Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Hannah Stevenson  01344 352308

Note: https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/attending-virtual-public-meetings 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

Councillor Allen was nominated as Chairman at Annual Council.

Minutes:

The first two agenda items to elect the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee were deferred as this was an informal meeting. This was due to the committee being held prior to the Employment Committee meeting which would formally agree the membership of the Education Employment Sub Committee.

 

However it was agreed that Councillor Allen be elected Chairman for the duration of the informal meeting.

2.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interests in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

 

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

 

Any Member with an affected Interest in a matter must disclose the interest to the meeting and must not participate in discussion of the matter or vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation by the Monitoring officer or by the Governance and Audit Committee. There is no requirement to withdraw from the meeting when the interest is only an affected interest, but the Monitoring Officer should be notified of the interest, if not previously notified of it, within 28 days of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Urgent Items of Business

Any other items which, pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman decides are urgent.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items to be considered.

4.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 121 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2018.

 

Minutes:

As this was an informal meeting consideration of the Committee’s minutes from 20 November 2019 was deferred.

5.

Items raised by Union representatives

The following items have been raised for discussion by the Union representatives:

 

·         Process for local lockdown in Bracknell Forest

·         Return to work Summer term 2020 : Contractual issues

·         Long term plan from Sept 2020 onwards

·         Financial support for Schools

Minutes:

In advance of the meeting a number of questions were raised by the Union representatives and were answered by Paul Young, HR Business Partner - People & Schools as set out below:

 

           Return to work Summer term 2020: Contractual issues

 

Graham Jackson asked for a run down of what was occurring for the return to work since half term and then September. The HR Business Partner confirmed that contractually schools had been operating as normal with no contractual changes or reduction in school staff numbers. He noted that longer term there may be an impact due to the financial impact of Covid-19 but there had been no ongoing issue. Advice provided to schools following discussions with union colleagues re. arrangements that should be in place for September. Following further guidance from central government the Council was expecting almost all of the workforce to be returning to duty at the start of September.

 

           Long term plan from Sept 2020 onwards

 

This question had been submitted a few weeks ago but Graham Jackson was interested to see how updated guidance was being applied by Bracknell Forest. The HR Business Partner responded that updated guidance had been circulated at the end of the previous week and schools were making their preparations for all pupils to return to all settings in September and there was an expectation that all staff would be returning to deliver support and teaching. Expectation for operations to continue and schools to be operating.

 

           Financial support for Schools

 

The Schools Forum was considering the overall position in relation to the financial implications for schools. Graham Jackson asked in particular what the impact was on schools of increased cleaning and how that additional cost was being managed. Schools have the opportunity to request additional funds to cover additional costs during lockdown and civd-19 period, there are restrictions, finance colleagues are working with schools to support them in making those submissions for the funds. A further report was going to the Schools Forum encourage to submit bids for funds – three areas covered.

 

           Test and trace

 

Greg Wilson stated that SAGE had said that schools should not reopen until Test and Trace can reach 80% of those who had received a positive test. Last week only 74% were being traced. He asked the Committees’ thoughts about what decisions should be made if SAGE is not working at 80% plus in September.

 

In response the HR Business Partner explained that the Council had consistently been following the Central Government and Department for Education guidance and this was that schools should reopen from September. Further guidance on Outbreak Control Plan was being provided to schools and training for Headteachers was being delivered the following week. This guidance would be shared with union colleagues.

 

           Process for local lockdown in Bracknell Forest

 

Outbreak Control Plan was now in place and would be fully operation from the following week with training being provided to Head teachers.

 

           Extra funding to local authority regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk