Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Bird, N Daubney, Lord Howard.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 19 December 2016.

The minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 19 December 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor B Long declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a Trustee of Marshland St James and District Community and Sports Centre for which he received no remuneration.  Councillor Long advised that he was observing the Panel meeting only.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider passing the following resolution:

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Exempt Report:  Cabinet Members Delegated Decision:  Temporary Loan to support Marshland St James and District Sports and Community Centre Project

The Chairman explained that the above item had been called in.  However, the Chief Executive was unable to up hold the call in request, but had asked that this decision taken be added as a late item to the agenda for consideration and discussion.

The Chairman invited Councillor Joyce to ask any questions/or to raise any points which required clarification.

The Portfolio Holder, Culture, Heritage and Heath and the Assistant Director responded to questions from Councillor Joyce and the Panel relating to:

·         The Equality Impact Assessment.

·         Value of asset secured against the loan.

·         Professional fees.

·         Interest rate of the loan.

·         Loans to other similar organisations.

·         Borough Council’s return on loan.

·         Other community projects being made aware of applying for a loan from the Borough Council.

Councillor Pope wished it to be recorded that the Chairman, Councillor Wareham refused his request to speak.

RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Councillor P Rochford for Item 7 Improving Attainment in West Norfolk.

None.

The Panel will receive an update presentation.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Rochford was present for this item.

The Panel received a presentation from Neil Groves, Adviser from the Education Achievement Services at Norfolk County Council and Becky Box – Policy, Performance and Personnel Services Manager (copies of which is attached to the minutes).

The Panel were invited to ask questions/comments, a summary of which is set out below.

·         Progress 8 – assessment of pupils - systems/grades/qualifications changing from letters (8 Levels) to numbers (9 levels) which would allow the top performing pupils to be differentiated.

·         Complexity of measuring test results/efforts put into teaching pupils.

·         Curriculum offer – relevant performance measures to enable pupils to pass tests/cope with life balances regardless of ability.

·         West Norfolk/Norfolk/National comparison of results.

·         Accountability in schools/how schools compared with similar sized schools both in Norfolk and nationally.

·         Transition of primary or secondary school into an Academy.

·         Multi Agency Academy – a network established to enable sharing of best practice.

·         Visits to Asian countries to study methods of education.  An example was given of a visit to Shanghai to observe the teaching methods for maths.

·         Specific smaller scale projects undertaken to assist schools achieving their outcomes, examples given of projects at Heacham Junior, Tilney St Lawrence, West Walton, Terrington St John, Walpole Highway and the recent Uni Challenge.  It was explained that all projects were monitored and evaluated to look at how the identified projects had made an improvement.

·         Primary Head Teachers Network.

·         Potential crisis in West Norfolk – lack of skills/aspirations in West Norfolk.

·         Transition of pupils from Primary to Secondary school.

·         Key Stage 2 pupils being 4% below the national average.

·         Outcomes for schools - % secondary phase schools judged good or better

·         Ofsted inspection regime.

·         Range of mental health issues in schools.

·         16 – 18 year olds in West Norfolk below Norfolk and National average.

·         How the Borough Council measured projects/impact on local attainment.

The Panel commented that they would like to seek more detailed information on mental health issues in schools in the next annual update report in 2018.

RESOLVED:  The Panel would continue to receive an annual update report.

To note the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Panel noted with Work Programmes for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

To note that the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on Tuesday 21 March 2017.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on Tuesday 21 March 2017.