Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillors Dunn, Scott, Swinburn and Taylor.

The minutes of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Meeting held on Thursday 4 November 2021 and Thursday 2 December 2021, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record and be signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committees held on Thursday 4^th November 2021 and Thursday 2 December 2021, as circulated, were agreed as a true record and were signed by the Chair

Unless already entered in the Council’s Register of Members’ interests, members are required to disclose any personal interest (which includes any disclosable pecuniary interest) they may have in any of the items included on the agenda for the meeting in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council on 4 July 2012, and are reminded that if they have any personal interests of a prejudicial nature (as defined under paragraph 17 of the Code Conduct) they must not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must leave the room. NB Any member needing clarification must contact the monitoring officer by email at monitoringofficer@northumberland.gov.uk. Please refer to the guidance on disclosures at the rear of this agenda letter.

Councillor Dodd advised that he was a Councillor on Ponteland Town Council who had responded on the proposals in respect of Atkinson House and whilst he had helped facilitate meetings, he had taken no part in any discussion related to the proposals.

To note the latest Forward Plan of key decisions for January to April 2022. Any further changes made to the Forward Plan will be reported to the committee.

The Forward Plan of Cabinet decisions for January to April 2022 had been shared with Members for information.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

The report sets out the outcomes of informal consultation on a proposal to amalgamate Seaton Sluice Middle School and Whytrig Middle School on the current Whytrig and Astley Community High School site in Seaton Delaval or alternative site.  This consultation has arisen as a result of a request from the Governing Body of the Seaton Valley Federation to the Council following their identification of significant educational and financial benefits for all students within the Seaton Valley Federation that could arise from the two middle schools amalgamating on one site with Astley High School in the planned new buildings already approved for Whytrig and Astley   Any comments made by this Committee will be reported to Cabinet on 11 January 2022.

The report to Cabinet set out the outcomes of the informal consultation on a proposal to amalgamate Seaton Sluice Middle and Whytrig Middle School.  A detailed introduction was provided by S Aviston, Head of School Resources and Organisation and comments made by this Committee would be reported to Cabinet on 11 January when a decision would be taken.  Councillor Renner-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Children’s Service thanked all those who had responded to the consultation.

Having considered the response to the consultation, the Committee were happy with report and highlighted potential issues such as lack of infrastructure for such a large school. Members were keen to see the investment that was planned for the new schools be continued and that any needed repairs to Seaton Sluice Middle School were carried out in a timely manner.  In response it was stated that funding had already been approved for the provision of a new mobile at Seaton Sluice and work would be undertaken as required, but the priority was replacement buildings for Astley High School and Whytrig Middle School due to their condition and ensuring completion of the business case in order to progress this.

One member expressed their disappointment at the outcome of the report but accepted the feedback from the public showed residents were not in favour of the proposal.

RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported the recommendations as outlined in the report.

This report sets out the outcomes of informal consultation on a proposal to relocate Atkinson House Special School to a former school site in Ponteland and to change the designation of the school to become co-educational. This consultation has arisen as a result of the need to provide additional places for young people, including girls, in Northumberland with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH) in September 2022 as a result of the steady upward trend in the demand for special school places in the county and nationally over the last ten years.  Cabinet is now asked to permit the publication of a statutory proposal in line with the requirements of The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 following the outcomes of informal consultation.  Comments made by this Committee will be reported to Cabinet on 11 January 2022.

The Cabinet report set out the outcomes of informal consultation on a proposal to relocate Atkinson House Special School to a former school site in Ponteland and to change the designation of the school to become co-educational. S Aviston, Head of School Organisation and Resources provided a comprehensive introduction to the report advising that the consultation had arisen as a result of the need to provide additional places for young people, including girls, in Northumberland with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) in September 2022 as a result of the steady upward trend in the demand for special school places in the County.  Councillor Renner-Thompson thanked those who had taken part in the consultation exercise advising that the County had an increasing need for SEMH places within the County.  He referenced the inappropriate and offensive comments which had been received during the course of the consultation which had been removed from the register advising that these were of a highly offensive nature and were deplorable in the 21^st century.

The Chair advised that a further letter had been received from the Church of England Diocese on 31 December following the publication of the report.  Mr Rickeard, the Diocese representative, drew attention to the commentary on page 77 of the report which had raised concerns from the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Education (NDEB).  The Committee was advised that the Board wished to make it clear that the two NDEB positions mentioned were filled by two nominated individuals, one of who was an officer who did not have a vote on such statements and the other was a Professor from the University of Sunderland who had declared an interest at the time of discussion of this report. He advised of the purpose of the NDEB and stated that whilst the NDEB always looked to consider the needs of the CoE schools, it was always done with consideration of the wider education and community interests in line with its charitable objectives.  He advised that to suggest that the NDEB would be biased in supporting a Trust above its own charitable objectives was openly disparaging to both the Board and its Members who were skilled Trustees and had considered the proposals very carefully in light of the varying education, moral and safeguarding aspects involved. The Board had not had sight of the Pele Trust response and had not stated that it supported their objections, and had not itself objected to the proposals only made it clear that the safeguarding issues needed to be firmly addressed.  The Chair of the NDEB had been personally offended by this section of the report and requested that this be removed and an apology be issued to the NDEB to avoid any further misrepresentation or suggestion of bias. 

Mrs Aviston apologised to the Diocese for the interpretation of the comments originally made and advised that by the time the further response from the Diocese was received it was too late to retract the commentary that had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

The report provides an update to Cabinet regarding the National Funding Formula (NFF) and the implications for 2022/23 School Funding in Northumberland.  Any comments made by this Committee will be reported to Cabinet on 11 January 2022.

The report provided information to update Cabinet on the National Funding Formula (NFF) and the implications for 2022/23 school funding within Northumberland.  Comments made by this Committee would be reported to Cabinet when they considered the report on 11 January 2022.  An introduction to the report was provided by S Aviston, Head of School Organisation and Resources. 

The Committee welcomed this annual report and the increase in funding. They were pleased to see the involvement and recommendations of the Schools’ Forum.   Attention was drawn to the changes to the way in which sparsity funding was calculated which was of benefit to our more rural schools and on which this Council had lobbied Government. 

Assurance was sought and given that a falling roll fund was being investigated. Members were informed whilst it would only affect a small number of schools it would be a useful and welcomed fund for them.

RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported the recommendations as outlined in the report.

Members are asked to review and note the Family and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Monitoring Report.

The Scrutiny Officer advised that it had been agreed that the additional meeting proposed for Thursday 13 January 2022 was to be cancelled with the reports to be deferred to the scheduled meeting on Thursday 3 February 2022.  As there would now be a large number of reports to be considered at this meeting a 9 am start time had been agreed with the Chair.

The work programme had been circulated for information and any issues which Members wished to bring to the Committee should be raised with the Chair or the Scrutiny Officer in the first instance.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.