which level the carer should progress to at an annual review.
• Members thanked all 82 foster carers.

Advice of the Advisory Panel:

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the following changes with effect from 2 April 2006:

(a)   the standard weekly charges for residential care homes as shown in Annex A.

(b)    ·   the foster carers weekly allowances and skill premiums

            shown in Annex B.

·  the additional foster carers weekly allowances as shown in

            Annex C.

·  the weekly adoption allowances and residence order allowances as shown in Annex D.

·  the sharing care allowances as shown in Annex E.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To set the standard charges and weekly allowances at an appropriate level.

This report advises the Executive Member of the progress being made around the development of a skills centre on the Danesgate site.

Members received a report which advised them of the progress being made around the development of a skills centre on the Danesgate site. Officers updated that the annex to the report, a leaflet about the Danesgate Centre, would be circulated to Members after the meeting for information. The following was discussed:

• The Danesgate Centre offered an opportunity for vocational training for young people, not offered elsewhere.
• The centre had capacity to allow 150 young people access to three strands of work related learning.
• Members supported the inclusion of vocational tutors on the staff at the Centre.

Advice of the Advisory Panel:

That the Executive Member be advised to note this report and the arrangements set out in it.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            To update the Executive Member.

To seek approval in respect of the proposed individual school maximum admission limits for the academic year beginning in September 2007.

Members received a report which sought approval in respect of the proposed individual school maximum admission limits for the academic year beginning in September 2007. The following was discussed:

• Members raised concerns that when admission limits changed significantly, schools may permanently commit class space for other purposes, leaving the changed limit unalterable. Officers reported that they had the same concerns and limits were to be reviewed if required.
• Members commented that as Clifton Without Junior School was increasing in size, appropriate structures should be in place, as the school would be significantly large for a primary school.
• Members noted the movement between catchment areas of some pupils.

Advice of the Advisory Panel:

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the proposed admission limits for the academic year beginning September 2007 as detailed in Annex 1.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To meet the requirement of Local Authorities to consult on, set and publish admission limits for schools.

This report recommends term dates and holidays for the school year 2007 / 2008, and outlines the consultation responses from the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) and the Teachers’ Panel.

Members received a report which recommended term dates and holidays for the school year 2007 / 2008, and outlined the consultation responses from the Joint Consultative Group (JCG) and the Teachers’ Panel.

Advice of the Advisory Panel:

That the Executive Member be advised to approve the pattern of school terms and holidays for 2007/08 proposed in Annex 2, as agreed with the Teaching Associations.

Decision of the Executive Member:

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:      To fulfil the duty of the Local Authority to set school term and holiday dates.

Councillor Hopton was permitted to at the Chair’s discretion to address the committee on two issues.

Councillor Hopton raised concerns about the lack of a policy requiring school transport buses to have lap belts. The school bus provided for children travelling to Askham Richard school did not have lap belts. Subsequently nine out of twenty children travelled by car as their parents refused to let them travel on a bus without lap belts. This went against City of York Council policy. This problem had been raised before but parents had been told that there was no legal requirements for buses to have lap belts, but the parents were not satisfied with this response. Councillor Hopton requested that the Executive Member look at the Local Authority’s policy on school transport or lap belts.

Councillor Hopton raised concerns about parking problems around St Mary’s Primary School. Recently a playgroup had transferred opposite the school. There were 105 children at the school, and fulltime and peripatetic staff. Few were from Askham Richard and some came by bus, and some by car. Parked cars had been a problem to villagers. There had been damage to grass verges and the village was a conservation area. Officers from Traffic had tried to resolve these problems before. At a planning stage parking issues had been raised and dismissed. Councillor Hopton requested that the Executive Member and Officers from Education follow this up as a priority, and had two suggestions:

·        The car park at Askham Bryan College should be used as a transition point for children boarding the bus.

·        Or land should be provided at the school for a car park. School buses could also use this facility.

It was noted that Councillor Scott would not be sitting on the committee the following year. He had been elected as Young People’s Champion and may attend future meetings.