Agenda for Children & Young People Cabinet Member Meeting on Monday, 22nd March, 2010, 4.00pm
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Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 207 KBVenue: Committee Room 3, Hove Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Nara Miranda, Democratic Services Officer
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Procedural Business
(b) Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.
NOTE: Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading either that it is confidential or the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.
A list and description of the categories of exempt information is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.
Minutes: 41a Declarations of Interest
41.1 There were none.
41b Exclusion of Press and Public
41.2 In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I(1) of the Act).
41.3 RESOLVED – That the press and the public be not excluded from the meeting.
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Cabinet Member's Communications Minutes: 42.1 The Cabinet Member announced that efforts in partnership with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) had seen teenage pregnancies decrease by 25 per cent. The Cabinet Member congratulated those involved and maintained all parties commitment to decreasing this level further.
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Items reserved for discussion (a) Items reserved by the Cabinet Member
(b) Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson
(c) Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.
NOTE: Petitions, Public Questions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors, Written Questions from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically.
Minutes: 43.1 RESOLVED- All items were reserved for discussion by the Cabinet Member.
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Copy attached. Minutes: 44.1 The Cabinet Member indicated that a petition had been received from the Friends of Whitehawk Youth Centre, listing 382 signatures and was presented by Councillor Warren Morgan. The petition read-
We, members of the local community, do not feel that we have been properly consulted about the proposed demolition of Whitehawk Youth and Community Centre nor feel this course of action is in the best interest of the community.
44.2 The Cabinet Member provided the following response-
“We were informed in June 2009 that we had been granted £5.37 million by the DCSF towards Whitehawk Co-location Hub project. The bid, as submitted, stated that the total cost of the project was £7.4million. The council is required to put in funding of its own to make up the balance of £2.1 million. The bid stated that £1 million would come from the Primary Capital Programme (PCP) funding for 2010 / 2011, £1million would come from a capital receipt from land that could be declared surplus as a result of the project and £100k would be made available from the Extended Schools budget for 2010 / 2011.
One of the sites proposed that could be declared surplus is the present Library and Whitehawk Youth and Community Centre.
During the preparation of the bid it was only possible to carry out limited consultation because of the very short timescales involved. The bid was submitted with the written support of the Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, the Acting Chief Executive of the Council, the Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust, the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Culture and Enterprise.
Following confirmation that the bid was successful detailed consultation was carried out with the primary school on the exact form of the alterations to their building. The provision envisaged in the bid was revisited and significantly improved following discussion with the school.
Consultation was also carried out with the community regarding the range of services that will be provided at the new site. This consultation included the publication of a consultation document in November 2009 and three public meetings held at the Valley Social Centre (11 November 2009), The Whitehawk Library (16 November 2009) and the Crew Club (7 December 2009).
The centre will bring together health and social care services, pre-school facilities, education, and library services in one place. All the services will be at or near Whitehawk Primary School in Whitehawk Road. This will make it easier for local families to use all these services in one place, and bringing services together actually saves money so the council can provide modern buildings that work well together.”
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(i)Support Consideration of a New Co-Operative Trust Primary School for Hove. Proposed by Councillor Davis and referred from Council on 28 January 2010 (copy attached).
Minutes: 45.1 The Cabinet Member reported that one Notice of Motion had been received from Councillor Melanie Davis.
45.2 The Cabinet Member invited Councillor Davis to present the Notice of Motion which read:
“Co-operative Trust Schools are becoming an increasingly popular way of raising school standards through developing partnerships, helping to engage the local community and strengthening the curriculum through the shared co-operative values of self help, self responsibility, democracy, equity and community solidarity. They can help raise aspirations and standards, ensure that parents have more choice of good local schools and have a greater say in the running of their schools through better democratic participation.
There are now 240 Co-op Trust schools operating in the UK with five Primary Schools in Doncaster being included within the Trust Schools Programme in October 2009, supported by Government funding to become established. The Trust School model is flexible, allowing schools and their governing bodies to build a Trust that meets their specific needs.
This council therefore calls on the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to:
(1) Recognise that the Co-operative Trust School model incorporates values and principles that would benefit children, parents and communities in the city;
(2) Commits to giving serious consideration to a range of potential providers, including the Co-operative Trust, when seeking to provide a new Primary School in Hove; and
(3) Considers how the Co-operative Trust School Programme could generally enhance cross-sector educational provision in Brighton and Hove, particularly in respect of poorly performing schools.”
45.2 The Cabinet Member responded that the Notice of Motion had been fully discussed in Council and had been agreed subject to amendment.
45.3 Councillor Fryer enquired about the expected timescale for the decision-making process.
45.4 The Schools Futures Projects Director elaborated that a paper would be submitted to Children and Young Persons Trust upon which there would be consultation with the relevant groups to decide where the school will be and what format it will undertake. A further report will come to a future CMM.
45.5 RESOLVED- That the Notice of Motion be noted.
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Removal of Soft Services from the Schools PFI Contract Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Decision: 1. That the Cabinet Member agrees to the removal of Soft services from the PFI agreement with BHCSS with effect from April 2010.
2. That the Cabinet Member agrees to the removal of third party income from the PFI Agreement with BHCSS with effect from April 2010.
Minutes: 46.1 The Cabinet Member considered a report from the Schools Futures Projects Director concerning the Removal of Soft Services from the Schools PFI Contract. She noted the diplomacy skills with which the report was undertaken and thanked the personnel concerned.
