BRIGHTON & HOVE CITY COUNCIL
CHILDREN, FAMILIES & SCHOOLS COMMITTEE
4.00PM 6 NOVEMBER 2023
COUNCIL CHAMBER, HOVE TOWN HALL, NORTON ROAD, HOVE, BN3 3BQ
MINUTES
Present:
Councillors: Taylor (Chair), Helliwell, Daniel, Alexander, Allen, Goddard, Hamilton, Shanks, Goldsmith, Hogan
Co-opted Members: Leslie Hurst, Simon Parr, Adam Muirhead, Becky Robinson
Standing Invitees: Pippa Hodge (Parent and Carer Council Representative for Home-to-School Transport), Fiona England (Parent and Carer Council Representative), Youth Representatives
PART ONE
26 Procedural Business
(a)
Declarations of Substitutes
26.1 Cllr Alexander substituted for Cllr Mistry.
(b) Declarations of Interest
26.2 There were none.
(c) Exclusion of Press and Public
26.3 There were no Part Two items and so the press and public were not excluded from the meeting.
27 Minutes
27.1 RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2023 were agreed as a correct record.
28 Chair’s Communications
28.1 The Chair delivered the following communications:
We have full agenda this evening with a number of extremely important items to be considered.
As a Labour administration, we are laser-focused on building a system and a city that tackles disadvantage, and provides support for those who most need it. Nowhere is that more important than in the area of Children, Families and Schools, which this Committee has responsibility for.
We in the Labour Party believe in the vital importance of Early Years provision. As a city, we have a record to be proud of in terms of early intervention. And that’s why we are today exploring options for the future of Bright Start nursery, not simply closing the nursery as was proposed under the last administration.
We will also be receiving an update on the litigation that this administration brought against the Home Office and their shameful practice of placing Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children in hotels. Let us be clear – this successful legal action, and the consequences that flow from it, was only possible because of the action of this Labour Council.
Brighton & Hove is a wonderful city, but it’s also an unequal city – including in terms of secondary school outcomes for children from Disadvantaged backgrounds. This issue was highlighted brilliantly in the podcast series ‘Class Divide’, which rung true with my experience growing up in the city – where many of my classmates at Longhill didn’t get the opportunities as those from popular schools in the centre of town. As a city, we have to start tackling this issue – and Committee is today asked to consider a proposal for Disadvantaged pupils (those eligible for Free School Meals) to be given higher priority in school admissions.
We want to see successful and properly funded schools right across our city. And that’s why we will be considering primary school organisation at today’s Committee. The sad truth is that pupil numbers in our city have fallen dramatically in recent years, and we need to take action to tackle the issue of underfunded schools. These decisions are not easy, but good government isn’t just about doing the nice stuff and ignoring the thorny issues. Sometimes you have to make hard decisions, which you know to be in the best interests of children in the city, and our education system in the city.
We will also be receiving papers on provision of Short Breaks and School Holiday Activities for SEND children, as well as a change in policy for post 16 provision of Home to School Transport.
As I’ve said many times at this Committee and elsewhere, this country is in a mess after 13 years of a cruel and ineffective Tory Government. And the choices faced by council’s up and down the country, including Tory-run councils, are stark. But this Labour administration is clear that we will use what money we do have to ensure we our city is one that provides the best education, care and support for our children and young people.
29 Call Over
29.1 All items, with the exception of Item 40 (Proposals for the Future of Hertford Infant and Hertford Junior Schools), were called.
30 Public Involvement
(a) Petitions
30.1 There were no petitions.
(b) Written Questions
30.2 Gary Vallier asked the following question:
Am I right to presume that the council has learnt the lessons of the independent barrister report into the home to school transport fiasco?
30.3 The Chair provided the following response:
Yes, we can confirm the Council reviewed all of the arrangements, including the legal advice that was received, and improvement measures were implemented. The Home to School Transport Service has a governance board in place, including PaCC representative, which oversaw the improvements to the service, and the successful contract re-procurement for September 2024.
