Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stafford (no substitute) and Councillor Butler (no substitute), E Lusty, A Semmence and M Rickett (co-opted members), E Feddon and N Ahmed (Youth Council – observers).

The following interests were made at the meeting:-

(a)       Councillors Salter and Courtenay (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)       Councillor Salter – agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee updates - non-pecuniary interest – husband is Consultant Surgeon at Southend Hospital and holds senior posts at the Hospital; son-in-law is GP; daughter is a doctor at Broomfield Hospital;

(c)       Councillor Nevin – agenda item relating to Public Health Annual Report – non-pecuniary – niece works for Public Health England;

(d)       Councillor Nevin - agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee updates – non-pecuniary – 2 children work at MEHT; step sister works at Basildon Hospital; previous association at Southend and MEHT Hospitals; NHS employee in Trust outside area;

(e)       Councillor Arscott - agenda items relating to –  School Admissions Arrangements; Annual Education Report; School Term Dates 2018/19; Schools Progress report – non pecuniary – Governor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School;

(f)        Councillor Boyd - agenda items relating to – Future provision of secondary places in Southend; School Admissions Arrangements; Annual Education Report; School Progress report – non- pecuniary – Governor at Westcliff High School for Girls and South East Essex Academy Trust, south east Essex Teaching School Alliance;

(g)       Councillor Borton - agenda items relating to - Future provision of secondary places in Southend; School Admissions Arrangements; Annual Education Report; School Term dates 2018/19; Schools Progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at Milton Hall School;

(h)      Councillor Borton - agenda item relating to Scrutiny Committee updates – non-pecuniary – daughter nurse at Rochford Hospital;

(i)        Councillor Jones – agenda items relating to – Future provision of secondary places in Southend; School Admissions Arrangements; Annual Education Report; School Term dates 2018/19; Schools Progress report – non-pecuniary – parent of child attending school and Governor at Milton Hall School.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 24^th January 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on Tuesday, 20^th December 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Councillor Courtenay, the Executive Councillor for Children & Learning responded to a written question from Mr Webb and Councillor Salter, the Executive Councillor for Health and Adult Social Care responded to a written question from Mr Webb.

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending February 2017 which was circulated recently.  Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 852 of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017 together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end February 2017, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 856 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 9 refers)

Called in by Councillors Jones & Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 856 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) which provided an update on the progress of a strategy for the provision of secondary school places as overseen by the School Places Working Party.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1.     That the recommendations made at the School Places Working Party (as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the submitted report and in 2-5 below), held on 6th February 2017, be noted and approved.

In order to meet the immediate need for secondary school places by September 2018:-

2.         That the expansion discussions with Good and Outstanding Schools, be continued.

In order to meet the additional need for school places for September 2019:-

3.         That an initial exploration takes place with a small number of Academy Trusts regarding a secondary free school.

4.         That the exploration of expansion opportunities takes place with schools that currently require improvement.

5.         That officers continue dialogue with faith schools regarding future expansion, where there is excess demand but places should be for Southend children only.”

Note:-This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Minute 857 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 10 refers)

Called in by Councillors Jones & Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 857 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) on the admission arrangements for community schools for the academic year 2018/19.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the final Admissions Arrangements for Community Schools for the academic year 2018/19, be noted.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor :- Courtenay

Minute 858 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 11 refers)

Called in by Councillors Jones & McDonald

The Committee considered Minute 858 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) on the relative performance of Southend schools in the academic year 2015-16.

The Council’s Director of Learning clarified that the report was a retrospective review and there would be more detailed evaluation of the Education Board in the next report.

In response to some questions, the Executive Councillor said that he would review the report to ensure there is consistency in this report on ‘Areas for further development’ and will circulate the revised report to the Committee members.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the draft Annual Education Report (AER), as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted and approved.”

Note:-This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Minute 859 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 12 refers)

Called in by Councillors Jones & Ware-Lane

The Committee considered Minute 859 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) setting out the proposed school term and holiday dates for the academic year 2018/19.

In response to a question, the Executive Councillor said that he would ensure the proposed school term dates are circulated across the Council.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the school term and holiday dates for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.”

Note:-This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay

Minute 861 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 14 refers)

Called in by Councillors Nevin & Willis

The Committee considered Minute 861 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People) presenting the 2016 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health.

The Director of Public Health responded to a number of questions around immunisation, screening, environmental factors, emergency planning, vaccination programmes and said that she would circulate information to the Committee in due course.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the content and recommendations of the 2016 Annual Report of the Director of Public Health, be noted.”

Note:-This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Salter

Report of Chief Executive (attached)

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive which updated the Committee on a number of health scrutiny matters and other matters relating to the work of the Committee.

With reference to the update regarding the St Luke’s Primary Centre, the co-opted member asked the Scrutiny Officer to seek assurances from the CCG that there are no negative implications from the move of the GP practice into the Cumberlege Lodge, co located with the Intermediate Care Centre.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and actions taken be noted.

2. That the Summary Report of the Task & Finish Group set out at Appendix 1, looking at mental health issues for children and young people in Essex be received and noted. The Committee to receive feedback on the review and the key performance data.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Report of Chief Executive (to follow)

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive which sought formal approval to the draft final report and recommendations of the in depth scrutiny project – ‘Alternative provision – off site education provision for children and young people’. 

Resolved:-

1.         That the report and the recommendations from the in depth scrutiny project, attached at Appendix 1 be agreed.

2.         That the Chairman be authorised to agree any final amendments to the draft report.

3.         That in accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 (Part 4 (e) of the Constitution), to agree that the Chairman of the Project Team present the final report to a future Cabinet meeting.

4.         That the members and Officers involved with the study be thanked for their hard work.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive (People)

The Committee considered a report by the Corporate Director for People which informed Members of the current position with regard to schools causing concern, including Academy developments.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- Courtenay