Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. A list of general personal interests previously declared are attached.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business agenda.

The following general personal non-prejudicial interests were declared:

Councillor Hyman as chair of governors at Huntington Primary School.

Councillor Looker as sub-governor at Park Grove School and Canon Lee School.

Dr D Sellick as a governor of Derwent Infant and Junior School.

Mr J Bailey as a governor of Huntington School and Huntington Primary School.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following:

Annex 2 of Annex E to Agenda Item 6 (Possible Future Scrutiny Reviews) on the grounds that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).

RESOLVED:             To consider excluding the public and press from the meeting during consideration of Annex 2 of Annex E to Agenda item 6 (Possible Scrutiny Reviews) on the grounds that it contains information relation to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)  This information is classed as exempt under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to Section 100A of the Local Government Act  1973 ( as revised by The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006)

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 19 June 2007.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2007 be approved and signed by the Chair 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 Committee’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 Tuesday 17 July 2007 at 5pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Councils Public Participation Scheme.

This report asks Members to consider some additional statistical information provided by the Safer York Partnership in relation to the crime rates in York schools since 1 April 2004. 

Members received additional statistical information provided by Safer York Partnership in relation to the crime rates in York Schools since 1 April 2004. 

In June 2007, Members considered a feasibility report on a possible review of security in Schools.  This included some statistical information on crime rates in York schools between April 2006 and March 2007. Although Members were pleased at the overall low figures they queried whether the figures represented a particularly good year or if they were typical crime rates for every year.  In order to clarify this Members requested two further years worth of statistics 2004-05 and 2005-2006.

To inform any decision on whether to proceed with a review on security in schools, Members discussed and considered the additional statistical information.  As the crime rates had improved it was agreed that a review would not be needed but Members agreed it was important to monitor the improvements by receiving 07/08 figures when available.

RESOLVED:             That this topic does not proceed to review but that improvements be monitored by the Committee by considering the 07/08 figures when available.

REASON:                  As crime rates at schools were improving.

This report presents Members with information on two possible scrutiny topics, “Children’s Health, Fitness and Diets” and “Role of School Governors”, which have previously been considered and deferred.

Members received a report with information on two possible scrutiny topics “Children’s Health, Fitness and Diets” and “Role of School Governors”, which had previously been considered and deferred.

To inform any decision on whether to proceed with a review on school meals,  Members discussed and considered the information at annexes A-E including the School Meals Service report.  It was recommended that this topic be removed from the list of possible topics and no review was to take place as it had superseded by subsequent events including the Healthy Schools initiative,

In regard to the topic on the Role of School Governors, Members discussed and considered the information at Annex F.  It was recommended that before reaching a view on whether to proceed with this topic Members receive a presentation from the Governance Services Manager.  It was proposed that the Executive Member for Children’s Services be invited to the next meeting to speak and highlight any areas where a scrutiny review may be helpful.  At the next meeting the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services agreed to do a presentation on current areas of work followed by a discussion on possible Scrutiny topics.

RESOLVED:  (i) The report relating to School Meals be noted and that the topic of Children’s Health, Fitness and Diets not proceed to review.

                      (ii)        That the following be scheduled for the next meeting:

·        Presentation from the Governance Services Manager

·        Discussion with the Executive Member regarding possible scrutiny topics.

·        Presentation and discussion with the Director of Learning, Culture & Children’s Services regarding possible scrutiny topics.

REASON:      (i) As it had been superseded by subsequent events including the Healthy Schools imitative.

(ii) To ensure any decision on whether to proceed with a review is fully informed.