To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 2 February 2010.

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 February 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Members were advised that in consultation with the Chairman it had been agreed to combine the special meeting scheduled for 24 February 2010 with the ordinary meeting scheduled for 2 March 2010.  This enabled the meeting on 2 March 2010 to be cancelled.  Members were also advised that the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services had not been involved in the preparation of the agenda.

To receive from Members declarations and the nature in relation to:-

(a)    personal interests in any agenda item

(b)    personal and prejudicial interests in any agenda item

(c)     any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

(a)    Personal Interests:-

         None.

(b)    Personal and Prejudicial Interests:-

         None.

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

         None.

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.

A petition was received from a member of the public regarding the Home to School Transport Policy.   Members were advised that the Constitution set out in paragraph 1 of Annex 2 of Part A4 ‘Petitions Procedure’ stated that seven clear days notification of a petition be provided to the Monitoring Officer.  Members were advised that notification had not been provided, so they were unable to accept the petition at Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Officers advised that the petition could be submitted to the Executive on 9 March 2010 as there was appropriate time.

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 the 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.

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

The Chairman advised Members that they would be considering the Home to School Transport Policy and they were to make recommendations to the Executive in light of the consultation results.  He highlighted that the Committee was not a decision making body and could only make recommendations.  Any recommendations on the Home to School Transport Policy would be considered by the Executive on 9 March 2010.  The agenda and reports for the Executive would be available on the Council’s website at:-

www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

To continue discussions on the proposed changes to the Home to School Transport Policy, to take effect from April and September 2010.

Members received and considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children, Families and Learning that provided Members with further information on the Home to School Transport Policy, as requested by Members at their meeting on 2 February 2010.  A copy of the Home to School Transport Consultation headline results were tabled at the meeting.  The consultation had taken place over a 7-week period with a total of 313 responses to the consultation being received.

Members were advised that in the report submitted to them on the 2 February 2010 eight proposals had been set out on the following areas:-

1 – Road Safety Transport;

2 – Denominational Transport;

3 – Permanently Excluded Pupils;

4 – Medical Needs;

5 – Pupils in Years 10 and 11;

6 – Looked After Children and Refugees and Asylum Seekers;

7 – Special Educational Needs Transport; and

8 – Concessionary Places on School Contract Vehicles.

Members noted that the suggestions made at their meeting on 2 February 2010 for clarification and amendment to the draft policy in relation to numbers 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 above had been changed in the draft policy.  These changes had been incorporated in the body of the report being submitted to the Executive.  Members were then required to make a recommendation to the Executive on denominational transport.

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 seven speakers raising the following concerns on the abolishment of free transport to denominational schools (copies of the statements from the speakers were tabled at the meeting):-

·        the cost and pressure this would place upon the parents whose children are already attending a faith school, especially those parents who were just above the low income threshold and had more than one child;

·        poor public transport links;

·        the effect this would have on the children who were in the process of doing their GCSEs or who had chosen their subjects for their GCSEs;

·        bus passes previously issued to children attending faith schools had an expiry date of when the child would finish school;

·        the length of the consultation period being very short;

·        the availability of places for children in the catchment area schools; and

·        that parents of children at a denominational school contribute 10% towards the building cost.

Members discussed the above issues and in particular queried the expiry date on the current bus passes that had been issued.  Members were advised that these passes had been issued under the existing Policy, if the Policy was to be amended it was possible that new bus passes would be issued. 

A motion was proposed and seconded that free transport to denominational schools be withdrawn as at September 2010, apart from those  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The report provides Members with the quarter three performance information for the Children, Families and Learning Directorate.

Members received and considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Children, Families and Learning which set out the quarter three performance information for the Children, Families and Learning Directorate.  Members noted that the column titled Group 07/08 referred to the Council’s statistical neighbours.

A comment was made about adult and children participating in sport and active recreation and the free swimming that Central Bedfordshire offers to under 16 year olds.  It was noted that this also applied to adults on a low income and it was felt that this should be advertised.

NOTED the report.

The report provides Members with the quarter three budget monitoring information for the Children, Families and Learning Directorate.

Members received and considered the report of the Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Learning which set out the budget management position as at December 2009.  It was noted that this would be the last budget management report for Children, Families and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee that would cover Countryside and Archives as these areas had been transferred to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The following individual queries were raised:-

• Tithe Farm Lower School and the delay in the work that was due to be carried out at the School.  Members were advised that the Corporate Resources Directorate was reviewing the capital position.  Officers agreed to take this issue away and respond to Councillor Dr. Egan direct.  The Chairman of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that all externally funded projects would go ahead unless it there was negative revenue

• the review of transport routes, with a view to rationalisation where possible, was being carried out on Special Educational Needs transport.  Members were advised that each child would receive an individual assessment through the statement review.

Members commented on the shared services with Bedford Borough Council and obtaining reliable estimates for costs for the shared services to reflect clear actual to date figures and improved forecasts for these services.  Members were advised that the Service Level Agreements were still being embedded in.  The Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had put together a Task Force to look at Shared Services. 

As from April 2010 the Council had a duty to educate 16-19 year olds and the Learning and Skills Council post would become the responsibility of Central Bedfordshire Council.  Officer agreed that once further information was known Members would receive a presentation.

NOTED the report.