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EDUCATION CABINET PANEL
21 OCTOBER 2008
M I N U T E S
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
N Bell, D E Billing, M Coxage, A D Dodd, K F Emsall (Executive Member for Education and Culture),B C Engel,T Heritage, D W Hills, S Holmes, B J Lamb, A Lee, R Prowse,
H M Saunders, R A C Thake (Chairman), M Tucker
Parent-Governor/Church Representative (Voting)
S Milligan (substituting for N Betteley)
Also present:
D Williams, E Rushton (Principal, WestHertsCollege), M Cooke (Learning and Skills Council)
Upon consideration of the agenda for the Education Cabinet Panel meeting on 21 October 2008 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:
Note: No conflicts of interest were declared by any member of the Panel in relation to the matters on which conclusions were reached at this meeting.
PART 1
ACTION1. / CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
1.1 / S Milligan replaced N Betteley for this meeting only.
2. / MINUTES
2.1 / The minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
3. / PUBLIC PETITIONS
3.1 / There were no public petitions.
4. / POST-16 DEVELOPMENTS – THE TRANSFER OF LSC FUNCTIONS TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY
[Officer Contacts: Eileen Gordon, 14-19 Strategy Manager
Tel: 01438 843902]
4.1 / The Panel received a report which provided an update on national changes to the commissioning of education and training for 16-19 year-olds and which outlined the Council’s proposed participation in the establishment of a sub-regional grouping to take responsibility for the commissioning of 16-19 education and training.
4.2 / Eileen Gordon, 14-19 Strategy Manager, updated the Panel on latest progress with the proposals. It was noted that there are a number of areas in which details are still to be clarified – for example the structure and operation of the Young People’s Learning Agency.
4.3 / Elizabeth Rushton, Principal of West Herts College, advised that the Colleges welcome the proposal, although it was highlighted that there is a necessity to make sure that the transition happens quickly and smoothly. The Deputy Director (Chief Education Officer) informed the Panel that the County Council will be collaborating closely with the Colleges to ensure that the changes are implemented in the best way possible.
Conclusion:
The Panel:
4.4 / endorsed the proposal for Hertfordshire County Council to participate in the establishment of a formal sub-regional groupingwith Luton Borough Council and Bedfordshire County Council for the purpose of joint commissioning of further education provision in the sub-region;
4.5 / endorsed the next steps for taking forward the operational arrangements as set out in the report;
4.6 / noted that detailed information on processes and arrangements will come to a future meeting of the Panel prior to the stage 2 submission to the DCSF, and requested that the Panel be kept informed of progress. / Justin Donovan
5. / SCHOOL FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS 2009/2010
[Officer Contact: Simon Pickard, Finance Business Partner, CSFSchools
Tel: 01992 555736]
5.1 / The Panel received a report which provided information on the anticipated changes to school funding arrangements for the remainder of the current three year funding period 2008-11, and which outlined the proposed contents of the annual formula funding consultation with schools to take place in December 2008.
5.2 / The Panel particularly noted the current situation in respect of the inequity of early years funding described in section 5 of the report. Members were advised that this would be considered further by the Schools Forum, and the Panel supported the proposal to take the single funding formula forward to consultation.
5.3 / The increased level of schools’ revenue balances was also noted. The Panel heard that as a result of the high balances schools have been required to provide plans to set out how their balances will be used, which is likely to lead to some ‘clawbacks’. The Panel asked whether the variety of balances held by individual schools stemmed from disparities within the funding formula.
Conclusions:
The Panel:
5.4 / endorsed the plan to take the proposed single funding formula for early years to consultation;
5.5 / noted the anticipated changes to school funding arrangements for the remainder of the current three year funding period 2008-11 and the proposed contents of the annual formula funding consultation with schools to take place in December 2008;
5.6 / noted that the outcomes of the autumn term consultation exercise with schools on funding arrangements will be brought to the January 2009 meeting of the Panel.
