1 Apologies for absence.
2 Minutes: 20 May 2009
3 Urgent Business (if any): To be accepted at the discretion of the Chairman of the meeting.
4 Exclusion of the public: The Cabinet is asked to consider whether by resolution to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of the items of business marked with an 'E' reference because of the possibility of the disclosure of exempt information. A draft resolution is attached for use by the Cabinet if it so wishes.
5 Declarations of interest: To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting. A blank form for declaring interests has been circulated with the agenda, please ensure that this is returned to the Committee Clerk at the end of the meeting.
OPEN ITEM
Discussion leading to Decision
6 References from Other Committees: - Children and Young People and Families Scrutiny Committee – 28 May 2009: The following item had been referred back to Cabinet for further consideration:-
5 Call in – Proposed closure of Montrose School: The decision made by Cabinet (minute 301 of 14 May 2009 refers) had been called in by Councillor G W Fairhust, with the support of Councillors G Wilkes, P A Tushingham, Mrs A Bland, Mrs D Fairhurst and N Bradbury.
The Cabinet decision was as follows:-
301 Proposed Closure of Montrose School: The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services that outlined the borough’s specialist provision for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN). The report also sought permission to consult on the proposed closure of Montrose School.
Members asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Children Young People’s Services responded.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to consider parental preference and to give the commitment that all pupils will receive high quality education and care in an appropriate setting.
Resolved: The Cabinet:
- notes the content of the report; and
- requests that the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services to proceed to statutory consultation on the proposal to close Montrose School with effect from 31 August 2010.
Councillor G W Fairhurst had stated that the reasons for calling in the Cabinet decision were as follows:
When Mere Oaks was being closed by Labour, this was brought up and reassurances were given that children from mere Oaks would not be passed from pillar to post. I call this in because obviously either something has changed or the original recommendation was flawed. Either way, it has consequences and I do not believe that these children should go through all of this again. I wish to know when it became clear that there was a problem, what the Council have been doing about it and more besides. These children can simply not be messed about time and time again.
The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services which had been presented to Cabinet on this matter.
The Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services attended as a witness to explain the background leading to the recommendations in the report and answer questions.
Councillor Mrs S Loudon, the Cabinet champion for Children, attended as a witness to explain how the Cabinet had reached its decision and answer questions.
Concern was expressed that, in some cases, children a Montrose School would face upheaval for the second time.
The Executive Director responded that the report had been presented to Cabinet in two parts; parts one and three outlined the way in which special provision had changed over the years with the successful placement of children with complex educational needs into mainstream schools. A number of options had been considered, including a merger with Hope School, but the falling numbers at Montrose meant that this was not economical or educationally viable.
Members asked if the closure of the school was due to special measures or was it wholly a financial decision.
The Executive Director responded that finance was dedicated and could not be moved around; the resources would follow the child. Parents would still be given the choice of either mainstream or special needs education.
Members commented that parents opting for mainstream school should still be allowed to reconsider at a future date and transfer to a special needs school if they felt it would provide better educational facilities for their child.
The Executive Director responded that parents would always have this choice. Some children divide their education between mainstream and special needs school at present and transfer between schools a couple of days a week.
Members asked for a detailed explanation of the consultation process to which the Executive Director responded.
Resolved: The Committee supports the decision with the following recommendations to be referred to Cabinet:-
that full support be given to parents in their individual choices of alternative schools; and
that full consideration be given to the full outcome of the consultation.
Report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services enclosed (.pdf, 92Kb).
7 Anti Social Behaviour Policy and Procedure (.pdf, 53Kb): Report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services enclosed along with the relevant minute of the Building Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee.
8 Care Closer to Home – Select Committee final report (.pdf, 128Kb): Report of the Deputy Chief Executive enclosed along with the relevant minute of the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee.
9 Annual Governance Statement (.pdf, 510Kb): Report of Executive Director of Business Support Services to follow.
10 Review of Standing List of Contractors (Bridge Works, Highway Maintenance Works and Building, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering works etc) (.pdf, 128Kb): Report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services enclosed.
11 Brighter Borough guidelines (.pdf, 59Kb): Report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services enclosed.
12 Adult Safeguarding (.pdf, 222Kb): Report of the Executive Director of Health and Well Being enclosed along with the relevant minute of the Adult, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.
13 Feedback from Scrutiny Committees (if any)
