i. Does your LA’s Education Scrutiny Committee include any co-opted (non-councillor) members? If so, how many?
The Scrutiny Procedure Rules can be seen online via the following link: the web 4.1
The availability of non-councillor members is identified at Rule 4.1. We can further confirm that currently only the Church of England vacancy is filled.
ii. Are co-opted members co-opted to represent a specific group or organisation?
Yes; please see our response to question 1.
iii. Do such co-opted members have specific titles associated with their position?
No
iv. Is there a formal process for such members being co-opted? What is this process?
Yes. The position is advertised and nomination forms are sent to all Parent Governors following which ballot papers are issued and then votes counted and overseen by Returning Officer.
v. Does your Terms of Reference (or similar governance document) for the Education Scrutiny Committee define exactly the process in written form (and if so please provide the said document).
No
vi. Is there any difference in this process for statutory co-optee members v’s non-statutory (discretionary) members
All the co-opted members are statutory i.e. representatives specifically mentioned in s499 of the Education Act 1996, the provisions of which apply to overview and scrutiny committees by virtue of Schedule 1 of the 2000 local Government Act.
vii. Do such co-opted members have voting rights on the committee i.e. the same full privileges as do councillor members on the committee Only Education matters.
This information is available in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules provided in response to question 1 above.
viii. Do you have a specific space on the committee which is filed by parent governors?
Yes; this is set out in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules.
ix. Is it a requirement locally for such parent governor representatives to be parent governors at local maintained schools, or are Academy school parent governor representatives allowed?
With reference to the Scrutiny Procedure Rules. there is no suggestion that they have to be from either Academy or Maintained, this therefore does not exclude Academy Parent Governors from standing.
x. How many Academy school parent governors do you current have on your Education Scrutiny committee in this municipal year?
Nil
xi. How many Academy school parent governors did you have on your Education Scrutiny committee in the previous municipal year?
Nil