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 is attached.

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, in addition to the list of general personal interests circulated with the agenda.

There were no additional declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 3 December 2008.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 6 January 2009 at 5.00 p.m.

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

This report provides Members with an update on the Implementation of recommendations made as a result of a previously completed scrutiny review of ‘Home to School Transport’. Members are asked to note the contents of the report and of Annex A, and agree which of the recommendations can be written off as fully implemented.

Members considered a report which provided them with an update on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of a previously completed scrutiny review of “Home to School Transport”.

The Principal Education Officer updated Members on improvements made since the Committee undertook the review of Home to School Transport. He reported that seatbelts were now provided in all vehicles transporting primary aged children and that, in general, the quality of vehicles used had improved. He explained that as the Council now works with only a couple of contractors, they were able to offer greater commitment and in return received a greater commitment and service from contractors.

Members discussed the extent to which the recommendations had been implemented and took into account comments made by Councillor Merrett (who was not able to attend the meeting) by e-mail which had been circulated to Members of the Committee for their information. The Principal Education Officer answered Members queries and provided additional information.

RESOLVED:

(I)         That recommendations 1, 2c, 4 and 5 in the previously completed scrutiny review of “Home to School Transport” be signed off as having been fully implemented.

(ii)        That recommendations 2a, b and d, and recommendation 3 in the previously completed scrutiny review of Home to School Transport be brought back to a meeting of the Committee in 12 months time in order for any update to be provided.

REASON:     

To update Members on the implementation of recommendations made as a result of the scrutiny review of “Home to School Transport”.

This interim report on the review of the Extended Schools Agenda asks Members to agree what further information is required to progress this review, decide whether to commission an advertising flyer for the consultation event and decide a convenient date for the visit to Westfield After School Club.

Members considered an updated interim report on the scrutiny review on the Extended Schools Agenda and agreed some amendments to the report in line with some e-mailed comments made by Councillor Merrett which had previously been circulated to the Committee for their information.

The two Acting Heads of the Early Years and Extended Schools Service answered Members queries in relation to specific issues. They also  thanked Members for their visit to the Yearsley Grove After School Club and reported that as a consequence of this visit, the relationship between the school and the after school club had improved greatly.

The Scrutiny Officer circulated a spreadsheet which provided details of charges for after school clubs across the city.

Members agreed on two possible dates for the visit to Westfield After School Club and agreed that the most suitable time to hold the informal consultation event scheduled to take place on 24^th February in the Mansion House would be 6.30pm.  Members also discussed whether to commission an advertising flyer as referred to in paragraph 10 of the report in order to encourage the attendance of schools and private providers at this event and it was agreed that this would be beneficial and could be distributed through Council offices, providers, libraries etc.

RESOLVED:             (i)         That the report be noted and the amendments made as agreed by Members.

                                    (ii)        That Wednesday 21^st January and Friday 23^rd January (both at 4pm) be given to Members as possible options for visits to Westfield After School Club. ¹

(iii)             That an A5 flyer be produced in order to promote the informal consultation event.²

REASON:                  To ensure that work can proceed as planned for this review whilst complying with scrutiny procedures, protocols and work plans.

To consider and agree the updated plan of the Education Scrutiny Committee and to receive an extract from the Executive Forward Plan of items for the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel.

Consideration was given to the work plan for the Education Scrutiny Committee and to an extract from the Executive Forward Plan of items for the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel.

The Chair reminded Members that the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services would be attending the next meeting and subsequent informal consultation session on 24^th February 2009.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the workplan be agreed.

(ii)That the Forward Plan items for the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel be noted.

REASON:                  (i)         To progress the Committee’s workplan

(ii)               To update the Committee on items taken to the Executive Member for Children  and Young People’s Services and Advisory Panel