Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

RESOLVED – That, subject to paragraph 4 being amended with the correct spelling of Flash Ley School, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee were informed of the action approved by the Chairman since the last meeting of the Committee in respect of (i) a further six months extension to the use of the Chetwynd Centre by Flash Ley Primary School together with the plans for the pupils to move back to the school once the necessary remedial works have been completed; and (ii) the granting of a Tenancy at Will to enable Queen Elizabeth Mercian School (QEMS) to continue to use buildings on the site of Landau Forte whilst negotiations take place in relation to the terms for their continued use of the buildings.

The Committee also received a schedule and plans detailing the land and buildings for which the County Council had responsibility as a Trustee.

Mr. Lane indicated that he was attending the Committee’s meeting in a personal capacity to give independent advice to Members on property matters and that he was not attending in his role as the Council’s officer for Strategic Projects - Directorate Support.  He sought the views of the Committee on the selection of the quotes which had been received from two marketing agents (Savills plc and Kingston Commercial Property Consultants) relating to the proposed disposal of the Chetwynd Centre.  The Committee expressed the view that the quote submitted by Kingston Commercial Property Consultants provided better value for money and should therefore be accepted.

Mr Lane also sought the views of the Committee regarding the future of the buildings on the site of the Landau Forte Academy which were currently occupied by the (QEMS) under a Tenancy at Will. He indicated that QEMs were using two of the buildings on the site but that the third building (the former Grammar School) was not being used.  As a consequence of the former Grammar School not being maintained, its condition was deteriorating.  Mr Lane sought the views of the Committee as to whether they wished to offer a long lease to QEMS for their continued occupation of the site of the Landau Forte Academy.  He added that a long lease (25 years or longer) would enable the School to bid for Central Government Funding to enhance the buildings for use for educational purposes in line with the ambitions of the Charity Trust.  The Committee expressed the view that QEMS should be offered a long term lease of the land and buildings at the Landau Forte Academy at a nominal sum.

Mr Lane indicated that he would bring a report to the next meeting of the Committee in relation to the status and future of the Alleyne’s Grammar School site in Oulton Road, Stone.

RESOLVED – (a) That the actions approved by the Chairman since the last meeting of the Committee be noted.

(b) That the schedule and plans detailing the land and buildings for which the County Council had responsibility as a Trustee be received.

(c) That the quote submitted by Kingston Commercial Property Consultants in relation to marketing the proposed sale of the Chetwynd  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Presented by Maria Woodward and Phil Smith from the Stafford 14-19 Partnership

The Committee received a presentation from Maria Woodward and Phil Smith of the Stafford 14-19 Partnership together with a joint report of the Skills and Further Learning Manager and the Stafford 14-19 Partnership Manager on the progress of the Partnership’s Business Plan 2016-2020.

The Committee were informed that the Stafford 14-19 Partnership Business Plan 2016-2020 was now within its second academic year of development.  The revised Business Plan refreshed the four year objectives set out in the original Plan.  It was noted that the Partnership structure had altered since the publication of the original Business Plan which had been presented to the Committee at their meeting on 5 February 2016. These changes included:

• Conversion of Blessed William Howard High School to a MAC (Holy Trinity Catholic Multi Academy Company) and Sir Graham Balfour High School to an Multi Academy Trust;
• Two headteachers of Partnership schools had also recently retired. Mrs Lesley Beck was appointed as the Headteacher of Sir Graham Balfour School and Mr Andrew Locke was the acting Principal of Weston Road Academy;
• Mr Stephen Smith recently retired from the position of Stafford Collegiate Manager; from September 2016 Mrs Maria Woodward took the post of Stafford 14-19 Partnership Manager;
• Flash Ley Primary school was expected to remain within the Chetwynd Centre until January 2017;
• The Chetwynd Centre was expected to be marketed for sale within the coming months.

For 2016-2017, there were 240 Year 12 students following 735 qualifications across the Partnership. In Year 13 there were 375 students following 1051 qualifications.  Taking into account a smaller Y11 cohort from which to draw and the reforms at A-level this would appear to be a very positive position.

The majority of the Year 12 courses were now taught out of the Chetwynd Centre within the schools. Staff and students travelled between the schools to deliver a broad, balanced curriculum offer. Year-13 students continued to be taught within the schools and the Chetwynd Centre.

The Partnership schools were committed to working collaboratively to continue to improve delivery and progression through 14-19 education in Stafford.

Crucially the success of the Partnership would be reflected in the outcomes achieved by its students. Raising standards and expectations of all students for this year and the future was a key focus for all of the schools in the Partnership. The Schools had recently reviewed their target setting data procedures to use a system that provided challenging, aspirational targets based on robust data sets for students, that were available for teachers to inform their teaching from much earlier in the academic year than had recently been the case. The Partnership had signed up to the use of ALPS Post-16 reports for each of the high schools and this would support the rigorous quality assurance procedures that were embedded in the strategic working of the Partnership.

Both of the above-mentioned initiatives had been developed collaboratively thus also providing best value for money across all the schools within the Partnership.

Impartial Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) had a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Presentation by CCLA

The Committee received a presentation by Elizabeth Carter, Client Relationship Manager, at CCLA Investment Management Ltd (“CCLA” - Churches, Charities and Local Authorities) on the considerations to be taken into account when investing Charity Funds.

The presentation covered a range of matters including:

·         The prioritisation of risks

·         Stewardship - Matching reserves to spending 

·         Why hold cash

·         How to protect the Charity from the risks

·         The opportunity cost of cash

·         Long Term Investments

·         Fixed income - Why hold bonds?

·         Equities (shares) - Why hold equities?

·         Property - Why hold property?

·         Accessing investments- merits of Pooled funds

·         CCLA pooled fund range for Charities

·         COIF Charities Investment Fund

·         COIF Charities Deposit Fund

RESOLVED – That Elizabeth Carter be thanked for her presentation.

The Chairman to move:-

PART TWO

(reports in this section are exempt)

RESOLVED –That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of Local Government Act 1972 indicated below.

PART TWO

The Committee then proceeded to consider a report on the following matter:

(exemption paragraph 3)

Report of Director of Finance and Resources

(Exemption paragraph 3)