Agenda and minutes

            The minutes of the meeting held on 4^th September 2006, having been printed and circulated were signed as a correct record subject to the inclusion of Cllr M. Ratcliffe in the apolgies.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The minutes of the Executive Board relating to the work of the Children and Young People Policy and Performance Board were submitted for information.

 

            RESOLVED: That the minutes be noted.

            The Board received an update report on the key objectives and achievements of the Halton Education Business Partnership (EBP). The Halton EBP team was established in 2001 and was responsible for the co-ordination ad development of links between Halton’s schools and local businesses to support work related learning. 

 

            The report set out key priority areas, as outlined by LSC/DfES, the wide range of support delivered to schools and how the EBP contributions to four of the five key outcomes for young people. 

 

            It was noted that since September 2004 the significance of Halton’s SBP services had been highlighted by the introduction of a new statutory requirement for Work Related Learning on schools to make provision for all students at Key Stage 4 to:-

 

§         learn through work – utilising experiences of work;

§         learn about work – developing economic and industrial understanding; and

§         learn for work – developing employability and enterprise skills.

 

The Board was advised that funding for the EBP was totally grant based and the EBP were selling products in order to raise funds and relying on funding from schools for the service.

 

A survey was carried out to discover what the key factor was with regard to what is needed from an employee.  Reliability came out first with punctuality second. 

 

A board game entitled “The Enterprise Game” was displayed to the Board, which had been developed by the EBP using work that had been carried out with schools. 28 Halton businesses were involved in this and had their logo printed on the board itself. Head teachers had funded the production of the game and now the EBP own it.  Children from The Bankfield school were running the launch of the game on 16 November 2006.

 

 It was reported that the biggest contribution for funding the EBP was from secondary schools and it was felt that the Board should pursue a more active response from primary schools. The Board discussed the idea of encouraging primary schools to get back on board with the EBP and how to find other sources of funding.  The Board agreed to make a request to Executive Board seeking funding of £75,000 each year for two years to sustain the delivery of Education Business Partnership programmes that may otherwise cease.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

      (1) the contents of the report be endorsed; and

     (2) a request be made to Executive Board asking for £75,000 each year for two years be given to sustain the delivery of education business partnership programmes that may otherwise cease; and

     (3) pursue a more active response from primary schools with regard to buying the service from EBP.

            The Board was informed of the key issues arising from the Green Paper – Youth Matters and the subsequent Government response (Next Steps).

 

            In particular the Green Paper focused on the following themes, which were outlined in detail within the report:

 

• Empowering young people – place to go and things to do;
• Young people as Citizens – making a contribution;
• Supporting Choices – information, advice and guidance;
• All young people achieving – reforming targeted support; and
• A reformed system – delivering the proposals.

 

The Government response was published in March 2006, following widespread consultation, and outlined future plans for the implementation of these aims, as outlined within the report.

 

In addition the Board was updated on the progress which had taken place in Halton, in particular in relation to:

 

§         the youth opportunity fund and youth capital fund;

§         volunteering;

§         information, advice and guidance (IAG); and

§         integrated strategic planning.

 

RESOLVED: That the progress, identified above, be noted

            The Board received a progress report on Halton’s Preventative Mini Children’s Trust, which detailed the national context, Halton’s proposals, preventative services and its progress.

 

            RESOLVED: That the information be noted.

The Board was reminded that Standing Order 51 of the Council’s Constitution stated that meetings should not continue beyond 9.00pm.

 

RESOLVED: That Standing Order 51 be waived.

 

            The Board received a report on the performance data for Key Stages 1 to 4, which were outlined in detail within the report.

 

Overall a mixed picture had emerged with some significant gains and some key areas for improvement. It was noted the analysis of the data was at different stages due to the varying timescales and methods of receiving data and a further more detailed analysis would be completed when the relevant data was available i.e. Contextual Value Added.

 

            RESOLVED: That the report be received.

           

            The Board was informed of the proposed scrutiny topics which would be considered at meetings of Working Parties set up by the Children and Young People Policy and Performance Board. Two topics had been identified; Out of Borough Placements and Transition for Young People with complex SEN/Disability.  It was noted that unfortunately due to lack of interest from Members the SEN topic group was no longer running.

 

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.