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ITEM LC4(a)

LEARNING & CULTURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 15 SEPTEMBER 2003

Minutes of the Meeting commencing at 10.00 am and finishing at 3.25 pm

Present:

The Scrutiny Committee considered the matters, reports and recommendations contained or referred to in the agenda for the meeting, together with a schedule of addenda tabled at the meeting and agreed as set out below. Copies of the agenda, reports and schedule are attached to the signed Minutes.

39/03. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS

Apologies for absence and temporary appointments were received as follows:

Apology from	Temporary Appointments
Councillor Ray Jelf	-
Mr S. Terry	-

40/03. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1 July 2003 were approved and signed.

Minute 27/03: School Meals

The Executive Member’s written response was still awaited.

Minute 33/03: Issues arising from the Witney Partnership Visit

The task force (Councillors Evans, Patrick & Witcher) was asked to report to a future meeting.

41/03. SCRUTINY AND THE BUDGET

(Agenda Item 5)

The implementation of a rolling programme of base budget reviews was an essential part of the ‘Maximising Our Resources’ strategy and the Budget and Planning Administration timetable 2004/05. All Scrutiny Committees could input into the base budget review the September meetings cycle.

The Head of Resources, Learning & Culture circulated and spoke to an extract of the Council’s Budget Book which focused on Service Area LC5 (Resources etc.), (a copy of which is attached to the signed Minutes) which set out financial information relating to Learning & Culture resources, personnel, premises and administration. He responded to questions and comments including the process of review of the Oxfordshire Schools Joint Provision and the pattern and implications of early/retirement. Members were reminded of the decision to review another key section of the base budget, namely the Museums Service.

It was noted that no efficiency savings had been identified at this stage.

42/03. SCRUTINY WORK PROGRAMME

(Agenda Item 6)

1. Options for Inclusion in the Scrutiny Committee’s Future Work Programme

On 11 April 2003, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group agreed to accept a draft programme of Scrutiny Development. During the current round of meetings each scrutiny committee was being asked to undertake a fundamental review of its work programme, taking into account the key issues and drivers identified at its previous meeting. This process of review should ensure that each scrutiny committee’s work programme was adding value to the Council’s work, was outcome focused, and was using the best method of working to achieve this. Members had before them a note of key issues and drivers facing Learning & Culture.

The Scrutiny Committee considered a report (LC6(a)) and from the grid at Annex 1 AGREED its provisional Future Work Programme, with prioritisation where shown, as follows:

Learning & Skills Council annual report-high;

local cultural strategy-high;

‘Every Child Matters’ Green paper on children’s services-high;

equalities legislation-high;

rural issues-high;

single age of admission at Foundation Stage-high;

LEA post Ofsted Inspection Plan-low;

bullying in schools-high;

parent partnership scheme;

information on the six term year;

‘excellence and enjoyment’ in schools;

budget-method for analysis;

budget & Policy framework, e.g. developing the EDP;

key drivers such as ‘funding routes’ identified by the Director for Learning & Culture focusing on one of the key issues such as ‘curriculum empowerment for all learners’ or ‘community access to libraries’ to link with ‘rural issues’, budget scrutiny to focus on museums;

transforming Youth Work Plan 2002-2006-officers to check with Community Safety Scrutiny Committee on work/timing;

City re-organisation/structural issues-Banbury, Wantage and Didcot-officers to report in Spring 2004;

evaluation, reports and updates of scrutiny reviews-‘watching brief’/annual update.

It was also AGREED that the Chair, Deputy Chair, 3^rd Group Spokesperson, Director for Learning & Culture and Scrutiny Officer/s be asked to meet to discuss the Work Programme.

Questions and comments included the timetables for the ‘Every Child Matters’ Green Paper, the single age of admission to Foundation Stage, and equalities legislation; whether a Best Value Review had considered bullying; and the implementation of the Local Cultural Strategy. The Scrutiny Officers would provide responses at the next meeting.

2. Learning & Culture Scrutiny Development Group

• themed topic-‘Education Development Plan’ (EDP) focusing on a maximum of four areas, the group to report to the Scrutiny Committee in March 2004;
• issue-specific topic-‘Cultural Strategy for Oxfordshire’ (CSO) focusing on a maximum of four areas (combining objectives/actions where possible), the group to develop an outline work plan including a proposed timescale to be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee in December 2003

• Each group to comprise a maximum of five members to be drawn from the Scrutiny Committee.

• to take views and engage with ‘front line’ officers;
• to involve stakeholders as witnesses as appropriate;
• to explore other methods of obtaining information (i.e. ICT);
• to achieve an equal balance between learning and culture;
• to make recommendations where appropriate to the scrutiny committee;
• the existence and purpose of both pilot groups to be made public.

