Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

1.1       It was noted that there was no changes to the Membership.

1.2       The Chairman welcomed Steve Summers (Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Open Spaces) to the meeting.

1.3       The Chairman also welcomed Phil Rumbelow, Chief Executive from Jubilee Halls Trust and Mary Russell from the Public Health Commissioner and Physical Activity Lead who were attending the meeting to take part in The New ActiveWestminster – Sports and Physical Strategy discussion.

1.4       The Chairman advised that Councillor Danny Chalkley (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) would not be attending the meeting.  Any questions that Members had regarding his portfolio would be placed on the Committee’s Action Tracker.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

2.1       Councillor Ruth Bush declared that she was a former Parliamentary Consultant to Sports Leaders etc.

2.2       No further declarations of interests in respect of items to be discussed were made, other than those noted in the circulated schedule as set out below in paragraph 2.3.

2.3       The Committee noted that the tabled interests would in future be included in the minutes.  Table of Member’s interest tabled at the Committee Meeting was as follows:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2015.

3.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2015 be approved for signature by the Chairman as a true and correct record of the proceedings subject to the following amendment:

Item 8 - Strategy for the New Leisure Facilities Management Contract, paragraph 8.3. Add a bullet point ‘That the Committee noted that there was still disquiet amongst residents regarding the Jubilee Development’.

a)    To note the progress in implementing the Committee’s Recommendation and Action Trackers.

b)    To provide comment and input into the draft Work Programme for 2015/16.

4.1       The Committee discussed the possibility of providing table formatted data for the past five years to the Committee where applicable.  Officers confirmed that in future the Cabinet Member Reports would include three/five year data for Councillor Chalkley’s targets as requested at a previous meeting.

4.2       The Committee also briefly discussed the number of children in the borough who were granted at least one of their top three preferences and the reasons why there had been a year on year decrease in children receiving their top three preferences.

4.3       RESOLVED:

1.    That the Action and Recommendation Trackers be noted.

2.    That the Year 6-7 Transition, the Annual Review of Looked After Children, Care Leavers and Corporate Parenting and Nursery Provision/Offer for 2 year olds reports be considered at the next meeting on 21 April 2015.

Councillor Steve Summers (Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Open Spaces) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

5.1       The Committee received an update from the Cabinet Member who responded to questions relating to:

·         the Westminster Mile Event.

·         the redecoration of St John’s Library.

·         the MCC Lords School Offer and Launch event.

·         the implementation of the Team Westminster Volunteering Strategy.

·         the rebuilding of Marylebone library and the scrutiny of the contract.

·         the swimming lessons in Seymour Leisure Centre.

·         the proposal by the Royal Parks to introduce park charges.

·         the overuse of the public toilets in the Church Street library.

·         the redevelopment of the Queen Mother Sports Centre and the sports and leisure facilities in Fitzrovia.

5.2       ACTIONS:

1.    That a number of site visits be arranged for Members as part of the Committee’s more in-depth work of scrutinising the work of the Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Open Spaces portfolio.

2.    That a briefing note be sent to the Committee on the Facilities Management Contract.

3.    That a briefing note be sent to the Committee listing what schools have taken up the MCC Lords School Offer and the programme of events.

Councillor Danny Chalkley (Cabinet Member for Children and Young People) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

6.1       The Committee received a written update from the Cabinet Member which            covered current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio. 

To explore the Council’s Private Fostering arrangements.

7.1       The Committee received a report on Private Fostering Arrangements which set out what private fostering actually was and included the Local Authority Requirements under the Children (Private Arrangement for Fostering) Regulations 2005. 

7.2       The Committee welcomed Miranda Gittos, Head of Assessment and Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) to the meeting.  She explained how the current arrangements originated following the Victoria Climbié case in 2000 and that since then all Local Authorities had the duty to monitor all private fostering arrangements every six months. The Committee heard that the Tri-Borough Private fostering Social Worker roles and responsibilities sat within the Tri-borough MASH which ensured that awareness was raised and all opportunities to identify cases were taking place amongst professionals such as the NHS, GPs, schools and the general public. The Committee also noted the work of the Tri-Borough private Fostering Panel in continually monitoring the performance and how a multi-agency approach was adopted.  It was noted that this approach was being continually reviewed in considering further agencies which would, at Councillor Bott’s suggestion include dentists.

7.3       The Committee discussed the various reasons why children were privately fostered, the current service provision, the circumstances when cases were referred to the Child Protection Agency, the training of Social Workers and professionals such as GPs and teachers, the importance of having thorough hand overs when staff vacate their posts and the development of data in this area. 

7.4       RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To review the emerging new ActiveWestminster Strategy.

8.1       The Committee received a report on the development of the New Active Westminster – Sport and Physical Strategy. 

8.2       Richard Barker, the Director of Sports, Leisure and Wellbeing, and Andrew Durrant, Head of Sports and Leisure discussed with the Committee how the strategy would make a positive contribution to a variety of Council and partner outcomes and how it would be underpinned by an annual activity plan aimed at addressing the key issues concerning sport and physical activity. The Committee noted that The Active Westminster Board would be reformed to lead on the development of the new strategy which would involve several services including Public Health and Children’s Services.

