Agenda item

(time limit 20 minutes):-

a) 14^th December 2015

b) 15^th January 2016

c)  25^th January 2016

The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 14^th December 2015, 15^th January 2016 and 25^th January 2016 were submitted.

Members raised the following questions:

1.       Councillor McMahon – Cabinet Meeting – 25^th January 2016, pages 69 and 70, Agenda Item 8 – Oldham Education and Skills Commission Final Report and Future Implementation – He has asked for a copy of the implementation plan but to date he had not received a copy.  He noted that the implementation was not in place and concerned if this went one another year would be missed and children were being let down.  He asked if the implementation plan could be brought forward and be adopted as soon as possible?

Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, responded that the Commission was launched on 15 January.  The Commissioners had met regularly and progress had been made on several recommendations.  Proposals in the report aimed to raise standards across the spectrum by strengthening strategic leadership. Key partners were being brought together in an Educational Partnership.  Key recommendations were led by the education sector and the Council had been supporting commissioners. There was a new board, to save time and money existing members had resigned and new members recruited.  The operational practitioner group sat beneath the group for implementation of the 19 recommendations which was being led by a new post which was in the process of being recruited.  The Board would get on with the implementation plan prior to the recruitment of the post and this would be shared with all members.

2.       Councillor McCann, Cabinet Meeting – 14 December 2015, pages 63 and 64, Item 10 – Project Delivery for Greenfield Primary School Expansion – he was delighted that the Administration had seen fit to fund building a two-form entry school on Shaw Street, Greenfield.  Could the Cabinet Member confirm that the project was still on track for opening in September 2017 followed by demolition of the old school and creation of sports facilities?

Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, responded that he had met with residents at Greenfield School a couple of weeks ago and the issue of draft design was raised.  In the next 4 – 6 weeks a planning application would be submitted and local members and residents had seen the draft plans.  The plans would be made public and residents given the opportunity to raise views on those plans.

3.       Councillor Murphy, Cabinet Meeting – 14 December 2015, pages 60 and 61, Item 7 – Treasury Management Half Year Review 2015/16 – as the Council was watching every penny he asked about street lighting columns which were on during the daylight hours had an impact on expenditure?

Councillor Jabbar, Cabinet Member for Finance and Human Resources, responded that energy used was part of revenue expenditure but this did not mean allowing street lights on during daylight hours and this was against good management of assets or energy.  There was a new IT system in place which would address the issue. 

4.       Councillor Harkness, Cabinet meeting, 25 January 2016, pages 69 and 70, Item 8 – Oldham Education and Skills Commission Final Report and Future Implementation – The Mobility Commission which looked at families and individuals ability to move from one social group to another had been rated poor.  Ofsted ratings had declined in the Borough with a trend downward.  A large investment had been made in education.  He asked what safeguards were in place to ensure that there was genuine collaboration for best value for money and better social mobility?

Councillor Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, responded that in terms of measures in place, the Commission was asked to set up new partnerships with school led partners and the Council and in coming together saying education was everyone’s business.  An allocation of £1m over four years had been made available for the improvement of the quality of education across the borough.  Since the launch a number of schools had seen improved Ofsted ratings and hoped the journey would continue.  The local authority and relevant parties were looking at performance and needed to address the 19 recommendations.  The Council wanted leaders were in place to lead on education and curriculum offer – markers were in place which ensured improvement took place.

There were no observations made on the minutes.

RESOLVED that:

1.       The minutes of the Cabinet meetings held on 14^th December 2015, 15^th January 2016 and 25^th January 2016 be noted.

2.       The questions and responses on the Cabinet minutes be noted.