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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Room 3.1, 3rd Floor, 5 Strand, London, WC2 5HR. View directions

Contact: Sarah Craddock, Senior Committee and Governance Officer  Tel: 020 7641 2770; Email:  scraddock@westminster.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

The Director of Law to report that there are no changes.

Minutes:

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

 

1.2         The Chairman welcomed Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Skills) and Councillor Richard Beddoe (Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning) to the meeting.

 

1.3         The Chairman advised Members that she would like all future Committee meetings to start at 6.30pm instead of 7pm and that the Committee Clerk would email Members confirming the new time for the meetings.

 

1.4         The Chairman welcomed Alexander Jan (Director/Chief Economist – Arup), Sarah Bevan (Programme Director, Planning and Development London First) and Mark Henderson (Chairman- Gieves & Hawkes) who took part in the discussion on the Draft City Plan 2019-2040 – Economic Growth.

 

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of interest by Members and Officers of any personal or prejudicial interests.

Minutes:

2.1       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 2.2.

 

2.2       Table of Member’s interests tabled at the Committee Meeting was as follows:

 

Councillor/Member of the Economic Development, Education and Place Shaping P&S Committee

Organisation

Nature of Interest

Simon Atkinson

 

St Stephen’s Primary School

 

Headteacher

Geoff Barraclough

 

Dorothy Gardner

Centre

 

Partner is a Governor at the school

Danny Chalkley

Burdett Coutts School Foundation

 

Trustee

Elizabeth Hitchcock

 

St Andrew’s Club

Trustee

Sian Maddrell

The Grey Coat Hospital School

 

Headteacher

 

Miles Ridley

 

St Peter’s Eaton Square School

 

Headteacher

Ryan Nichol

 

St Gabriel’s Primary School

Parent Governor

Tim Roca

 

Paddington Academy

Governor

Karen Scarborough

St Vincent’s School

 

St Mary of Angels

 

Young Westminster Foundation

 

St Marylebone Almshouses

Governor

 

Governor

 

Trustee

 

 

Trustee

 

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2018.

Minutes:

3.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2018 be approved for signature by the Chairman as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

 

4.

Cabinet Members for Economic Development, Education and Skills and Sports, Culture and Community pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Councillor David Harvey (Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Skills) and Councillor Iain Bott (Cabinet Member for Sports, Culture and Community) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

Minutes:

4.1       The Committee received a written update from the Cabinet Member who responded to questions on the following topics:

 

  • the future service delivery and funding of Westminster libraries.
  • the funding of the expansion project at King Solomon Academy.
  • the difficulties that schools face with the new National Funding Formula.
  • the future provision of the school meals service provided by Westminster.
  • the opportunities for schools to ‘buy in’ Speech and Language provision.
  • the review of the Early Years’ Service to improve the Council’s understanding of the current childcare market and overall service. 
  • the possibility of working with Business Improvements Districts (BIDs) to create job opportunities for young people.

·         the Connect Westminster Project, the consultation on the Markets Strategy and the opportunities for including financial data in reports.

 

4.2       The Committee congratulated Ark Paddington Green Academy and Barrow Hill Junior School on their recent Ofsted inspection that judged the education at both schools to be good with significant strengths.

 

4.3       ACTIONS

 

1.    The Committee requested that the Independent Operational Review on the Early Years’ Service be circulated to the Committee.

 

2.    The Committee requested a briefing note on how residents were being informed of the 30 hours free childcare for working parents of 3 & 4 year olds.

 

3.    Councillor Harvey to arrange a meeting with Councillor Barraclough to discuss the data/financial implications for particular services. 

 

5.

Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Councillor Richard Beddoe (Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his Portfolio.

Minutes:

5.1       The Committee received a written update from the Cabinet Member who responded to questions on the following topics:

 

  • the successful public consultation exercises undertaken on the draft City Plan, Oxford Street and Queensway.
  • the outcomes from the Planning Review and the measures being implemented in the Planning Service and Planning Sub-Committee meetings.
  • the allocation of the neighbourhood portion of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to neighbourhood forums and other community groups.
  • the funding of the Strand Aldwych project.

 

5.2       ACTIONS

 

  1. The Committee requested an update on the Berkeley Square project.

 

  1. The Committee requested a briefing note on whether one of the outcomes of the Planning Review was to provide an Advice Planning Service to residents.

 

6.

School Performance Report 2018 pdf icon PDF 560 KB

To evaluate areas of success and areas to be developed.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

6.1       The Committee received a report summarising the outcomes of this year’s tests and examinations in primary and secondary schools in Westminster and the key priorities for school improvement that emerge from the results.  The report also included a summary on OFSTED inspection outcomes for Westminster schools.

