Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED -The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th November 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Helena Hart, who was substituted by Councillor Tom Davey, and Co-opted Members Darren Warrington, Kevin McSharry and Gladys Vendy.

None.

None.

A Public Comment was made by Mark Morris (governor at Menorah High School for Girls) in relation to Item 8 of the agenda.

None.

The Chairman introduced the item which related to a petition to amend the catchment area for Moss Hall Infants School; the Lead Petitioner was not present to make a representation. The petition was referred to the committee at a meeting of the Finchley and Golders Green Area Committee on 21^st October 2015.  Following discussion of the item, the committee unanimously RESOLVED:

-       That the content of the petition be considered as part of the annual admission arrangements consultation.  

The Chairman introduced the item which related to a proposal to establish Menorah High School Girls as a Barnet maintained voluntary aided school.

Jason Marantz, Mark Morris and Ian Harrison – in his capacity of Director of Education and Skills – were invited by the Chairman to provide answers to any questions that Members had.

The Committee discussed that if the school moves into the maintained sector it would provide the basic need within the community by supplying several school places. The Committee also discussed the financial sustainability and fundraising elements of the proposal.

Discussion of the item was adjourned until the end of the meeting so that the committee could consider the exempt information as part of the item.

The Commissioning Director for Children and Young People introduced the item which related to the future provision of specialist places for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Ian Harrison, in his capacity as Director of Education and Skills, was invited by the Chairman to answer any questions that Members had.

Following discussion of the item, the Chairman moved to the recommendations outlined in the cover report. Votes were recorded as follows:

The recommendations were therefore carried, and it was RESOLVED -

1.    That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee gives authority to the Commissioning Director, Children and Young People, to consult with stakeholders during the spring term 2016 on three options for delivering  additional school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The outcome of this consultation will inform a recommendation to this Committee in May 2016 for the most appropriate model for developing new specialist places through to 2020, in line with the requirements of Section 27 of the Children and Families Act 2014.

The Commissioning Director for Children and Young People introduced the item which related to the proposed change to the Barnet School Funding Formula.

Ian Harrison, in his capacity as Director of Education and Skills, was invited by the Chairman to answer any questions that Members had.

Following discussion of the item, the Chairman moved to the recommendations outlined in the cover report. Votes were recorded as follows:

The recommendations were therefore carried, and it was RESOLVED -

1.    That the Committee approves the change to the school funding formula as set

out in Appendix A.

The Commissioning Director for Children and Young People introduced the item which related to the Council’s response to Barnet Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report.

Following discussion of the item, the Chairman moved to the recommendations outlined in the cover report. Votes were recorded as follows:

The recommendations were therefore carried, and it was RESOLVED-

1.    That the Committee approve the Council response to the BSCB Annual Report 2014/15 and agree for its submission to the BSCB.

The Commissioning Director for Children and Young People introduced the item which related to the Committee Work Programme.

It was noted that additional items in the Committee Work Programme would be added for future meetings. These items will be published online in the February 2016 Committee Forward Work Programme.

The committee unanimously noted the report.

None.

RESOLVED - that the press and public, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, be excluded from the meeting.

The committee considered exempt information relating to the proposal to establish Menorah High School for Girls, 105 Brook Road, London, NW2 7BZ as a Barnet maintained voluntary aided school.

Following discussion of the item, the Chairman moved a motion to amend the recommendation to read:

‘That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee consider the proposal by Menorah High School for Girls, 105 Brook Road, London, NW2 7BZ an independent faith school to establish the school as a Barnet maintained voluntary aided secondary school with effect from the 1st April 2016 and make a decision to approve the proposal with specific modifications as set out in paragraph 5.5.2’

The committee unanimously agreed the motion, therefore meaning that the motion was carried.

Members of the press and public were subsequently re-admitted to the meeting.

The Chairman then moved to the revised recommendations, and votes were recorded as follows:

The recommendations were therefore carried, and it was RESOLVED-

That the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee consider the proposal by Menorah High School for Girls, 105 Brook Road, London, NW2 7BZ an independent faith school to establish the school as a Barnet maintained voluntary aided secondary school with effect from the 1st April 2016 and make a decision to approve the proposal with specific modifications as set out in paragraph 5.5.2.