SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
(LIFELONG LEARNING)
MINUTES of a meeting held on 8th
September 2008.
Present: Councillor J. Clifford
(Chairman); Councillor Mrs. K.A. Kemp (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, Mrs. V.L. Ellis, J.F. Fraser, Mrs. V.M.
Hartrey, F.T. Johnson, C.L. Osborne and Mrs. S.I. Sharpe.
Non-Voting observers: Mr. G. Beaudette
and Mr. D. Griffiths.
294 APOLOGIES FOR
ABSENCE -
These were received from Councillors C.P.J.
Elmore, E. Hacker and A.D. Hampton and Mr. T. Cox.
295 MINUTES -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the minutes of the
meeting held on 28th July 2008 be approved as an
accurate record.
296 DECLARATIONS OF
INTEREST -
The following Councillors declared the nature
of their personal interests, being governors of schools within the
Vale of Glamorgan:
Councillors, J. Clifford, Mrs. K.A. Kemp, Mrs.
M.E.J. Birch, Mrs. V.L. Ellis, J.F. Fraser, Mrs. V.M. Hartrey,
F.T. Johnson and C.L. Osborne.
297 WELCOME -
Mr. Jones, the Deputy Headteacher, extended a
welcome to all present to the school which had an admiral history
of achievement, for which all staff and pupils were justifiably
proud.
In addition, the physical environment of the
buildings was in excellent shape.
Mr. Jones extended an invite to any Member to
visit the school at any time.
The Chairman thanked Mr. Jones for the
hospitality shown to the Committee and wished the school well in
the future.
298 WORK PROGRAMME
2008/09 (CHAIRMAN) -
Committee received a proposed work programme
which included a review of the services and assistance for those
children and young people not in education, training or
employment.
Committee had previously identified the
implementation of the Foundation Phase and the Children and Young
People’s Plan as priority areas for scrutiny together with ongoing
scrutiny of the School Investment Strategy. These areas of
work were currently at initial implementation / development stages
and therefore it was considered to be too early to undertake a
detailed review of them in 2008/09. However, these topics had
been included in the Work Programme in 2008/09 with regular reports
timetabled to enable the Committee to consider progress to date and
future direction.
Committee had also raised concerns about
children not in education, employment and training and had
identified this as a potential review topic. A draft scope
had been produced for a review of this issue and this was attached
at Appendix A to the report.
Attached at Appendix B to the report was a
draft timetable for the Committee’s Work Programme. This
timetable included a full list of topics previously identified for
scrutiny as part of the 2008/09 Work Programme. The timetable
identified at which meeting it was intended that the information
regarding these topics be brought to Committee meetings to enable
officers to forward plan and for members of the Committee to be
aware of what was scheduled for forthcoming agendas.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T Committee undertake a review of the services and systems for
those children and young people not in education, training or
employment.
(2) T H A T the
review be undertaken by a Task and Finish Group to comprise
Councillors Mrs. S.I. Sharpe, Mrs. M.E.J. Birch, Mrs. V.M. Hartrey
and E. Hacker.
(3) T H A
T the timetable for the Committee Work Programme as outlined in
Appendix B to the report be agreed.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) To
enable the Committee to agree a review topic for 2008/09.
(2) To
progress the review within the stated timescale.
(3) To
formalise the Work Programme.
299 CORPORATE PLAN
2006-2010 ANNUAL MONITORING (CMT) -
Committee received a report which summarised
progress made on the actions contained in the Council’s Corporate
Plan 2006-2010.
The schedules provided an update on progress
for 2007/08 and noted that each target and action in the Plan was
identified with a symbol which reflected that progress as
follows:
· completed or on
track for completion within agreed timescales
· concerns about
outcomes not being achieved within agreed timescales
· significant
risk of outcomes not being achieved within agreed timescales.
Having considered the report, it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the progress made on
implanting the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2006-2010 as identified
in the schedules be noted.
Reason for recommendation
To ensure that the Corporate Plan is
effectively monitored.
300 IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2008/09 (CX) -
Committee received the draft Improvement Plan
2008/09, which contained performance and improvement information
for all Directorates and Corporate Plan priorities.
The draft Plan contained all available
performance information required by the Welsh Assembly Government
and several local indicators that measured Corporate
priorities. This performance information would be used by the
Wales Audit Office to assess the Council’s ability to improve, and
therefore was of critical importance to the reputation of the
Council.
The Plan was continually evolving as
information was provided by managers and was not yet fully
completed. The information would need to be included prior to
the final draft being presented to the Council in early
October.
Having considered the detail contained in the
Plan, it was
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the Improvement Plan for
2008/09 as currently drafted be endorsed.
Reason for recommendation
To ensure that actions are taken to improve
services and to agree the Plan within required timescales.
301 REVENUE AND
CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL 2008 TO
31ST JULY 2008 (DLD) -
The attention of Committee was drawn to the
position in respect of Revenue and Capital Expenditure for the
period 1st April 2008 to 31st July 2008,
regarding those Revenue and Capital Budgets which formed the
Committee’s remit. Projected outturn for 2008/09 Revenue
Budget was shown in comparison with the Amended Annual Budget at
Appendix 1 to the report. The current forecast for the
Directorate was for a balanced budget.
