Agenda and minutes

Members of the Executive and Corporate Management Team introduced themselves, followed by other Councillors present at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved –

That on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public was excluded from the meeting during consideration of:

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Melanie Carr of Democratic and Scrutiny Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Thursday 26 May 2022, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:-

·            at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes);

·            when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

There were no public questions or statements.

Recommendations - That the Executive:

i.      Approve the proposed Schools Capital Programme for 2022/23 as summarised in Appendix A of the report;

ii.     Approve the list of strategic priority / modernisation schemes for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix B of the report;

iii.    Approve the Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix C of the report;

iv.   Agree the continuation of the approach for dealing with any schools that convert to Academy status following the approval of the Programme as laid out in paragraph 3.3 of the report;

v.     Note that officers are reviewing the options for deployment of the unallocated general contingency sum, and may present a subsequent addendum report during 2022

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service presenting a Schools Condition Capital Programme 2022/23 for Executive Members consideration.

County Councillor Annabel Wilkinson introduced the report, thanking all of the officers involved with the production of the report. She gave an overview of the capital programme, noting a new allocation methodology was introduced by the DfE in 2021/22. The report proposes a one-year programme of investments to address the condition and suitability needs of school buildings in North Yorkshire in 2022/23.

Andrew Dixon, CYPS Strategic Planning Manager, spoke about the level of contingency built in to the programme for 2022/23, given the apparent construction cost inflation, and in light of the anticipated reduction in future allocations.

All Executive Members present voted in favour of the recommendations and it was

Resolved - That the Executive:

i.            Approve the proposed Schools Capital Programme for 2022/23 as summarised in Appendix A

ii.           Approve the list of strategic priority / modernisation schemes for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix B

iii.         Approve the Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix C

iv.         Agree the continuation of the approach for dealing with any schools that convert to Academy status following the approval of the Programme as laid out in paragraph 3.3

v.          Note that officers are reviewing the options for deployment of the unallocated general contingency sum, and may present a subsequent addendum report during 2022

The Executive are asked to agree that:

i.     In principle, approval be given for the submission of an Investment Plan.

ii.     Authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – Children and Young People Service to agree the final version of the plan for sign off by the Chief Executive, for submission to the DfE by 30 June 2022.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service seeking approval and in-principle sign off of the investment programme for the Department for Education (DfE) Multiply initiative for North Yorkshire.

County Councillor Annabel Wilkinson introduced the report, explaining that the DfE Multiply programme is a dedicated strand of the UK Shared prosperity fund. The overall objective of Multiply is to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the adult population across the UK. Funds are available to those aged over 19 who do not hold a GCSE or O level equivalent in Maths, to improve their skills with courses that fit around their lives and employment. For example, an applicant could dip in and out of the learning materials online so their employers are not affected by the training.

Paul Cliff, Shared Head of Adult Learning & Skills, explained that the Multiply approach for North Yorkshire has been developed in collaboration with City of York Council. The report details the initial stages of the investment plan, to be submitted to the DfE by 30 June 2022.

County Councillor Greg White sought clarification on the role of Ofsted in the Multiply approach. It was noted that discussions are ongoing with the DfE around the Individual Learner Record and the involvement of Ofsted are ongoing. County Councillor Annabel Wilkinson explained that all of the information is not available at this time from the DfE, but that the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service consult with the relevant Executive members before agreeing the final version for sign off by the Chief Executive and submission to the DfE.

County Councillor Carl Les welcomed the investment plan funding and commented that the County Council should do whatever we can to support those who haven’t enjoyed a good education.

All Executive Members present voted in favour of the recommendations and it was

Resolved - That the Executive agree:

i.            In principle, approval be given for the submission of an Investment Plan.

ii.           Authority be delegated to the Corporate Director – Children and Young People Service to agree the final version of the plan for sign off by the Chief Executive, for submission to the DfE by 30 June 2022.

Recommendation:

That the Executive appoint to the outside bodies, as specified in the table shown at Appendix 1 to the report.

County Councillor Keane Duncan proposed that authority be delegated to the Leader to make appointments to the remaining outside bodies which fall to be made to the Executive under the County Council’s Constitution.

County Councillor Michael Harrison noted that the NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board needed adding to the list when it is finalised.

Resolved -

i.            That the Leader appoint to the remaining outside bodies, as specified in the table shown at Appendix 1.

Considered –

The Forward Plan for the period 23 May 2022 to 31 May 2023 was presented.

Resolved -   That the Forward Plan be noted.

There was no other business.