Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday, 22 October 2019 3.00pm

Venue: Meeting Room 2 - Level 3, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR

Contact: Wayne Hemingway, Principal Democratic Services Officer/Jade Milnes, Democratic Services Officer/Teri Reynolds, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Martin Potter (Education and Schools).

2.

Record of decisions pdf icon PDF 346 KB

Minutes:

The record of the meeting held on 24 September 2019 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as a correct record.

3.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Minutes:

Disclosable pecuniary interests

 

There were none.

  

Other significant interests (OSIs)

 

There were none.

 

Other interests

 

Councillor Turpin declared an interest in agenda item 4 (Annual Review of the School Place Planning Strategy 2018-22) because he has a child with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

4.

Annual Review of the School Place Planning Strategy 2018-22 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided details on progress made against the School Place Planning Strategy 2018-22, highlighted areas of emerging demand for school places and set out recommendations to ensure that a sufficient supply of good quality school places would be maintained.

 

The report also referred to the motion agreed at Full Council on 18 July 2019 in relation to rural and village schools as set out in section 6 of the report.

 

The report was considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 October 2019. The comments of this Committee were set out at section 4 of the report.

 

Diversity Impact Assessments would be undertaken on individual proposals brought forward as a result of actions arising from this report.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

The Cabinet noted the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee set out at section 4 of the report.

 

The Cabinet noted the continued excellent progress made against the School Organisation Plan and School Place Planning Strategy frameworks, which have ensured that the Council has met its duty and sufficient school places are currently available to meet the increasing demand.

121/2019

The Cabinet agreed to authorise officers to undertake further feasibility studies and statutory consultations as necessary to ensure that plans are in place to meet demand as and where it emerges.

 

The Cabinet noted the ongoing work being undertaken to ensure sufficient Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision is available within Medway.

 

The Cabinet noted the limited funding position for providing school places and to support officers’ efforts in acquiring additional funding or identifying alternative means of ensuring sufficient school places continue to be available. In particular in the short term:

·         primary provision in Peninsula West through a 1FE expansion of Hundred of Hoo Academy

·         selective secondary provision through expansion of current schools wherever possible, or through the establishment of an annexe of one of Medway’s Grammar Schools

·         a range of special school provision to meet increasing wide ranging need.

122/2019

The Cabinet agreed to commit to keeping rural and village schools open for the benefit of the local communities so far as its powers allow, in accordance with the motion agreed at Full Council on 18 July 2019 and on the basis set out in section 6 of the report. 

 

Reasons:

 

By approving the recommendations, the Cabinet will be ensuring that the Council meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficient good quality school places are available.

5.

Review of The Old Vicarage Children's Home Provision pdf icon PDF 336 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report provided information relating to the Old Vicarage Children’s Home for young people experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties and its sustainability in the current economic climate.

 

The report stated that the aim of reviewing the Old Vicarage provision was to ensure that Looked After Children (LAC) placements were available and aligned to their needs, were less likely to break down, and that those placements supported those children to achieve better outcomes.

 

The report explained that given the monthly costs (approximately £59,000), and the reduced cohort set out in detail in section 2 of the report, it was proposed to close the Old Vicarage in its current form and with its current purpose, with a closing date of 7 February 2020. As this proposal would directly affect service users and staff, consultations were essential. The consultation proposals were set out at section 6 of the report.

 

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed for this stage of the process as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. Following consultation the DIA would be reviewed and presented to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 January 2020 and Cabinet on 14 January 2020.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

123/2019

The Cabinet agreed to instruct the Director of People – Children and Adults Services to commence a period of consultation to examine the future use of the Old Vicarage provision as set out in section 6 of the report.

124/2019

The Cabinet agreed that the outcome of consultation be reported to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 January 2020 for consideration and to the Cabinet on 14 January 2020 for consideration and determination.

 

Reasons:

 

As Corporate Parents, it is important that Medway Council does everything it can to give our Children a good start in life. 

 

The recent Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services concluded that too many vulnerable children and young people wait too long for intervention. The Old Vicarage is unable to meet this evolving demand, and this is leading to too many young people being placed outside of Medway, often at considerable distance and expense.

 

6.

Recruitment Freeze pdf icon PDF 349 KB

Minutes:

Background:

 

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

 

Details of the post were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

 

Decision number:

Decision:

125/2019

The Cabinet agreed to unfreeze the following posts, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report:

 

Children and Adults

a)    Senior Administrator

 

Public Health

b)   Workplace Health Project Coordinator (Suicide Prevention)

c)    Programme Manager.

           

Reasons:

 

The post presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council.