Schools - The delegated budget relating to
schools was expected to balance as any under / overspend was
carried forward by schools.
Education Service - It was currently projected
that expenditure would be in line with the budget.
Grant Related Expenditure - Schools had access
to the following Welsh Assembly funded grants:
· RAISE: £191,680
available from September 2008 until August 2009: Addressing the
link between socio-economic disadvantage and low attainment remains
the central principle of the RAISE programme in its third
year. In the Vale, 12 schools were in receipt of RAISE
funding. The school year 2008/09 was the last year in which
funding would be available at current levels. Therefore for
this third year, in addition to their proposals of how the grant
was to be used, schools must also draft exit strategies that will
allow the benefits of RAISE funding to continue beyond the life of
the grant.
· Foundation
Phase: £1,065,000 available from September 2008 until August
2009. This grant was available to enable the Authority to
implement the Foundation Phase from September 2008. The grant
was to be used to move towards staffing:pupil ratios of 1:8 for 3-5
year olds, as well as to fund appropriate training and support.
· Foundation
Phase Pilots and Early Start Setting: Holton Primary and Cadoxton
Nursery would continue to receive funding until March 2009 as an
Early Start setting. The amount available from April 2008 to
March 2009 was £277,336.
Libraries - This service was anticipated to
outturn on target.
Lifelong Learning - currently this service was
also anticipated to outturn on target.
Catering - also anticipated to outturn on
budget.
RECOMMENDED - T HA T the position with regard
to the 2008/09 Revenue and Capital Monitoring be noted.
Reason for recommendation
That Members are aware of the position with
regard to the 2008/09 Revenue and Capital Monitoring relevant to
the Committee.
302 FREE SCHOOL
BREAKFAST CLUBS (DLD) -
Members received an update on School Breakfast
Clubs in the Vale.
The aim of the Free Breakfast Initiative was
to give children a flying start by:
· improving
health and concentration
· help raise
achievements
· providing a
good start to the day
· ensuring that
children did not skip breakfast
· enhanced
socialisation skills.
At present 18 schools in the Vale of Glamorgan
operated free school breakfasts, with a further 5 planning to start
in January 2009. There were ongoing discussions with schools
who did not currently partake in the scheme.
The initiative was organised such that the
school employed the supervisory staff, was responsible for pupil
security, determined opening and closing times, as well as took a
daily register of pupils attending breakfast club.
The breakfast menu and portion size was
stipulated by the Welsh Assembly Government. The menu
included:
· choice of
cereals, not sugar coated, with milk (semi skimmed)
· wholemeal toast
(low fat spread, no preserve)
· crumpets
· fresh fruit /
yoghurt (choice not both)
· fruit juice /
milk or water to drink.
The breakfast club guidelines indicated that
clubs should operate for one hour a day, with the eating of
breakfast comprising between 10 and 20 minutes. The remainder
of the time should focus on educational and socialisation
time. All staff involved must be CRB checked and food
preparation staff must have Level 2 food hygiene certificates.
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the report be noted.
Reason for recommendation
That Members be made aware of the Free School
Breakfast Initiative within the Vale.
303 SUMMER EXAMINATION
RESULTS (DLD) -
Committee were advised of the preliminary WJEC
results for Vale schools in the summer examinations.
In response to a request at the previous
meeting of the Committee, a report outlining the summer examination
results was considered. At that time, it was explained that
the results would be incomplete as they would only include the WJEC
(Welsh Joint Education Committee) data. It was also explained
that the results would not be the final position pending conclusion
of challenge and appeals processes. Having considered the
data, it was
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the achievements of Vale pupils, schools and staff be noted.
(2) T H A
T a further more detailed report be presented to Committee once the
results were complete and validated.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) To
ensure Members were informed.
(2) To
receive a further report.
304 MATTER WHICH THE
CHAIRMAN HAD DECIDED WAS URGENT -
RECOMMENDED - T H A T the following matter
which the Chairman had decided was urgent for the reason indicated
be considered.
305 CHILDREN AND YOUNG
PEOPLE’S PLAN (DLD) -
Urgent by reason of the need to
appraise Committee prior to the next meeting of
Cabinet
Committee were updated on the progress
achieved on the development of the Children and Young People’s
Plan.
Committee received the latest draft of the
working document which had been amended following
consultations. In its final form, the strategic plan would be
supported by a clearly specified Action Plan detailing
accountabilities and timescales for operational delivery. The
Action Plan was being developed and would be presented to Cabinet
for formal agreement on 17th September in order to meet
the Welsh Assembly Government timescales.
RECOMMENDED -
(1) T H A
T the draft Plan for Children and Young People be endorsed.
(2) T H A
T a report on the implementation of the Plan be brought before the
Committee in January 2009.
Reasons for recommendations
(1) To
note the contents of the Plan.
(2) To
reveal implementation arrangements and progress.