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 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

                                                Governor of New Earswick Primary School

                                                Trustee of the Theatre Royal

                                                Governor of York College

Councillor Aspden                Member of National Union of Teachers (NUT)

                                                Teacher at Norton College, Malton, North Yorkshire

Councillor Firth                      Governor of Wigginton Primary School

                                                Wife is Member of National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)

Councillor Gunnell                 Son at York College

Councillor Merrett                  Child at St Paul’s Primary School

                                                Committee Member of York Chinese Cultural Association

                                                Child uses School’s Music Service

Councillor Brooks                 Member of Association of Teachers and Lecturers

                                                Employed by City College, Manchester

Councillor Alexander            Is an employee at York St John’s University

Mr J Bailey                             Governor of Huntington Secondary School

                                                LEA Governor of Huntington Primary School

Dr D Sellick                           Governor of Derwent Infant & Junior School

Ms F Barclay                         Teacher at All Saints School

                                                ATL Branch Secretary for City of York

Mrs J Ellis                              Governor of Burton Green Primary School

                                                Governor of Canon Lee School

Mr M Galloway declared a personal prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 4 (Consultation on proposal for additional post-16 provision) as he was principal of York College.

The following declaration was omitted from the minutes and updated at the meeting held on 21^st January 2008:

Councillor Merrett declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5 (Local Authority School Governor Appointments) as he was seeking appointment as a Governor. He left the room and took no part in the debate.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2007.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last meeting held on 15^th October 2007 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 5pm on Wednesday 5^th December 2007.

It was reported that there had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The Head Teacher at Archbishop Holgate’s School spoke on Agenda Item 4 (Consultation on proposal for additional post-16 provision). He listed the following reasons for supporting the provision of post-16 education at the school.

·        It would offer a locally based provision

·        It would enhance learner choice

·        It would offer an important catalyst for partnership work

·        It would help form embedded partnerships

·        The focus would be on applied learning

·        It would be a distinctive school based post-16 provision

·        It would not create a precedent

·        It would meet the hopes and aspirations of the pupils

·        It would meet the hopes and aspirations of the community

This report summarises Archbishop Holgate’s School’s (AHS) plan to develop post-16 provision and provides the context within which the Executive Member can formally respond to the school’s proposals.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Approve the school’s proposals (subject to clarifications as stated in paragraphs 46-48 and 64 of the report).

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                 

·        This recognises the strength of the school and its ambition to take a lead as a high performing specialist school with a vocational specialism.

·        The school meets all the criteria as described in paragraph 33 of the report.

·        It provides a framework for development and opportunity in line with City of York Lifelong Learning Partnership (CYLLP) 14-19 strategy. This strategy and partnership recognises the strengths of existing 16-19 providers and seeks to ensure that Archbishop Holgate’s School (AHS) plans help the city to improve provision for those young people who currently tend to opt out of education at the age of 16 and to help and to help meet the needs of learners across the City by offering extended choice and diversity.

·        It is an opportunity to develop existing partnership work and provide additional facilities for learners.

·        It allows for further debate about the detail of this proposal. We propose that the school is asked to amend its proposal (appendix 6 to the report) to clarify how its proposals fit within the new funding regime. In particular, Members need to be assured about:

-        Which programmes are core, definitely needed and therefore certain to be funded

-        Which programmes the school wishes to offer and will seek access funding through a commissioning process

-        The school’s contingency plans to manage the costs of running the new building: in the short term as curriculum provision is gradually scaled up; in the long term if expected learner numbers are not secured

Members considered a report that summarised Archbishop Holgate’s School’s plan to develop post-16 provision and provided the context within which the Executive Member could formally respond to the school’s proposals.

An overview of the school’s revised proposals is set out in the list below:

·        A post-16 Learning Centre with 160 places which develops and extends existing post-16 provision in the City by offering:

o       Locality based provision, addressing issues of travel to learn, retention and achievement in East York identified in the Strategic Area Review.

o       A focus on applied learning, addressing a shortage of school-based provision in applied learning at entry level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

o       Employment skills and imperatives for future economic development, particularly the Science City agenda.

o       A collaborative approach, with partnership working at its heart.

o       An innovative approach based on lines of learning, business partnerships and new qualifications including the Diploma, in specialist purpose-built facilities.

o       Increased enrichment and credibility through combining specialised Diplomas with an international Diploma.

o       Provision which responds to the aspirations of parents, which broadens learner choice and which thereby meets the guidelines of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DSCF).

o       High quality provision in a school graded Outstanding, with high added value, a strong track record of development and success, and acknowledged as having excellent capacity to continue to improve.

The Assistant Director of School Improvement and Staff Development reported that the proposals met a clearly identified need and there was, nationally, a strategic need to develop provision of education for those in the 14-19 age bracket. She felt it was important to stress that there were still ongoing discussions regarding some issues, including those linked with responsibility for funding.