30.4 Garry Vallier asked the following question on behalf of Jenny Smith:
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has updated its
technical guidance for schools in England and Scotland, outlining
the obligations the Equality Act places upon schools regarding
pupils with protected characteristics and the provision of their
education. With DfE guidance yet to emerge and school heads crying
out for support on this, does the Chair agree with me that the
council should, as a matter of urgency, recommend this guidance to
our schools?
30.5 The Chair provided the following response:
The Commission updated its technical guidance on 22nd September,
and this was widely publicised at the time, schools have access to
this guidance which is public and is linked to on the DfE website
on their section on equalities and the Council shares this with
schools in various documents.
30.6 Gary Vallier asked the following supplementary question on behalf of Jenny Smith:
The EHRC update removed previous references to so-called
‘misgendering’, indicating that it is not direct gender
reassignment discrimination for schools to maintain that sex is
binary. Given the gender affirmative approach of the
Council’s co-authored tool kit for schools, does the Chair
agree that it would be prudent if the trans inclusion toolkit was
immediately suspended pending a review.
30.7 The Chair provided the following response:
No, the trans toolkit is reviewed regularly. As answered in the
previous question, the advice has been published and that is
available to schools. I would just correct one contention in your
previous question which is that school heads are crying out for
support on this; I meet school heads all the time, very regularly.
I’m meeting two tomorrow, primary and secondary, and I can
honestly say that in meeting most of the head teachers in the city
over the last couple of months not one has raised this with me but
thank you for your question.
(c) Deputations
30.8 There were no deputations.
31 Items Referred from Council
31.1 There were no items referred from Council.
32 Member Involvement
(d) Petitions
32.1 There were no petitions.
(e) Written Questions
32.2
Councillor Shanks presented her question, which can be found on
page 19 of the agenda, to the Committee.
32.3 The Chair provided the following response:
Thanks Councillor Shanks. As you say, I’m aware this has been
an issue that you’ve been working on for a long time, Youth
Provision. I was pleased to visit Brighton Youth Centre a couple of
weeks ago to look at their very exciting plans for developing that
site, which the Council has supported, and I know you’ve
championed that Youth Centre.
As
you suggest, in autumn 2023 the DCMS published refreshed statutory
guidance for section 507b of the education act for all young people
aged 13 to 19 (and up to 25 with SEND) to have the right to access
youth work activities which are for the improvement of their
wellbeing and promote their personal and social development.
The National Youth Agency has published a tool kit to support local
authorities to meet the updated guidance. We will be evaluating how
our current youth work offer meets the nine essentials of a local
youth offer, required to secure compliance and fulfilment of the
2023 statutory guidance.
Brighton & Hove has made considerable progress against the nine
essentials of a local youth offer.
In
terms of needs assessment, the Youth review in 2020 consulted with
young people and stakeholders to assess the current youth offer and
make recommendations for improvements. This report was integral to
the recommissioning of the Youth Service Grants programme.
On
youth engagement. youth voice, participation and engagement are a
fundamental right. Current youth voice mechanisms include the
Youth Council and YouthWise. It was agreed at the Young People and
Skills committee in January 2021 to sign up to the power of youth
charter. Progress against the Charter is regularly monitored as
part of the quality assurance process. Care experienced young
people are heard through the Children in Care Council and the Care
leavers Forum.
In
terms of VCFS engagement, the voluntary sector currently
commissions youth grants providers. They collaborate with other
youth organisations in the city, including the equalities groups.
There are a number of partnerships working groups. The Local
Authority are collaborating on Youth Investment Fund bids to build
and improve youth centre buildings. The Youth led Grants process
reaches out to other youth organisations in the city. This is a
young person led grant process.
In
terms of the Local youth offer plan, the Council’s Youth
Service Grants Programme 2021-2025 focusses on the findings of the
Youth Work Review in 2020 and outcomes outlined in the National
Youth Agency’s Youth Work Enquiry and curriculum. This
includes the Equality groups.
