Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the EDUCATION POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE of the HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on 7 December 2004.
PRESENT:
M.J. Kendal (Chairman); Mrs A.E. Bailey; I.F.E. Beagley; D.J. Belfield; T. Blackshaw; F.J. Bright; M.F. Cartwright; D. Chapman; K.G. Chapman; Ms P. Clarke; Ms. R. Clarke; B.D. Dash; Mrs P.M. Devereux; J.J. Dawson; L.T. Dunsdon; R.J. Ellis; Mrs. J.K. Frankum; J. Gawthorpe; Mrs. K. Heron; Mrs M. Humber; Mrs R. Jenkins; Jo Kelly;
R. Kimber; Mrs C.A. Leversha; D. Mayer; Mrs. A. McNair Scott; Mrs. P.G. Peskett;
G.W. Porter; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; Revd. D.M. Turner; Mrs P.A. West; D.I. White;
D.F. Wright.
236 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed. On item 11 (Minute 246), each of the teacher representatives at the meeting declared a personal interest. Also, Councillor K.G. Chapman declared a personal interest on the same item as his wife was a teacher.
237 MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 October 2004 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
Review of Primary School Provision In The Romsey Area (Minute 235)
It was reported that no objections had been received to the public notices to close Romsey Infant and Junior Schools and to establish a 210 place primary school with 30 maintained nursery places on the Romsey Junior School site from September 2006. However, there had been objections to the closure of Ampfield C.E. Primary School with effect from 31 August 2006 and the matter would therefore be reported to the School Organisation Committee on 4 February 2005.
238 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
In Councillor D. Allen's absence, the Leader of the Council had delegated responsibility for the Executive Member for Education decision day on 9 December 2004 to Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE. She had apologised for being unable to observe at this meeting. However, it was noted that Councillor M.J. Kendal would also attend the decision day on 9 December 2004 to pass on Policy Review Committee Members' comments as appropriate. The Chairman welcomed Dave Chapman as a new parent governor representative on the Committee. Also, he introduced Hillary Chadwick, Executive Director at the Local Learning Skills Council who was attending the meeting as an observer for items 8 and 9 (Minutes 243 and 244 respectively). The Chairman went on to report on a recent DfES meeting involving officials from each LEA in the country. Its purpose had been to review progress on the key indictors by which education was judged and for the DfES to hear and comment on the strategies being followed to effect improvement in those indicators. The DfES had been most complimentary about the analysis and strategic planning information provided by Hampshire and intended to share this with other LEAs. The Committee were informed that the County Council's proposal to close Pinewood Infant School, Farnborough and the Adjudicator's recently published decision on this was now expected to be dealt with by Cabinet. Finally, the Chairman, Minority Group Spokespersons and other individual Members paid warm tributes to John Wilkinson, Assistant County Education Officer for Lifelong Learning who would be retiring shortly after twenty-one years service in education. They thanked him for his most valuable work and knowledgeable advice over many years and wished him a long and happy retirement.
239 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations under this item.
240 THE PERFORMANCE OF HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS 2003/04
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 5 in the Minute Book) summarising the achievements of Hampshire Schools during the academic year 2003/2004. Members wished to place on record their appreciation to the teaching and other education staff involved for these excellent results.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the achievements and commitment to improvement of schools and those who support them are commended.
(ii) That the report be distributed to all Hampshire headteachers and Governing Bodies.
241 CONNEXIONS UPDATE
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 6 in the Minute Book) on the changes and developments which had taken place with regard to the South Central Connexions Services. In discussion particular reference was made to the funding and management of Connexions and it was felt important to continue to develop strong links with the youth service, particularly in the light of the Youth Option's Green Paper expected in the New Year.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
242 SCHOOL ORGANISATION PLAN 2003/04 - 2007/08 - OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 7 in the Minute Book) recommending that the Executive Member for Education should approve the Schools Organisation Plan 2003/04 - 2007/08 (2004 Update), as amended following consultation with schools and other interested parties. It was noted that copies of the draft SOP had been issued to all County Councillors and other Members of the PRC on 30 August 2004. Also, that the full updated text was available on Hantsnet at www.hants.gov.uk/education/department. In discussion, the Committee wished to see added to the Plan an appropriate reference to the County Council's Corporate Aims. The County Education Officer agreed to do this and at the same time make several other appropriate minor textual amendments.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised to approve the School Organisation Plan 2003/04 - 2007/08 (2004 Update), as amended following consultation with schools, other interested parties and as a result of the views of the Policy Review Committee.
243 14-19 EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS A SINGLE PHASE
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer (Item 8 in the Minute Book) outlining the development of a strategic document jointly produced by Hampshire County Council as the Local Education Authority and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council. It was the first such jointly produced document of its kind in the country and Members paid tribute to those involved for this achievement. They commended the collaboration between the parties concerned in taking this new and exciting initiative forward and asked to be kept informed of developments.
RESOLVED:
(i) That the Education Policy Review Committee advise the Executive Member of its support for the strategy for developing 14-19 education and training as a single phase and for its distribution across secondary schools, colleges and training providers in Hampshire.
(ii) That the Education Policy Review Committee advise the Executive Member of its support for the continued development of partnership working between the LEA, the Local Skills Council and Connexions.
(iii) That a further report on the development of this initiative be made to the Committee in six months time.
244 OUTCOME OF LOCAL SKILLS COUNCIL LOCAL AREA REVIEWS
The Committee considered the report of the County Treasurer and County Education Officer (Item 9 in the Minute Book) on the background and conduct of Local Area Reviews undertaken by Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Hampshire.
RESOLVED:
That the findings of the Local Area Reviews and the developments which have arisen from them to date be noted.
245 BUDGET MONITORING 2004/05
The Committee considered the reports of the County Education Officer (Item 10 in the Minute Book) on budget monitoring and an identification of cost pressures. Members' highlighted the particular pressures in relation to EOTAS and ICT costs. Also, they were mindful of the underspend on new Early Years places.
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education be advised to note the budget monitoring report and the identification of cost pressures.
246 MODERNISATION OF THE TEACHERS' PENSION SCHEME (TPS)
The Committee considered the report of the County Education Officer and County Treasurer (Item 11 in the Minute Book) on the County Council's proposed response to the DfES on their Consultation Paper "Modernisation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS)." At the request of the teachers' representatives, the response from the teachers' unions and organisations, which included their rejection to the raising of the normal retirement age in the TPS from 60 to 65, was tabled at the meeting (Item 11(i) in the Minute Book).
After consultation with the Chief Executive, the Teachers' representatives (Ms R Clarke, J. Gawthorpe, D. White, D. Belfield and Mrs R. Jenkins) and Councillor K. Chapman chose, in view of their personal prejudicial interests on this item, to withdraw from the meeting and therefore took no part in discussions or voting on the matter.
In discussion some Members supported the proposal of the teachers' organisations not to raise normal pension age within the scheme from 60 to 65. However, the majority of Members present did not support this and agreed the County Council's proposed response to the Consultation Paper. Accordingly, it was
RESOLVED:
That the Executive Member for Education support the County Council's response to the DfES's Consultation Paper entitled "Modernisation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS).
247 QUESTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR EDUCATION
No questions had been notified on this occasion.
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