Meeting documents

Councillors:

Lynda Atkins

Marilyn Badcock

Nick Carter

Mrs Anda Fitzgerald-O’Connor

Jean Fooks

Deborah Glass Woodin

Pete Handley

David Nimmo-Smith

Val Smith

David Turner

Carol Viney

Co-opted Members:

Mr Chris Bevan

Mr Ben Jackson

Mrs Sue Matthew

Ms Bernadine Spencer

What does this Committee review or scrutinise?

·                     Services for children, young people and families; preventative services; child protection; family support, educational policy; youth service; youth justice

·                     Primary & secondary schools; special education; pupil services; school transport; music service

·                     Conduct of best value reviews as specified in Paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to the Functions Regulations

How can I have my say?

We welcome the views of the community on any issues in relation to the responsibilities of this Committee.  Members of the public may ask to speak for up to 5 minutes on any item on the agenda or may suggest matters which they would like the Committee to look at.  Requests to speak must be submitted to the Committee Services no later than 9 am on the working day before the date of the meeting.

For more information about this Committee please contact:

Chairman                                         -      Councillor Sue Haffenden

                                                            E.Mail: sue.haffenden@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Committee Officer                             -      Deborah Miller Tel: (01865) 815384

                                                            E.Mail: deborah.miller@oxfordshire.gov.uk

• schools

• social & health care

·        libraries and museums

• the fire service

• roads

·        trading standards

• land use

• transport planning

·        waste management

Background Information:

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Sue Haffenden.

Councillor Haffenden has requested the opportunity for the Committee to receive a presentation on how the move to an Academy has gone so far in order to inform their understanding of academies and what they have to offer, not least in the light of a second academy on the horizon (Peers Academy).

Why has it been included?

To enable the Committee to receive a presentation on North Oxfordshire Academy and to conduct a question and answer session.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

Mrs Ruth Robinson, the Principal of North Oxfordshire Academy, has kindly agreed to attend this meeting to give a short presentation to the Committee and to answer any questions the Committee may wish to ask.

Work to be done prior to the meeting:

Members may wish to read Councillor Keith Mitchell’s findings on his visit to the North Oxfordshire Academy in the attached extract from ‘Councillors Information’ - Issue 23 – March 2008 (CH7) (download as .pdf file).

Background Information:

The Lead Member Review Group comprises Councillors David Turner, Mrs Anda Fitzgerald O’Connor, Carol Viney and Mr Ben Jackson.

Having collected a wide variety of evidence, the review group now presents its findings in this draft report CH8 (download as .doc file) for the Committee’s consideration.

Why has it been included?

To enable the Committee to offer any advice on how to improve the draft Review Report, in order to assist with the production of the final report.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

Members of the Review Group will talk to the draft Review Report, highlighting the key findings and recommendations in the Report. The Committee will then be asked to evaluate the review, paying particular regard to whether the Review has achieved its objectives and if the findings and conclusions follow from the evidence.

Work to be done prior to the meeting:

Members are asked to consider the draft review report in preparation for the discussion, which is attached at CH8.

Background Information:

This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Jean Fooks.

The Government wants to make this country the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. The Children’s Plan sets out how the Department for Children, Schools and Families intends to achieve that over the next ten years – by putting the needs of families, children and young people at the centre of everything they do.

The Children’s Plan will:

·        strengthen support for all families during the formative early years of their children’s lives;

·        take the next steps in achieving world class schools and an excellent education for every child;

·        involve parents fully in their children’s learning;

·        help to make sure that young people have interesting and exciting things to do outside of school; and

·        provide more places for children to play safely.

It also means a new leadership role for Children’s Trusts in every area, a new role for schools as the centre of their communities, and more effective links between schools, the NHS and other children’s services so that together they can engage parents and tackle all the barriers to the learning, health and happiness of every child.

The government is setting itself ambitious new goals for 2020 and it will report back on the progress it is making on the Plan in a year’s time.

Why has it been included?

To enable the Committee to question the Head of Commissioning, Strategy and Locality Development regarding the Government’s new Plan in order to see what the implications are for the County Council.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

The Committee will receive a short presentation and will then have the opportunity to conduct a question and answer session.

Work to be done prior to the meeting:

Members’ attention is drawn to the Government’s Summary of the Plan at CH9 (download as .doc file).

Background Information:

One of the items in this Committee’s Scrutiny Work Programme for 2007/08 is an ongoing review of the Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP) as it is implemented.

On 17 July 2007 the Cabinet approved the review of the first year of the Children & Young People’s Plan, which had been produced in April 2006.

The Task Group will be reporting back to the Committee periodically and feeding into the review of Year 2 of the Plan.

Task Group members comprise Councillors Fooks, Haffenden, Glass-Woodin and Handley, Mrs Sue Matthew and Ms Bernadine Spencer.

Why has it been included?

This item has been included on the agenda to inform the Committee of current progress on the Task Group exercise.

How is the Committee going to deal with it?

The Committee will receive an oral update from members of the Task Group.

If you have any special requirements (such as a large print version of these papers or special access facilities) please contact the officer named on the front page, but please give as much notice as possible before the meeting