To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors ACR Chappell, TM James and RL Mayo.  Apologies had also been received from Miss Lowenstein, an education co-optee.

To receive details of members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

Councillor J Hardwick substituted for Councillor ACR Chappell, and Councillor JA Hyde substituted for Councillor RL Mayo.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

Non-pecuniary interests were made, in respect of agenda items 8 (School examination performance) and 9 (The council’s approach to the development of an educational capital investment strategy for July 2015), by the following members: Councillors WLS Bowen, BA Durkin, EPJ Harvey, A Seldon and by Mr. Burbidge and Mr. Sell.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2015.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

In response to a comment from a committee member, who was not present at the last meeting, the Chairman confirmed that the minutes reflected accurately the committee’s recommendations in relation to the item ‘Review of Lease Restructuring with Hereford United (1939) Ltd’.

RESOLVED:      That the minutes of the meetings held on 18 February 2015 be approved as a correct record.

To consider suggestions from the public on issues the committee could scrutinise in the future.

(There will be no discussion of the issue at the time when the matter is raised.  Consideration will be given to whether it should form part of the committee’s work programme when compared with other competing priorities.)

No suggestions from the public had been received.

To note questions received from the public and the items to which they relate.

(Questions are welcomed for consideration at a scrutiny committee meeting subject to the question being directly relevant to an item listed on the agenda below.  If you have a question you would like to ask then please submit it no later than 5.00pm on Thursday 5 March 2015 to bbaugh@herefordshire.gov.uk)

No questions from the public had been received.

To consider the findings of the scrutiny task and finish group and to recommend the report to the Executive for consideration.

The Chairman introduced the report of the Task and Finish Group: Balfour Beatty Living Places - Public Realm Services for consideration by the committee prior to its submission to the Executive.  The Chairman said that a thorough review had been undertaken and he thanked the contributors, members and officers involved, particularly the Head of Commercial Services and the Interim Procurement Manager.

The Head of Commercial Services reported that the group had held discussions with a number of stakeholders, including Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP), and he considered that the report recommendations supported the approach that had been taken by the authority.  He added that the recommendations were already being considered, with the intention of providing committee members with the Executive response prior to the pre-election period.

A committee member noted that the group had explored issues in relation to the handover from Amey to BBLP and commented on the need to ensure that the learning points were not lost.  The committee member commented on the potential for locality stewards to become overworked and overburdened, particularly with statutory inspections, and recommended the following additional wording to recommendation 8 “That the work of the locality stewards should be monitored closely for signs of slippage in programmes and, if this occurs, that BBLP and Herefordshire Council should discuss a way of reducing the pressure on locality stewards to enable programmes to proceed”.

A number of members commended individual locality stewards on their personal and technical abilities.

In response to a question from a committee member, the Chairman suggested that a briefing note be provided to the committee on the uptake of the lengthsman scheme by town and parish councils.  A committee member suggested that councils that had implemented the scheme could share positive experiences with others.

Referring to recommendation 9 about members’ requests, a committee member noted that the locality stewards did not have the ability to authorise works, with decisions made by other BBLP teams, and he considered it essential that a transparent appeal process was introduced.  He also commented that the relevant cabinet member should maintain an overview of significant dispute issues.

The Cabinet Member Transport and Roads noted the continuing need for robust contract management and for issues to be addressed as they arose.

A committee member suggested that there was a need to understand why some parish councils did not wish to take up the lengthsman scheme and to address any concerns that they might have. 

Another committee member commented that:

i.           parish councils should not be put at a disadvantage should they choose not to engage in the scheme and alternative arrangements should be accommodated;

ii.          it was disappointing that the enhanced lengthsman scheme had not been in sync with the budgeting timetable for many parish councils, as this might have increased uptake; and

iii.         referring to recommendation 7, in relation to insurance claims, it was considered that assurance was needed that inspections were being undertaken and defects were being rectified within appropriate timescales.  In response, the Head  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To consider school performance for summer 2014 and the effectiveness of the school improvement partnership strategy and framework approved by the Cabinet Member for Young People and Children’s Wellbeing to improve performance for Herefordshire’s children and young people.

The Head of Learning and Achievement provided the committee with an overview of the report and associated presentation, the principal points included:

i.        Slide 2 of the presentation should refer to Key Stage 1 covering years one and two in primary.

ii.       Overall, it had been a positive year, improving on the previous year’s results.  Attainment and achievement in key measures included:

Early Years Foundation Stage [EYFS] (5 year olds): the percentage of pupils achieving a good level of development was in line with the national average.

Key Stage 1 (7 year olds) and Key Stage 2 (11 year olds): attainment in Reading, Writing and Mathematics had improved year on year but, particularly for Key Stage 1, there were improvements still to be made.

