Meeting documents
Education, Youth, Culture and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Monday, 5th June, 2006
BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL
EDUCATION, YOUTH, CULTURE & LEISURE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
Monday 13th March 2006
PRESENT:- Chair 2005-2006: Councillor Andy Furse
Councillors: Sally Davis, Shirley Steel, Hilary Fraser
Executive Member for Children's Services - Councillor Jonathan Gay
Also in attendance:
Co-opted members (voting) - Tess Daly (Clifton diocese), Mike Brownbill (Bath & Wells Diocese), Co-opted Members (non-voting) and Trades union observers - Rob Henderson (special school governor), Chris Batten (ATL)
Officers: Mike Young (Education Director), Peter Rowntree (Operations Director), Matthew Smith (Head of Leisure and Amenity Services), Gail Quinton (Head of Inclusion Support Services),Mary Rozmus-West(), Stephen Young (Food Standards , Sue Green, Claire Hammond, Charlie Moat (Child and Families Group Manager), Andrew Reed (Property Law Manager, Kevin Amos , Tony Parker (Head of Strategic Services, Education), Andy Chard() , Ann Swabey (Democratic Services Officer)
Apologies: Cllrs. Leila Wishart & Dine Romero, Colin Hitchin, Avril Connelly, Paul Grant
41 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced those present.
42 EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE
The Chair drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda
43 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were none.
44 TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR
There was none.
45 ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC OR COUNCILLORS - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE BUSINESS OF THIS MEETING
There were none
46 NOTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 23RD JANUARY 2006
The notes of the above meeting were confirmed as a correct record.
47 FOOD FOR LIFE PILOT
The Chair welcomed some children and a governor from Bathwick St Mary CE VA Primary School who gave a presentation about the healthy school meals campaign within their school.
The Food and Trading Standards Manager informed the Panel that valuable lessons had been learnt from the Food for Life project. It was important to engage and involve the whole school in the issue using a holistic approach which promoted the links between good food and good health. It had been a productive partnership between the Council, the schools, the PCT, Envolve and the Soil Association.
The Health Development Officer informed that Panel about progress towards the project's targets and said there had been very positive outcomes for all participants. The links with the Healthy Schools had been strengthened and a training programme was starting for non-catering staff. A qualified nutritionist was looking at the menus, but a robust programme of sampling would need to be in place in the future to make sure that the meals were providing a balanced diet.
Claire Hammond (Primary Care Trust) referred to the 8 recommendations in the handout (available from Democratic services) and said that they would hope to roll out these recommendations to the other schools in the Authority. Members queried the level of involvement within the schools and were informed that the Schools Nutrition Action Groups (SNAG) in each school consisted of staff, parents and governors. There was a further query about the drop in school meal uptake at some schools - officers informed the Panel that this was happening in those schools which had not engaged so much with the healthy meals education programme.
The Chair invited contributions from the Get Real School Meals group (Lucy Hanney and Sharon Alcock). They commented that they felt the way forward was to concentrate on marketing the benefits of the healthy meals to parents, especially to hardcore groups which were not getting the message.
They suggested a school meals Funday at the Guildhall where the public could come and sample school meals - they also offered to arrange this event. Other ideas were to offer introductory offers and discounts to families and a `zero-waste' lunchbox challenge.
The Commercial Services Manager informed the Panel that leaflets about healthier lunchboxes had been circulated to parents and she was encouraged to report that the take-up of hot meals had increased in schools where they were not segregating the children who had lunchboxes. The Chair asked about the extra costs of the Food for Life programme and as informed that there would be a shortfall between income and costs in 2005/6 which was largely due to the increased cost of the fresh food.
Judy Allies (Primary Care Trust Healthy Schools project) informed the Panel that 50 out of 80 of the BANES primary schools were part of the programme and that it had had a good response across the authority. Kirsty Wrighton of the Soil Association commented that local growers and producers were keen to supply the school meals service.
A representative from Envolve informed the Panel that they work closely with schools and parents and that the cost of meals was a big issue for many. The children particularly enjoyed cookery and it was a shame that many schools had not got the facilities to stage this activity any more. She suggested that the children could produce a leaflet on healthy eating.
The Director of Education informed the meeting that the capital funding which was arriving in 2009/10 may mean that some schools will have new or improved kitchens.
48 SCHOOLS TRANSPORT UPDATE
The Admissions and Transport Officer informed the Panel that a consultation had been sent out to all parents in the authority about the home-to-school transport provision. The responses were currently being analysed and a report on the findings would be presented at the next meeting of the Panel before submission to the Executive in June 2006.
A Member queried whether there had had to be reductions in some services. The officer informed the Panel that a number of supported Public Bus services have recently been withdrawn. This decision was taken by the Executive Member for Transport and Highways as part of the budget setting process. These services will have transported mainly children not entitled to free transport. For those who are entitled to free transport alternative arrangements will be made.
49 THE ROLE OF DENOMINATIONAL EDUCATION IN BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET
The Acting Diocesan Director of Education for Bath & Wells, Maureen Bollard and David Byrne ( Co-Director of the Clifton Diocesan department for Schools and Colleges) gave a presentation to the Panel on the role of denominational education within the authority. (a copy of this will be retained on the records by Democratic Services).
