Agenda and minutes
PDF 177 KBVenue: Ashcombe, County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2DN
Contact: Dominic Mackie or Richard Plummer
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Liz Bowes, Carol Coleman, Robert Evans, Colin Kemp and Margaret Hicks.
Richard Wilson substituted for Carol Coleman.
Apologies were also received from Linda Kemeny and Mary Lewis. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: WEDNESDAY 8 JUNE 2016
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a true and accurate record. Minutes: The minutes were approved as a true and accurate record of the previous meeting. |
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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 made. |
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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 (Friday 9 September 2016). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (Thursday 8 September 2016) 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were no questions or petitions received. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SCRUTINY BOARD
There are no responses to report. Minutes: There were no responses from Cabinet. |
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Board is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Board noted and approved the recommendations tracker and forward work programme. |
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THE COMMUNITY LEARNING AND SKILLS SERVICE 2015/16 PERFORMANCE
Purpose of the report:
To provide an opportunity for scrutiny of the Community Learning and Skills performance for the 2015/16 academic year. The report will also set out the direction of travel for the Service, the national policy considerations, and the opportunities and threats facing the Service. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
1.
The Principal, Community
Learning and Skills highlighted that the year 2015/16 had been a
positive one for the service, citing that the service had received
a Grade two “Good” performance rating from Ofsted,
increased the number of adults enrolling on courses, and achieved a
100% pass rate for adults taking GCSE examinations. It was also
noted that English and Mathematics courses were proving to be in
high demand, but that computing course enrolment had been in
decline.
2.
The Principal, Community Learning and
Skills pointed out that safeguarding was a core focus for the
service, highlighting that the service had recruited a new deputy
safeguarding officer. The safeguarding leads were proactively
challenging Community Learning Managers to prioritise this aspect
of their work. It was noted Ofsted had reported good progress as a
result of this, however, it was stressed that this would continue
to be an area of focus for the service.
3.
It was highlighted that apprenticeships would be a
priority for the service in the coming year. This was a response to
the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy scheduled for April
2017. It was noted that the
Apprenticeship Levy afforded a positive opportunity for the service
to use its expertise more widely..
4.
The Board queried some potential risks, pointing out
possible issues with regard to future funding for the service. The
Principal, Community Learning and Skills
pointed out that there were future risks to funding, but that any
specific funding issue would be speculation until any policy
changes from the new government were known..
5.
The Principal, Community Learning and
Skills informed the Board that apprenticeship progress and
monitoring would be included in the Key Performance Indicator
report for the 2016/17 academic year and that target setting for
the year would be shared with the Board
when it was finalised.
6.
Members queried what the changes would be
occurring in the service as a result of Local Commissioning.
Officers explained that, as a result of recent changes in central
government, the effects to the service in the foreseeable future
were difficult to ascertain. However, it was confirmed that Local
Commissioning would be a consideration in strategic planning in
future years. 7. Members raised the concern regarding the course charges and whether they represented good value for money for service users. Officers responded to this concern confirming that a balance had to be struck between value for money, course affordability and the service being able to fund itself. It was noted, however, that there was a Hardship Fund of £15,000 per annum in place for those who were unable to afford courses, in an effort to ensure that adults that wished to learn were not excluded. This was in addition to other fee remission offered by the service. It was noted that any excess of ... view the full minutes text for item 55/16 |
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SURREY EDUCATION IN PARTNERSHIP
Purpose of the report: Policy Development
To share plans to work in partnership with schools to develop a new education and skills offer for Surrey, and to identify opportunities for the Education & Skills Board to support this work. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
1.
Officers explained to the Board that, while the
publication of Educational Excellence Everywhere in March 2016 was
a component in triggering the necessity for change, Surrey County
Council had already identified that education provision in the
county had to be redesigned in order to be sustainable. Officers
highlighted a vision for co-designed education plans and
particularly pointed out that necessity to deliver a high quality,
inclusive and sustainable system for the future.
2.
It was explained that Officers were beginning their
engagement process with partners to determine the optimal way
forward for the Council. Members queried who would be part of the
engagement process. It was also highlighted that Officers were
planning to attend meetings with school governing bodies, phase
councils and other groups to gain insights as part of the
consultation process.
3.
It was pointed out that, in conjunction with
schools, Further Education (FE) colleges would also be a part of
the process. Members pointed out that business leaders and student
groups should also be a part of the consultation process.
4.
Officers highlighted that Surrey County Council had
a pro-choice stance with regard to potential academisation and
would support schools in making the right decisions locally in the
best interest of their pupils. The council would also seek the
views of schools and other partners on selective education as it
considers the Government’s recent proposals.
5.
It was highlighted that
Officers had just begun the consultation phase and that this was
one part of the overall policy development process. It was noted
that that this was an early phase of the process.
6.
Members suggested that Officers would need to
collate information regarding costs and risks to the service as a
direct result of the potential changes to the service. Officers
responded that the service was in its consultation phases, and that
information relating to risk assessment and financial liability
would be ascertained as part of the design and development phase in
the first quarter of 2017.
7.
Members highlighted positive aspects of the
consultation phase, noting that it was crucial to building a
sustainable relationship with schools in the changing
environment. 8. Officers offered to circulate to the Board a future work programme of how the Board can work with the service with reference to the timescales provided.
Actions:
1. That a future work programme be worked upon with officers and Members of the Board.
Recommendations:
2. That progress regarding the consultation stage be reviewed by the Board at its next meeting.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next public meeting of the Board will be held at Thursday 24 November 2016, 10.00am at County Hall.
Minutes: The next public meeting of the Board was held Thursday 24 November 2016, County Hall at 10.00am. |