Agenda item

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s draft workplan  and potential scrutiny topics for the 2016-17 municipal year.

Members considered a draft workplan for the 2016-17 municipal year and discussed possible topics for scrutiny review.

Members suggested that it would be good for the committee to conduct a review on an education related topic, as this had not been done recently. It was also suggested that the committee look at the quality and range of apprenticeships across the city and outcomes for young people.

The Director of Children’s Services, Education and Skills advised that the committee may be interested in receiving an introductory report on the following areas of work so they could determine whether they want to look at any topics in more detail or consider them for a scrutiny review:

·        30hrs early years funding for 3-4 year olds – York as pilot – report on take up/feedback from providers and Local Authority.

·        Skills Strategy - update from Learning City Partnership Manager

·        Local Area Teams (Children’s Centres)

·        Government White Paper on Education – look at how the city’s schools are responding to that

It was agreed that Members would receive a series of background reports across a number of forthcoming meetings in relation to these topics.

With regard to the two proposed topics listed in the workplan, the Assistant Director, Communities, Culture and Public Realm advised Members that the Executive Member for Economic Development and Community Engagement (Deputy Leader) had considered a report on a Review of Play Policy, Playground Investment and Maintenance at his decision session on 24 May 2016, following its pre-decision consideration by this Committee. The Executive Member had approved the policy but there was an opportunity for scrutiny members to support the implementation of the policy through consultation with children and young people about the availability of play opportunities and the barriers to play. He advised that a scoping report could be made available for the next meeting.

Local Environment Projects was also suggested as a possible scrutiny topic and it was envisaged that this could enable members to look at the recruitment and management of volunteers to support appropriate ward based projects.  There was general support for this topic.

With regard to the draft workplan for forthcoming meetings, members agreed the following amendments:

July Meeting

·        Regular updates on Parks Development were no longer required and therefore it could be removed from the workplan for the July meeting.

·        Scoping report on Play Opportunities

·        Add introductory report on York trial of 30 Hours Free Childcare for Working Families, with a further update in 6 months.

Future meetings

·        Prevention and Early Intervention Service  – Local Area Teams (Children’s Centres) – committee to look at this after it has been through Executive

·        Development of New Skills Strategy – Members to consider draft strategy when available – possible Sept or Nov meeting. This could include information in relation to the suggested topic on apprenticeships.

·         Government White Paper on Education – Update and discussion of possible impact on schools future structural arrangements  to be provided along with scheduled School improvement and Ofsted Update on Schools Performance report.

Resolved:  (i)      That the work plan be agreed subject to the  amendments detailed above.

(ii)      That Members would receive a series of background reports in relation to a number of topics in order that they can determine whether they want to look at any topics in more detail or consider them for a scrutiny review.

(iii)     That a scoping report on the proposed scrutiny review topic on Opportunities for Play be provided at the next meeting in order that Members can decide whether to proceed with this review.

Reason:     To keep the committee’s work plan updated.