Members queried the admissions policies as they affect children who may not be able to access their local school if it is Voluntary Aided. David Byrne replied that the Roman Catholic schools served a wider area, but reflected a wide socio-economic mix. The Anglican schools liaised closely with the LEA to ensure that their admissions policies worked alongside those of community schools. Another member asked about the issue of guarding against indoctrination. Maureen Bollard replied that it was a question of checks and balances. The schools had a Christian foundation but had an open-minded view of faith. There had to be an understanding of religions and the need to guard against an extremist view of faith.
59 EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT OF LOOKED-AFTER CHILDREN.
The Child and Families Group Manager introduced the report and gave a brief presentation to the Panel on the progress of looked-after children within the care of the authority. He explained that historically, these children were at risk of under-performing and that it was a requirement of the 2004 Children Act that local authorities monitor their achievement.
The authority currently cares for 116 looked-after children, 38 of whom are placed out of the area. They would like the children's GCSE results to be at the same level as the rest of the population and also for them to aim higher in their post-18 education and employment. A member asked whether there was a specific process for these children which was being followed. The Child and Families Group Manager replied that they adapted methods according to individual needs, but they were looking at a more systematic process. They were using therapeutic fostering for some children.
The Chair requested that the officer bring back the full figures on this subject to a future Panel meeting.
60 EDUCATION BEHAVIOUR REVIEW PROGRESS REPORT
The Head of Inclusion Support Services introduced the report.
The Members welcomed the use of St Swithins school as a specialist facility to support Reception and Key Stage 1 children who display challenging behaviour. In response to a question from one of the co-opted Members about the choice of school for children who were at risk of permanent exclusion, the Head of Inclusion Support Services replied that the options for managed transitions were not necessarily constrained by the Local Area Partnerships or school clusters. Another Member commented on the disappointing level of response to the consultation document. The officer replied that most schools were supportive of the proposals so did not need to respond formally.
61 BATH RECREATION GROUND
The Head of Leisure and Amenity Services and the Property Law Manager gave a verbal update for Panel members on this issue. The Property Law Manager explained the history and legal background to the Recreation Ground Trust. A Panel Member asked whether the shortfall in funds was connected with the rental level paid by Bath Rugby. The Head of Leisure and Amenity Services replied that Bath Rugby paid the valuer's rate and was not subsidised. The Chair enquired about the likelihood of the sports centre building remaining on the site, given that under the original conditions of the recreation ground and in the opinion of the Charity Commission, it should not have been built. The Property Law Manager replied that it would be extraordinary and unlikely that the Charity Commission would seek demolition. He further informed the Panel that, in the event of the building being demolished, its footprint would revert to an open space.
62 GREEN SPACE STRATEGY UPDATE
The Head of Leisure and Amenity Services introduced this update report. He suggested that a workshop could be arranged for Members in order for them to consider the plans in more detail. He further explained that a typology of land types had been adopted which it was hoped was robust enough to take up any challenge from the planning process.
The Chair then invited contributions from members of the public.
Helen Woodley - Friends of the Earth Open Spaces Campaigner
Ms Woodley explained that she had voiced her main concerns in an email to Members. She was concerned about the planned provision for flood corridors and pathways and would like to see the green spaces in Bath city centre doubled. She would also like to see protective policies for urban orchards and special microclimates and the creation of green corridors.
Scott Morrison - Friends of the Earth
Mr Morrison was concerned that there was not much mention of the river and that the Western Riverside project ideas with regard to flooding should be expanded.
Tim Baines - Allotments Association
Mr Baines informed the meeting that a lot of allotments had been lost in Bath in the past and that now waiting lists are currently full. More allotments were needed for the future.
Pauline Magrath - Allotments Association
The allotments at Lower Common have a long waiting list, which includes young families, who would like to encourage their children to eat healthily.
Head of Leisure and Amenity Services responded that demand for allotments was patchy across the authority and there are areas where there are vacancies. The whole provision would be examined as part of the consultation process.
A Panel Member commented that many people use their gardens as children's play areas instead of for growing produce, so allotments are more in demand than ever. She asked that the all-weather nature of green places should be taken into account when designing them. Some cannot currently be used in the winter months. The Head of Leisure and Amenity Services agreed that that issue could be looked at as part of the detailed examination of the strategy.
Another Member asked whether the Council was losing its Allotments Officer. The Head of Leisure and Amenity Services replied that the department was being re-structured but the post was part of the new structure. There was concern expressed about the future of the Wildspaces project in Midsomer Norton and also the fact that the town does not have a public park. The officer replied that the Wildspaces project came under the remit if the Planning, Transport, Environment and Sustainability Panel and was continuing for a further 6 months. With regard to the proposal for a park in Midsomer Norton, if the Council were to adopt the standards in the strategy, there would be strong case for this to be built.
The Chair suggested that a working group be set up to look at the strategy - Councillor Shirley Steel offered to be a Member. The Panel Administrator would contact other Panel Members to ask for other volunteers.
The Chair thanked everyone for their time and contributions. As this was the last EYCL Panel meeting that Mike Young, Director of Education, would be attending, he thanked Mike for his support and advice during his time with the Council and wished him well for the future.
The meeting ended at 8:35 pm
Chair(person)
Date Confirmed and Signed