Contact: Colin Hinxman or Karen Widdowson, 01962 847343/847334

1. Summary

1.1. The following decision is sought:-

(i) That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the County Council


(a) That Part 1: Chapter 10 (other Advisory Panels) of the Constitution be revised by the following addition:

Committee	Reporting to
Special Educational Needs Panel	Executive Member for Education

(b) That the terms of reference of the Special Educational Needs Panel be approved as follows:

"To advise the Executive Member for Education on all issues arising from proposals for and the implementation of reorganisations of special education."


(c) To approve the membership.


(ii) That Councillor Mrs A.M. McNair Scott be appointed to attend the meeting of the Eastleigh/Winchester Special Educational Needs Panel to be held on Tuesday 14 May 2002.

2. Reason

2.1. Previously the County Council has set up individual panels to steer special education reorganisations, for example in the Aldershot/Farnborough area and the Gosport/ Fareham area.

2.2. The Eastleigh/Winchester Special Educational Needs Members Panel was originally set up in 1999 to oversee the implementation of the reorganisation of special education in the Eastleigh and Winchester area, including the development of the building projects necessary to secure the reorganisation.

2.3. There is merit in building upon the knowledge and experience of Members involved in special needs reorganisations so that the same panel would deal with issues remaining from the Eastleigh/Winchester reorganisation; the East Hampshire reorganisation; and any other reviews of special education which may be approved in future.

2.4. It is suggested therefore that a recommendation be made to the County Council that it should in future be named "Special Educational Needs Panel" with the following terms of reference:

"To advise the Executive Member for Education on all issues arising from proposals for and the implementation of reorganisations of special education."

2.5. It is proposed to continue local involvement by inviting the local County Councillors to meetings. The proposed membership of the Panel is set out below:-

Mrs A.M. McNair Scott (Chairman)
M.F. Cartwright
B.D. Dash
J.K. Glen
Jo Kelly
Mrs P.G. Peskett
Mrs E.M.F. Randall
J.W. Stocks

2.6. The next meeting of the SEN Panel is scheduled for Tuesday 14 May 2002 and it is proposed that Councillor Mrs McNair Scott be appointed to attend that meeting.

3. Other options considered and rejected - continue existing arrangements with a new panel for each reorganisation etc. as required.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - not applicable

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable

Approved by: Date: 17 April 2002


Councillor D.G. Allen

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has 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.

8PR54102