Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

No declarations of interest were made.

[For approval]

Resolved:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2016 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting]

There were no matters arising from the previous minutes of the previous meeting.

[To consider the outcomes of the consultation on the proposed formal removal of Bushbury Hill Primary School’s Resource Base and approve the formal removal of the resource base provision at Bushbury Hill Primary School]

Councillor Claire Darke presented the outcomes of the initial consultation and formal consultation (representation) on the proposed formal removal of Bushbury Hill Primary School’s resource base.

Bushbury Hill Primary School (located within the Fallings Park ward) was registered as a community primary school with resource base provision for pupils with SEMH difficulties. It was an improving school with strong leadership judged ‘Good’ by Ofsted. However in 2015 the School failed to obtain the government’s Key Stage 2 Floor Standards and outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, were below expectations.

In light of the challenges Bushbury Hill Primary School was facing it was recommended that a proactive approach be adopted and that the resource base was removed in order to allow the school to focus on continuing to improve standards. 

The Council had not commissioned any resource base places within the school for the 2016/17 financial year and there are no children on the Placement Forward Planning List seeking a place at the school. No children would be displaced as a consequence of this proposal.

Councillor Claire Darke requested approval to implement the proposed prescribed alteration.

Resolved:

1.     That in accordance with statutory guidance, the outcomes of Initial Consultation and Formal Consultation (Representation) on the proposed formal removal of Bushbury Hill Primary School’s resource base be formally considered.

2.     That the formal removal of the resource base provision at Bushbury Hill Primary School be approved.

[To approve the revised Health and Safety Policy]

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal presented the updated Health and Safety Policy which had been updated to adopt the principles of best practice set out by the Health and Safety Executive’s Framework HSG65.  It clearly defines roles and responsibilities at all levels throughout the council and how health and safety will be managed in accordance with the recommended process of plan, do, check and act.

The Statement of Intent had been drafted jointly in the names of the Managing

Director and the Leader and this set out clearly the commitment towards ensuring the health and safety of employees, customers and partners.

The Cabinet Member for Governance with responsibility for health and safety was identified as a member of the Strategic Health and Safety Board and invited to observe Board meetings and subsequent objectives and performance.

Councillor Milkinder Jaspal advised that following publication of the Cabinet report the Health and Safety Policy had been updated to clarify that the cabinet health and safety champion was the Cabinet Member for Governance and that the Human Resource Officers section was updated to:

Human Resources:

·       Provide management information on sickness absence and support directorates to identify absent trends and improvement plans

·       Provision of occupational health service to comply with statutory requirements and support employee wellbeing

·       Provide support and guidance to managers on management of attendance and employee welfare

Resolved:

That the revised Health and Safety Policy be approved.