Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda. The following general personal non-prejudicial interests were declared.

Councillor Runciman:                        Governor of Joseph Rowntree School

                                                            Trustee of the Theatre Royal

Councillor Aspden:                           Governor of Knavesmire Primary School

                                                            Member of National Union of Teachers (NUT)

                                                            Teacher at Norton College, Malton, North Yorkshire

Councillor Firth:                                 Governor of Wigginton Primary School

                                                            His wife is a member of National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)

Councillor Gunnell:                            Has a son at Millthorpe School

Councillor Merrett:                             Has a daughter at St Paul’s Primary School

Councillor D’Agorne:                        Governor of Fishergate School & York College employee

Councillor Brooks:                            Member of Association of Teachers and Lecturers

                                                            Lecturer at City College, Manchester

Mr J Bailey:                                        Governor of Huntington School

Dr D Sellick:                                      Governor of Derwent Infant & Junior School

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

Mrs J Ellis:                                         Governor of Burton Green Primary School

                                                            Governor of Canon Lee School

Mrs A Burn:                                        Headteacher & Governor of Yearsley Grove School

                                                            Secretary of the York branch of the NAHT

Ms B Reagan:                                   Teacher at Joseph Rowntree School

                                                            SENCO Secretary of York Association of the National Union of Teachers

Mr M Thomas:                                   Secretary of York Association of National Association of Schoolmasters and Women Teachers (NASUWT)

The following interest were also declared:

Councillor Merrett declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6 (Service Plan Year End Monitoring Report) as his daughter attended St Paul’s Primary School and participated in ethnic minority group associations supported by the City of York Council. He also declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 8 (New Self-Financing Programmes for Adult and Community Education) as he attended a Tai Chi class that was provided by the City of York Council.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14th March 2007.

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 11th June 2007 at 5pm.

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

This report seeks approval that the 370m² site shown by the black verge (“the School Land”) on the plan at Annex 1 be declared surplus to the school’s needs and sold, with the initial proceeds to be allocated to Burton Green school.

The decision is referred to the EMAP because the recommendation is that the first part of the proceeds of sale are allocated to Burton Green School and this is a departure from the policy to apply the proceeds of sales to fund the approved capital programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                       That the School Land verged black on the plan at Annex 1 be declared surplus to the needs of Burton Green School and be sold on the open market by informal tender in conjunction with the site of the former Clifton Family Centre, adjoining, and that the proceeds of the sale of the School land be allocated in the first instance to the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services to implement the provision of outdoor activity equipment at the School at an approximate cost of £25 - £30,000, with any surplus being applied to the approved General Fund capital programme.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:To take advantage of the sale of adjoining land for the benefit of the School and General Fund Capital Programme.

Members considered a report which sought approval for the 370m² site shown by the black verge (“the School Land”) on the plan at Annex 1 be declared surplus to the school’s needs and sold, with the initial proceeds to be allocated to Burton Green school.

The decision was referred to the Executive Member and Advisory Panel (EMAP) because the recommendation is that the first part of the proceeds of sale are allocated to Burton Green School and this is a departure from the policy to apply the proceeds of sales to fund the approved capital programme.

Members asked if the windows of any new building would overlook the school and the Officer said that the design had been limited to two and a half storeys.

Members then considered the following options:

Option A:      Sell the School Land – to take advantage of the sale of the Family Centre site to sell the School Land verged black on the plan at Annex 1 in order to raise money for outdoor activity provision at Burton Green School.

Option B.      Retain the School Land – to retain the land as part of the school curtilege.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                             That the School Land verged black on the plan at Annex 1 be declared surplus to the needs of Burton Green School and be sold on the open market by informal tender in conjunction with the site of the former Clifton Family Centre, adjoining, and that the proceeds of the sale of the School land be allocated in the first instance to the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services to implement the provision of outdoor activity equipment at the School at an approximate cost of £25 - £30,000, with any surplus being applied to the approved General Fund capital programme.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To take advantage of the sale of adjoining land for the benefit of the School and General Fund Capital Programme.

This report provides information about the current position with regard to vacancies for LA seats on governing bodies, lists current nominations for those vacancies, as detailed in Annex One, and requests the appointment, or re-appointment, of the listed nominees.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the Local Authority Governors be appointed or re-appointed to fill vacant seats as proposed in Annex One.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                        To fill vacant seats of Governing bodies.

Members considered a report that provided information about the current position with regard to vacancies for Local Authority seats on governing bodies, listed current nominations for those vacancies, as detailed in Annex 1, and requested the appointment, or re-appointment, of the listed nominees.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the Local Authority Governors be appointed or re-appointed to fill vacant seats as proposed in Annex One.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To fill vacant seats of Governing bodies.

