Issue - meetings

To consider the findings of a scrutiny review of the Transforming Learning Communities inheritance from the former County Council.    

The Children and Families Scrutiny Committee had established a Task and Finish Group to review the Transforming Learning Communities initiative which had been inherited from the former Cheshire County Council.  Part of the Group’s remit had been to consider the needs of Cheshire East in relation to future changes to the schools system.

The Cabinet considered a report which set out the detailed work undertaken by the Group, together with a series of recommendations.

RESOLVED

That, for the reasons set out in the report:

1.                  the development of a comprehensive commissioning strategy for children’s learning in Cheshire East, in the context of the Children and Young People’s Plan, be agreed;

2.                  any programme of work to address the issue of school places should sit within that strategic commissioning context;

3.                  the report of the Task and Finish Group set up by the Children and Families Scrutiny Committee be noted;

4.                  the Lead Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services be requested to consider how the advice of the Task and Finish Group, in relation to the desirable attributes of such a programme, should be taken into account in designing that programme; and

5.                  the Lead Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Children’s Services be requested to consider how the advice of the Task and Finish Group (about the management of such a programme) should be taken into account, particularly in relation to –

·          Engagement and consultation

·          Managing relationships with the Church of England Diocese of Chester and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury

·          Ensuring that the programme was flexible enough to be able to respond to projected waves in demand

·          Managing the issues on a locality basis which was sensitive to local differences and demographics.

(Notes: (a) In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 7.1, Councillor R Westwood spoke on this item; and

(b) In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 7.2, Councillors P Edwards, A Moran and D Neilson spoke on this item.)