Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors G Merry and J Clowes.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos. 11 and 35, a total period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the Panel on any matter relevant to its work.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers.  Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility.  However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 11 and 35, a total of 10 minutes was allocated for members of the public to address the Panel on any matter relevant to their work.

There were no members of the public in attendance and the Panel, therefore, proceeded to the next item of business.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Declarations are a personal matter for each Member to decide.  Whilst Officers can advise on the Code and its interpretation, the decision to declare or not, is the responsibility of the Member, based on the particular circumstances.

Members were invited to declare any disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Declarations of interest were made as appropriate during discussions of the item of business in which there was an interest.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 October 2013

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 18 October 2013 be approved as a correct record.

The reports relating to the following item has been withheld from public circulation and deposit pursuant to Section 100(B)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the matters may be determined with the press and public excluded.

The Panel is asked to RESOLVE –

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item, pursuant to Section 100(A)4 of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of The Local Government Act 1972 and the public interest would not be served in publishing the information.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item, in pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and public interest would not be served in publishing this information.

The report of the Director of Children Services informs Members of current Local Authority Governor vacancies within Cheshire East maintained schools

The Panel considered the Department of Education’s consultation on the Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools – Proposed Changes to Regulations.

The Government was currently consulting on making reconstitution under the new regulations mandatory for all maintained school governing bodies by the end of the academic year 2014-15.  This would have a significant impact on the number of LA governors as the new regulations only allowed for one LA governor per school.  It would also impact on the role of the Panel as its role as an appointing body would not continue.  The consultation document was attached to the report.

The aim of the proposals was to improve the standard of school governors, with greater emphasis being placed on required skills.  The Chester and Shrewsbury Dioceses had welcomed the proposed changes.

The Panel then considered the Director’s report on vacancies within Cheshire East maintained schools and the applications received for appointment or re-appointment to identified posts.

Additional information was tabled at the meeting in respect of two new appointments and one re-appointment.

Finally, the Panel noted that the Council had been invited to nominate an individual to the governing body of the new Church Lawton free school for children with autistic spectrum disorders, which would be opening in September.  The officers were preparing a person/role specification for the appointment and would be discussing the matter further with the National Autistic Society before reporting back to the Portfolio Holder and the Panel.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the direction of Government policy as set out in the consultation document ‘Constitution of Governing Bodies of Maintained Schools – Proposed Changes to Regulations’ be endorsed;

(2)       That the following appointments be made:

(a)       New Appointments for a four year term of office with effect from
7 February 2014:

            ASTBURY ST MARY’S CE PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs K S Moore and Dr R D Mort (for one vacancy) – Decision deferred for further discussion between the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services, the School and the Diocese, with the decision delegated to the Chairman and Portfolio Holder.

            DISLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr C Jackson - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to discuss with school

            HIGH LEGH PRIMARY SCHOOL  

            Mrs R J Blackburn

            LOWER PARK SCHOOL

            Mrs C A Kenyon

            PEOVER SUPERIOR ENDOWED PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mr J G Croxton - Decision deferred to allow the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services to discuss with further with applicant

            PUSS BANK SCHOOL

            Mr C D Steiger

            SANDBACH PRIMARY SCHOOL 

            Ms C Lawton

            VERNON PRIMARY SCHOOL

            Mrs H A O’Sullivan

            WILMSLOW GRANGE PRIMARY SCHOOL       

            Dr R C Small

            In the interests rest of openness Cllr Mahon declared that he know Dr Small

(b)       Re-appointment from the day after their term of office comes to an end or from 7 February 2014 if their term has already ended:

            BROKEN CROSS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

            Cllr C M Andrew, Decision deferred to allow further information to be sought by the Liaison Manager, Schools, Settings and Services, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

The Panel is asked to note that the next meeting will be held on Friday 6 June 2014 in the Committee Suite at Westfields, Sandbach

The next meeting is to be held on Friday 6 June 2014 in the Committee Suite at Westfields, Sandbach.