This report analyses performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all of the

services funded through the Children’s Services budget.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                       That the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Children’s Services budget be noted and the draft revenue outturn for 2006/07 be approved.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:In order to ensure appropriate performance management arrangements are in place across the department.

Members considered a report that analysed performance by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all of the services funded through the Children’s Services budget.

Officers clarified that the key points were set out in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the report.  There had been a net underpsend of £450,000.00 which was split as follows:-

Dedicated Schools Grant                -  £598k

General Fund (Council Tax)             + £142k

Members agreed that Officers had a very good set of Performance Indicator achievements but commented on the presentation of the report, in particular on the use of acronyms without any explanation of their meaning. They saw this as being user-unfriendly for members of the public.

Some Members requested more information about the Youth Offending Team’s (YOT) Performance Indicators and Officers agreed to bring these to the next meeting of Executive Member for Children’s Services and Advisory Panel meeting.

Members asked if there was a plan in operation regarding improvements at Tang Hall School and Officers said that there was and they were very please with the progress.

Members discussed the delivery of the ‘Music Manifesto’ and said that there was a real commitment by the department to give every child in the City the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Officers said that a third of the schools in the City had signed up to the scheme and they were hoping that at least half the schools would eventually participate.

Members discussed the statistics on Access and Inclusion and noted that the effectiveness of the Council’s support for combating discrimination and racism had improved.  The Council’s effectiveness at meeting the needs of pupils from minority ethnic groups, refugee families and traveller communities was worse than last year but there had been an increase in people arriving from Eastern European countries thus increasing the pressure on available resources.  It was noted that younger children needed support to ‘fit in’ whereas older children were more in need of language tuition.

Members commented on the production of a CD of resources for schools to support beginners in Key Stages 1&2, and employment of teaching assistants to help meet needs of increased numbers of international new arrivals.  They asked whether the CD was audio or video and Officers confirmed that it was video and specifically aimed at working with new arrivals and their families.

Members asked for clarification regarding the percentage of long term placement stability and the percentage of care leavers with at least one qualification; they asked whether the qualification figures related to both academic and vocational qualifications.

The Officer said that the Performance Indicator for long term placement stability was new and was concerned with how many children had been in care for two and a half years or more and been in the same placement for at least a year. He then said that every school had a dedicated teacher for looked after pupils and there were many resources for them. Each child had a personal education  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The purpose of this report is to:

·        inform Members of the final out-turn position of the 2006/07 Capital Programme

·        advise Members of changes to existing schemes to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the future Capital Programme

·        inform Members of any new externally funded schemes and seek approval for their addition to the 2007/08 to 2009/10 Education Capital Programme

·        inform Members of any financial slippage to or from future financial years.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the capital programme outturn for 2006/07 highlighted in this report and summarised in Annex A  be noted.

(ii)         That the slippage to and from financial years be approved to allow the effective monitoring of the schemes.

(iii)       That the virements between schemes be approved as detailed in the report and shown in Annex A.

(iv)        That the revised capital programme as shown in Annex A be agreed, subject to the approval of the Executive.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                        To enable the effective monitoring of the capital programme.

Members considered a report which:

·         informed them of the final out-turn position of the 2006/07 Capital Programme

·        advised them of changes to existing schemes to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the future Capital Programme

·        informed them of any new externally funded schemes and sought approval  for their addition to the 2007/08 to 2009/10 Education Capital Programme

·        informed them of any financial slippage to or from future financial years.

Officers updated that York High School had now been granted planning permission. There was also an additional scheme, not mentioned in the report, at Joseph Rowntree School where the (Department for Education and Skills) DfES had provided extra funding for a science scheme.

Members raised concerns about the delays in building and the shortfall in budget at Huntington school. Officers said that they had negotiated with the Governors at the school and had now got a guarantee in writing that they would contribute £800k. The school had already raised £200k and the Parish Council had given £50k. There was also an ongoing insurance claim regarding an element of the design.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the capital programme outturn for 2006/07 highlighted in this report and summarised in Annex A be noted.

(ii)         That the slippage to and from financial years be approved to allow the effective monitoring of the schemes.

(iii)       That the virements between schemes be approved as detailed in the report and shown in Annex A.

(iv)        That the revised capital programme as shown in Annex A be agreed, subject to the approval of the Executive.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To enable the effective monitoring of the capital programme.

This report proposes the setting up of new self-financing programmes within Adult and Community Education in order to maintain and develop learning for personal development.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the establishment of new self-financing programmes be approved

(ii)         That the variation of the Adult and Community Education fee policy to enable fees to be set on a per class basis according to the cost of each of the classes be approved and the removal of free places for those learners in receipt of a means tested benefit be approved.

