Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Head of Service – Health, Education and SEND Commissioning.

The Shareholder Committee received a report of the Head of Service – Health, Education and SEND Commissioning, which provided an overview of the position in relation to delivery by the Dorset Centre of Excellence (DCoE) against the commissioning agreement.

Councillors considered the issues arising from the report and during discussion, points were raised in the following areas:

·       Good progress was being made in a number of areas and a question was raised as to how progress was measured. In response, it was noted that there were a range of key performance indicators in place, including measures around teaching, attainment, safeguarding, health and safety, finance and corporate. Some of these could be brought forward to the shareholder committee moving forward

·       Reference was made in the report to pupils earning valued qualifications and further information was provided at the meeting on how this was being progressed including through the provision of a widening range of subjects

·       The school continued to focus on children within the Dorset Council area although there had been interest from neighbouring local authorities, which could be explored further in the future

·       There was a discussion around the number of children that could potentially attend the school moving forward, although it was noted that a level of capital investment would be required and that this would need to be carefully managed. Further work was required in this area

·       Consideration was given to commercial opportunities in relation to the wider use of the site. Although it was recognised that the priority for the site was for the school and the provision of SEND services, the site needed to be looked at as a wider asset, including longer term plans to generate additional income from the site

·       The Executive Director Corporate Development and S151 Officer provided an overview of the key considerations for the council in respect of potential additional capital expenditure at Coombe House and at other locations

·       A request was made for a report on the longer-term intentions for the site.

The report was NOTED.