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CABINET

25 MAY 2007

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

R I N Gordon (Chairman for this meeting), K F Emsall,D E Lloyd, S M P Newton

Upon consideration of the agenda for the Cabinet meeting on 18 May 2007 as circulated, copy annexed, executive decisions were reached and are recorded below:

Note: No conflicts of interest were declared by any member of the Cabinet in relation to the matters on which decisions were made at this meeting

1.MINUTES

The minutes of the Cabinet meetingheld on 21 May 2007 were confirmed as a correct record.

2.OBJECTIONS TO SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS

Cabinet received an oral update on schools that had changed or were in the process of changing their arrangements since the report was finalised.

Decision

1.That the Director of Children, Schools and Families be authorised to submit objections to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator, as set out in Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report dated 25 May 2007, in relation to the admission arrangements for the following schools

  • Aston St Mary’s, Stevenage

  • Bushey Hall, Bushey

  • GoffsSchool, Cheshunt

  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary, Ware

  • St Dominic’s, Harpenden

  • St Michael’s RC High, Watford

  • All Saints C of E Primary, Datchworth

  • Offley Endowed Primary

  • Townsend C of E Secondary, St Albans

  • St Mary’s C of E, North Mymms, Hatfield

  • St Ippolyts C of E Primary, St Ippolyts

except in respect of any school which makes appropriate changes in the admissions arrangements before the deadline date for referral.

2. That should an admission authority subsequently submit compliant arrangements that are approved by the County Secretary and the Director of CSF, in consultation with the Executive Member, the objection be withdrawn.

Reasons for the decision

The School Admissions Code is made by the Secretary of State under Section 84 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 as amended by Section 40 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

Section 84(3) of the 1998 Act requires admission authorities and local authorities “to act in accordance with the Code.” The Code therefore imposes legal obligations; if an admission authority or local authority fails to comply with such an obligation it is acting unlawfully.

Paragraph 4.6 of the Code requires the County Council to refer an objection to the Adjudicator if it considers that admission arrangements are:

  • unlawful
  • not in compliance with the code
  • unfair, unclear, subjective or encouraging social segregation

If admission arrangements clearly fall within any of these categories, then the County Council must refer them to the Adjudicator. It has no discretion, on educational or other grounds, to choose not to refer them once it is satisfied that they fall into one of the above categories.

Any alternative options considered and rejected

None

3.OTHER PART I BUSINESS

CABINET PANELS

Decision

That, with immediate effect:

  1. the following changes be made to the Cabinet Panels established on 19 June 2006:

(a)the Performance and the Resources Cabinet Panels be disbanded and the following new Cabinet Panel (of sixteen members) be established in their place with the remit as shown:

PERFORMANCE & RESOURCES CABINET PANEL

The responsibilities of the Executive Member for Performance & Resources and any matter not falling within the exclusive remit of any other Cabinet Panel.

(b)the Children’s Services Cabinet Panel be re-named the

CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND CORPORATE PARENTING CABINET PANEL but with the same remit

(c)the Corporate Parenting Group be re-named the RESIDENTIAL HOMES VISITING GROUP with the following remit:

The coordination of member visits to HCC residential establishments for children in public care. The Group may make observations and recommendations to the Children’s Services and Corporate Parenting Cabinet Panel arising from such visits.

  1. that the following members be appointed Chairmen of Cabinet Panels and the Residential Homes Visiting Group:

(a)Performance & ResourcesA Mitchell

(b)Adult Care & HealthDJ Hewitt

(c)Children’s Services & Corporate ParentingAMR Searing

(d)Residential Homes Visiting GroupDW Hills

(e)Community SafetyRH Smith

(f)CultureJE Heywood

(g)EducationRAC Thake

(h)Highways & TransportCL Berry

(i)Rural AffairsBNW Hammond

(j)Planning & PartnershipsR Roberts

(k)Waste ManagementR Roberts

  1. that the Performance & Resources Cabinet Panel will meet on the dates previously scheduled for the Performance Cabinet Panel and Resources Cabinet Panel unless otherwise agreed by the Chairman

Reasons for the decision

The Cabinet Panels assist the Cabinet in drawing up proposals for policy development.

Any alternative options considered and rejected

None

070525 cabinet minutes

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