To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 September 2017 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 12 September 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Cllr Liddiard declared an interest in item 10 as a Governor of Shefford Lower School and Robert Bloomfield Academy which were both part of the Bedfordshire School’s Trust (BEST).

The Chairman announced that the meeting would not be webcast due to the confidential nature of the item to be considered. The Committee were appraised of the Chairman’s concerns regarding due process and several areas contained within the report regarding the proposals they were being asked to consider.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

None.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

None.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review  in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution. 

None.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution.

None.

To receive a brief verbal update from the Executive Members for:-

·                Social Care and Housing

·                Education and Skills and

·                Health

None.

The Committee will consider proposals for the increased capital cost for the expansion of Henlow Church of England Academy (middle school), Arlesey, to accommodate additional school places admitted in September 2017 and school places by September 2018.

The Director for Children’s Services outlined the reasons behind the need for urgency, why the report was being delivered at such a late stage to the Committee and the challenges the directorate had faced in terms of planning conditions applied to the proposals leading to a substantial increase in costs. 

RECOMMENDED:-

1.     That the Committee recognised the unfortunate situation in terms of how the process was managed but moved to support the approval of the additional basic need funding to temporarily expand Henlow Church of England Academy in order to accommodate the additional 2017 and 2018 cohorts.

Cllrs Berry and Chatterley abstained from the vote.

2.     That a detailed report be delivered to the Committee in January 2018 comprehensively outlining the reasons behind the breakdown in process management, with a detailed action plan in order to mitigate similar instances in the future. 

3.     That an update on the tender process be delivered at a future meeting.

4.     That concerns regarding current legislation be addressed via the Executive Member, the Regional Schools Commissioner and the Secretary of State for Education as it did not support the local authority in planning for the provision of additional school places between academies and local authority maintained schools.

To consider whether to pass a resolution under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude Press and Public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that the consideration of the item is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that its consideration was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the exempt report.

Refer to Item 10.