Members considered the objectives of the Attainment Sub-Committee which was to support the Council and its partners in

• raising the aspirations of young people, and in particular to raise overall attainment, especially of vulnerable groups;
• improving the outcomes for children and young people in terms of their education, training and their social and economic wellbeing;
• ensuring access to all for early years childcare and education, primary and secondary education and lifelong learning;
• ensuring that children and young people’s views and voices are evidenced in and integral to all of the above objectives.

Members also considered the draft terms of reference that the Attainment Sub-Committee would provide oversight, support and challenge to the activities of Wirral Council and its partners in relation to the following areas:

• Demonstrating the attainment of all young people aged 0 -19 (or 25 for those with a learning difficulty / disability);
• Driving forward the attainment of young people in vulnerable groups in order to ‘narrow the gap’;
• Examining the performance of all schools and colleges in the borough;
• Ensuring there is a prioritised response to schools undergoing Ofsted inspections and those in special categories;
• Improving participation levels of 16 -18 year olds in Education, Employment and Training
• Enhancing lifelong learning provision
• Monitoring Local Authority performance against its statutory duties

Members then considered the proposed working practices of the Attainment Sub-Committee and it was;

Resolved – That the objectives, draft terms of reference and proposed working practices of the Attainment Sub-Committee as outlined in the report be agreed.

The Constituency Manager presented a report by the Head of Neighbourhoods and Engagement.  The report detailed the background to the setting up of the Council’s Constituency Committees and the scope of their roles.  Also, included was the framework/core principles for the Committees’ further development which had been approved by the Cabinet in May 2013.  Attached to the report was Article 10 of the Council’s Constitution which had been approved by the Council at its meeting on 30 April 2013.

The Committee noted that the report presented to the Cabinet in May 2013 had proposed that each Constituency Committee would develop its own terms of reference on the basis that ‘one size did not fit all’ in respect of constituency working. It also proposed that, once appointed, each Constituency Committee would put in place its own terms of reference, subject to Council approval, over and above Article 10 and the core governance principles.  The Cabinet had agreed this and resolved that when the detail of Constituency Committees arrangements were finalised the Council’s Constitution would be amended to reflect any additional changes as necessary. 

The report indicated that the Committee should develop a committee procedure ‘handbook’ which would set out, over and above the terms of reference in the Council’s Constitution, how it would operate. 

The report further indicated that a ‘Task and Finish’ Group would be put in place to develop the Committee’s ‘handbook’ and that this ‘Task and Finish’ Group of Elected Members be supported by the Constituency Manager who would present a draft handbook based on other examples. 

In response to Members, Ms Tolcher, Constituency Manager confirmed the process and mechanism for community engagement, ensuring Community representation on the Committee be included in the Handbook.

A Member asked for clarification in relation to the role of Community Representatives in terms of voting, which they felt was unclear. In response it was clarified that Community Representatives had voting rights but not on financial matters.

A Member raised concerns that the Committee was spending too much time on its processes. It was explained, that this was the Committee’s first meeting and that some constitutional aspects of the meeting needed to be discussed.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Article 10 of the Council’s Constitution be updated, in due course, to ensure that all Constituency Committees have the scope and flexibility necessary to drive forward the constituency working model and deliver the functions increasingly devolved to them; and

(2)  a ‘task and finish group be established to develop (for approval) a ‘handbook’ which sets out the proposed operating procedures, relevant arrangements and practices for this Committee consisting of Councillors J Crabtree, M McLaughlin, J Stapleton and A Brighouse.

{If Councillor A Brighouse is unable to sit on the task and finish group, Councillor P Williams will sit on it instead.}

The Head of Legal and Member Services introduced a report and apologised for the lateness of its circulation on Constituency Committees and their terms of reference.

An amended Article 10 of the Council’s Constitution was approved by Council on 30 April 2013 which put in place the necessary provision for the appointment of Constituency Committees and for those Committees to discharge such functions as may be delegated to them from time to time by the Executive and / or the Council. It also set out the scope of the Constituency Committee’s role in acting as a voice for the community with respect to a range of matters including the development of an area plan and making recommendations to the Executive in respect of any funding allocated to the Committee.

On 14 October 2013, Council formally appointed Members to all the Constituency Committees and made provision for each Constituency Committee to co-opt up to 6 community representatives.

The report set out considerations and a proposed approach for further developing an individual terms of reference for each Committee and for amending the Council’s Constitution to ensure that Article 10 was fit for purpose for the future operation of the constituency working model.

It was proposed that:

·  A future review of the Council’s Constitution include an updated Article 10 relating to the terms of reference for the Constituency Committees, which both provided further clarity on the decision-making powers of the Committees as services and budgets were devolved, and ensured that all Committees had the scope and flexibility necessary to drive forward the constituency working model and deliver the functions increasingly devolved to them;

·  The Committee develops a committee procedure rules ‘handbook’ which sets out over and above the terms of reference in the Council’s Constitution how it would operate. The handbook might include sections on:

o  Aims of the Committee in respect of the role it wishes to take in the local area;

o  Specific committee procedures relating to the operation of meetings;

o  How the Committee will be supported by Council officers;

o  Specific provisions dealing with the role of the Chair, Vice Chair, community representatives;

o  The role of the Committee in influencing the contribution of partners;

o  meetings;

o  Agreed arrangements/procedures for dealing with budget allocation and expenditure;

o  The process and criteria for establishing constituency ‘task and finish’ groups.

Caroline Laing, Constituency Manager, outlined a proposed approach for the Task and Finish groups and their terms of reference, including the suggestion that they should consist of six elected members in a 4:2 ratio, together with two community representatives.

On a motion by Councillor Abbey, seconded by Councillor Lewis, it was –

Resolved –

(1)  That the proposed approach outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report be agreed.

(2)  That an elected Member led ‘Task and Finish’ Group of six Members (4:2), plus two community representatives, to develop the Committee’s Handbook and to make recommendations as to any amendments required to Article 10, be established.

(3)  That officers seek nominations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3