Strategic Planning Group - Somerset County Council
Strategic Planning Group - Somerset County Council
Strategic Planning Group - Somerset County Council
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BLUE BOOK 2011-2012<br />
(NOTE: With effect from 1 April 2011, the <strong>Planning</strong> and Admissions function<br />
will be subsumed within the <strong>Strategic</strong> <strong>Planning</strong> <strong>Group</strong>, to be headed by Julia<br />
Ridge.)<br />
Contact:<br />
Mike Lewis, <strong>Group</strong> Manager<br />
01823 355760<br />
mwlewis@somerset.gov.uk<br />
(For individual teams see contact<br />
details below)<br />
• Introduction<br />
• Capital and Asset Strategy (which includes School Site Development and<br />
Integrated Services)<br />
• Commissioning of School Places and School Organisation and Review<br />
• Commissioning of Early Years Places<br />
• Placements and Entitlements (which includes School Admissions,<br />
Transport Policy and Entitlement and Free School Meals)<br />
• Client Monitoring (which includes Contract Support and the Futures for<br />
<strong>Somerset</strong> Client Team)<br />
The Local Authority (LA) has many statutory duties relating to the planning, provision<br />
and allocation of school places. This <strong>Group</strong> ensures that those duties are met on behalf<br />
of the LA.<br />
CAPITAL AND ASSET STRATEGY<br />
Contact:<br />
Mike Lewis<br />
01823 355760<br />
mwlewis@somerset.gov.uk<br />
• Capital Funding Policy<br />
• School Site and Property Requirements for CYPD<br />
• Integrated Services<br />
Capital Funding Policy<br />
Responsible for:<br />
- Developing the capital strategy and policy, integrating funding streams to meet<br />
and identify the capital investment needs of Children and Young People's<br />
Directorate (CYPD); linking to CAMP (Corporate Asset Management Plan) and<br />
Corporate Capital Programme processes.<br />
- Integrating capital planning across the Directorate and monitoring capital<br />
expenditure and controls in other areas including Early Years, Extended Schools,<br />
Social Care and Localities.
- Identifying sources of funding and securing funding to support the EAMP<br />
(Education Asset Management Plan) and CAMP. Agree prioritisation and funding<br />
of projects either on an individual basis or in conjunction with other Teams.<br />
- Improving the capacity of the Directorate and schools to make decisions based<br />
on appropriate Option Appraisals.<br />
- Submitting bids for Targeted Capital Fund and other external funding streams<br />
including the National Lottery, European Fund, etc.<br />
- Developing with Southwest One Property & FM a process for corporate<br />
agreement to Section 106 requests for developer contributions to support<br />
additional school places.<br />
- Reviewing funding policies, for example use of Basic Need and Modernisation<br />
funds.<br />
- Liaison with the Diocesan Education Authorities to agree capital investment in<br />
Voluntary Aided schools.<br />
School Site and Property Requirements for CYPD<br />
Contact:<br />
Mike Lewis<br />
01823 355760<br />
mwlewis@somerset.gov.uk<br />
- Preparing, maintaining and developing the EAMP (and associated policies) which<br />
identifies the condition, suitability and sufficiency of schools and other educational<br />
and social care establishments.<br />
- Providing support for foundation schools so that they understand the LA’s EAMP<br />
requirements.<br />
- Maintaining up-to-date accommodation schedules in order to assess the net<br />
capacity of schools.<br />
- Managing the process by which schools gain approval for investment proposals.<br />
- Identifying school accommodation issues.<br />
- Moderating and recording schools’ suitability issues.<br />
- Agreeing benchmark standards for schools and other educational<br />
establishments.<br />
- Identifying a school’s floor area to be included in its funding allocation.<br />
- Undertaking curriculum analysis for secondary/middle schools.<br />
- Interpreting accommodation needs to support the emerging 14-19 curriculum.<br />
- Providing information relating to energy/water usage in schools.<br />
- Managing the Service Level Agreement between CYPD and SouthWest One<br />
Property.
- Preparing architectural briefs.<br />
- Project management for various projects.<br />
- Dealing with site issues including third parties.<br />
- Providing AMP (Asset Management Plan) training for Headteachers and<br />
Governors.<br />
- Providing specialist advice relating to property and accommodation issues in<br />
schools and other educational establishments.<br />
- Developing school concept plans showing development potential.<br />
- Advising and arranging adaptations to buildings to suit the needs of pupils and<br />
those members of the community with disability.<br />
Integrated Services<br />
Contact:<br />
Mike Lewis<br />
01823 355760<br />
mwlewis@somerset.gov.uk<br />
Extended Schools (Facilities)<br />
- Policy for hiring and leasing of land and building by third parties, liaising<br />
between schools, third parties, Property and Legal to ensure proper legal<br />
agreements are reached.<br />
- Considering the effects of Extended Schools and third parties on school sites.<br />
- Facilitating other users on school sites to ensure efficiency of assets and develop<br />
integrated children's facilities.<br />
Premises Development<br />
- Preparing briefs for major and minor projects for Integrated Services activities.<br />
- Providing specialist advice relating to property and accommodation issues, and<br />
commissioning ‘concept’ plans.<br />
- Developing and agreeing benchmarks for Children’s Centres, Extended Schools<br />
facilities, Youth provision, Children’s Residential Units and Local Service Delivery<br />
Teams.<br />
COMMISSIONING OF SCHOOL PLACES AND SCHOOL ORGANISATION AND<br />
REVIEW<br />
Contact:<br />
Elizabeth Smith<br />
(01823) 356260<br />
ecsmith@somerset.gov.uk<br />
- <strong>Planning</strong> and managing the provision of school places through the production<br />
and analysis of school organisation data.