Key Stage 4 (16 year olds): performance was slightly better than the national average, with Herefordshire being one of only six local authorities with improved results in terms of 5+ A*-C GCSEs, including English and Mathematics.  It was noted that seven secondary schools were performing above the national average.  Pupils at St. Mary’s RC High School had achieved 87% in this measure, putting it in the top percentile in the country; St. Joseph’s RC Primary School had also attained excellent results.

Key Stage 5 (19 year olds): average point scores continued to be above the national average.

iii.      Numerous examples were given of individual primary schools that attained consistently good and outstanding results.  Nevertheless, overall attainment in Key Stage 2 was slightly below the national average.

iv.      Pupils who were eligible for pupil premium (including looked after children, pupils who received free school meals, and pupils with English as an additional language) were performing below the national average.

v.       The areas of focus for the current year included: testing in Key Stage 1 to ensure that pupils could read as well as possible in order to access the curriculum; reducing the gaps at all key stages for pupils who were eligible for pupil premium or who were vulnerable, this would remain a key are of focus; and raising standards above national average in EYFS and further above national average in Key Stage 4.

In response to questions from the Chairman about the use of pupil premium by schools, the Head of Learning and Achievement reported that:

•        Information was being collated on which schools were using pupil premium to the best advantage, with the intention of disseminating practice to other schools; it was noted that the Minister of State for Schools had commended John Kyrle High School in relation to its use of pupil premium.

•        Ofsted reports had not indicated any concerns about local schools not publishing details of pupil premium allocation and spending.  The Chairman said that further assurance about this would be helpful for public understanding.

In response to questions from a committee member:

1.       The Head of Learning and Achievement confirmed that all looked after children in the cohort for GCSEs in 2014 were in education, training or employment in September  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

The council is responsible for a school estate, valued at over £130m.  With changes to traditional funding mechanisms it is important that the council develops a strategic approach to investment.  The committee will receive a presentation outlining the context and will be asked for their views on how to take the work forward, including the development of a set of principles.

The Head of Educational Development gave a presentation on the Education Capital Investment Strategy.  The principal points of the presentation and related discussion are summarised under the slide headings below.

Herefordshire’s Education Strategy

1.       Part of the strategy was ‘establishing a coherent case for capital investment from whichever funding source’.

2.       A breakdown was provided of the different types of educational establishments and pupil numbers.

3.       Questions within the presentation included:

•        With more autonomous schools how is renewal coordinated?

•        Are school buildings supporting improved outcomes?

•        What evidence / documentation have we to support requests for more capital resources?

•        Has the Local Authority (LA) got the places in the right place so parents can exercise choice?

•        How does the LA show it is fulfilling the statutory duty to provide sufficient school places?

•        How can ‘another Colwall’ be avoided?

What is the Education Capital Investment Strategy trying to achieve?

4.       It was intended to be a clear strategy to set out, over the next 5-20 years and beyond, how the council:

•        Supports the delivery of the best outcomes for children and young people

•        Fulfils its duty to supply enough high quality schools places

•        Ensures its schools are fit for purpose and energy efficient

•        Offers funding models

•        Supports/suggests the approach to managing change/development

5.       It was emphasised that it would not be a blueprint but it would provide a framework and set of criteria, reflecting shared understanding and respecting local situations.

Support of high quality places

6.       The following points were identified:

•        Most parents/carers get their first choice

•        Population not set to change significantly

•        Need to plan for housing development and when it gets built

•        Academies can admit more than their planned admission numbers

•        Currently have surplus places overall but some schools are under pressure and others have space

Fit for purpose and energy efficient

7.       Considerations included:

•        Suitability - number and size of classrooms and hall, overall plot size

•        Repair or replacement - toilets/roof/heating/windows/brickwork

•        Disability access

•        Energy efficiency

•        Location proximity to a population centre

8.       It was commented that, for various reasons, the authority wanted to move towards a more modern estate.

School Education Capital Investment July 2015

9.       It was noted that a range of stakeholders would be engaged to inform the strategy and to move forward collectively for the purposes of: improved outcomes; opportunities to lever in external funding; and efficient and effective use of resources.

Some tricky issues

10.     These were identified as: managing change; funding; school size - quality of learning and viability; expansion of high quality popular schools; and future technology implications.

11.     In response to a question from the Chairman, the Head of Educational Development advised that every LA maintained school had a school condition survey and, as part of the strategy, officers were looking closely at management information; it was noted that any change needed to be based on accurate and detailed information and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

To note progress and to receive updates on work allocated to task and finish groups.

The committee received a report which noted progress against the work programme during the current municipal year.  The Chairman noted that the work programme would need to be reviewed and updated at the start of the next administration. 

The Vice-Chairman provided an overview of the work being undertaken by the Task and Finish Group on Development Management (Planning) and said that the associated report would be made available for consideration by the committee at its next meeting.

The Chairman thanked the Vice-Chairman, committee members and support officers for their input during the year.  He also thanked members of the public for their attendance and for the interesting questions that had been received.

RESOLVED:   That the report be noted.