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.

At this point in the meeting Members were asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on this agenda or any general interests they might have within the remit of the Committee, other than those listed in the published agenda.

Councillor Firth declared a general personal non prejudicial interest as a Governor at Wigginton Primary School.

Councillor Brooks declared a personal non prejudicial interest in agenda item 4 (2009-10 First Monitoring Report – Finance and Performance) as she is a Member of the Education Appeals Panel which deals with appeals for assistance with Home to School Transport. Councillors Looker and Aspden both declared the same interest as substitute Members of the same Committee.

Councillor Crisp asked that the list of standing general interests be updated to show that she is a Governor at Poppleton Road Primary School and a Member of the Board of York Theatre Royal.

Councillor Taylor asked that the list of standing general interests be updated to show that he is employed by City Screen, York.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2009.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 15 July 2009 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 on an item on the agenda or an issue within the committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or who requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer for this meeting, listed in the details at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is

5 pm on Wednesday 30 September 2009. 

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

This report informs and provides an analysis for the Scrutiny Committee of the latest performance for 2009/10 and forecasts the outturn position by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all the services falling under the responsibility of the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services.

Members considered a report which informed and provided them with an analysis of the latest performance for 2009/10 and forecasted the outturn position by reference to the service plan, the budget and the performance indicators for all the services falling under the responsibility of the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services.

The Head of Finance presented the report and he and the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s services, answered Members queries in relation to specific issues which were raised.

Following a request from the Executive, the Committee queried the budget overspend on ‘looked after children’.  Officers advised Members that due to the high costs involved with ‘looked after children’, any small increase in the number of those children could result in a serious impact on the budget.  It was suggested that the Committee may find it beneficial to receive a presentation on the changes taking place nationally which had resulted in an increase in the care population, and in particular a detailed analysis of how these changes had affected York. The Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services agreed to arrange it.  

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)That the Scrutiny Officer liaise with the Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services to arrange a  presentation on changes taking place in the care population.

REASON:                  To update the Committee on the latest finance and performance position for 2009-10.

To consider and agree the Workplan for the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2009/10.

Members considered a workplan for the Learning and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Civic Year 2009-10,  a summary of items which were listed on the Executive Forward Plan for decision by the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion, and a proposed topic for review.

The Chair announced that she had spoken to the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services with a view to her attending a future meeting of the Committee. She advised that she would also liaise with the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion.

The Scrutiny Officer advised confirmed that the Democratic Services Manager would be writing to all Members to invite them to attend the December meetings of the Scrutiny Committees to discuss ongoing and planned work within their portfolio areas, in an effort to identify possible topics for review

Members questioned the value of including Forward Plan items with the agenda papers and suggested it could be more beneficial to receive notification of what issues would be coming up on a more long term basis ie  6 months ahead in order that the scrutiny committee could use the information to identify topics for pre-decision scrutiny. The Scrutiny Officer advised Members that the Effective Organisation Overview & Scrutiny Committee had agreed to undertake a review of the Forward Plan so would be looking at this issue.

Members discussed the proposal which had been received from Councillor Looker to undertake ’a review of casual play opportunities for young children, with a focus on city centre provision‘. Members suggested that the review takes a comparison between a city centre area and a village location and noted that the review would look at play opportunities not just play equipment. Officers voiced their support towards the review. Members suggested it would be useful go to schools to talk to parents about play opportunities and agreed that it would be beneficial to hear a presentation by the Head of Parks and Open Spaces on the 'Playbuilder' data results, to provide a background for the review.

RESOLVED:

(i)         That the Scrutiny Officer and Chair agree the workplan for forthcoming meetings.

(ii)        That an additional meeting be arranged to take place in November and Members be consulted on a suitable date. ¹

(iii)       That, with regard to the proposed review of play opportunities, the

Head of Parks and Open spaces be invited to attend a future meeting to give a presentation. ²

(iv)       That the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services and the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee ³

(v)        That an update on the implementation of recommendations from the scrutiny review undertaken by the Cultural Quarter Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Committee be received at a future meeting.

(vi)       That the Chairs of both York@Large and the Learning City Partnership be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee. ⁴

REASON:            To progress  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

This report presents a feasibility report on a suggested scrutiny topic on 14-19 Diplomas, which was previously considered by the Education Scrutiny Committee in September 2008.

Members considered a feasibility report on a suggested scrutiny topic on 14 -19 Diplomas, which was previously considered by the Education Scrutiny Committee in September 2008.

The Director of Learning, Culture and Children’s Services summarised the report and the 14-19 reforms taking place. He advised that a report would be presented to the Executive which would detail the transfer of responsibility for funding from the Learning and Skills Council to the Local Authority in April 2010.

Members agreed that it would be beneficial to visit some diplomas in action and suggested visiting York College and one school which offers 14-19 diplomas.

RESOLVED:

(i)         That the review not be carried out at this time.

(ii)        That updates on progress with implementing the 14 – 19 Reform Strategy for York be given to the Committee as necessary.

(iii)       That Members undertake visits to York College and another school and report back their findings from these visits to the Committee

(iv)       That Members be provided with a copy of the report on 14-19 reforms to be presented to the Executive in December 2009 when published.

REASON:

In order that Members are kept up to date with changes regarding 14-19 diplomas.

This report presents a draft Heritage Strategy for the City of York for the period 2010 to 2013.

Members considered a report which presented a draft Heritage Strategy for the City of York for the period 2010 to 2013 which set out the key objectives for the sustainable management of heritage of the city.

The Council’s Archaeologist presented the report and explained the stages which had lead to the creation of the draft strategy which included the production of a draft strategy at regional level by Yorkshire and Humberside, work carried out by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and work undertaken by the Without Walls Group. He explained that a series of workshops with interested individuals & groups had taken place and that, as a result of these workshops, a “living” draft document had been produced. He stated that the term “heritage” had purposely been given a broad definition to include tangible and intangible aspects. He advised that some comments from York @ Large had been incorporated in the draft document but that the intention was to liaise with other Without Walls Partnership Groups before sending out a draft strategy for consultation in the new year.

Members discussed some of the issues that had been raised in the draft strategy and the Council’s Archaeologist explained that the strategy would include a series of statements that the Council, at various levels, would sign up to and that it would also guide officers and Members regarding opportunities for funding.

RESOLVED:             (i)            That the report be noted.

(ii)               That Members comments be fed into the draft Heritage Strategy.

(iii)The Members be given the opportunity to view the  updated draft Heritage Strategy following consultation with outside bodies and the public.

REASON:                  To inform the work on the strategy and ensure its robustness.