5.7 / requested that a report on head teacher leadership development be brought to a future meeting of the Panel. / J Donovan
6. / PROPOSED RELOCATION OF THE PRIMARY SUPPORT BASE FROM BERRYGROVEPRIMARY SCHOOL IN WATFORD TO HIGHWOODPRIMARY SCHOOL IN BUSHEY
[Officer Contact: Paul Wray, Area Planning Manager West
Tel: 01992 555860]
6.1 / The Panel considered a report which gave information on a proposal to re-locate the Primary Support Base currently sited atBerrygrovePrimary School in Watford to HighwoodPrimary School in Bushey, and which presented the process and outcome of a six-week public consultation on the proposal. Paul Wray, Area Planning Manager, advised the Panel that the reasons for the proposed re-location centre on the unsuitability of the current accommodation at Berrygrove, together with a wish to allow the school more time to focus on curriculum development projects, whichwould be facilitated if the PSB were to move to Highwood.
6.2 / In response to Member questions about the proposed use of short-term temporary accommodation at Highwood the Panel heard that a decision is still awaited from the DCSF on whether Primary Capital Programme funding will be available for the rebuilding of the school to incorporate purpose-built accommodation for the PSB, although it is hoped that a decision will have been received before the proposal goes to Cabinet. Members were advised that in the event that funding is not agreed a capital bid will be made for permanent accommodation for the PSB at the existing site.
Conclusions:
The Panel:
6.3 / endorsed the proposal to relocate the Primary Support Base currently at BerrygrovePrimary School in Watford to HighwoodPrimary School in Bushey.
7. / THE ACADEMIES PROGRAMME
[Officer Contact: Andy Cunningham, Deputy BSF Programme Director
Tel: 01992 555740
7.1 / The Panel received a report which provided information on the national Academies programme and which updated Members on progress with the proposals for the Francis Combe and BusheyHallAcademies.
7.2 / In relation to Francis Combe, the Panel particularly welcomed the involvement of WestHertsCollege as sponsor and the University of Hertfordshire as supporter for the Academy. It was noted that approval has recently been given by Cabinet forthe Director of Children, Schools and Families to publish a statutory notice to close FrancisCombeSchool and Community College on 31 August 2009, subject to the approval of the application to open an Academy on the site.
7.3 / In relation to Bushey Hall, Members queried whether the current site was the right location for the Academy, and whether an area review should have been undertaken to determine this. The Deputy Director (Chief Education Officer) advised that the proposal to close the school and open an Academy has arisen as a result of concern about educational standards rather than as an issue of availability of places: the pupil population is relatively stable, and a lack of capacity at nearby schools wouldhave necessitated a new school to be established at the existing site in the event of the closure of Bushey Hall.
7.4 / The issue of the accountability of Academies was raised, as these are to be directly responsible to the DCSF rather than the local authority. The Panel heard that Academies will be bound by the existing national Codes of Practice and will include a local authority representative on the governing body: sponsors will also be required to commit for a 7-year block to provide stability. In response to questions as to whether the Academies’ ability to select pupils could lead to difficulties in school place planning the Deputy Director advised that the admissions arrangements of the Academies would not have any more significant impact than those ofexisting selective schools within the county.
Conclusions:
The Panel:
7.5 / noted the national background to the Academies Programme and the current status of arrangements in Hertfordshire in respect of the Francis Combe and BusheyHallAcademies.
8. / OTHER PART I BUSINESS: BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE REVISED EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
[Officer Contact: Simon Newland, Head of School Planning and Director of BSF
Tel: 01992 555763]
8.1 / The Panel received a report which provided an update on waves of funding for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme and which described the need for a revised Expression of Interest for future projects to be submitted to the Government.
Simon Newland, Head of School Planning and Director of BSF, informed the Panel that the County Council is awaiting approval for the first wave of funding (Stevenage) under BSF. A previous Expression of Interest for the remainder of the county, broken into ‘waves’, had been approved: however the Government has recently requested that local authorities re-submit proposals for subsequent waves (to be known as ‘follow-on projects’)- organised within groupings of between 5 to 7 schools - by 30 November 2008. It is therefore envisaged that a consultation will commence shortly with a request for responses by 14 November to allow for formal approval from Cabinet to be sought on 15 December: the revised EOI will be submitted subject to that approval.
Conclusions:
The Panel:
8.2 / noted the need to re-submit an Expression of Interest for future projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme, and endorsed the next steps and timetable for doing so as outlined in the tabled paper.
9. / DATE OF NEXT MEETING
9.1 / Tuesday 2 December 2008 at 10.00am in Committee Room B. / All to note
Andrew Laycock
CountySecretary
081021 Minutes
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