In
terms of quality of youth work practice, the youth grants providers
produce six monthly and annual narrative and data reports,
demonstrating how they have met the requirements of the youth work
offer.
In
terms of workforce planning, it’s a requirement under current
commissioning that Nationally recognised, qualified youth workers
are in place, and that all staff have access to appropriate
training. This is evaluated at monitoring visits.
In
terms of the curriculum for National Youth Work, the Youth Service
Grants programme is based on the National Youth Agency’s
National Youth work curriculum. Access to out of school provision
is being looked at as part of the Council five-year Education
Disadvantage Strategy and the Brighton & Hove Active CYP
Alliance.
In
terms of safeguarding, Brighton & Hove Childrens Safeguarding
Board provide ongoing training, information and
briefings.
Lastly, in terms of Monitoring evaluation and impact, youth grants
providers complete six monthly, annual narrative and data reports.
Quarterly meeting with all providers to discuss good practice,
share news and opportunities. In person monitoring visits are
completed on an annual basis.
32.4 Councillor Shanks asked the following supplementary question:
What is the strategy for engaging young people, maybe a lot of whom
don’t access our usual youth provision?
32.5 The Chair provided the following response:
Thanks, Councillor Shanks, I think it’s a good follow-up
question. I think, as we highlighted, there are already various
mechanisms that we do engage with young people. There’s a
youth participation team that work with young people on their
priorities and we obviously have the Youth Council.
I
think on the graffiti point, which is a perfectly legitimate
question, as you say it’s not about blaming young people,
there are reasons why some people engage with that kind of
activity, the reimagined project as you’ve said, one of the
topics within that will be graffiti and we will want young people
to contribute. There are also other elements of the reimagine
project not related to graffiti, but will specifically involve
young people in what kind of city they would like to see and get
their engagement. Those are some of the ways that we try to engage
young people in the city.
(f) Letters
32.6
No letters were received.
(g) Notices of Motion
32.7 No Notices of Motion were received.
33 Home to School Transport Post 16 Policy Statement
33.1 The Assistant Director - Education and Skills introduced the report on the Home to School Transport Post 16 Policy for the academic year starting in September 2024.
33.2
Councillors Shanks, Allen and Goldsmith, as well as Pippa Hodge,
asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
33.3
The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
33.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee -
1. Approved the Home to School Transport Post 16 Policy
Statement 2024-2025, for the academic year starting in September 2024,
introducing a proportionate financial contribution of the same value as a
CitySAVER ticket (at the time of writing, approximately 5% of actual
transport costs) towards taxis and minibuses for pupils of sixth form age with
special educational needs and disabilities. No contribution would be requested
where families experience low income or in circumstances where the young
person travelled with a specialist professional (e.g. nurse or medically trained
support staff) and/or large/essential medical equipment.
2. Approved the provision of home to school transport for
young people of sixth form age and adult learners at the beginning and end
of the establishment’s day, unless there were exceptional circumstances
which prevented the young person/adult from remaining on site.
34 SEND Short Breaks and School Holiday Activities
34.1 The Assistant Director of Health, SEN and Disability Services introduced the report which provided information for members about Brighton & Hove City Council’s duty to provide short breaks for parents/carers of disabled children and young people under the Breaks for Carers and Disabled Children regulations 2011.
34.2 Councillors Helliwell, Goddard, Shanks, Daniel and Goldsmith, as well as Fiona England, Adam Muirhead, Becky Robinson and Youth Council Representatives asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
34.3 The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
34.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee -
1. Instructed the Executive Director for Families, Children &
Learning to take all necessary steps to award grants to multiple providers for
up to a maximum annual award of £130,000 per annum for an initial term of
one (1) year with an option to extend for a further period or periods of up to
two (2) years (as two 1 year extensions) subject to good performance for the
105 provision of short breaks and school holiday activities for parents/carers of
children and young people with a disability.
35 Bright Start Options Proposal
35.1 The Head of Service for Family Hubs introduced the report, which can be seen in addendum 4 of the agenda papers, that outlined options for Bright Start Nursery.
