Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests;

·        any prejudicial interests;

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 (School Term Dates for the 2020/21 School Year), as his wife was a teacher at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School in York.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 22 January 2019.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 22 January 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday, 18 February 2019.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Member’s remit.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be filmed and webcast ,or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

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

This report seeks approval for the 2020/21 term dates of schools for which City of York Council (CYC) is the employer and provides an update on the agreed strategy for setting term dates for future school years alongside CYC’s neighbouring authorities.

Resolved:  (i)      That the draft term dates set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the Education Act 2002 (Section 32) and other related legislation.

                   (ii)      That the continued use of a regional approach and adherence to the principles of setting future term dates that were previously agreed between 25 local authorities, as set out in Annex C, be approved.

Reason:     To provide clarity for residents and employees in relation to school holidays and minimise the negative effects of differing school terms across the region.

The Executive Member considered a report which sought approval for the 2020/21 term dates of schools for which City of York Council (CYC) was the employer and provided an update on the agreed strategy for setting term dates for future school years alongside CYC’s neighbouring authorities.

Building on work carried out in 2017, officers had continued to work with an increasing number of other local authorities (LAs) to further the regional use of the guiding principles summarised in Annex C to the report.  The aim was to establish, as far as possible, common school term dates each year. 

At a regional meeting in September 2018 that included several LAs beyond CYC’s immediate neighbours, the value of aligning term dates had been recognised and it was likely that all participants except those with fixed Easter breaks (Leeds and Sheffield) would set term the same term dates as CYC for 2020/21.  It was proposed that CYC host a further meeting in 2019 to continue the proactive co-ordination of future dates.

The proposed dates at Annex A had been circulated to all York schools for comment.  In response to questions from the Executive Member, officers confirmed that the views of school pupils had also been taken into account when setting the term dates.

Resolved:  (i)      That the draft term dates set out in Annex A to the report be approved.

Reason:     To meet the statutory requirements of the Education Act 2002 (Section 32) and other related legislation.

                   (ii)      That the continued use of a regional approach and adherence to the principles of setting future term dates that were previously agreed between 25 local authorities, as set out in Annex C, be approved.

Reason:     To provide clarity for residents and employees in relation to school holidays and minimise the negative effects of differing school terms across the region.