8.3       The Committee welcomed Phil Rumbelow, Chief Executive from Jubilee Halls Trust and Mary Russell from the Public Health Commissioner and Physical Activity Lead who advised and discussed with the Committee the work carried out to encourage inactive people to take up physical activity and how many illnesses, especially mental health illness, could be prevented and treated with physical activity.  Phil Rumbelow advised how Jubilee Halls supported outreach programmes and local schools but received no public funding to carry out this work.

8.4       The following key themes emerged from the Committee’s discussion:

·         the link between deprivation and (lack of activity) inactivity amongst hard to reach groups, including primary school children and permission by parents to allow children to take part in physical activity.

·         the importance of outreach work and the promotion of everyday activities to the inactive and elderly population by finding venues to hold sport and leisure activities nearer to their homes/communities.

·         the demand for competitive sports in schools and links with Westminster’s volunteering programme and sports professionals.

·         the need for areas without any current facilities to be reviewed to see if any possible sites could be identified.

·         the wider use of open spaces and the possible conflict between partners such as using parks for sport versus using the park as a quiet place for relaxation.

·         the importance of promoting health and well-being in schools so children link healthy living with being active and/or moving around more throughout the day.

·         the importance of engaging with all sports organisations to make the most of their facilities for residents/school children.

·         the importance of promoting walking, dancing and generally being more active throughout the day to both children and adults as part of leading a healthy life style.

·         the importance of linking and making connections with the retail sector as part of promoting healthy eating and food choices.

·         the unlimited free swimming provided by the Council for children and people over 60 years of age. 

8.5       The Chairman thanked everyone who had given up their time to attend the            meeting and contribute to the discussion.

8.6       ACTIONS:

1.    The Committee requested that areas without any current facilities be reviewed to see if any possible sites could be identified. 

2.    That a briefing note on aquatic sporting facilities in Westminster be sent to Members of the Committee.

3.    That a Task  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To examine the School Organisation and Investment Strategy.

9.1       The Committee received a report outlining pupil place planning in Westminster and the draft School Organisation and Investment Strategy 2015 which provided details on projected pupil numbers and opportunities for providing new school places.  The Committee noted that the Strategy helped inform other Council Strategies such as planning policies and asset management plans.

9.2       The Committee heard from Ian Heggs, Tri-Borough Director of Schools Commissioning and Alan Wharton, Tri-Borough Head of Asset Strategy (Schools and Children’s Service) who discussed with the Committee the School Organisation and Investment Strategy which will inform the requirement for capital resources to         provide additional pupil places.

9.3       The Committee noted that the Strategy anticipated the increasing need for additional secondary school pupil places and the creative ways Westminster was looking to provide these places in the future.  The previous focus on additional primary places had been successfully implemented. The Committee further heard about the principals that would guide Westminster in providing more pupil places and that many secondary school   pupils preferred to attend local secondary schools.

9.4       The following key themes emerged from the Committee’s discussion:

·         the Council’s statutory duty regarding school places and the Admissions Code.

·         the benefits of the proposed additional secondary school places to Westminster resident pupils.

·         the consequences of not proceeding with proposals to expand the selected secondary schools.

·         the location of Beachcroft for primary age Alternative Provision pupils.

·         the additional demands and financial cost of educating out of borough children in Westminster schools.

·         the overall future demand and supply of primary and secondary school places in Westminster.

·         the ability to ensure that local residents were successful in gaining a place at their preferred Westminster school.

·         the work carried out by the Admissions Team on encouraging parents to make realistic preference choices on their school admission form.

·         Sufficient nursery provision places and the Post 16 offer.

9.5       ACTION: That a briefing note be sent to Members of the Committee which sets out the impact of the extra secondary school places and whether these places can be allocated to Westminster residents, including the consequences for schools if some of the proposals in the Strategy did not proceed. 

9.6       RESOLVED:

1.    That the requirement for additional secondary school places be noted.

2.    That there is currently an adequate supply of primary school places be noted.

3.    That the requirement for additional Alternative Provision at primary level which is proposed to be delivered by an extension of the Beahcroft AP School be noted.

4.    That the relocation of St Marylebone Bridge Special School be managed by the Education Funding Agency in partnership with the GLA which may require some capital funding from the Council be noted.

5.    That the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People to approve the Strategy and the budget provision to implement its proposals contained in the strategy.

Verbal Update (if any)

10.       EXEMPT REPORT UNDER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

10.1     RESOLVED: That under Section 100 (A) (4) and schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information on the grounds shown below:

            Item No           Grounds                                                          Para of Part 1 of

                                                                                                            Schedule 12A of the Act

                 10.              Information relating to an individual                      1

11.       UPDATE ON SAFEGUARDING ISSUES (verbal update – see agenda item 10)

11.1     The Committee received an update in relation on one case and noted the on-going support that the family and school were receiving from the Social Work Team.

11.2     ACTION: That the Chairman writes to the school offering its support to the Headteacher and teaching staff.

12.       TERMINATION OF MEETING

12 .1    The meeting ended at 9.47pm.