Some Members felt that it would have been better if the strategic policy regarding post-16 education provision had been implemented before this proposal had come about.

Discussions were had regarding whether provision at Archbishop Holgate’s School would undermine any other provision in the City and it was noted that there would be no duplication across the City. Learners would be given access to a wide range of courses and schools would not be offering more subjects than necessary. There would be no overprovision of courses.

Concerns were raised about whether the needs of the City were being met, whether it would be possible to attain the numbers of pupils required, the effect on other local schools in the area and the position the Local Authority would be in in the future with regards to revenue.

Officers responded that there were some difficulties within the City regarding the uptake of post –16 education and some of these could be eased if the correct kind of provision was available. The recent Ofsted report stated that the school had outstanding pastoral care and was very good with vulnerable learners.

Members were pleased to know that discussions were still ongoing regarding funding as they had concerns appertaining to this.

o       n

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

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 1, and requests the appointment, or re-appointment, of the listed nominees.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Appoint and re-appoint the Local Authority Governors, to fill vacant seats, as proposed in Annex 1 to the report.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To ensure that Local Authority places on school governing bodies continue to be effectively filled.

Members considered a report that informed them of the current position with regard to vacancies for Local Authority seats on governing bodies, lists current nominations for those vacancies (as detailed in Annex 1 to the report) and requests the appointment or re-appointment of the listed nominees.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Appoint and re-appoint the Local Authority Governors, to fill vacant seats, as proposed in Annex 1 to the report. ¹

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To ensure that Local Authority places on school governing bodies continue to be effectively filled.

The placement strategy for looked after children is reviewed annually to ensure that there is an opportunity to reflect on progress against the aims and objectives of the strategy.This report will inform that analysis, whilst also providing feedback on OFSTED conducted inspections on the placement services for children and young people provided by the local authority. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Acknowledge the information relating to progress in the placement strategy for looked after children relating to adoption, fostering and children’s homes.

·        Agree the further development of the specialist fostering scheme in line with the stated principles of the strategy.

·        Acknowledge the annual adoption report

·        Note that further reports will be forthcoming in 2008 on short breaks for disabled children, adoption support and Care Matters.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To comply with the requirements to receive an annual report, to reduce both independent fostering agency placements and achieve cost savings and to ensure knowledge on future information.

Members considered a report that informed them that the placement strategy for looked after children was reviewed annually to ensure that there was an opportunity to reflect on progress against the aims and objectives of the strategy.  It gives an update on recent inspections and reports the results.

The strategy endeavours to ensure that children and young people who are currently placed outside York are able to return to a York-based placement (where appropriate) and that the need to place children and young people outside York in the future is minimised.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Acknowledge the information relating to progress in the placement strategy for looked after children relating to adoption, fostering and children’s homes.

·        Agree the further development of the specialist fostering scheme in line with the stated principles of the strategy.¹

·        Acknowledge the annual adoption report

·        Note that further reports will be forthcoming in 2008 on short breaks for disabled children, adoption support and Care Matters.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To comply with the requirements to receive an annual report, to reduce both independent fostering agency placements and achieve cost savings and to ensure knowledge on future information.

This paper sets out:

·        Information on the main issues arising from the government announcements about the Children’s Fund.

·        An approach to be developed which will enable effective commissioning for the Children’s Fund and will give opportunity for developing the wider commissioning agenda in the city through Children’s Trust arrangements.

The paper Recommends an interim approach from a range of options to continuing the legacy of work undertaken by the Children’s Fund in York.

Advice of the advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Adopt Option A, as set out below

-        Development of a coherent multi-agency commissioning process be developed for and piloted by Children’s Fund which can be utilised for wider commissioning.

-        Transitional arrangements put in place for a 6 month period to ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be preserved and then built upon and developed.

-        To reinforce the fact that these are transitional arrangements a slight change in name from Children’s Fund to Children’s Early Intervention Fund be introduced. Cost of transition arrangements would be a maximum of £177k for the 6 months with an additional funding for Nurture groups over the year of £25,000.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  This option will ensure an effective commissioning process for Children’s Fund monies. It will utilise this process to develop a wider more coherent commissioning process. It will ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be built upon. It will facilitate the development of services under the new funding arrangement.

Members considered a report that informed them of the main issues arising from the government announcements about the Children’s Fund, an approach to be developed which will enable effective commissioning for the Children’s Fund and will give opportunity for developing the wider commissioning agenda in the city through Children’s Trust arrangements as well as an interim approach to continue the legacy of work undertaken by the Children’s Fund in York.

Members were presented with the following options:

Option A        Development of a coherent commissioning process piloted through the Children’s Fund which can be utilised for wider commissioning.

Option B       Continuation of current governance and commissioning process for Children’s Fund.

Option C       Funds to be allocated by City of York to Early intervention work for children and young people.

Advice of the advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Adopt Option A, as set out below ¹

-        Development of a coherent multi-agency commissioning process be developed for and piloted by Children’s Fund which can be utilised for wider commissioning.