35.2
Councillors Allen, Goldsmith, Shanks, Daniel, Alexander, and
Goddard asked questions and contributed to the debate of the
report.
35.3
The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
35.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee –
1. Noted the circumstances of Bright Start Nursery in terms
of its location, availability of places in the surrounding area and the numbers
and needs of children attending the setting.
2. Agreed the preferred option to move the Bright Start
Nursery provision to Tarner Family Hub as outlined in the paper.
36 Proposals for Consultation on School Organisation
36.1
The Head of Service for School Organisation introduced the report,
which can be seen in addendum 1 of the agenda papers, that detailed
the proposed closure of two primary schools.
36.2
Councillors Allen, Goddard, Shanks, Goldsmith, Alexander, and
Helliwell, as well as Youth Council Representatives asked questions
and contributed to the debate of the report.
36.3
The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
36.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed –
1. to consult on the closure of St Bartholomew’s C of E
Primary School to take effect on 31 August 2024.
2. to consult on the closure of St Peter’s Community
Primary School to take effect on 31 August 2024.
37 School Admission Arrangements 2025-26
37.1
The Head of Service for School Organisation introduced the report,
that can be seen in addendum 1 of the agenda papers.
37.2
Councillors Goddard, Shanks, Allen, Helliwell, Hamilton, Daniel,
Shanks, and Hogan, as well as Becky Robinson and Lesley Hurst asked
questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
37.3
A Green Group amendment to the report that can be seen in addendum
3 of the agenda papers was moved by Councillor Shanks and seconded
by Councillor Goldsmith.
37.4
The Chair moved a vote on the Green Group amendment proposed by
Councillor Shanks.
37.5
The Green Group amendment was not carried.
37.6
The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
37.7 RESOLVED: That the Committee agreed -
1. to make no changes to the council’s admission
arrangements or school catchment areas (other than the changes listed
below).
2. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Brunswick Primary School from 120 to 90.
3. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Goldstone Primary School from 90 to 60.
4. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Patcham Infant School from 90 to 60.
5. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Queen’s Park Primary School from 60 to 30.
6. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Rudyard Kipling Primary School from 60 to 45.
7. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Saltdean Primary School from 90 to 60.
8. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Stanford Infant School from 90 to 60.
9. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of St Luke’s Primary School from 90 to 60.
10. to consult upon a change to the Published
Admission Number
(PAN) of Woodingdean Primary School from 60 to 45.
11. to consult on amending the admission priorities
for Brighton & Hove community secondary schools to include a new priority
3 for pupils eligible for Free School Meals (up to the city average
percentage).
12. to make no changes to the “relevant area”.
38 UASC Judgement
38.1
The Executive Director of Families, Children and Learning
introduced the report on this item which can be seen in addendum 2
of the agenda papers. The Head of Legal Litigation and Safeguarding
also spoke on the report.
38.2
Councillors Daniel, Shanks, and Goddard, as well as Adam Muirhead
asked questions and contributed to the debate of the report.
38.3
The Chair moved a vote on the recommendations of the report.
38.4 RESOLVED: That the Committee noted -
1. that the systematic use of hotels to accommodate
UAS children was
declared unlawful in a judgement handed down by
Mr. Justice Chamberlain on 27.07.23
39 Items Referred for Full Council
39.1 There were no items referred for Full Council.
40 Proposals for the Future of Hertford Infant and Hertford Junior Schools
40.1 RESOLVED: That the Committee -
1. noted the responses to the publication of statutory notices
between 15
September and 15 October 2023.
2. agreed to the proposal contained in the statutory notice to
amalgamate Hertford Infant and Junior Schools to become a one form entry,
all through primary school, through the closure of Hertford Junior School and
expanding the age range of Hertford Infant School from 4 – 7 years to 4 – 11
years from 1 September 2024 on the site of the current Hertford Junior
School.
The meeting concluded at 19.18.