Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Platt.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2009.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families on a proposed scheme at Rowan Park Special School, Litherland.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the scheme, as set out in the report, be approved;  and

(2)       the Cabinet be recommended to include the proposed expenditure in the 2009/10 and 2010/11 Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families on a proposed capital grant of £25,000, which could be matched with £25,000 of sponsorship, to undertake a scheme of projects at the above school which are related to its specialist status specialisms.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the scheme, as set out in the report, be approved; and

(2)       the Cabinet be recommended to include the proposed expenditure in the 2009/10 Children, Schools and Families Capital Programme.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 5 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Children's Services) held on 10 June 2008, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families which advised of the mid-year performance for 2009/10 with particular regard to the 2009 Comprehensive Area Assessment, Council Plan, Service Delivery Plan and National Indicators.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families on the proposed implementation of the above programme with effect from April 2010.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 99 of 8 December 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families that advised of the proposed spend of the final round of Youth Opportunities Fund bids in 2009/10.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the expenditure of £35,314.85 funded by the Youth Opportunities Fund, as detailed within the report, be approved;  and

(2)       the Strategic Director be requested to arrange a meeting between the Children's Services spokespersons and the young people on the Youth Opportunities Fund Panel.

Report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families

Further to Minute No. 84 of the meeting held on 27 October 2009, the Cabinet Member considered the report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families regarding vacancies on the governing bodies of Community and Voluntary Aided schools.

RESOLVED:

That the undermentioned persons be appointed to serve on the Governing Bodies of the schools indicated for a period of four years:-

To consider passing the following resolution:

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph …. of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test has been applied and favours exclusion of the information from the Press and Public.

RESOLVED:  

That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.  The Public Interest Test had been applied and favoured exclusion of the information from the press and public.

Joint report of the Strategic Director - Children, Schools and Families and the Personnel Director

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families and the Personnel Director on a proposed re-organisation of the existing School Admissions and Student Support Service to enable it to meet the requirements of the new School Admissions Code, which reflects changes to the law introduced by the Education and Skills Act 2008, which included:

·             extending the co-ordinating role of local authorities to all admissions applications for state primary and secondary schools made by their residents at any time of year, from 2010;

·             the full inter-Local Authority co-ordination of admission to primary schools to be phased in, starting with all in-year admissions from September 2010 and the annual allocation of primary places from September 2011;

·             improving the information provided to parents by local authorities; adding parents and the local community to those who must be consulted regarding proposed admission arrangements;

·             requiring local authorities to report annually to the Schools Adjudicator on the fairness and legality of admission arrangements in their area; plus new powers for the Office of the Schools Adjudicator to act proactively if an Authority is failing in any aspects of the statutory and mandatory duties.

In accordance with the Responsibility for Functions provided in the Council's Constitution, the personnel implications described in the report had been approved by the Personnel Director, in consultation with the Strategic Director of Children, Schools and Families.

RESOLVED:  

That the reorganisation of the Service, as set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.11 and Annex 2 to the report, be approved.