Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2008 were taken as read and signed as correct record.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People seeking approval to withdraw two bus services that currently operated between Halton and Frodsham High School, and Helsby High School, in Cheshire.

            The Board noted that the Council had provided assistance with transport for Halton resident pupils attending these schools, by operating two buses from Halton to Frodsham and Helsby, since attaining unitary status in April 1998 as, prior to this time, Runcorn was part of Cheshire County Council; as such, Frodsham and Helsby High Schools were within Runcorn parents’ home authority.

During the Local Government Review process it was agreed that, in order to continue to facilitate the attendance of those children at Frodsham and Helsby schools until the end of their school career, the services would continue to operate with financial assistance being given to those already attending. In subsequent years, parents who expressed a preference for these schools had the opportunity to purchase any remaining spare seats on the services, the cost being paid by the parent to Halton Borough Council.

            Members were advised that there were no longer any children receiving financial assistance from the Council to travel to these schools; however, there were a small number of remaining pupils using the service and the Authority currently subsidised the bus service at a cost of £36,400 per annum. The proposal was to withdraw the two bus services from the end of the Summer Term 2008, which would affect a total of 26 children. Transport Co-ordination had drawn up individual school travel plans for the children affected and these would be included with any correspondence to parents advising them of the cessation of the service.

            RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report be received; and

(2)            approval be given to:

(i)                 withdraw the two bus services from the end of the Summer Term 2008; and

(ii)               issue a letter to parents advising them of the withdrawal of the service.

(NB: Councillor Gerrard declared a personal interest in the following item due to being a Governor at Simms Cross Primary School).

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Children and Young People setting out the methodology for co-ordinating the Local Authority’s Support and Intervention Strategy for schools causing concern.

            It was noted that, as previously reported to the Board on 1 November 2007, the Education and Inspections Act 2006 outlined in Part 4 new powers for a Local Authority to intervene and take action and provide support to schools causing concern.

The Council had now consulted with schools on the proposed Local Authority procedures for identifying and intervening in schools causing concern, with a view to a revised policy being approved by the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Strategy for Support and Intervention for Schools in Halton be approved.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy summarising the background to the forthcoming Corporate Assessment and Joint Area Review (JAR) inspections, the process and timetable, and arrangements for the preparation of a self assessment for the Corporate Assessment. It was noted that each of the two inspections would provide evidence to the other.

Members were advised that the Council was required to submit a self assessment to the Inspection Team by 4 February 2008. Work had been in hand for some time in this respect gathering evidence with a workshop for senior managers and interviews of a cross section of Members, staff and partners by experienced inspectors to find out how the Council appeared to outsiders. This information had helped officers to draft a self assessment and a copy was to be circulated to Executive Board Members for comment. However, due to the deadline for submission, it was recommended that authority to finalise the submission be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader.

RESOLVED: That

(1)               the arrangements for the CPA Corporate Assessment and the Joint Area Review of Children’s Services be noted; and

(2)               authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to approve the Self Assessment for submission to the Audit Commission.

(NB: Councillor McInerney declared a personal interest in the following item due to his wife being an employee of North West Development Agency)

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy advising of the consultation being undertaken by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) of regional partners on its draft Corporate Plan.

            It was noted that the NWDA was required by Government to produce a new Corporate Plan to cover the period 2008/09-2010/11. The report outlined implications of the Plan together with suggested comments to form part of the consultation response, which had to be returned by 1^st February 2008.

            RESOLVED: That the proposed response to the consultation be approved.

MINUTES ISSUED: 30^th January 2008

CALL IN: 6^th February 2008

Any matter decided by the Executive Board may be called in no later than 6^th February 2008