Agenda item

The Cabinet Member(s) will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Paul May, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services addressed the Panel and highlighted the points below from his update report. A copy of the report will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes.

School Streets

Councillor May informed the Panel that he had met and discussed this matter with Councillor Wright and Councillor Heijltjes and that potentially such a scheme could be an advantage to some schools.

He explained that the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Panel have responsibility for this work area and that the CAHW Panel would be updated as progress is made.

Skills

Councillor May said that he had met with the new acting Principal of Bath College to stress how important it is for them to maintain the support they have in place for SEND pupils.

He added that discussions had also started with the College around the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone (SVEZ) scheme to see if training, apprenticeships and work experience opportunities can be provided during and after the construction phase of the Zone.

SACRE Annual Report

Councillor May said that he felt that there was a slightly inconsistent approach to the teaching of Religious Education across the B&NES schools and added that it is important that multi faith teachings help children to understand each other from an early age as possible.

Care experienced protected status

Councillor May informed the Panel that the Council are talking to Bath University about a memorandum of understanding which may include one or two scholarships, adopting the principle for all students, developing a mentoring scheme, possible accommodation support and apprenticeship schemes.

He added that they have also been discussing the possibility of moving people from Band B to Band A on the housing waiting list for care experienced young people.

Councillor Andy Wait asked how a school would be identified as wanting to take part in the School Streets scheme.

Councillor May replied that there was currently enough budget for one school to be initially considered to take part in the scheme and that practically the number of available schools was limited. He stated that the process, in the main, must be driven by the school and that the Council would discuss options with those that volunteer to take part.

The Chair asked if the schools should consult with their local Ward Councillors.

Councillor May replied that they should and added that he has asked for an item to be placed on the next School’s Standard Board agenda for when they are next due to meet on 16th July 2024.

Councillor Andy Wait reiterated that the process must be led by the school and that steps should be taken to identify those that are interested in taking part.

Councillor May stated that there was a budget in place and an officer available for a scheme to progress. He said that feedback on the scheme would be provided to both this Panel and the Climate Emergency Panel.

Councillor Joanna Wright stated that the Green Party has twice had a budget amendment declined on this subject area and said that she challenged whose role it actually is to progress this, given the extreme pressure that most schools find themselves under. She added that she was aware of a number of parents with pupils at St Stephen’s School were trying to introduce something similar on a weekly basis.

Councillor May commented that this was not a simple process and that there likely to be knock on implications of putting a scheme in place. He added that he has discussed this issue with the Executive Directors within the Council.

The Chair stated that overall the matter should remain within the remit of the Climate Emergency Panel and that should a working group be proposed then members of the CAHW Panel should be invited to take part.

Councillor Dave Harding asked what the key features were for establishing a School Street.

Councillor May replied that a school and its surrounding streets need to be identified and then at some stage in the process a Traffic Regulation Order would be put in place to stop vehicles entering those streets near the school at particular times of the day.

Kevin Burnett stated that he did not feel that it should be the responsibility of the schools to initiate this process and that there should be an overall Council plan for these schemes.

Councillor Harding asked how many pupils had taken part in years 1 & 2 of the Language for Life project provided by the St John’s Foundation.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that he did not have that information to hand, but could supply it to the Panel in due course.

Councillor Harding asked if any of the pupils identified in either the red or amber groups of the project were moved on sooner to receive speech and language therapy and whether any pupils had also gone onto receive any other downstream services.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that he would make an enquiry on behalf of the Panel and issue an answer to them.

Councillor Wait asked if any further information could be given on a new private children’s home that was due to open in Keynsham and could accommodate a maximum of 4 children.

The Director of Children’s Services & Education replied that any provider that moves into the local area must notify the Council of their intentions and ensure that they are Ofsted compliant.

Councillor May commented that children’s homes run by the Local Authority had ceased, resulting in young people having to be sent out of area. He added that a feasibility study was due to take place over the summer as to whether Charlton House can become a residential special school and that this might also involve a number of other sites with differing structures in place.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she was pleased to see the progress that was being achieved through the work of the St John’s Foundation. She asked which schools had been involved in the initial programme.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that schools within Twerton & Whiteway took part in the initial programme.

Councillor Hardman commented that she was looking forward to the forthcoming double roll-out across Radstock, Midsomer Norton & Paulton and asked what the criteria for selection was.

The Director of Education & Safeguarding replied that for the first programme the criteria was connected to pupils in receipt of Free School Meals / Pupil Premium and that this time all Nurseries and Primary Schools would be approached to take part.

Councillor May informed the Panel that St. John’s had attended a recent meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board and said that the minutes of that meeting should be circulated to the Panel.

The Chair said that she was likely to raise the issue of Culverhay under the Safety Valve report, later in the agenda.

Councillor May replied that Bath College had decided not explore a future use of Culverhay as that would involve adding a new build facility to the site. He added that this was why there were looking at options for the SVEZ as a solution for our young people needs to be found.

He informed the Panel that a decision relating to the redeployment of Culverhay for educational uses, supporting our most vulnerable children by providing SEND and Alternative Provision needs in B&NES through the redevelopment of the former Bath Academy school site was due to be taken by Cabinet on 6^th June.

The Chair asked if this would include a decision relating to the on-site swimming pool as this was also an important local facility.

Councillor May replied that this was not for discussion with this Panel, but said that he had met with the Ward Members and would report back when a decision was made.

Councillor Robin Moss said that he found the prospect of using the SVEZ as part of a skills learning site an interesting one, given that a Development Order was in place following a recent round of decisions.

Councillor May replied that he understood the local sensitivities regarding the site and had discussed the matter with Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development. He added that the needs of local young people should at least be discussed.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Councillor May for his update.