Issue - meetings

Council is asked to agree the recommendations within this report.

Councillor Ergin Erbil moved, and Councillor Sabri Ozaydin seconded, the report.

Councillor Ergin Erbil introduced the report and explained that the Staff Forum is a non-statutory committee of the Council where School Professional Associations, elected members, senior officers and others meet once a term to discuss issues relating to the school workforce.

The report highlighted that with the arrival of the Covid pandemic, there was a change to the way in which meetings between the authority and School Professional Associations were held. It was decided to have more frequent meetings in a virtual environment to support swift responses to any concerns raised and to discuss possible solutions. These meetings have proved to be a very beneficial way to work since they are swift, responsive and promote greater understanding of school workforce issues in a timely fashion. In discussion with members of the Staff Forum, it was proposed that there is a continuation with the new way of working, to include inviting not only the Cabinet Member for Education but also Lead Members for Education from other political groups, and to abolish the Staff Forum.

The Opposition welcomed and supported the proposed changes outlined in the report and looked forward to working constructively with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services under the new regime. In order to allow the best education to be delivered to students across the borough, it is important that the relationship between School Staff, Officers and Councillors is a positive one.

Following the debate, the recommendations within the report were put to the vote and unanimously AGREED.