Meeting documents

Details of all Members’ interests in District, Town and Parish Councils can be viewed on the Council Website

The Statutory Register of Member’s Interests can be inspected via request to the Democratic Service Team.

Any new or updated declarations of interest will be received.

The following declaration of interest was made at the meeting: -

(a) Ruth Hobbs – co-opted member – Governor at Herne View Church of England Primary School.

The Committee is asked to confirm the minutes are accurate.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 25 July 2022 were approved and signed as a correct record.

The Chair will allow members of the public to ask a question or make a statement about any matter on the agenda for this meeting. These questions may be taken during the meeting, when the relevant agenda item is considered, at the Chair’s discretion.

There were no questions asked, statements made or petitions presented.

To receive an update from the Governance Manager. To assist the discussion, the following documents are attached: -

(a)  The Committee’s Work Programme

(b)  The Committee’s Outcome Tracker

Please use the following link to view the latest Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions that have been published on the Council’s website

Executive Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The Committee considered and noted the Committee’s current work programme and outcome tracker and the Executive Forward Plan of planned key decisions in coming months, including Executive meetings.

The Chair apologised that papers for the meeting had been circulated late and that for future meetings they will be submitted in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To provide information on the 2022 Key Stage assessment results for Somerset, with a recap of the 2019 results for Somerset.

The item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Education Partnerships and Skills Amelia Walker (presentation – to follow)

Note – the Chair will allow 15 minutes  for this agenda item

The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Assistant Director, Education Partnerships and Skills, Amelia Walker who provided a data and standards update, including the early indications from the 2022 Key Stage assessment results for Somerset and the areas of focus.  

Testing generates vast quantities of data and therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To provide an update on the policy and the current position in Somerset. The item will be led by the Council’s Assistant Director Education Partnerships and Skills Amelia Walker (presentation – to follow)

Note – the Chair will allow 30 minutes for this agenda item

The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Assistant Director, Education Partnerships and Skills, Amelia Walker which provided an update on academisation in Somerset, following the publication of the Government Schools White Paper ‘Opportunity for All’ in March 2022. This set out the intention to: -

·         See all schools  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This agenda item will be led by the Council’s Deputy Director Children’s Services Claire Winter

For background, see 2022/23 Revenue Budget Monitoring – Month 3 – End of June 2022

Note – the Chair will allow 30 minutes for this agenda item

The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Deputy Director of Children’s Services, Claire Winter who provided an update on the budgetary pressures in Children’s Services.

As a background to the item, the link to the revenue budget monitoring report had been shared with the Committee. This report had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

This item will be led by officers from the project team, the Council’s Strategic Manager, Daniel Moncrieff and Service Manager, Caroline Barnes, and is the substantive agenda item for the meeting.

Note – the Chair will allow 45 minutes for this agenda item

The Committee received a PowerPoint presentation from the Council’s Strategic Manager, Daniel Moncrieff who provided a detailed update on the strategic partnership between SCC and ‘The Shaw Trust’ to deliver homes for complex children and young people including homes for children, high needs fostering and therapeutic education.

Mr Moncrieff outline  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This is a standing agenda item and provides details of information sent to the Committee in between meeting, that cover Children & Families Scrutiny policy areas.

(a)  Task and Finish Group review of School Exclusions (23 September 2020):-

Covering report

Task and Finish Group Report

Cabinet members response

Cabinet Digest

(b)  Task Group review of Elective Home Education (June 2015) and Report to Committee 3 March 2021

If Committee members have any questions or comments on the information, please contact fabbott@somerset.gov.uk in the first instance and before the date of the meeting.

The Committee noted the following items for information: -

The Chair may raise any items of urgent business.

Cllr O Patrick raised the following item at the meeting: -

What is in place to address the impact of COVID on pupil / staff absences and school closures – it was agreed that this will be followed up by a written response.