Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman referred to the sadness at the recent death of Councillor R.P. Macfarlane and asked all Members, officers and members of the press to stand in silent tribute to his memory.   

Councillor N.R. Steele-Mortimer commented that whilst he was Executive Member of Education, Councillor Macfarlane had been the Chairman of this Committee.  He expressed his sincere condolences and paid tribute to Councillor Macfarlane on behalf of the Committee.

The Chairman advised Members of the need to declare a personal interest in school related items on the agenda if they were school or college governors.

All Members present except  A. Bragg and P.R. Lightfoot (who were not school governors) declared an interest as school governors.

Councillors R.C. Bithell and N.R. Steele-Mortimer declared a personal interest as members of the Church in Wales and Mrs. R. Price and Ms. C. Burgess also declared a personal interest as diocesan representatives.  

The Chairman advised Members of the need to declare a personal interest in school related items on the agenda if they were school or college governors.

All Members present except  A. Bragg and P.R. Lightfoot (who were not school governors) declared an interest as school governors.

Councillors R.C. Bithell and N.R. Steele-Mortimer declared a personal interest as members of the Church in Wales and Mrs. R. Price and Ms. C. Burgess also declared a personal interest as diocesan representatives.  

A decision of the Cabinet meeting on 21 May 2013 relating to Home to School Transport Policy Changes – Denominational Transport has been called in.  Attached is a copy of the procedure for dealing with a called in item,

The Member Engagement Manager explained the procedure for the Call-In of a Cabinet decision. 

To assist Members, the following documents are attached:-

• Copy of the report of the Director of Lifelong Learning – Home to School Transport Policy Changes – Denominational Transport
• Copy of the Record of Decision
• Copy of the Call In Notice

That having considered the decision, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was still concerned about it and thus referred the decision back to Cabinet.  

The Chairman referred to the Call-In to the decision of the Cabinet  from its meeting held on 21 May 2013 relating to Home to School Transport Policy Changes – Denominational Transport.  The Call-In notice had been signed by six Members of the Council.  To assist Members, the following documents had been circulated with the agenda:

            (a)     A copy of the procedure for dealing with a called in item.

            (b)     A copy of the report considered by Cabinet on 21 May 2013.

            (c)     A copy of the Cabinet Record of Decision No.2854.

            (d)     A copy of the Call In notice  signed by Councillors A.J. Davies-Cooke, H.T. Isherwood, C. Legg, D.I. Mackie, N.R. Steele-Mortimer and A. Woolley.

            The Member Engagement Manager outlined the procedure for dealing with a

called–in item.

The Chairman invited the Call-In signatories to address the Committee.  Councillor N.R. Steele-Mortimer, as spokesperson for the signatories, detailed the reasons for the Call-In.  He said that a report seeking Members’ views on the proposed changes to discretionary school transport policy; namely post 16 and transport to denominational schools, had been considered at a meeting of the Committee held on 14 March 2013.  The Committee resolved that the Cabinet Member be asked to reconsider the proposals in view of the issues and concerns raised during the meeting and that a further report be submitted to the Committee for  consideration.  However, the request had not been acted on and the matter had been considered at the meeting of Cabinet on 21 May 2013.  He expressed concern that the role and responsibility of Overview and Scrutiny in such matters seemed to have been ignored in this specific case.

Councillor Steele-Mortimer referred to the good response to the public consultation exercise which had been held with all stakeholders, however, there had been some misunderstandings during the process and he expressed the view that it was flawed.  He said that a majority of 85% had not agreed with the proposals put forward and their views should be acted on. 

Councillor Steele-Mortimer commented on the similarity between denominational transport and Welsh Language education facilities and said there was little difference between them.  He emphasised that the issues raised by the signatories concerned the transport policy not the schools admissions policy.  In his summary Councillor Steele-Mortimer outlined the further concerns of the signatories by stating that the proposed policy was discriminatory against those parents and guardians who wished their children to have religious based education but did not have the transport or personal means to send their children to the school.

The Chairman asked the signatories of the call in if they had any further comments or observations to make.

Councillor D.I. Mackie said he had been contacted by a number of parents who had expressed a preference to have their children educated in a faith based school.  He referred to the work undertaken by a Task and Finish Group on this issue and said it had been determined that free transport to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The meeting began at 2.00pm and ended at 3.35pm.

There was one member of the press present

There was one member of the public present.