Hampshire County Council Item 7(e)
21 February, 2008
New Education Advisory Panel
Report of the Chief Executive
Contact: Louise Read (01962 847344) e-mail: louise.read@hants.gov.uk
Introduction
1. At its meeting on 22 November, 2007, the Council approved a proposal by the Leader of the Council to establish an Education Advisory Panel reporting to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) principally concerning schools' performance and standards. The Leader accepted a suggestion that the Panel should comprise ten members, 6:3:1. The Leader proposed and the Council agreed that Councillor Mrs. P. West be appointed Chairman of the Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel now proposes the following terms of reference for approval. In addition, the Advisory Panel makes proposals regarding the appointment of co-opted members.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended to the County Council:-
(a) That the terms of reference of the Education Advisory Panel ("the Panel") be as follows:
To advise the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) in relation to:
(i) the development of further strategies that will place schools and other educational settings at the hub of delivery of Services for children, following the principles set out in Every Child Matters and the Children's Plan.
(ii) the performance of educational settings in the delivery of outcomes for children and young people 0-19.
(iii) the educational outcomes achieved by vulnerable children and young people including those listed in the Children and Young People's Plan.
(iv) excellent and innovative practice in educational settings from which others can learn.
(v) schools and Education Centres identified by Ofsted as needing special measures or significant improvement.
(vi) schools and Education Centres identified by the Local Authority which have particular issues that might lead to unacceptable outcomes for children and young people.
(b) That the membership of the Panel shall include four co-opted members.
(c) To delegate to the Secretary of the Hampshire Teachers' Liaison Panel, providing that he or she is an officer of the Authority, the power to appoint three co-opted members to the Panel subject to the requirement that those co-opted members must be representatives of the Hampshire Teachers' Liaison Panel.
(d) To appoint Mr. Stuart Juniper as a co-opted member of the Panel.
Terms of Reference
2. After consultation with the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education) and the Members nominated to serve on the Panel, the Terms of Reference above are recommended for the Council's approval.
Co-opted Members
3. The Education Advisory Panel proposes that four co-opted members should be appointed to the Panel.
4. Discussions have taken place with John Gawthorpe, the Secretary of the Hampshire Teachers' Liaison Panel (HTLP) with a view to three of the co-opted members being representatives of the HTLP which itself represents various teaching associations. John Gawthorpe is also the headteacher of a community school in the administrative area of the County Council and, as such, is an officer of the Authority.
5. In respect of the fourth co-opted member, the Panel proposes that Stuart Juniper, an Honorary Alderman, be appointed, as the Panel considers that his experience in advising the Council in respect of education matters will assist the Panel.
6. The County Council has reserved itself the function of making appointments to committees where proportionality rules do not apply (paragraph 4.1(f), Part 1, Chapter 4 of the Constitution). This is a function that can be delegated by the Council to a committee or to an officer of the Authority.
7. It is likely that the nature of the business coming to the Panel will require specialist input by different members of the HTLP. If each appointment of a co-opted member requires a resolution of the County Council, the ability of the Panel to respond to pressing issues will be impeded.
8. In these exceptional circumstances, in order to facilitate flexibility, the Panel requests that the County Council resolve to delegate to the Secretary of the HTLP, providing that he or she is an officer of the Authority, the power to appoint three co-opted members to the Panel subject to the requirement that those co-opted members must be representatives of the HTLP.
9. In respect of the fourth co-opted member, the Panel requests that the County Council appoint Mr. Stuart Juniper.
Section 100D : Local Government Act 1972 - background documents
The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.
NB: the list excludes:
1. Published works.
2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.
None
84R100208