1. Community Participation and Engagement in the Scrutiny Function

43/03. OXFORDSHIRE PLAN: A PRIORITY FRAMEWORK FOR 2004/05 ONWARDS

(Agenda Item 7)

At its meeting on 29 July 2003, the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group considered and agreed a proposal concerning how Scrutiny would be consulted regarding the formulation of the priority framework for 2004/05 onwards.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to defer to the October meeting consideration of this item for appropriate Heads of Service to attend; and that updated figures be provided. Joint responses by Directorates where appropriate were preferred.

44/03. REVIEW OF RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF FOCUSING ON THE RETENTION OF TEACHERS AND TEACHERS’ WORKLOADS

• that the Review had achieved the objectives set out in the review Brief;
• that the findings and conclusions followed from the evidence collated in the Report; and
• the recommendations.

45/03. SCRUTINY REVIEWS

(Agenda Item 9)

The Scrutiny Committee noted the report on the Faith Schools review (LC9(a)) and received an oral report from Councillor Brown on progress with the Use of Premises review which would be brought for initial comment to the December meeting.

46/03. THE DRAFT LIBRARY POSITION STATEMENT 2003

(Agenda Item 10)

The Scrutiny Committee considered a report (LC10) which addressed the requirements of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for Library Authorities to submit in the new format of Position Statements (replacing the previous (longer) Annual Library Plans, (ALPs)) an account of their current performance and future prospects.

The headings of the Position Statement stemmed mainly from the 2003 DCMS report "Framework for the Future: Libraries, Learning and Information in the Next Decade". As the priorities of the Framework accorded well with the priorities of Oxfordshire’s Library Service in its Best Value Review Action Plan, the draft Statement provided a comprehensive assessment of the progress the Service was making.

The following key points arose in debate:

the benefits of moving away from the ‘traditional’ image/roles of libraries were recognised, but caution was expressed about moving too far from core values towards a ‘leisure centres’ culture;

the value of local knowledge, for example in shared use of premises/partnership working both with other authorities and individuals and groups, was acknowledged and welcomed;

the aims/values of the library service, Friends of Libraries, inclusion of young people and ethnic minorities should be given a higher profile in the Statement;

improvements in the provision in the County’s libraries of bookstock, other material and implementing the Government’s e-government strategy was welcomed, but constraints such as limitations in space in library buildings and access were identified;

rural and urban deprivation could be addressed through re-ordered priorities within existing resources;

review of mobile library provision/schedules was supported to secure improvements in access, links with local services, communications and a better focused service;

on page 7 the meaning of the phrase ‘less=more’ should be clarified; and

information shown as percentages could be expanded (on page 6, paragraph 1.6) for greater clarity.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to

a) endorse the draft Statement and forward the above comments to the Executive;

b) appoint Councillors Evans, Ferriman, Moley and Hayward/Mallon to discuss informally the Phase 2 Library Opening Hours proposals with the County Librarian.

47/03. MONITORING

1. OFSTED Inspection Reports on Oxfordshire Schools to August 2003 (LC11(a)).

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to receive the report.

2. Oxford City Schools Reorganisation.

1. thank all concerned with the reorganisation;

48/03. BEST VALUE REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS

(Agenda Item 12)

1. Schools of Concern

On 23 July 2003 the Best Value Committee considered the Schools of Concern Review Implementation Report and resolved to congratulate Mr Jones and team on progress and agree that no further reports to the Committee were required; note that there were no matters in the report which should be drawn to the attention of the Executive Member; and ask the Chair of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee to consult the Deputy Chair on scrutiny committee consideration. The Chair had indicated that he wished the Scrutiny Committee to consider this report (LC12(a)).

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to draw to the attention of the Executive Member for Schools scrutiny’s support for achievement of the challenging target of nil schools in special measures by 2005/06.

(b) SEN Transport

On 23 July 2003 the Best Value Committee considered the Schools of Concern Review Implementation Report and resolved to ask officers to report back to the Committee on further progress in twelve months time; draw to the attention of the Executive Member the Committee’s suggestion to investigate the potential for use of Special School minibuses for SEN transport, and the Director for Resources that the co-location of transport arrangements would be desirable; and ask the Chair of the Learning & Culture Scrutiny Committee to consult on scrutiny committee consideration, including the Special School minibuses point. The Chair had indicated that he wished the Scrutiny Committee to consider this report (LC12(b)).

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to defer this item to the December meeting for lead review officers to attend.

The Head of School Development undertook to convey members’ questions/ comments to the lead review officers.

49/03. TRACKING SCRUTINY OUTCOMES

• Better Ways to School (Minute 32/03);
• The Future of Iffley Mead and Woodeaton Special Schools (Minute 36/03);
• Six Term Year (Minute 38/03);
• Operation of the County Museum Services – Scrutiny Review;
• Councillor Witcher undertook to discuss with the Scrutiny Officers the presentation to the October meeting of the SEN Scrutiny Review evaluation (Forward Plan Ref. 2003/014).

50/03. FORWARD PLAN

in the Chair

Date of signing 2003

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