Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of the Sub-Committee arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.

RESOLVED:  That (1) item 10 ‘Review of the Recruitment and Retention Process for School Governors’ be discussed informally at the rise of this meeting;

(2) all items be considered with the press and public present;

(3) in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following item be admitted late to the agenda by virtue of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency listed below: -

That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read;

(2) authority be given to the Chair to sign the minutes as a correct record following the meeting.

RESOLVED: That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 7 October 2003, having been circulated, be taken as read;

(2) authority be given to the Chair to sign the minutes as a correct record following the meeting.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8 (Part 4F of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9 (Part 4F of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 (Part 4F of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

To receive any references from Council and/or other Committees or Panels.

RESOLVED: To note that there were no references received from Council and / or other Committees.

Report of the Executive Director (People First) and Executive Director (Business Connections).

[Note: Members will receive a presentation on this item from the Education Financial Services Manager (People First) on Wednesday 10 December 2003 at 6.30 pm in the Members’ Lounge].

The Sub-Committee received the report of the Executive Director (People First) which Members of the Sub-Committee, along with Members of the Education Consultative Forum and the Schools Forum, had received a presentation on the evening before from the Education Financial Services Manager. The report outlined proposals for the Schools Budget 2004 / 2005, which the Authority is under an obligation to agree and notify to the Secretary of State by 31 December 2003.

A Member of the Sub-Committee commented that a handout of the presentation notes would have been useful. The Member also stated that the Education Financial Services Manager advised that aspects of the budget allocation were difficult to understand and the Member requested that they be drafted in more straightforward terms if this was the case. The Chair sympathised with both Members and officers in relation to the complexity of the education budget and requested that Members be sent a copy of the notes of the presentation for information.

Members discussed the following areas for concern in relation to the proposed Schools Budget for 2004 / 2005: -

(i)                   that although Harrow’s Schools Budget for 2004 / 2005, consistent with passing on the increase in school funding, is £103,770,000.00 (an increase of £6,311,000.00 - 6%), Members agreed that this was still insufficient. A Member stated that the increase did not address the fact that Harrow has been under-funded for many years and Harrow’s baseline has always been low, which suggests that Harrow is being penalised for having successful schools.

(ii)                 that Harrow’s headteachers have advised that an increase of 8-9% is required to retain the status quo alone. The Sub-Committee agreed that it is important for Members of the Council to make strong representations to the Government and use political pressure to ensure that the Government and not Harrow’s taxpayers support this deficit in finance.

(iii)                that the Government’s indication that there will only be funding for one third of teachers moving on the upper pay spine to UPS 3. Members agreed that this was a cause for concern, as this will negatively impact on teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in high schools. A Member stated that this policy is at cross-purposes with delivering excellence in education.

Another Member of the Sub-Committee suggested that Members examine the financial burden on schools as a result of the remodelling of the school workforce, which forms part of the Government’s Remodelling Agenda to meet the National Agreement on Teachers’ Pay and Conditions. The Member referred the Sub-Committee to the Outturn Statement for 2002 / 2003, which highlighted ten schools that had £15,000.000 or less in their end of year balances and queried how they would cope with the remodelling.

Members requested information relating to the Outturn Statements for 2002 / 2003 and those projected for 2003 / 2004. Members were advised that the current detail of projected balances for 2003 / 2004 would not be available except in cases where schools had provided information as part of detailed work with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

To discuss draft recommendations arising from the review.

RESOLVED: That this item be discussed informally at the rise of the meeting (see Minute 104).