Issue - meetings

Decision – To agree the Work Programme for 2012/13 and establish working parties and Sub Committees.

Report ED12011

The Committee considered the forward rolling work programme for the year ahead, based on items scheduled for decision by the Education Portfolio Holder and items for consideration by the Education PDS Committee.

In considering the work programme for the Committee, the Chairman highlighted the priority for primary school place planning and proposed that the Primary School Development Plan Working Group be reconstituted prior to the next meeting of Education PDS Committee.  This was supported by the PDS Committee and Member nominations were received from Councillors Kathy Bance, Lydia Buttinger, Judi Ellis, Brian Humphrys and Neil Reddin.

The Chairman also proposed that a Budget Sub-Committee be established to consider budgetary matters relating to the Education Portfolio.  This was supported by the PDS Committee and Member nominations were received from Councillors Nicholas Bennett JP, Lydia Buttinger, Nicky Dykes, David McBride and Neil Reddin.

The Chairman announced that a seminar would be held in November 2012 for all Members of the PDS Committee and Council to attend to hear speakers on a range of themes and issues that were key to the education Portfolio.  These themes would include Looked After Children – the role of the virtual Head Teacher, Raising the Participation Age, SEN Strategy and School Places.

An Education Select Committee would also be held at 7.00pm on 17^th July 2012 to explore the issue of sold services to schools, and all members of the PDS Committee were invited to attend.

In considering the Work Programme for 2012-13, Members requested that a number of additional reports be considered at future meetings of the Education PDS Committee:

• Speech and Language Report (November 2012)
• Youth Offending Team Update – Progress following Inspection (date TBC)
• Youth Services Update (November 2012)

Members also requested that an update on the Behaviour Service be included as part of the Further Review of the Behaviour Service report to be considered at the meeting of the Education PDS Committee on 11^th September 2012.

It was noted that in future, a list of upcoming report titles would be circulated to all Members of the Committee in advance of each meeting to allow Members to ask questions and highlight themes they would like included in each report.

The Chairman highlighted the school visits arranged on a termly basis and encouraged all Members of the Committee to attend.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The Primary School Development Plan Working Group be reconstituted for 2012/13 to develop recommendations for further temporary and permanent expansions of primary schools and for membership to comprise Councillors Kathy Bance, Lydia Buttinger, Judi Ellis, Brian Humphrys and Neil Reddin;

2)  A Budget Sub-Committee be established for 2012/13 to consider budgetary matters relating to the Education Portfolio and for membership to comprise Councillors Nicholas Bennett JP, Lydia Buttinger, Nicky Dykes, David McBride and Neil Reddin;

3)  The Education Forward Rolling Work Programme 2012-13 be noted.