Decision details

Councillor Lucy Smith, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, presented the report which sought approval in principle to progress to formal consultation with affected staff on the next phase of the transformation of Children’s Services, setting out proposed changes to the Education Directorate. In response to Members questions it was noted that new posts in phase 2 should be faster to fill as there was no national recruitment issues for these posts.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Agreed in principle the commencement of consultation with affected staff in January 2023 on the proposed structural changes to the education division, as set out within the body of this report;

2.    Noted that this agreement is subject to identification of sufficient recurrent funding upon receipt of the Local Government Settlement in late December; and

3.    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Children and Young People and the Cabinet Members for Children’s Services and HR and Corporate Affairs , in consultation with the Director of People and Inclusion and Monitoring Officer and S151 Officer to consider responses received from the consultation and produce a final version of the structure.

Reasons for the decision:

The proposal sets out a plan of transformation of Children’s Services, necessary to both integrate and align services to improve the delivery of our statutory education responsibilities across education and SEND.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

The rationale for the proposal is driven by the requirement upon Bury Council to improve Children’s Services, which includes the need to ensure compliance with statutory legislation and to align and strengthen our services around SEND and statutory duties in relation to Elective Home Education, Children Missing in Education, attendance and exclusions.