Agenda and minutes

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services introduced a report which described the Children and Young People’s Plan 2009?2011.  The Children and Young Peoples Plan was a requirement of the Children Act 2004, represented an agreed list of priorities for children and young people and provided a vision for what the council and partners want to achieve in the coming two years.

The Portfolio Holder drew Members’ attention to the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had been circulated on the supplemental agenda.  The Committee had been supportive of the Plan, which had been prepared in consultation with the Council’s partners.

The Corporate Director of Children’s Services reported that there had been a good discussion at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Plan had the approval of the Primary Care Trust and would also be considered by the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership on 24 April 2009.  He added that the young people consulted wanted the Plan to reflect their views but that these were not yet available.  The proposed delegation to the Portfolio Holder would enable officers to update the Plan prior to its consideration at Council.

Having agreed that the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services could make further minor changes to the Plan prior to its consideration at Council it was

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Children and Young People's Plan be adopted.

Reason for Recommendation:  To improve outcomes for children and young people by approving of the work of the Children and Young People Strategic Partnership in establishing and agreed vision and priorities.

(See also Minute 615).

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests arising from business to be transacted at this meeting from:

(a)               all Members of the Cabinet; and

(b)               all other Members present.

The Chairman reminded Members present of the rules relating to the declarations of interests.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Of the Cabinet meeting held on 26 March 2009 to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any petitions submitted by members of the public or Councillors.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following public questions had been received:

1.

[Note:  In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 16.4, the questioner asked a supplementary question which was additionally answered].

To receive any Councillor questions received in accordance with paragraph 17 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

RESOLVED:  To note the following Councillor Questions had been received:

1.

2.

3.

The Chairman advised that the items relating to Temporary to Permanent Housing Initiative and Cedars Hall had been rolled forward.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 April to 31 July 2009.

For consideration

RESOLVED:  To receive and note the current progress of the scrutiny reports.

Report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report which informed Cabinet of the outcome of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Expression of Interest Submission and the next stages in the process to demonstrate Readiness to Deliver.  Whilst Harrow was not in the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ initial priority list for entry into the programme, it was necessary to demonstrate a readiness to deliver.  The Director of Schools and Children’s Development added that Harrow was currently 52^nd in a list of 70 authorities yet to enter the BSF programme but that some authorities higher up the list would not be ready to deliver and others would not meet the criteria.

The Chairman stated that substantial sums were involved in the programme and that the Council would not commit to spending £3.5m unless there was a reasonable chance of success.  He added that a report on the financial implications would be submitted to Cabinet in June 2009.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the Council’s commitment to BSF be confirmed for Harrow and Harrow’s proposals to meet the Readiness to Deliver criteria in section 2.3 of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development;

(2)  responsibility be delegated to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development, in consultation with the Director of Schools and Children’s Development, to agree the final Readiness to Deliver submission to the Department for Children, Schools and Families if submission before June 2009 Cabinet is required;

(3)  a report be received in June 2009 outlining the Council’s Readiness to Deliver together with proposals to secure the funding to support the BSF process for Harrow.

Reason for Decision:  To confirm commitment to BSF in Harrow and to enable the completion of the Readiness to Deliver submission in line with the Partnerships for Schools and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Guidance.

Report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report, which advised that Statutory Proposals published in February 2009 could effect the reorganisation of schools in Harrow to establish infant, junior, primary and secondary schools from September 2010.  The report informed Cabinet about the representations received on the proposals published for community schools by Harrow Council, and commented on the proposals in relation to the statutory guidance for decision makers.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the one representation received was from a federated governing body and had been dealt with in the project work stream.  As only one representation had been received, it was considered that the proposals were supported.  She added that this change had been long awaited and would make education more effective.  The Director of Schools and Children’s Development advised that the proposals had strong support from the community.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services stated the re?organisation would require careful management and that the recently issued frequently asked questions document might assist in addressing the concerns of schools.

