Present at the meeting:
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor Mrs K Aldred
- Councillor Dr C M Cottam
- Councillor S F Ell
- Councillor J D Hodgkinson
- Councillor M Klieve
- Councillor K W McManus
- Councillor J Talbot
Co-opted Members:
- Rev Dr R Buckley
- Mr B Turrell
The Chairman thanked the students at Bedford High School for their assistance at the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Panel.
49 Apologies for absence: Councillors Mrs B Bourne, Ms L E Fagan, Mrs D Fairhurst and R Winkworth and Mr A Birchall, Mr D Barber, Mr G Cheeseman, Rev Deacon R Moore and Mr S Wilson (Co-opted Members)
50 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 15 January 2009 were approved as a correct record.
51 Sustainable Modes of Travel strategy: The Panel considered a joint report of the Executive Directors of Environmental Services and Children and Young People’s Services, which sought approval for the Council’s sustainable modes of travel strategy.
The report had been considered by the Environment Panel (minute 37 refers) and Cabinet (minute 197 refers).
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
52 Wigan Safeguarding Children Board (WSCB) – minutes of the meetings held on 28 July, 22 September and 24 November 2008: The minutes of the meetings of the Wigan Safeguarding Children Board held on 28 July, 22 September and 24 November 2008 were submitted for information.
Agreed: The Panel notes the minutes now submitted.
53 Determination of Admission Arrangements 2010-2011: community and voluntary controlled schools: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services that informed Members of the Local Authority consultation on admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools and nurseries for 2010-2011.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the content of the report; and
- endorses the recommendations.
(Councillor M Klieve declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item as he is a Governor at Golborne High School)
54 Review of Provision and use of resourced schools: outcome of consultation on the provision of resourced places at Tyldesley Garrett Hall Primary School and withdrawal of the proposal: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, which would be submitted to Cabinet. This informed Members of the situation regarding resourced places at Garrett Hall Primary School, Tyldesley and current issues which would support the recommendation to withdraw the proposal.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
(Councillor K W McManus declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because his daughters attend Garret Hall Primary School)
55 Children and Young People’s Participation: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, which requested Members to consider establishing a role for children and young people to make decisions about the design and delivery of the services they receive.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
56 Admissions to maintained nurseries: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, which informed Members of the changes to admissions and practice in maintained nursery classes and schools.
Agreed: The Panel notes the changing nature of maintained nursery classes and nursery schools.
57 Equality, diversity and community cohesion issues relating to children and young people, including the recording of bullying incidents and hate-incidents: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services, which informed Members of the steps taken to eliminate harassment and discrimination and promote equality and community cohesion. The report also informed the Members of bullying incidents and hate-incidents involving children and young people recorded during the Autumn Term 2008.
Agreed: The Panel notes:
- the steps taken to eliminate harassment and discrimination and to promote equality and cohesion;
- the steps taken to address bullying in schools;
- reaffirms their commitment to support schools in this work;
- the bullying incidents involving children and young people that occurred during the Autumn term 2008; and
- the continued improvement in the response rate from schools.
58 Quarter 3 progress report: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s services that provided the Panel with a summary of progress in CYPP key indicators at the end of quarter 3, 2008-09.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report.
59 Teenage pregnancy update: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Children and Young People Services, which would be submitted to Cabinet. The report provided the Panel with an update of the teenage pregnancy figures in Wigan.
Agreed: The Panel:
- suggests that teenage pregnancy is maintained as a high priority issue in Wigan; and
- supports the local drive to reduce teenage pregnancies and improve the outcome for young parents and their children.
60 Questions by pupils of Bedford high School: Members of the Student Council at Bedford High school asked the following questions to which the Executive Director of Children and Young People responded:
- How can you improve learning for special needs?
- What support is there for teachers to help us?
- How can we update school work to suit modern teenagers?
- Are you going to build a new school for Bedford?
- How do we reward the students who always do their best but don’t get noticed?
- How would you update school classrooms to make them better for larger groups.
- How will we adapt internet homework to make it easier for students to access who don’t have a computer?
61 Questions by Members at panel meetings: Councillor M Klieve asked the following questions to which the Executive Director of Children and Young People responded:
- Can you please provide the panel with an up to date position of Building Schools for the Future (BSF) in the following areas?
- How is the funding progressing?
- When will we have a definitive answer?
- Can you provide the panel with an update on the progression of phase one BSF school plans and preferred areas for school sites?
