To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Cooper, Harvey, Swinglehurst, Mr Roger Fuller

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

Councillor Holton substituted for Councillor Swinglehurst, Councillor Seldon substituted for Councillor Harvey.

To receive any declarations of interest by members.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2016.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received. It was noted that two meetings of the committee had been held on 19 January 2016.

RESOLVED:      That the minutes of both of the meeting held on 19 January 2016 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.)

The chairman noted that further suggestions had been received from Mr McKay in regard to the self-registering of public rights of way. It was explained that two briefing notes had already been produced on related matters, and that the Chairman had arranged a meeting between Mr McKay and relevant officers to better address Mr McKay’s concerns.

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 4.00pm on Thursday 3 March 2016 to sam.tweedale@herefordshire.gov.uk)

The chairman was grateful that there had been a high level of interest in the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership item.

In response to an enquiry by a member of the public, the chairman agreed that supplementary questions provided in writing would be accepted. It was agreed that responses to these questions would be included within the minutes of the meeting.

Supplementary questions and written responses provided as of 25 April 2016 are included in the printed minutes pack for this agenda.

To review recent School Examination Performance.

The assistant director commissioning and education introduced the item. It was explained that there was a process of verification with exam results, as such there is a delay in their presentation. Therefore the results from august 2015 were coming to the committee at this stage instead of shortly after their publication.

A more comprehensive data set on examination performance had been meant to be circulated ahead of the committee, however this had not happened. It was agreed that this would be circulated following the committee. Members expressed their disappointment that this had not been circulated earlier but were encouraged to study the data when published.

It was noted that while there had been a significant increase in the number of academies and free schools in Herefordshire, as well as a decline in the number of maintained schools, Herefordshire council still had a considerable role in co-ordinating all schools in the county.

There was discussion of the role of regional school commissioners:

-          It was clarified that regional schools commissioners report the secretary of state for education and specifically monitor the performance of academies.

-          They have roles in identifying and responding to underperformance and also encourage the conversion of schools to academy status.

-          The west midlands regional school commissioner represented a very large geographical area.

-          There was a termly meeting between Herefordshire council and the regional schools commissioner. This focussed on specific issues relating to schools including at an individual level. It was explained that this was a very important mechanism in how Herefordshire council responded to the concerns of academies.

A member of the committee questioned the role of the council working with the school academy group, and how this was funded:

-          The council has responsibilities in safeguarding and championing outcomes for children regardless of their location or if they were educated in a maintained school or an academy or free school. The main role of the council was in brokerage and facilitating school to school cooperation.

-          The council funds some school improvement services though this service.

A member of the committee expressed confusion over the extent to which the council should be accountable and involved in the performance of academies and free schools. Central government policy encouraged the proliferation of academies and had introduced regional school commissioners as a means of monitoring their performance. As such the role of local authorities within this was questioned given their lack of control over schools other than maintained schools.

In response the director of children’s wellbeing made a number of points:

-          There were likely to be changes in the role of local authorities in this situation following the results of a consultation later in the year.

-          The importance of children’s attainment regardless of them being educated in academies and free schools, or in maintained school was stressed.

-          Education is a local enterprise, as such members should look to improve education within the local area in whatever form it takes.

-          While local authorities do  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

To receive an update on the activity of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership in Herefordshire.

The chairman introduced Graham Wynn OBE, Chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, and Gill Hamer, Director of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The chairman and Director of the Marches LEP summarised a number of key points about the organisation:

-          The Marches LEP had been one of the first Local Enterprise Partnerships created and that there were now more throughout the country. LEPs had been intended in part to replace the Regional Development Agencies in providing infrastructure, housing and sustainable development.

-          The Marches LEP represented a large geographical area and 30,000 businesses of varying size. It was explained that 85% of these businesses had ten employees or fewer.

-          The Marches LEP was one of six members of the West Midlands LEPs. The Chairman of the Marches LEP also represented the West Midlands LEP at a national level.

The Director of the Marches LEP summarised a number of areas of LEP activity:

-          In 2013 the Marches LEP had developed a strategic economic plan (SEP) including a comprehensive analysis of the Herefordshire economy. This had identified numerous areas of focus including the growth of defence and security industries in Herefordshire.

-          a skills plan had been developed in cooperation with Herefordshire Council. This was in the process of being updated. Initial data gathered for the review of these documents suggested that the gap between the Marches and national performance indicators was growing to some extent. As a result the review of these documents was likely to be targeted to appropriately apply for continued funding. A key area of the skills plan under review was post 16 skills.

-          The SEP had been used as the basis for funding applications. Funding which had been secured through the SEP was largely being used to generate housing.

-          The Marches LEP had secured funding for growth and infrastructure packages for the three main urban areas in the Marches.

-          A number of Marches LEP projects were summarised. Notably a large scale investment into skills and training packages, particularly targeting the food and drinks industries. A tender for a similar package for high tech industries was also in process.

-          Work was being done at a regional level in the provision of post 16 education. Notably institutions were being encouraged to cooperate more closely and operate economies of scale.

-          Investments were being made in the improvement of broadband provision in Herefordshire.

-          Work was being done in the provision of skills training for people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Herefordshire.

-          It was explained that the Marches LEP was in the final stages of agreeing the HCA land deal in Telford which was a significant area of LEP activity. Funding provided for this scheme would partly return to the LEP for housing.

-          The Growth Hub had been introduced recently with a physical site in Herefordshire and also an online presence provided resources for small businesses.

It was noted that Herefordshire was represented by a number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To consider the committee’s work programme.

The chairman noted that the Community Infrastructure Levy Task and Finish Group was due to report back to the committee at the next meeting. The importance of the community infrastructure levy for Herefordshire’s development was stressed.

The chairman explained that a work programming and training session for members was being arranged for the coming months as well as questioning skills training. The chairman welcomed the opportunity for members of the committee to have a greater role in the work programming of the committee.

The chairman discussed work which had been done investigating gypsy and travellers sites provision within the county. The chairman stressed the legal and moral duty Herefordshire council had in this area.

It was discussed that the inclusion of the forward plan had been raised at the previous committee. The chairman stressed that this would be included with the upcoming work programming session.

A member of the committee noted a number of grammatical errors within the work programme document within the agenda.

The committee approved the work programme.

RESOLVED: That the draft work programme be noted

The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday 27 October 2015 at 1.00 pm.

Tuesday 10 May 2016 at 10.00 am.</AI10>

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