Richard Kemp 0711

Second stage of consultation on School Organisation Review
The second stage of consultation in Suffolk’s review of school organisation starts in the areas of Lowestoft and Haverhill started on the 29th October.

Members of the public will be able to have their say on a number of options for schools in their areas. The consultation period will run for 12 weeks until 18 January 2008. A number of public meetings have also been arranged at all the schools involved, starting from 12 November.

Parents of all children currently attending the schools in the areas will shortly receive a pack of consultation material, through the post, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to take part and have their say.
The way schools are organised in Suffolk has not changed much since 1974. Currently, some children go to two schools (primary and secondary, the ‘two-tier’ system) and others go to three schools (primary, middle and upper: the ‘three-tier’ system) during their school life.

More information on School Organisation Review and dates for consultation meetings at local schools, can be found at: www.suffolk.gov.uk/sor. This material will also be available from libraries and council buildings.

Audit Commission report
The Audit Commission has produced its “Corporate Assessment” of Suffolk County Council.
The Corporate Assessment, carried out in June, recognises Suffolk County Council areas of strength in Suffolk but also highlighted issues of concern, especially around plans for economic growth and job creation across the county and in the way the county deals with diversity. The county was rated over all as performing well.

The report can be found here:
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/authority.asp?CategoryID=ENGLISH^576^LOCAL-VIEW^AUTHORITIES^108098

The Council also had a “Joint Area Review” of its services. Joint area reviews gather evidence during on-site fieldwork investigations into the contributions local services make to improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable groups of children and young people, and those groups of children and young people who are not doing well enough or who are at risk of underachieving.

The council received a 3 (out of a rating 1 to 4, with 4 being outstanding and 1 inadequate) in each of the five categories:

Safeguarding,
Looked after children,
Learning difficulties and/or disabilities,
Service management,
Capacity to improve

The full report is here: http://apps2.suffolk.gov.uk/cgi-bin/committee_xml.cgi?

2008-2009 Budget Announced
Suffolk County Council has released details of its provisional budget proposals for 2008/09. These proposals are subject to the announcement, by central government, of the local authority's finance settlement which is expected in late November or early December. These proposals will now go to the Scrutiny committee over November to be examined.

The county council has estimated the likely level of government settlement and believes it will have to make £16 million of savings this year. Around 50 jobs will be affected too.
Services which are likely to be affected include home to school transport, the music service, the winter maintenance budget for roads and more withdrawal of bus service subsidies.
More detail can be found on the county council’s website here:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/CommitteesAgendasReportsandMinutes/

Waste
The Full Council debated the future procurement of Suffolk's waste disposal services on 30th October after a ‘call-in’ of the decision.

After an intense debate the Council voted 44 – 22 in favour of proceeding with the plans to tender for a new method of dealing with waste; Energy from Waste (also known as Incineration) is still the preferred option of the Administration for dealing with the county's waste.

Should any of you wish to read the papers yourselves they can be found on the County Council’s website:
http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/CommitteesAgendasReportsandMinutes

Procurement documents will be prepared to go to the market to secure a contractor to design, build and operate the new facility. Tenderers will still be able to submit other proposals other than energy from waste if they believe an alternative technology or combination of technologies and/or sites would better meet the county's waste needs.