(iii)       That the setting up of a hardship fund be agreed in principal and the details be delegated to officers (to remain within the budget of this report) and that a report be brought back in one year.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                          To maintain and develop learning for personal development.

Members considered a report that sought approval for the setting up of new self-financing programmes within Adult and Community Education in order to maintain and develop learning for personal development.

The Officer said that York was not unique in embarking on a new Self-Financing Programme (SFP) and that there had been a significant squeeze on funding. York was committed to increasing the Skills for Life Programme and maintaining a broad study programme and it was important to see the SFP within this context. There had been a steady decline in persons using the adult education and community programme over a number of years and the Officer said that they wanted to try and regain some of the vibrancy that had been lost over the years.

Members raised concerns that it would not be possible to continue providing concessions to those people who were on means-tested benefits. Officers said that it would apply mainly to leisure based courses such as Pilates, Yoga, Badminton and Tai Chi. Members felt that it was important to continue offering concessions for all courses. Officers said that it was a question of where the funding came from for the concessions and the new SFP courses would be marketed in a different way with a minimum level of paperwork, easy method payments, quick sign up and minimum levels of evaluation. If concessions are offered for a course then that course is seen as being in the public funding arena and must therefore be assessed by an inspector. This would no longer be necessary if some of the courses offered were part of the SFP.

Members said that recreational/leisure courses were often the first step back into education for people and the SFP could be detrimental to attracting them to enrol. They felt that there should be some form of hardship fund available if the SFP were to be approved.  There would still be a large range of programmes where concessions would be available. Officers commented that the largest use of concessions was for further education courses and qualifications rather than for leisure/recreational based courses.

Members felt that the Council was supposed to be providing the Adult and Community Education programme to all persons and not just a select few and if a hardship fund were to be introduced that it be well advertised.

Members then considered the following options:

Option A        to develop a self-funded Personal and Community Development Learning programme

Option B       to make a phased withdrawal from Personal and Community Development Learning

Option C       to continue with the current mixed arrangements

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the establishment of new self-financing programmes be approved

(ii)         That the variation of the Adult and Community Education fee policy to enable fees to be set on a per class basis according to the cost of each of the classes be approved and the removal of free places for those learners in receipt of a means tested benefit be approved.

(iii)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This report provides Members with information about the recent inspection of the council’s post-16 adult and community learning and work-based learning provision and asks them to approve the post-inspection action plan, as agreed with the body responsible for funding this provision, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the inspection report is noted.

(ii)         That the action plan be approved.

(iii)       That the implications of managing different aspects of the same LSC contract across different directorates within the Council be noted.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                        To approve the Post Inspection Action plan.

Members considered a report that provided information about the recent inspection of the council’s post-16 adult and community learning and work-based learning provision and approved the post-inspection action plan, as agreed with the body responsible for funding this provision, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Members said that they were happy with the outcome of the inspection and congratulated Officers on the results set out in the report.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)           That the inspection report is noted.

(ii)         That the action plan be approved.

(iii)       That the implications of managing different aspects of the same LSC contract across different directorates within the Council be noted.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To approve the Post Inspection Action plan.

This report informs the Executive Member and Advisory Panel of progress to date on the development of the eight Children’s Centres in York under Phase 2 of the national programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                             That the contents of this progress report be noted with a further progress report in 6-9 months time.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:To ensure that Members are informed about the establishment children’s centres in the City.

Members considered a report that informed them of  the progress to date on the development of the eight Children’s Centres in York under Phase 2 of the national programme.

Officers invited Members to attend a separate session that would include a presentation on the Children’s Centre Programme. Members welcomed and accepted this offer. Members also thought it would be useful to visit one of the centres to give them a clearer picture and to talk to one of the Locality Managers and Head Teachers. The Officer agreed to organise this for the Autumn term.

Members asked the Officer to clarify the leadership of the Children’s Centres. The Officer said that the three Locality Children’s Centre Managers would provide leadership, and that the delivery of the core offer of services would require that they also co-ordinate the contributions of a wide range of partner agencies, including local primary schools.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                             That the contents of this progress report be noted with a further progress report in 6-9 months time.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To ensure that Members are informed about the establishment children’s centres in the City.

This report recommends term dates and holidays for the school year 2008/2009.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                             That  the pattern of school terms and holidays for 2008/09, proposed in Annex B be approved.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:To ensure that dates for school terms and holidays are set according to statutory requirements.

Members considered a report that sought their approval for term dates and holidays for the school year 2008/2009

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

• That  the pattern of school terms and holidays for 2008/09, proposed in Annex B be approved.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:            To ensure that dates for school terms and holidays are set according to statutory requirements.