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ITEM LC3

LEARNING & CULTURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 10 SEPTEMBER 2002

LEARNING & CULTURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 16 JULY 2002

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 and agreed as set out below. Copies of the agenda and reports are attached to the signed Minutes.

38/02. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS

Apologies for absence and temporary appointments were received as follows:

Apology from	Temporary Appointments
Councillor Patrick	Councillor Legge
Revd Dr John Gay	-
Mr A. Graham	-
Mr S. Terry	-

39/02. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Witcher declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Item 11 – Scrutiny Reviews (SEN).

40/02. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 7 May and 21 June 2002 were approved and signed subject:

1. at 23/02(a)(i)(d) bullet point four to the deletion of the first two sentences and the substitution of ‘Questions about links between the BV review and the Adult Learning Plan 2002/03 would be addressed’;
2. at 26/02(a)(c) to the deletion of ‘David Evans’ and substitution of ‘David Turner, Robert Evans’;
3. at 37/02 final key point on page 3 to the deletion of the words following ‘site’ and substitution of ‘for a variety of education and community functions’.
   
   

Minute 24/02(a): The written text of responses by the Principal Adviser to Mr Terry’s questions (copy attached to the signed Minutes) was made available to members

41/02. LEARNING & SKILLS COUNCIL

(Agenda Item 5)

Sarah Rusby, Head of Learning for Life, Learning & Skills Council (LSC), attended at the Scrutiny Committee’s invitation (Minute LC26/02)), gave a short presentation on the aims, objectives and work of the LSC and responded to members’ questions which focused mainly on the new funding arrangements. A summary of Ms Rusby’s responses to key questions is attached to these minutes (Annex) and, together with the LSC website address, would be circulated to members following the conclusion of the meeting.

The Scrutiny Committee also had before them a briefing note (LC5) on sixth form funding which had been prepared by the Acting Chief Education Officer.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to:

1. thank Ms Rusby for attending and Mr Capstick for the briefing note;
2. invite the LSC to attend scrutiny annually, next in 2003; and
3. (at the suggestion of Councillor Turner) ask the LSC to clarify the rules concerning the LEA’s ability to compensate schools without 6th forms through the schools budget formula.
   
   42/02. MONITORING OF EDUCATION PERFORMANCE

1. The Subject of Literacy and Numeracy : Progress in Oxfordshire Schools

   The Scrutiny Committee considered a report (LC6(a)) which was supported by a presentation by Mr Border and Ms Rumboll on the subject of literacy and numeracy in Oxfordshire Schools. They highlighted the integration of literacy and numeracy strategies and the development of ICT.

   The Scrutiny Committee received the report and thanked the officers for their presentation.

2. OFSTED Inspection Reports on Oxfordshire Schools to April 2002

43/02. MEMBERS’ VISITS TO PARTNERSHIPS OF SCHOOLS

(Agenda Item 7)

The Scrutiny Committee considered a report (LC7) which indicated the partnership visits which had been made to date and the supporting arrangements. This was a positive initiative from the Council to meet with headteachers and chairs of governors in a particular locality. Ways in which such visits could be further exploited were discussed.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to ask Councillors Brown, Bryden and Hayward to hold an informal meeting, including representatives of primary and secondary head teachers and relevant officers, in order to consider the development/planning of members’ visits to partnerships of schools and the possibility of linking the visits to other County Council establishments (ie libraries), and to report back.

44/02. THE EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2002–2007 MONITORING REPORT, TERM 1, SUMMER 2002

(Agenda Item 8)

The Scrutiny Committee considered a report (LC8) and a supplementary report on Priority 8 (attached to the signed minutes) which, at Members’ request, was the first regular report to scrutiny on progress with the Education Development Plan (EDP2) 2002-2207.

On this occasion, all eight priorities were reported upon and initial monitoring at this early stage indicated that good progress was being made to implement action across EDP2. The first significant evaluation point for EDP2 and the associated targets would be in the Autumn term of 2003, although LEA, school and pupil performance indicators would be analysed and reported upon in the coming Autumn term.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to receive the first monitoring report.

45/02. CITY SCHOOLS REORGANISATION: UPDATE

(Agenda Item 9)

At the January 2002 meeting the Scrutiny Committee agreed to receive a regular progress report on the City Schools reorganisation.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to receive the report (LC9).

46/02. SCRUTINY PROGRESS – MAY 2002

(Agenda Item 10)

On 6 June 2002 the Co-ordinating Group of Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs agreed that an item should be included on the agendas of Scrutiny Committee meetings for members to discuss and evaluate the scrutiny process to date and report back to the Co-ordinating Group.

Mr Bishop gave a brief presentation on the progress made with the Scrutiny process and responded to members’ questions to comments.

The following key point arose from debate:

1. while recognising the value of scrutiny review, the ‘overview’ element was seen as missing
2. too much paper
3. scrutiny committees: too big, and too many meetings
4. resource issues – strong case for improved scrutiny officer support
5. agendas should indicate priority/action required
6. monitoring reports clogging up agendas and reflecting ‘old style’ committees – a small group should look at handling performance information and focusing on weakness
7. need to search out and adopt good/best practice from elsewhere (including parliamentary Select Committee process)
8. more external/community focus needed.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to forward these points to the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Group.

47/02. SCRUTINY REVIEWS

• Recruitment and retention of teachers and support staff focusing in particular on schools

• Special education needs

• County Museum Service

• Bus services

• Bullying, behaviour, exclusions, truancy

• Rural issues including youth services, early years, sixth form, lifelong learning, community education, amalgamation of CECs

• Information, communications and technology

• Faith schools

• Learning & Skills Council - annual presentation ( see decision above at Minute 41/02).

• Best Value Review Programme

• Charging Policies Best Value review – Further information

• School partnership visits

• Matters for inclusion in the future Work Programme

48/02. ARTS & RECREATION BEST VALUE REVIEW: IMPLEMENTATION TO 2002

(Agenda Item 12)

On 19 June the Best Value Committee considered the report (LC12) and adopted the recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee considered the report which provided information on progress against the Action Plan of the Review.

The Scrutiny Committee AGREED to:

1. note the progress reported and that the Arts Consultant arrangement, and the development of a sports policy, were under consideration; and
2. monitor progress with the implementation of Learning & Culture related BV review Action Plans on a regular basis.
   
   49/02. FORWARD PLAN

in the Chair

Date of signing 2002

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