-        Transitional arrangements put in place for a 6 month period to ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be preserved and then built upon and developed.

-        To reinforce the fact that these are transitional arrangements a slight change in name from Children’s Fund to Children’s Early Intervention Fund be introduced. Cost of transition arrangements would be a maximum of £177k for the 6 months with an additional funding for Nurture groups over the year of £25,000.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  This option will ensure an effective commissioning process for Children’s Fund monies. It will utilise this process to develop a wider more coherent commissioning process. It will ensure that the legacy of the Children’s Fund can be built upon. It will facilitate the development of services under the new funding arrangement.

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 to:

·              Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Children’s Services budget.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To meet the agreed service planning reporting arrangements for the service.

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. In line with the council’s integrated reporting arrangements this report provided Members with an opportunity to reflect on progress in the second period of this financial year against actions, performance indicators and finance projections.

Members raised several questions on the information provided in Annex 1 to the report; Officers agreed to get back to the relevant Members on their individual queries. The queries were as follows:¹

·        More information and a broader description is needed regarding ‘Training undertaken by key staff with regard to PHSE, and Relationships Education (SRE) to reducing teenage pregnancies’ (Page 129 of the agenda)

·        Following the demise of NAGTY their data which shows the involvement of students in enrichment programmes will not be available and the new provider is currently not providing this information. This will impact on the ability to report on this Performance Indicator (PI) in the future…’ – is this being rectified? (Page 132 of the agenda)

·        When are the indicators on vocational course results going to be made available? (Page 144 of the agenda)

·        In relation to the information to ensure that victims participate in restorative processes in 25% of relevant disposals referred to in the Youth Offending Team and 85% of victims are satisfied – can Officers include information in relation to customer satisfaction. (Page 144 of the agenda)

·        In relation to the Number of organisations awarded the Youth Charter – What is the Charter and what is happening in relation to this (Page 157 of the agenda)

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·              Note the performance of services within the directorate funded through the Children’s Services budget.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To meet the agreed service planning reporting arrangements for the service.

This report is to inform Members of the likely out-turn position of the 2007/08 Capital Programme based on the spend profile and information to the end of October 2007. It also advises Members of changes to existing schemes and reprofiling of expenditure to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital Programme and informs them of any new schemes and seek approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the capital programme forecast outturn for 2007/08 as shown in Annex A to the report.

·        Approve the additions and amendments to the capital programme reported above and summarised in Annex A

·        Approve the scheme reprofiling and slippage reported and slippage reported above and summarised in Annex A to the report.

·        Agree the revised capital programme as shown at Annex A to the report, 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 management and monitoring of the capital programme.

Members considered a report that informed them of the likely out-turn position of the 2007/08 capital programme based on the spend profile and information to the end of October 2007. It advised Members of changes to existing schemes and reprofiling of expenditure to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital Programme. It also advised Members of new schemes and sought their approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Members were shown a presentation regarding the Joseph Rowntree One School Pathfinder Scheme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        Note the capital programme forecast outturn for 2007/08 as shown in Annex A to the report.

·        Approve the additions and amendments to the capital programme reported and summarised in Annex A¹

·        Approve the scheme reprofiling and slippage reported and summarised in Annex A to the report.²

·        Agree the revised capital programme as shown at Annex A to the report, subject to the approval of the Executive.³

Decision of the Executive Member

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

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

This report is presented to the Executive Members and Advisory Panel to brief members on the outcome of York’s Annual Performance Assessment for 2007 and to also describe the preparation underway for the Joint Area Review process in January/February 2008.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        To note and comment on the outcome of the 2007 annual Performance Assessment of children and young people’s services in York and to the note the preparations underway for the forthcoming Joint Area Review.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To provide Members with Ofsted feedback of local services and to brief Members on the forthcoming inspection of children and young people’s services.

Members considered a report that briefed them on the outcome of York’s Annual Performance Assessment for 2007 and also described the preparation underway for the Joint area Review process in January/February 2008.

Officers circulated a letter from Ofsted (attached) regarding the 2007 Annual Performance Assessment of Services for Children and Young People in City of York Council. The letter summarised the findings of the 2007 annual  performance assessment for the Local Authority and gave gradings for the following areas:

·        Overall effectiveness of children’s services

·        Being healthy

·        Staying safe

·        Enjoying & achieving

·        Making  appositive contribution

·        Achieving economic well-being

·        Capacity to improve including the management of children’s services

Joint Area Reviews (JARs) are also led by Ofsted and evaluate how local services work together to contribute to the achievements, progress and well-being of children and young people growing up in the area against the five outcomes identified in Every Child Matters.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

·        To note and comment on the outcome of the 2007 annual Performance Assessment of children and young people’s services in York and to the note the preparations underway for the forthcoming Joint Area Review.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:                  To provide Members with Ofsted feedback of local services and to brief Members on the forthcoming inspection of children and young people’s services.