The Chairman advised Members of minor amendments to the recommendation and it was

RESOLVED:  That, having considered the proposals for community school reorganisation in Harrow, and the one representation, and having had regard to the statutory and non?statutory decision makers guidance issued by the Secretary of State, to agree the recommendation in paragraph 10 of the officer report to approve the linked community school proposals for school reorganisation across Harrow that would establish:

(i)                   separate first schools (Reception to Year 3) become infant schools (Reception to Year 2) as proposed for individual schools in Annexe 2i of the officer report;

(ii)                 separate middle schools (Year 4 to Year 7) become junior schools (Year 3 to Year 6) as proposed for individual schools in Annexe 2ii of the officer report;

(iii)                combined first and middle schools (Reception to Year 7) become primary schools (Reception to Year 6) as proposed for individual schools in Annexe 2iii of the officer report;

(iv)               high schools (Year 8 to Year 13) become secondary schools with 6^th form provision (Year 7 to Year 13) as proposed for individual schools in Annexe 2iv of the officer report.

Reason for Decision:  For Cabinet to exercise the local authority’s statutory responsibility in relation to school organisation and the decision maker’s responsibility to determine the statutory proposals within two months from the end of the representation period, and with regard to the statutory and non?statutory guidance provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

(See also Minute 605).

Report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report which advised that in February 2009 the governing bodies of four voluntary aided schools had published statutory proposals to change the upper age limit of the schools.  These statutory proposals were separate from the community school reorganisation statutory proposals published by Harrow Council, subject of a separate report to Cabinet.  This report informed Cabinet of the recommendations of the governing bodies about their proposals, including representations received, and commented on the proposals in relation to the statutory guidance for decision makers.

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development reported that all four governing bodies had recommended that Cabinet approve the proposals.

The Chairman advised Members of minor amendments to the recommendation and it was

RESOLVED:  That, having considered the statutory proposals for the four voluntary aided schools, and the recommendations from the four governing bodies, and having had regard to the statutory and non?statutory decision makers guidance issued by the Secretary of State, the recommendations of the governing bodies be approved for each of the separate statutory proposals as follows:

(i)                   Krishna-Avanti Primary School become a one-form entry school voluntary aided Hindu primary school for children aged 4 – 11 years, Reception to Year 6 classes, plus nursery, with a planned admission number of 30 per year and capacity for 210 pupils, plus nursery;

(ii)                 St John Fisher Catholic First and Middle School become a two?form entry voluntary aided Catholic primary school for children aged 4 – 11 years, Reception to Year 6 classes, with a planned admission number of 60 per year and capacity for 420 pupils;

(iii)                St John’s Church of England School become a two?form entry voluntary aided Church of England primary school for children aged 4 – 11 years, Reception to Year 6 classes, with a planned admission number of 60 per year and capacity for 420 pupils;

(iv)               St Teresa’s First and Middle Catholic School become a two?form entry voluntary aided Catholic primary school for children aged 4 – 11 years, Reception to Year 6 classes, plus nursery, with a planned admission number of 60 per year and capacity for 420 pupils, plus nursery.

Reason for Decision:  To exercise the local authority’s statutory responsibility in relation to school organisation and the decision maker’s responsibility to determine the statutory proposals within two months from the end of the representation period, and with regard to the statutory and non?statutory guidance provided by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

(See also Minute 605).

Report of the Corporate Director of Children’s Services

(See also Recommendation I)

Further to Recommendation I above, having agreed that the Plan be recommended to Council for approval it was

RESOLVED:  That the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services be given delegated authority to make further changes to the Plan prior to the final version being considered by Council.

Reason for Decision:  To improve outcomes for children and young people by approving of the work of the Children and Young People Strategic Partnership in establishing and agreed vision and priorities.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

The Director of Legal and Governance Services introduced a report, which set out the requirement for the Council to adopt new Executive Arrangements by 31 December 2009, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.  There were two models for consideration: Mayor and Cabinet Executive or Leader and Cabinet Executive.

The Chairman reported that there was cross-party support for the Leader and Cabinet Executive Model.

RESOLVED:  That the Director of Legal and Governance Services be instructed

1)                   in consultation with the Constitution Review Working Group to carry out public consultation on the adoption of a Leader and Cabinet Executive model;

2)                   to report the outcome of that consultation to Cabinet in September 2009; and 

3)                   to ensure that full Council considered and determined its new Executive arrangements prior to 31 December 2009.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that the Council complied with its statutory obligations.