Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which relates to the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year

A report was received from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which invited Members to consider and approve the draft work programme for 2007/08.

Appended to the report for Members’ consideration was the draft work programme for the current municipal year, an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st July to 31^st October 2007 which related to the Board’s remit, together with the minutes from the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th June 2007 and the minutes from the Leeds Admissions Forum meeting held on 19^th April 2007.

Members learned that the Board’s draft work programme had been compiled in line with the discussions which took place at the previous Board meeting, and also included several potential items for consideration which had been identified by the Board during 2006/07. Members then discussed several aspects of the draft work programme. The main areas of debate were as follows:-

Potential items for inclusion within the Work Programme which had been identified during 2006/07

·  Members confirmed the arrangements which had been agreed earlier in the meeting with regard to the ways in which the Board could monitor the progress made in relation to the recommendations of the Young People’s Scrutiny Forum and help develop a response to the concerns detailed within the Forum’s report.

Potential items for inclusion within the Work Programme which had been identified at the June meeting of the Board

·  The Board also considered the possibility of undertaking a scrutiny inquiry into the range of issues concerning 8-13 year olds, and also conducting an inquiry into Education Standards. It was then proposed that working groups could be established in order to scope terms of reference for such inquiries;

·  In response to Members’ enquiries, the Board noted that the ‘Draft Family Support and Parenting Strategy’ would be circulated to all Members, in order to give them the opportunity to comment as individuals on the draft document prior to the conclusion of the consultation period;

·  The Board considered the issue of governance arrangements in relation to the multi-agency approach now being taken towards education provision, and the potential impact that the David Young Academy could have in respect of such provision in Leeds. In response it was proposed that further information could be sought on such issues and submitted to a future meeting of the Board, once discussions with relevant parties had taken place;

·  Members noted that the issue of immigration had been referred to Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration, and agreed to refer issues concerning the health of children and young people to Scrutiny Board (Health and Adult Social Care) and sustainability to Scrutiny Board (City Development). Members were assured that the Board would be notified of any work undertaken in these areas by the relevant Scrutiny Boards;

·  Members noted that it was proposed to schedule an additional meeting of the Board in the autumn to consider the 14-19 review proposals, and that Members’ availability for such a meeting would be sought in due course.

Further items for potential inclusion within the Work Programme

·  The Board discussed a request for scrutiny to be undertaken in relation to redundancies at Fountain Primary School. Members were advised that although the Board was not permitted to look at individual cases, it could consider the background to the need for such redundancies and the roles of various parties, including Education Leeds, in managing the budgetary and staffing situation since the formation of the school in September 2005. The Board agreed to accept the request and establish a working group to gather information.

Timing of Meetings

·  The Board agreed to change the start time of future meetings to 10.00 a.m., with pre-meetings scheduled for 9.30 a.m.

RESOLVED –

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

(b). That the Scrutiny Board’s draft work programme as appended to the report be approved, subject to the amendments made at today’s meeting;

(c). That a working group comprising of Councillor Chapman, Ms T Kayani,

Mr E A Britten, Mr T Hales and Mr P Gathercole be established to scope an inquiry into services for 8-13 year olds;

(d). That a working group comprising of Councillors Lamb, Murray, Lancaster, Mrs S Knights, Ms C Foote and Mr E A Britten be established to scope an inquiry into Education Standards;

(e). That the issues of immigration, health of children and young people and sustainability be referred to the relevant Scrutiny Boards and that the Board be updated on any work undertaken in these areas;

(f). That future meetings of the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) be scheduled to begin at 10.00 a.m., with pre-meetings scheduled for 9.30 a.m.;

(g). That a working group comprising of Councillors Hyde, Renshaw, Mrs S Hutchinson and Ms C Foote be established to gather information in response to the request for scrutiny regarding Fountain Primary School.

(Councillor Elliott declared a personal interest in relation to this item, due to being a Governor at Fountain Primary School)