Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor David Wisinger declared a personal and prejudicial interest for the following item as he was a school governor at John Summers High School.  Councillor Glyn Banks declared a personal and prejudicial interest for the following item as he was a school governor at Ysgol Mornant.  Councillor Cindy Hinds declared a personal and prejudicial interest for the following item as she was a school governor at Ysgol Penyffordd. 

Agenda item 4 – School Modernisation – School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 – John Summers High School – Statutory Proposals .

The Chairman invited members of the Committee to make a declaration if they were school governors and a number of members so indicated. 

A decision of the Cabinet meeting on 6 August 2015 relating to School Modernisation - School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 - John Summers High School, 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 Chief Officer (Education and Youth) – School Modernisation – School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 – John Summers High School

·         Copy of the Record of Decision

·         Copy of the Call In Notice

That having considered the decision, the Committee was still concerned about it and referred it back to Cabinet for reconsideration.

The Member Engagement Manager referred to the Call-in to the decision of the Cabinet from its meeting held on 6 August 2015 relating to School Modernisation – School Standards and Organisation Act 2013 – John Summers High School.  The Call-In notice had been signed by five 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 6 August 2015

(c)        A copy of the Cabinet Record of Decision No. 3215

(d)       A copy of the Call-in notice signed by Councillors David Wisinger, Cindy Hinds, Glyn Banks, David Healey and Ron Hampson.

The Member Engagement Manager explained the procedure for a Call-in meeting.  He then read out the reasons for the Call-in which was that the Committee, at its recent meeting, had recognised some of the concerns which the local community had voiced during the consultation – notably transition plans for individual pupils, particularly those in the lead up to GCSE examinations, and transport to and from alternative schools and its cost.  Whilst the signatories noted that Cabinet had considered these concerns in passing its resolution more detail and assurance was requested.  Given local rumour over the future of the John Summers High School site, the signatories sought an assurance that there was no plan in place for its future disposal and, should the School be closed, for a commitment that there would be open public consultation on the future options for the site including public open space.  The Member Engagement Manager then outlined the four options available to the Committee.

The Chair invited the Call-in signatories to address the Committee.  Councillor David Wisinger, as the first of the signatories, said that the reasons for the Call-in concerned issues relating to transport, transitional arrangements, and future use of the John Summers High School site.  He explained that pupils of John Summers High and members of the public had raised questions around school transport costs and how the distance from home to school was measured.  Questions had also been asked concerning the financial impact on families due to additional transport costs and whether any financial help would be provided in the future or for the transitional year only.  Councillor Wisinger asked if the “safe route to school policy” had been considered in the decision making process and referred to the possible effect that transport issues may have on pupils’ decisions to remain in school for extra curricular activities, particularly during the Winter months.    

The Chair invited the decision makers to respond. A briefing note responding to the Initiators’ concerns had been prepared and circulated at the start of the meeting.  The Cabinet Member for Education made an initial response and invited the 21^st Century Schools Co-ordinator to provide further detail. 

The 21^st Century Schools Co-ordinator detailed the Authority’s  statutory and discretionary transport provision and the current transport arrangements for John Summers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.