Agenda item

At their meeting on 29 September 2016 the Education Scrutiny Committee considered a report on ‘the Strategic and Operational Responsibilities of the County Council & the Resources Required to Carry Out These Duties, particularly in relation to School Improvement and Support Services’.

The Committee noted that the government continued to reduce resources available to local authorities dramatically, whilst expecting them to continue to carry out their statutory duties, particularly in relation to maintained schools, and that the diminishing funding would have a negative effect on the discharge of our duties.  The Committee also noted that there was a lack of clarity about the government's expectations of local government e.g. no right to intervene in academies but still held accountable for their performance.

The Committee agreed to refer the issue to Cabinet with a request that the Cabinet write to the Secretary of State to express the concerns of the Committee. A copy of the report (CA10 ) is attached for consideration.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to consider the request from the Education Scrutiny Committee and to determine any action to be taken.

At their meeting on 29 September 2016 the Education Scrutiny Committee considered a report on ‘the Strategic and Operational Responsibilities of the County Council & the Resources Required to Carry Out These Duties, particularly in relation to School Improvement and Support Services’.

The Education Scrutiny Committee had noted that the government continued to reduce resources available to local authorities dramatically, whilst expecting them to continue to carry out their statutory duties, particularly in relation to maintained schools, and that the diminishing funding would have a negative effect on the discharge of our duties.  The Committee had also noted that there was a lack of clarity about the government's expectations of local government e.g. no right to intervene in academies but still held accountable for their performance.

The Committee had agreed to refer the issue to Cabinet with a request that the Cabinet write to the Secretary of State to express the concerns of the Committee. A copy of the report was attached for consideration.

Councillor Gill Sanders, Deputy Chairman of Education Scrutiny Committee and Chairman for the meeting on 29 September noted that it would have been helpful for Cabinet to have had a copy of Education Scrutiny Committee’s discussions. Councillor Sanders commented that there had been genuine cross-party support for the recommendation. The Committee had expressed concern over the possible further delay in the National Funding Formula and that the funding gap was increasing with reduced funding and increased responsibilities such as the extension of free early years’ entitlement. The Committee had also noted that the County retained responsibility for permanently excluded children.  There was a need for improved engagement with Multi Academy Trusts(MATs) who were needed to replicate the work of local authorities. However for those schools that did not want to become part of a MAT school-to-school support was vital. She referred to the strategic review happening in the next 2 years but expected to retain most current responsibilities.

Responding to a comment from Councillor Tilley that there were few permanent exclusions and that fixed term exclusions were a greater cause for concern, Councillor Sanders indicated that the Committee’s concern had been the delay with permanent exclusions of getting a child into another school.

Councillor Howson, speaking as a member of the Education Scrutiny Committee supported everything the views expressed by Councillor Sanders. He added that the loss of a particular strategic post made it more difficult to know how the authority would manage. He was keen to maintain high levels of interaction with schools and at regional and national levels. In practice the White paper had not removed responsibilities and it was important that as an authority we were able to take a strategic view. He commended the high level of operational expertise but felt that someone was needed to pull things together at that strategic level.

Councillor Tilley responding to the comments made commented that it was not possible to restore the post of Deputy Director of Education. However she would certainly write to the Secretary of State for Education as requested. She added that the team put in place was working well. She noted that Oxford Academy had been found to be ‘Good’. Councillor Tilley referred to the work of the School Alliance and brokering of school to school support that meant that schools were realising that they did not need to stand alone.

Cabinet considered the request from the Education Scrutiny Committee and it was:

RESOLVED:                        that Councillor Tilley and Councillor Hudspeth write to the Secretary of State as requested.