Agenda item

Report ED15069

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

In considering the work programme for 2014/15, the Chairman requested that a report on Truancy and Missing Children be considered at the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 5^th November 2014.  The Chairman also requested that reports on progress in strategies to target young people classified as being ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’, Education of Looked After Children, and Home Education be considered at the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 27^th January 2015.

The annual Education Seminar would be held later in 2014, which would give all Members of the Council and Co-opted Members of the Education PDS Committee the opportunity to explore key issues affecting education in the Borough.

A joint meeting with the Care Services PDS Committee exploring child safeguarding would be held on 26^th February 2015, and Councillor Kathy Bance MBE requested that female genital mutilation be included as a child protection issue.

The Chairman proposed that the Education Budget Sub-Committee be reconvened for 2014/15 to consider budgetary matters relating to the Education Portfolio.  This was supported by the Members of the Education PDS Committee and Member nominations were confirmed as Councillors Teresa Ball, Kathy Bance MBE, Nicholas Bennett JP, Alan Collins, Judi Ellis and Neil Reddin.  The draft terms of reference of the Education Budget Sub-Committee were endorsed by Members.

The Chairman highlighted the priority for primary and secondary school place planning and proposed that the School Places Working Group be convened for 2014/15.  This was supported by the Members of the Education PDS Committee and Member nominations were confirmed as Councillor Judi Ellis, any four Conservative Members of the Education PDS Committee and Councillor Kathy Bance MBE.

The Chairman proposed that a joint working group be established with Care Services PDS Committee which looked at the effectiveness of Children’s Centres and the Tackling Troubled Families Programme and would draw on the experience of Members and Co-opted Members of both committees.  The Chairman would raise the suggestion with the Chairman of Care Services PDS Committee and report back to the next meeting.

The Chairman emphasised the importance of ensuring that schools identified as requiring improvement were making satisfactory progress and proposed that a School Improvement Panel be convened for 2014/15.  This was supported by Members of the Education PDS Committee and Member nominations were confirmed as Councillor Mary Cooke, any three Conservative Members of Education PDS Committee, and Councillor Kathy Bance MBE. 

The Chairman also proposed that a Progress of Academy Status Panel be convened for 2014/15 which would support schools in progressing towards academy status.  This was supported by Members of the Education PDS Committee and Member nominations were confirmed as Councillor Keith Onslow (or in his absence, Councillor Alexa Michael), the Portfolio Holder for Education, the Chairman of Education PDS Committee, the Vice-Chairman of Education PDS Committee and any one Conservative Member of Education PDS Committee.

The Chairman advised Members that visits were regularly arranged for care homes and schools and colleges across the Borough and encouraged all Members and Co-opted Members to attend.

All Members of the Committee were requested to contact the Chairman of Education PDS Committee if there were any additional issues they wanted to raise as part of the Education Programme 2014/15.

RESOLVED that:

1)  The work programme for 2014/15 include reports on Truancy and Missing Children to the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 5^th November 2014, and on progress in strategies to target young people classified as being ‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’, Education of Looked After Children, and Home Education to the meeting of Education PDS Committee on 27^th January 2015, and that a joint meeting be held with Care Services PDS Committee on 26^th February 2015 exploring child safeguarding issues;

2)  The Education Budget Sub-Committee be reconvened for 2014/15 to consider budgetary matters relating to the Education Portfolio and for membership to comprise Councillors Teresa Ball, Kathy Bance MBE, Nicholas Bennett JP, Alan Collins, Judi Ellis and Neil Reddin, and that the draft terms of reference of the Education Budget Sub-Committee be endorsed;

3)  The School Places Working Group be reconvened for 2014/15 to develop recommendations for further temporary and permanent expansions of primary schools and for membership to comprise Councillor Judi Ellis, any four Conservative Members of Education PDS Committee and Councillor Kathy Bance MBE;

4)  The School Improvement Panel be convened for 2014/15 to ensure that schools identified as requiring improvement were making satisfactory progress and for membership to comprise Councillor Mary Cooke, any three Conservative Members of Education PDS Committee, and Councillor Kathy Bance MBE;

5)  The Progress of Academy Status Panel be convened for 2014/15 to ensure that schools were supported in progressing towards academy status and for membership to comprise Councillor Keith Onslow (or in his absence, Councillor Alexa Michael), the Portfolio Holder for Education, the Chairman of Education PDS Committee, the Vice-Chairman of Education PDS Committee and any one Conservative Member of Education PDS Committee; and,

6)  The Education Programme 2014/15 be noted.