Agenda and minutes

Mr. D. C. Bill CC, Liberal Democrat Spokesman for the Environment and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee (for Minute 71).

Mr. D. A. Sprason CC, Governor of South Charnwood High School (for Minute 71).

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 January were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

Mr. L. Spence CC declared a personal interest in respect of the item on Home to School Transport as a school governor (Minute 71 refers).

The following members each declared a personal interest in respect of the Strategic Economic Plan item as members of District/Borough Councils (Minute 73 refers):

Mr. S. J. Galton CC

Mr. S. J. Hampson CC

Dr. S. Hill CC

Mr. M. J. Hunt CC

Mr. J. Kaufman CC

Mr. R. J. Shepherd CC

Mr. L. Spence CC

There were no declarations of the party whip.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 36.

A copy of the Home to School Transport consultation documents are attached for the Commission to consider any response it would wish to make. It is intended that the draft Policy for Home to School Transport, together with an overview of the consultation responses, will be considered at the Commission’s meeting scheduled to be held on 30 April.

The Director of Environment and Transport will deliver a presentation under this item, the slides to which are attached for your information. An all member briefing on this issue was held on 12 February.

The Commission considered a presentation on the proposed new policy for Home to School Transport. The Commission also considered the public consultation document. A copy of the slides forming the presentation and a copy of the public consultation document is filed with these minutes marked “Agenda Item 2”.

The Chairman advised that the Commission was considering this matter:

(a)       As it covered the remits of two Committees. The Spokesmen of the Environment and Transport and Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committees had been invited to attend to express their views on the proposals;

(b)       As a consultee at this stage. The consultation would close on 12 March and the Commission at its meeting on 30 April would be considering the outcome of the consultation and the recommendation to be put to the Cabinet at its meeting on 6 May.

The Director of Environment and Transport considered the report and gave a PowerPoint presentation which he highlighted the following:

(c)       The Government had encouraged schools to be academies and therefore independent of the Council. The majority of secondary schools had opted to become academies. As a result of this, academies were increasingly:

·                Setting their own catchment areas which were in some cases different to those that had existed and crossed administrative boundaries;

·                Changing the age range of their schools with many coming 11-16 or 11-13 schools;

·                Discontinuing previous feeder school relationships.

(d)       Academies were now operating as businesses and were in competition with each other to attract pupils;

(e)       The local authority had to recognise this new reality and the proposals on home to school transport now put forward recognised this. The proposals aimed to:

(i)            Ensure the policy was equitable and did not favour one academy over another as to do so would risk legal challenge;

(ii)          Ensure that the County Council’s financial position was protected as academies changed their age ranges and catchment areas, but were not themselves accountable for the cost of transport;

(iii)         Provide clarity to parents so that they could make informed choices;

(f)        The option of a policy which would provide transport to the nearest Leicestershire school had been looked at but was ruled out following legal advice.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Mr. Andrew Morris, Head Teacher of South Charnwood High School and Mr. Huwe Howe, Principal of Beauchamp College who were present to speak on the item. The Commission also noted a submission from Sonia Singleton, Head Teacher of Gartree High School and the comments of Matthew Parrott, Head Teacher of Shepshed High School and Hind Leys College, copies of which are filed with these minutes.

Mr. Morris delivered a speech which covered the following points (a full copy of Mr. Morris’ speech is appended to the minutes):

·                The proposed policy was unfair and unjust and discriminated against certain schools according to their location or diverse catchment area;

·                The proposed policy would cost some schools money as they attempted to ‘level the playing field’;

·                One size did not fit all;

·                Exceptions must be made for some schools ‘in exceptional circumstances’;

·                The transition arrangements for pupils presently in the high school of schools which are changing their age range to 11-16 were welcomed;

·                Entitlement to free transport to school for Year 11 pupils (presently in Year 9) in schools changing their age range to 11-16 should be reinstated;

·                With regards to the point above, rather than remove transport for Year 10 pupils for one year and then reinstate it in Year 11, the policy should continue to provide free transport to Year 10 pupils staying at 11-16 schools;

·                “Parachute payments” should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

The Commission considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources concerning an update on the 2013/14 revenue budget and capital programme monitoring position. A copy of the report, marked “Agenda Item 9”, is filed with these minutes.

The Director of Corporate Resources reported the following:

·                It had been agreed in the MTFS 2014/15 to 2015/16 that £5 million of the £11.6 million underspend highlighted in paragraph 7 of the report would be used to repay debt. The £4.5 million contingency highlighted in paragraph 25 of the report was part of the projected underspend;

·                The Council was robust in challenging carry forwards. They were challenged at officer level. Requests over a certain level were reported to the Cabinet for decision.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Commission considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the emerging Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) being prepared by the Leicester and Leicestershire Economic Partnership (LLEP) and an update on the City Deal. A copy of the report, marked “Agenda Item 10”, is filed with these minutes.

A supplementary paper attaching the report to the Cabinet’s meeting on 5 March on the SEP and city Deal had been circulated. A copy of this report, marked “Agenda Item 10”, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from the discussion, the following points were noted:

·                The SEP would be submitted to the LLEP Board at its meeting on 27 March for approval. The initial draft had been well received by Central Government;

·                Transport was a key strand in the SEP. Work had commenced with the Department for Transport on providing the evidence that would be required in support of any bids for funding;

·                Further details about the type of transport projects in the SEP would emerge shortly. Rail would play a big part in the plans, particularly with the planned electrification programme by Network Rail. The restoration of the Ivanhoe Line was discussed in this regard, though it was noted that the cost-benefit analysis of this work conducted in 2009 had proved that a case could not at that stage be made for this work;

·                Some concerns were expressed about where the 45,000 new jobs would be created and the knock-on effects this could have on planning. It was expected that most of the jobs would be created in the growth areas outlined in the Plan and that there had been a joined-up approach, ensuring that this commitment tied in with planned development as set out in approved and emerging local plans.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Strategic Economic Plan as presented be commended to the Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 5 March, alongside the comments of the Commission as outlined in the minutes of the meeting;

(b)       That a copy of the City Deal be circulated to Commission members when it had received the necessary Government sign-off;

(c)       That a copy of the business case for the restoration of the Ivanhoe Line considered in 2009 be circulated to Mr. Kaufman CC and Mr. Spence CC.

The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled to take place on 26 March 2014 at 2.00pm.

It was NOTED that the next meeting of the Commission would be held on 26 March at 2.00pm.