To consider the progress made in the Review of School Provision, and the next stages in the process, and to comment on the proposals announced on Thursday 10th. January 2008.

The Committee received a report on the Review of School Places.

The Director of Children’s Services reported that since publication of the agenda the proposals for the future provision of school places had been withdrawn for reconsideration.  She reported that consultation at a strategic level, rather than at individual school level, had been ongoing for some time with school headteachers, and this strategic level information had been shared with Members of the Executive. The paper that had been published, which named individual schools, had been a professional paper putting forward informal proposals for consultation.

The Committee heard that the proposals had been withdrawn to allow more time for consultation; detailed research and for independent verification to be undertaken before re-drafted proposals could be put to Cabinet for consideration in September 2008.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the difficult position the Council was in due to the falling number of pupils on roll and resultant funding pressures which would have to be addressed. The proposals as published had been politically unacceptable and had been withdrawn for reassessment.

The Chief Executive spoke of the need to ensure that the concerns of schools and communities were heard during the early stages in the consultation and therefore more time had been given for views to be put forward.

The Committee debated a range of issues including: when the Executive had received the published proposals; the timing of the member briefing to hear about the proposals; that school Heads had requested a set of proposals for debate; whether the statistics used were up to date and included accurate birth rate and in-migration figures; how the process used so far compared with government guidance on schools reviews; the status of the proposals – were they a fait accompli?, and whether the proposals should have indicated the financial implications.

The Chairman reported that a number of written public questions had been received on this item, however, as events had changed written responses would be made.

Responding to a public question on how the proposals promoted the need to ensure that pupils, and the money that followed them, stayed in the county rather than be attracted to out of county schools, the Director of Children’s Services acknowledged that there would be cross-border issues, however, reciprocal notification and discussion arrangements on any proposals were in place with neighbouring authorities.

The Committee noted the current position and requested that an update including a revised timetable for the review be brought to its next meeting.

The Committee also expressed its wish to scrutinise the revised draft proposals prior to the Executive issuing them for public consultation.  The Committee also highlighted the need for all elected members to be kept informed throughout the review process.

RESOLVED: That

a)                  an update, including a revised timetable for the review be brought to the next meeting;

b)                 the Executives proposals be scrutinised prior to being released for public consultation; and

c)                  all Members of the Council be kept informed through out the review process

d)                 the written public questions be acknowledged.

The Committee adjourned for 13 minutes and reconvened at 4.30 pm.