- Reviewing the organisation of school provision and the exploration of different<br />
options.<br />
- Supporting schools and governing bodies in relation to school organisation<br />
changes, including federation, amalgamation of infant and junior schools, etc.<br />
- Implementing the Small Schools Strategy and statutory proposals when<br />
required.<br />
- Developing area based planning with schools and governors and the production<br />
of area plans to underpin School Organisation <strong>Planning</strong> and AMP and secure<br />
sustainable provision.<br />
- Reviewing falling rolls and management of surplus places strategy; setting of<br />
Admission Limits for admissions to schools.<br />
- School terms and holidays; consultation with all schools, including VA and<br />
Foundation.<br />
- Providing information and support to schools wishing to consider a change of<br />
category to foundation or Academy.<br />
- Providing information and advice to free schools wishing to consider setting up<br />
in <strong>Somerset</strong>.<br />
COMMISSIONING OF EARLY YEARS PLACES<br />
Contact:<br />
Lorraine Davey<br />
(01823) 357416<br />
ldavey@somerset.gov.uk<br />
- <strong>Planning</strong> and managing the provision of Early Years and Childcare places<br />
through the production and analysis of early years sufficiency reports.<br />
- Supporting early years settings in relation to sustainability.<br />
- Reviewing falling rolls and developing the market to deliver additional places.<br />
PLACEMENTS AND ENTITLEMENTS (INCLUDING TRANSPORT POLICY)<br />
Contact:<br />
Tim Pollock<br />
(01823) 355615<br />
tpollock@somerset.gov.uk<br />
The Placements and Entitlements Team fulfils a statutory service for parents and schools<br />
in response to the national School Admissions and Admission Appeals Codes of Practice.<br />
Its key areas of responsibility are:<br />
- First Admissions to schools.<br />
- Transfers between schools.<br />
- Additional (in year) Admissions to schools.
- School admission appeals.<br />
- Information for parents via the statutory published composite prospectus<br />
(Starting and Transferring School booklets).<br />
- School Transport - entitlement and allocation.<br />
- Annual review and publication of admission arrangements.<br />
- The determination of 'relevant area'.<br />
- Management of the Key Stage 1 Infant Class Size Plan.<br />
- Support and data provision for Choice (Preference) Advice Service.<br />
These statutory functions are discharged in conjunction with Voluntary Aided and<br />
Foundation schools, through the following co-ordinated activities:<br />
- Traded support service Voluntary Aided and Foundation Governing Bodies.<br />
- Central coordination of admissions.<br />
- Central clearing house.<br />
- Admissions Forums.<br />
- School Appeals Hearings.<br />
School Transport<br />
The Placements and Entitlements Team is responsible for policy, procedure and eligibility<br />
testing for the LA's statutory and discretionary home to school transport, for<br />
mainstream, special educational needs and early years, which it commissions from<br />
Transporting <strong>Somerset</strong>.<br />
Please see also School Admissions and Appeals Service Traded Service.<br />
Health and Safety<br />
Contact:<br />
Emma Kennedy<br />
(01823) 355759<br />
elkennedy@somerset.gov.uk<br />
Responsible for:<br />
- Health and Safety for CYPD, including development of policies, monitoring<br />
procedures to ensure compliance and ensuring that Health and Safety continues<br />
to be improved in all schools and that all schools are undertaking key Risk<br />
Assessments using the EEC Safety Suite or an equivalent system.<br />
- Ensuring that the Health and Safety Management system is implemented and<br />
performing to the <strong>Council</strong>'s standards in all CYPD establishments.<br />
- Formulating Health and Safety Action Plans, including setting priorities in<br />
consultation with the Risk Advisory <strong>Group</strong>.
- Ensuring that Communication and Consultation arrangements are effective for<br />
Health and Safety.<br />
- Developing performance indicators for Health and Safety.<br />
- In conjunction with the Civil Contingencies Unit, for the Emergency Plan,<br />
detailing the contribution of CYPD to the corporate response.<br />
- In conjunction with the Civil Contingencies Unit, for Emergency <strong>Planning</strong>: to<br />
assist in dealing with major civil emergencies through use of school and other<br />
CYPD facilities.<br />
- Managing the Service Level Agreement with the <strong>County</strong> Health and Safety Unit.<br />
- Health and Safety, Fire Precautions, Traffic Hazards, Security of Premises and<br />
Grounds in CYPD establishments. Implementing agreed programmes in<br />
consultation with the <strong>County</strong> Health and Safety Unit (see Health and Safety<br />
Management), Fire Officers and Road Safety Highway Officers. Liaising with the<br />
Risk Management <strong>Group</strong> over security improvement works.<br />
CLIENT MONITORING<br />
Contact:<br />
Sian Gandley<br />
(01278) 411786<br />
sgandley@somerset.gov.uk<br />
Futures for <strong>Somerset</strong><br />
- Managing the contract with Futures for <strong>Somerset</strong> for the delivery of their<br />
contract with <strong>Somerset</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong>.<br />
Management of the Free School Meals Contract<br />
- Managing the Service Level Agreement with Catering and Cleaning Service,<br />
ensuring the delivery of safe meals in a school environment and ensuring the<br />
implementation of “Transforming School Meals”.<br />
Catering and Cleaning<br />
- Managing the Catering and Cleaning Service Level Agreements with the<br />
Contract Support Team, from whom the LA's statutory and discretionary provision<br />
of Free School Meals and Catering and Cleaning is commissioned.<br />
(See also the Contract Support Traded service and Core service provided by the<br />
Contract Support Team.)