Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to an additional meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services).

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

The following Members declared personal interests in relation to agenda item 6 entitled, ‘Inquiry into the Implications of Trust Schools for the Local Authority’, due to their respective positions as either school or college governors (Minute No. 141 refers):-

Councillors Chapman, Cleasby, Kendall, Renshaw, Selby, Mr E A Britten and Mrs S Hutchinson.

Councillor J Lewis declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 6 entitled, ‘Inquiry into the Implications of Trust Schools for the Local Authority’, due to being a governor of Kippax North Primary School and Methley Primary School, both of which were currently exploring early adopter status (Minute No. 141 refers).

To receive any apologies for absence from the meeting

Apologies for absence from the meeting were received on behalf of Councillors R D Feldman, Harrison, Mulherin, Professor P H J H Gosden,

Mr C Macpherson, Ms C Foote, Mr P Gathercole and Ms T Kayani.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which invites Members to formally agree the Board’s final report and recommendations following its inquiry into the implications of trust schools for the local authority. Members are also invited to request that officers formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations in the new municipal year

Further to Minute No. 115, 8^th March 2007, a report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which invited Members to formally approve the Board’s final report and recommendations following its inquiry into the implications of trust schools for the local authority. The report also invited Members to request that officers formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations in the new municipal year.

Appended to the report for Members’ consideration was a draft version of the Scrutiny Board inquiry report.

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b). That the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) inquiry report into the implications of trust schools for the local authority be approved;

(c). That relevant officers be requested to formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations, as detailed within the report, in the new municipal year.

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which invites Members to formally agree the Board’s final report and recommendations following its inquiry into Youth Services. Members are also invited to request that officers formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations in the new municipal year

Further to Minute No. 79, 14^th December 2006, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which invited Members to formally approve the Board’s final report and recommendations following its inquiry into Youth Services. The report also invited Members to request that officers formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations in the new municipal year.

Appended to the report for Members’ consideration was a draft version of the Scrutiny Board inquiry report, together with a letter received from the Director of Children’s Services which detailed the Director’s advice in relation the report’s recommendations. Members noted that the advice had been submitted to the Board following appropriate consultation with both the Lead and Support Executive Members for Children’s Services.

Members acknowledged the advice received from the Director of Children’s Services, and highlighted the Director’s comments specifically concerned with recommendation one of the report, which stated that the recommendation would ‘prove valuable’ when shaping Leeds’ Youth Offer in the future. The Board then agreed that having taken the Director’s advice into consideration, the draft report should remain unchanged. 

RESOLVED –

(a). That the report and information appended to the report be noted;

(b). That the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) inquiry report into Youth Services be approved;

(c). That relevant officers be requested to formally respond to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations, as detailed within the report, in the new municipal year.

(As it was the final meeting of the current municipal year, the Chair concluded the meeting by thanking all members of the Board and relevant officers for their hard work and attendance throughout the year, and extended his best wishes on behalf of the Board to Councillor Cleasby who had been nominated to serve as Leeds City Council’s Lord Mayor for the 2007/2008 municipal year)

(The meeting concluded at 9.15 a.m.)