 

6.2       The Committee discussed the education achievement data and each point of assessment, future challenges and considered key areas of success and areas to be developed.  The key themes that emerged from the Committee discussion were:

 

  • the importance of maintaining the educational levels in Westminster schools.
  • the importance of strong leadership and governance within schools.
  • the possible challenges that the new academic-led curriculum was having on schools and pupils (including the increase in fixed term exclusions).
  • the importance of improving school attendance in Westminster schools.
  • the opportunities for post 16 education, training and employment through the Westminster Economy Team, Enterprise Week and Careers Network.
  • the importance of staff retention and offering teachers appropriate training.
  • the timely re-evaluation of Westminster schools by Ofsted.
  • the important role that the Local Authority continues to play in Westminster schools by using the expertise available, by identifying and intervening in failing schools, preparing for Ofsted inspections and providing opportunities for schools to ‘buy in’ specialist provision/services.

 

6.3       ACTIONS

 

  1. The Committee requested that the validated progress data for the Primary phrase be sent to the Committee.

 

  1. The Committee requested a briefing note on School Attendance in Westminster schools in the past 5 years.

 

  1. The Committee requested a briefing note on staff retention in Westminster schools compared to other local boroughs.

 

  1. The Committee requested a briefing note on the number of fixed term exclusions in Westminster schools compared to other local boroughs

 

6.4       RESOLVED: The Committee concluded with the following comments, which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Skills:

 

  1. The Committee congratulated the schools for their continued progress and performance in being amongst the highest in the country.

 

  1. The Committee acknowledged the important role of good governors and the value and importance of good leadership and succession planning in schools.

 

  1. The Committee welcomed the opportunities for post 16 education, training and apprenticeships and the work related activities available to all schools.

 

  1. The Committee highlighted the need for the Local Authority to continue supporting schools to promote good attendance strategies and explore new approaches to improve School Attendance in Westminster schools.

 

  1. The Committee requested that the Local Authority continue to collect data on the number of fixed term exclusions in schools and that they be updated on progress in implementing strategies to reduce fixed school exclusions.

 

7.

Draft City Plan 2019-2040 - Economic Growth pdf icon PDF 176 KB

To review the draft City Plan and provide comment as part of the consultation process.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

7.1       The Committee received a report on how the proposed policies in the Draft City Plan aim to support and encourage Westminster’s continued economic growth that could provide opportunities for all in line with the priorities of City for All.

 

7.2       The Committee welcomed the following witnesses who outlined their organisations particular interest in economic growth in Westminster:

 

7.3       Mark Henderson (Chairman, Gieves and Hawkes/Chair, Mayfair Forum) commented on Mayfair as a world-renowned centre of excellence and luxury, including tailors, auction houses and hotels.  He observed that there were 150 working tailors on Savile Row and a strong tradition of apprenticeships (80 completed).  He emphasised the importance of protecting areas like Savile Row, especially given the extensive reach and impact on the UK economy.

 

7.4       Alexander Jan (Director/Economist, Arup) commented on the remarkable contribution that Westminster makes to the national economy.  He observed that the challenge and dilemma was to determine the level to which the area could continue to accommodate levels of growth without damaging the “ecosystem” and cited the experience of RBKC as a way to inform how Westminster embraces opportunities for good growth.

 

7.5       Sarah Bevan (Programme Director, Planning and Development, London First) talked about the challenges of striking a balance between supporting good growth, respecting residents and delivering housing. She commented that, using the evidence base for the London Plan, growth projections were based on very different employment densities and ways of working.

 

7.6       The Committee then discussed the following issues with the witnesses:

 

  • the importance of driving economic opportunities in the North West Economic Development Area (NWEDA).
  • the importance of policies that recognise the need for high quality digital infrastructure for modern businesses and the use of technology in driving economic growth.
  • the creation of apprenticeships and the need to develop strategies to encourage Westminster residents to take up employment within Westminster.
  • the importance of making young people aware of career opportunities through schools, colleges, career days and employment hubs.

 

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

 

7.8       RESOLVED: The Committee concluded with the following comments, which would be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Education and Skills:

 

  1. The Committee welcomed how the proposed policies in the Draft City Plan aimed to support and encourage the continued economic growth for Westminster in line with the priorities of City for All.

 

  1. The Committee requested to be up-dated on the implementation of the strategies to promote the North West Economic Development Area (NWEDA).

 

  1. The Committee acknowledged the importance of creating employment opportunities for Westminster residents especially for hard to reach communities.

 

 

8.

Tracker and Work Programme pdf icon PDF 147 KB

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

 

b)    To provide comment and input into the Work Programme for 2018/19.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

8.1       ACTION AND RECOMMENDATION TRACKERS

 

8.1.1   RESOLVED: That the Action and Recommendation Trackers be noted.

 

8.2       COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME

 

8.2.1   RESOLVED: The Committee agreed to review Employment Support and Libraries at its next meeting.