Agenda and minutes

CO-OPTED MEMBERS (VOTING)

Mr E A Britten – Church Representative (Catholic)

Mr A Graham – Church Representative (Church of England)

Mrs K Blacker – Parent Governor Representative (Primary)

Ms J Ward – Parent Governor Representative (Secondary)

CO-OPTED MEMBERS (NON-VOTING)

Ms C Foote – Teacher Representative

Mrs A Kearsley – Early Years Representative

Ms D Reilly – Looked After Children and Care Leavers

At the commencement of the meeting Councillor Pryor asked if the Chair was satisfied that the meeting could go ahead in line with the Council’s Constitution; the Chair confirmed that he was satisfied.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

1.  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3.  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

No exempt items have been identified.

There were no exempt items.

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no formal late items, however there were two additional pieces of information circulated during the meeting at the Board’s request (minute 43 refers):

-  A map of catchment areas for schools in the Roundhay / Wigton Planning Area

-  A map of the Roundhay ward, including the area of struggle and the four sites previously consulted on for the Roundhay free school

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting.

However, Co-opted Member Jackie Ward wished it to be noted that she was a Member of the School Organisation Advisory Board (SOAB) and was at the meeting that took place on 15^th August 2018, but stated that she would approach the call-in meeting with an open mind. Additionally, Co-opted Member Kate Blacker wished it to be noted that she lived in Roundhay and her child attended another school within the area, but that she also approached the meeting with an open mind.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Drinkwater, C Gruen and Renshaw, along with notification that Councillors Brooks, Harland and Smart would be attending the meeting as substitutes. Apologies were also received from Co-opted Members Claire Hopkins, Helen Bellamy and Viv Bryden.

To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support advising the Scrutiny Board on the procedural aspects of Calling In the

decision.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report in relation to the procedural aspects of the call in process.

Members were advised that the options available to the Scrutiny Board in respect of this particular called in decision were as follows:

Option 1- Release the decision for implementation

Having reviewed this decision, the Scrutiny Board may decide to release it for implementation. If the Scrutiny Board chooses this option, the decision will be immediately released for implementation and the decision may not be Called In again.

Option 2 - Recommend that the decision be reconsidered

The Scrutiny Board may decide to recommend to the decision maker that the decision be reconsidered. If the Scrutiny Board chooses this option a report will be submitted to the decision maker.

In the case of an Executive Board decision, the report of the Scrutiny Board will be prepared within three working days of the Scrutiny Board meeting and submitted to the Executive Board. Any report of the Scrutiny Board will be referred to the next Executive Board meeting for consideration.

In reconsidering the decision and associated Scrutiny Board report, the Executive Board may vary the decision or confirm its original decision. In either case, this will form the basis of the final decision and will not be subject to any further call-in.

Failure to agree one of the above options

If the Scrutiny Board, for any reason, does not agree one of the above courses of action at this meeting, then Option 1 will be adopted by default, i.e. the decision will be released for implementation with no further recourse to Call In.

RESOLVED – That the report outlining the Call In procedures be noted.

To consider a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting background papers to an Executive Board decision which has been called in in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. This relates to a proposal to increase primary places at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School.

 The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report that presented background papers to an Executive Board decision which had been called in in accordance with the Council’s Constitution. This related to a proposal to increase primary places at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School.

The decision had been called in for review by Councillors D Cohen, N Harrington, R Stephenson, D Collins, B Anderson, W Kidger and J Bentley.

The Scrutiny Board considered the following written information:

·  Completed call-in request form

·  Executive Board report ‘Outcome of Statutory Notice on a proposal to increase primary places at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School’ submitted to the meeting held 19^th September 2018

·  Minutes of the SOAB meeting held 15^th August 2018

·  The Equality, Diversity, Cohesion and Integration Screening report submitted to Executive Board 19^th September 2018

·  Draft Minutes of the Executive Board meeting held 19^th September 2018

The following were in attendance:

·  Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Executive Member for Learning, Skills and Employment

·  Tim Pouncey, Chief Officer, Resources and Strategy

·  Anne Fell, Joint Interim Head of Learning Improvement, Children and Families

·  Jane Walne, Head of Programmes and Projects, City Development

·  Richard Amos, Sufficiency and Participation Lead, Children and Families

·  Lesley McKay, Head Teacher of Moor Allerton Hall Primary School

·  Reuben Moore, Chair of Governors at Moor Allerton Hall Primary School

As the Nominated Lead Signatory to the Call In, Councillor Cohen addressed the Board and highlighted a number of issues to be considered when making the decision. Councillor Cohen recognised that Moor Allerton Hall Primary School were working hard to tackle some of the issues raised by Ofsted in their most recent inspection, which had led  to an overall judgement of ‘Requires Improvement’ for the school. However, Councillor Cohen raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed expansion plan on the schools improvement journey. Councillor Cohen informed the Board of a number of schools in Leeds that had previously expanded year groups, and had subsequently received a judgement of ‘Requires Improvement’ from Ofsted. Additionally, Councillor Cohen raised concerns in line with those expressed by the SOAB during their August meeting.

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions / provide comment to Councillor Cohen at this stage. Discussions included:

• The Board acknowledged that whilst Councillor Cohen had referenced other schools that had been expanded and subsequently received a ‘Requires Improvement’ judgement from Ofsted, it would be difficult to attribute the expansion of such schools as being the main causal factor. Co-opted Member Kate Blacker informed the Board that she was a governor at one of the schools in question and that in the case of that particular school, their ‘requires improvement’ Ofsted judgement was due to a number of other issues aside from the expansion of the school.

·  A request was made for a map of the catchment areas for the schools in the ‘area of struggle’. This information was provided to the Board during the meeting. The Board commented that the Executive Board were not provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to consider the Board’s formal conclusions and recommendations arising from the consideration of the called-in decision.

The Scrutiny Board considered whether or not to release the decision for implementation. A vote was subsequently held and the Scrutiny Board agreed (by majority decision) that the decision be released.

RESOLVED – That the decision be released for implementation.

Wednesday, 24^th October 2018 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.45 am)

The next Children and Families Scrutiny Board meeting will be held Wednesday, 24th October 2018 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.45 am)

The meeting concluded at 12:25pm.