Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

The Executive Member was invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests she might have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session of the Executive Member for Children and Young People’s Services held on 9 November 2010.

RESOLVED:That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 9 November 2010 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday 13 December 2010.

Members of the public may register to speak on:-

• An item on the agenda
• An issue within the Executive Member’s remit
• An item that has been published on the Information Log since the last session.

A representative from UNISON spoke in respect of agenda item 4 – “New Business Model for the Schools Peripatetic Music Service” (minute 27 refers).

The trade union representative expressed concern that support staff had not been fully involved in the consultation on the proposed changes.  She stated that the business support function carried out by these staff did not relate solely to the music service and that staff were also involved in supporting other aspects of arts provision.  She requested that the proposed changes to staffing be considered as part of the wider review of support staff for the Communities and Neighbourhoods directorate that was currently taking place. The speaker also drew attention to the link with extended service provision. 

The Executive Member thanked the union representative for her comments.

This report asks the Executive Member to agree a new business model for the peripatetic Music Service in order to support the council’s commitment to a cultural entitlement for young people and to create a flexible business model that can adapt to changing funding from central government.

RESOLVED:That the new business model for the Music Service, set out as Option b in paragraphs 16 to 18 of the report be approved.

REASON:      To support the council’s commitment to a cultural entitlement for young people and to create a flexible business model that can adapt to changing funding from central government without council subsidy.

The Executive Member received a report that asked her to agree a new business model for the peripatetic Music Service in order to support the Council’s commitment to a cultural entitlement for young people and to create a flexible business model that could adapt to changing funding from central government.

The Executive Member was asked to consider the following options:

Option a:        To cease the service and distribute the Standards Fund grant to schools.  The funding would be ring fenced for the provision of whole class instrumental teaching.

Option b:        To move the core service to a whole class Wider Opportunities model and retain a restructured York Arts Academy.  In addition the council would maintain an approved teacher scheme, open to all freelance instrumental teachers to join, and providing quality assurance for pupils and schools and professional development opportunities for freelance teachers.

Officers gave details of the options that had been considered, as outlined in the report, and explained that the recommendation that Option b be approved was for the reasons detailed in paragraph 19 of the report. 

In response to the issues raised by the speaker, the Executive Member stated that she supported the request that had been put forward that the business support function of the music service should be seen in the wider context of the review of support staff for Communities and Neighbourhoods.  She also acknowledged the comments that had been made in respect of extended services and also the Me2 funding.

The Executive Member stated that she was pleased to confirm that the York Arts Academy would continue to provide the opportunity for enhanced musical learning. 

The Executive Member expressed her appreciation of the work that the peripatetic music teachers and other members of the arts team had carried out.

RESOLVED:That the new business model for the Music Service, set out as Option b in paragraphs 16 to 18 of the report be approved.

REASON:      To support the council’s commitment to a cultural entitlement for young people and to create a flexible business model that can adapt to changing funding from central government without council subsidy.

This report provides information about the current position with regard to vacancies for LA seats on governing bodies, lists current nominations for these vacancies, as detailed in Annex 1 of the report, and requests the appointment or re-appointment of the listed nominees.

RESOLVED:(i)         That the appointment and re-appointment of LA

governors, as proposed in Annex 1 of the report be approved.

(ii)That thanks be recorded to governors for the tremendous amount of work that they carry out to support schools and for the time they give to the role.

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

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

RESOLVED:(i)         That the appointment and re-appointment of LA

governors, as proposed in Annex 1 of the report be approved.

(ii)That thanks be recorded to governors for the tremendous amount of work that they carry out to support schools and for the time they give to the role.

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