Agenda and minutes
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Chris Townsend, Cecile White, Stella Lallement, Derek Holbird and Zully Grant-Duff. Marie Ryan acted as substitute for Derek Holbird.
The Cabinet Member for Schools and Learning, Linda Kemeny, also sent her apologies.
In Zully Grant-Duff’s absence Denis Fuller, the Vice-Chairman, acted as Committee Chairman for this meeting.
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To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes were agreed as an accurate record of the meetings. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (25 July 2013). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (24 July 2013). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: PJ Wilkinson (Assistant Director for Schools and Learning)
Claire Curran (Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and Learning) Mary Angell (Cabinet Member for Children and Families)
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Three Member questions had been received from Mr Robert Evans. The questions and responses were tabled, and are enclosed with these minutes.
2. The Chairman invited Robert Evans to ask supplementary questions. In response to Question 1 the Member requested further detail on what measures were being used to discourage Surrey schools from moving to academy status. Officers commented that the Local Authority had no power to direct schools in these matters, but did work to discourage and influence where possible. The Committee was informed that the Local Authority maintained healthy partnerships with Surrey academy schools. Officers expressed the view that there were no significant gains for Surrey schools to pursue academy status, other than in their ability to support other schools.
3. The Committee was told that free schools were being actively encouraged by the Local Authority where there was an identified local need.
4. In reference to Question 2, the Member requested further information on what was being done to reduce the number of schools appeals. Officers outlined that there had been significant work to identify Surrey’s need and provision of school places, and that this information was published on an annual basis. It was highlighted that there had been a significant commitment of capital funding in the Medium Term Financial Plan towards creating an additional 12,000 school places in the next five years.
5. In reference to Question 3, the Member asked officers to confirm that the under-spend from 2013/13 was being directed towards the provision of additional school places. Officers commented that under-expenditure was not considered a “carry-forward” and had been result of preparing for anticipated cuts in the financial year, the impact of which had been managed. It was confirmed that the under-spend would be used to meet increasing budgetary pressures in 2013/14.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
There are no responses to report. Minutes: There had been no referrals made to Cabinet so there were no responses to report. |
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APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTEES TO THE CHILDREN & EDUCATION SELECT COMMITTEE
Purpose of the report:
To agree arrangements for the co-option of people who are not members of the Council to sit on the Children & Education Select Committee. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee agreed the appointment of the co-optees as outlined in the report.
Resolved:
· That the individuals detailed in paragraphs 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of the report be formally co-opted onto the Children & Education Select Committee.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
None.
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INCREASING THE EMPLOYABILITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SURREY
A number of stakeholders have been invited to provide evidence for this item. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Session 1
Garath Symonds (Assistant Director for Young People)
Claire Curran (Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and Learning) Mary Angell (Cabinet Member for Children and Families)
Session 2
Jenny Smith (Development Manager) Jayne Dickinson (Principle and Chief Executive of East Surrey College) Ron Searle (Headmaster at the Warwick School) Sue Taylor (Network Manager of Association of Learning Providers) Ben Gately (The Eleven) Amanda Sims (Education Contracts Manager at U-Explore) Pete Brayne (Director for Surrey Youth Consortium / Chief Executive of Guildford YMCA) Garath Symonds (Assistant Director for Young People)
Claire Curran (Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and Learning) Mary Angell (Cabinet Member for Children and Families)
Session 3
Sean Rafferty (Head of Family Services) Ben Byrne (Head of Youth Support Services) James Beardall (Care Services Manager) Angela Sargeant (CAMHS Policy & Development Manager) Phil Doyle (Catch 22 Service Manager) Pete Brayne (Director for Surrey Youth Consortium / Chief Executive of Guildford YMCA) Garath Symonds (Assistant Director for Young People)
Claire Curran (Cabinet Associate for Children, Schools and Learning)
Key points raised during the discussion:
Session 1
1. The Committee queried the timescale in which officers intended to deliver their ambition of full participation of all young people in some form of education, employment, or employment and training. Officers commented that the target was to ensure full participation by 2015.
2. Officers commented that there were 936 young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) as of June 2013. The Committee was informed that Services for Young People was working to develop a way of delivering systemic change for all NEET young people, as it was felt that this was the manner in which long-term unemployment and other issues could be tackled.
3. The Chairman invited the two young people present (Ben Hodgeson and Oliver van Koetsveld) to ask their question. Officers were asked to comment on why careers advice was not mandatory in the year students were required to choose their GCSE options. Officers confirmed that all secondary schools had an obligation to deliver some form of careers advice, but that there was no requirement to do so in that specific year. The Committee was informed that there were 56 different agencies delivering careers advice in schools across Surrey. It was also highlighted that the Council provided its own careers advice to young people through the online resource U-explore.
4. The Committee was informed that the National Curriculum placed less emphasis on vocational pathways, but that there was work being undertaken through Surrey’s Public Services Transformation programme to develop a clear approach to the provision of careers information and guidance for young people.
5. The Committee asked officers to clarify whether the expected increase in the number of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) was attributable to population growth, as opposed to a percentage increase. It was confirmed by officers that this was the case. The Committee was informed that this presented a significant challenge in how the Council responded to the ... view the full minutes text for item 7/13 |
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FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses: None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Members requested that January 2014’s theme be amended to include the following question: “How does the curriculum provided improve outcomes for young people with Special Education Needs?”
2. There was a brief discussion regarding the format of the meeting and reports. Officers from Democratic Services noted the feedback and agreed to take the suggestions forward.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
None.
Committee Next Steps:
The Committee will continue to review its Forward Work Programme at each meeting. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10am on 19 September 2013. Minutes: The Committee noted that the next meeting of the Children & Education Select Committee would be on 19 September 2013 at 10am. Members were reminded that there would be a private pre-meeting beginning at 9.30am. |