46.2 The Schools Futures Projects Director highlighted the key points of the report namely that the proposal was for the removal of soft services (cleaning and waste, site and grounds maintenance and catering) and third party income (TPI) from the PFI Agreement signed on 8th March 2002.
46.3 Councillor Hawkes commented that the success of the report and its recommendations was a triumph for those involved and would make a notable difference.
46.4 Councillor Fryer echoed the sentiments of Councillor Hawkes underlining that the recommendations would be of great benefit to the schools concerned.
46.5 The Director of Children’s Services supplemented that negotiations had been difficult but had been negotiated effectively with a result that the schools concerned were happy with. The Director added that the dissatisfaction with the contract would inform future decisions.
46.6 RESOLVED-
1. That the Cabinet Member agrees to the removal of Soft services from the PFI agreement with BHCSS with effect from April 2010.
2. That the Cabinet Member agrees to the removal of third party income from the PFI Agreement with BHCSS with effect from April 2010.
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School Admissions Arrangements for 2011/12
Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: 1. That the proposed school admission numbers set out in the consultation documents be adopted for the admissions year 2011/12.
2. That the exceptional circumstances admission priority be retained for all age groups, but is applied more rigorously with a stronger burden of proof of the need for admission to the school in question.
3. That a new admission priority be applied to the junior admission exercise where there are linked infant and junior schools (new priority 4). At the same time the limit of 2 miles placed on the sibling link for primary schools be removed.
4. That the proposed Voluntary Aided School admission arrangements be noted as conforming to the requirements of the Admissions Code.
5. That the co-ordinated schemes of admission, including schemes for in-year admission, be approved.
6. That the City boundary be retained as the relevant area for consultation for school admissions.
Minutes: 47.1 The Head of Admissions and Transport presented a report on the proposed School Admissions Arrangements for 2011/12. The report recommended:
1. That the proposed school admission numbers set out in the consultation documents be adopted for the admissions year 2011/12.
2. That the exceptional circumstances admission priority be retained for all age groups, but is applied more rigorously with a stronger burden of proof of the need for admission to the school in question.
3. That a new admission priority be applied to the junior admission exercise where there are linked infant and junior schools (new priority 4). At the same time the limit of 2 miles placed on the sibling link for primary schools be removed.
4. That the proposed Voluntary Aided School admission arrangements be noted as conforming to the requirements of the Admissions Code.
5. That the co-ordinated schemes of admission, including schemes for in-year admission, be approved.
6. That the City boundary be retained as the relevant area for consultation for school admissions.
47.2 Councillor Pat Hawkes welcomed the recommendations of the report.
47.3 Councillor Rachel Fryer added that the proposals make sense and enquired about the assessment of the categorisation of exceptional circumstances.
47.4 The Head of Admissions and Transport responded that there had been concerns about the volume and authenticity of some applications under exceptional circumstances. Through consultation, it had been decided that the exceptional circumstances clause be retained but applied more rigorously and that a medical condition should not necessarily be a guarantee of admission.
47.5 Councillor Fryer asked whether voluntary aided faith schools offered any community places to children not of that faith.
47.6 The Head of Admissions and Transport clarified that St Andrews was the only faith school to follow this procedure. 20 per cent of places allocated at St Andrews were community admissions which equated to around 12 places.
47.7 Councillor Fryer asked if there would be further discussions with faith schools about this procedure.
47.8 The Head of Admissions and Transport responded that whilst faith schools were required to consider how their admission arrangements impacted on the local community they could not be required to offer community places.
47.9 RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Member accept the proposals in the report on School Admission Arrangements for 2011/12. |
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Tendering for Special School Home to School Transport Services Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached). Additional documents: Decision: 1. That the completion of the re-tendering process for the two home to school transport contracts which finish at the end of the summer term 2010 be approved.
2. That delegated authority to confirm the award of the contracts be granted to the Director of Children’s Services, within whose Department the contract is managed.
Minutes: 48.1 The Head of Admissions and Transport presented an item on the Tendering for Special School Home to School Transport Services which gave the following recommendations:
1. That the completion of the re-tendering process for the two home to school transport contracts which finish at the end of the summer term 2010 be approved.
2. That delegated authority to confirm the award of the contracts be granted to the Director of Children’s Services, within whose Department the contract is managed.
48.2 Councillor Fryer asked what the expected outcomes would be in letting new contracts.
48.3 The Head of Admissions and Transport replied that he would be expecting to see economies of scale and reductions in cost where a longer term exclusive contract was let for a school site. The Council retained the option of not letting the contracts in this way if the tenders were not seen to achieve best value, and could let smaller parcels of transport if that resulted in a better price.
48.4 Councillor Fryer noted that there had been budget cuts in this area asking how the Council’s spend compared with other authorities.
48.5 The Head of Admissions and Transport responded that the authority was actually well within the national average and compared well with the South East, but was slightly above average cost amongst unitary authorities. He added that efficiency with good quality service would be rigorously pursued with all options examined and considered in order to achieve the required savings.
48.6 RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Member approve the recommendations from the Tendering for Special School Home to School Transport.
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Removal of Soft Services from the Schools PFI Contract [Exempt Category 1 & 3]
Report of the Director of Children’s Services (circulated to Members only). Decision: 1. As per Part 1 Decision Record.
Minutes: 49.1 RESOLVED – That the recommendations detailed in Item 46 in Part One of the Agenda be adopted.
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Part Two Items To consider whether or not the above item and the decisions thereon should remain exempt from disclosure to the press and public.
Minutes: 50.1 RESOLVED – That Item 49 remains exempt from disclosure to the press and public.
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