To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 January 2010.

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 5 January 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(a)    Personal Interests:-

         None.

(b)    Personal and Prejudicial Interests:-

         None.

(c)     Any Political Whip in relation to items on the agenda:-

         None.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman reminded Members that the quorum for the Committee was 4 councillors and 2 co-opted members whenever considering education matters and 3 councillors at all other times.  A co-opted Member stated that financial assistance was not provided to co-optees for child care, but was provided to Councillors.  He had queried this with Officers, who were looking into this.  The Chairman agreed to follow this up and provide a written answer.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

The Chairman announced that no petitions had been referred to this meeting.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

There were no applications from members of the public to speak under the Public Participation Procedure allowed for under Part A4 of the Constitution.

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to call-in of a decision.

No matters were referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to call-in of a decision.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

No items were referred to the Committee for consideration at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

The report proposes changes to the Home to School Transport Policy, to take effect from April and September 2010.

Members considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children, Families and Learning which proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy, to take effect from April and September 2010. 

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services introduced the report explaining that in 2009/10 Central Bedfordshire Council adopted the Home to School Transport Policy previously in place in the legacy authority, Bedfordshire County Council.  There were 31,000 children in Central Bedfordshire with 6,200 benefiting from free transport to school.  The Council was reviewing the most effective use of resources available due to the current economic climate.  The Policy was being considered to enable any changes to come into force during the 2010/11 financial year. 

In accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in paragraph 2 of Annex 1 of Part A4 of the Constitution, the Chairman then invited those members of the public who had registered to speak on this item to address the Committee.  Each speaker was permitted a maximum of three minutes.  Statements were received from four speakers raising the following queries/concerns:-

• the financial impact on the parents if they had to start paying to transport their children to school;

• what was the cost to the Council to educate a child and therefore what the additional cost would be to the Council if children currently attending denominational schools were to transfer in to a mainstream school;

• which benefits would be taken into account as part of the eligibility criteria for families with low income and in receipt of working tax credit;

• the impact of proposals on the children if they had to change schools especially those who currently attend a denominational school; and

• the different education system in Central Bedfordshire compared to Bedford and Hertfordshire.

Members were advised that the Children, Families and Learning budget was allocated to cost codes.  The 2009/10 Home to School Transport budget was currently overspent by £0.6 million.  The average cost of providing transport for a child to a denominational school was £2,000 per pupil, per year compared with the average cost of transport to a mainstream school which was in the region of £775 per year.   

Members were advised that the consultation period was taking place from 6 January to 12 February 2010.  Officers and the Portfolio Holder had viewed the responses so far and this showed that public opinion was equally weighted for those in favour or against the rationalisation of school transport at that point in time.  Officers were working closely with the Passenger Transport Team, which was currently reviewing the Transport Policy to get the best value for money. 

A concern was raised regarding the consultation and it was proposed that Members needed to consider the full results of the consultation process to enable the Committee to make an informed decision before making any recommendations to the Executive.  The consultation document and questionnaire had been distributed to schools for circulation to parents.  A copy could also be found on the web site at:-

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/consultations/transport-consultation.aspx  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.

To provide Members with the opportunity to consider the vision for transforming learning in Central Bedfordshire

Members considered the report and a presentation from the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children, Families and Learning regarding the vision for transforming learning in Central Bedfordshire.  Members were introduced to Adrian Rogers, Headteacher who had been working closely with Officers.

The presentation set out:-

• where we were;
• where we are now;
• issues;
• current position of Trusts, Federations and Partnerships; and
• next steps.

Members raised concerns regarding the number of transition points in schools and the negative effect that this might have on levels of attainment.  The  number of transition points between schools needed to be reduced where possible and this should be a key principle for the educational vision. 

Members discussed the differences between Trusts and Federations.  Members were advised that it was a school’s decision to become a member of a Trust.  If a school became part of a trust the school and land would be handed over to the Trust.  If the Trust was no longer in existence these assets would be handed back to the Council.  There were opportunities for schools to work in partnership, which could provide collaborative benefits to schools, but a view was presented that there needed to be a fuller debate around the development of trusts, federations and partnerships and their potential benefits.

Members also raised the 2-tier and 3-tier education system and the education of children in the 0-19 age range to ensure that there is a ‘one-phase’ approach to learning.  Officers agreed to revise the wording of the vision at paragraphs 2.2 where it stated that 2-tier and 3-tier debate was irrelevant and 12.1 where is stated that the Council would review the number of transition points, so that these two sentenance no longer contratricted themselves.

NOTED the contents of the educational vision.

RECOMMENDED to the Executive that the following comments on the principles of the educational vision for Central Bedfordshire be taken into consideration:-

·        Members raised concerns regarding the number of transition points in schools and the negative effect that this could have on levels of attainment.  The number of transition points needed to be reduced where possible and this should be a key principle for the education vision;

·        the educational vision should focus on continuity of provision across the 0-19 age range to ensure that there was a ‘one-phase’ approach to learning; and

·        there were opportunities for schools to work in partnership, which could provide collaborative benefits to schools, but views were presented that there needed to be a fuller debate around the development of trusts, federations and partnerships and their potential benefits.

The report provides Members with their current work programme to consider any amendments that they may wish to make.

Members considered the current work programme for the Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Members were advised that the Chairman of Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee (CROSC) had been advised of the request for CROSC to scrutinise the performance of Mouchel.  

NOTED the work programme for Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee.