It was reported that, in accordance with the wishes of the Conservative and Non-Coalition Groups, the membership of the Board had been amended to include Councillors Barnby and Davies in place of Councillors Kingscote and Stockman, respectively.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 19 February 2014.

The minutes of the meeting of the Board held on 19 February 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider a report on the way in which the education services within the Local Authority have developed over the past 12 months and to provide information on the standards achieved by children and young people.

The Head of Schools attended the meeting of the Board and presented her report on the Torbay Schools Improving Schools Partnership.  The report provided an overview of the way in which the education services within the Local Authority have developed over the past 12 months.  The report also provided information about the standards achieved by children and young people within Torbay against nationally agreed milestones.  Further, the report gave details of the pending changes in relation to special education needs and how the authority was planning to address them.

Board members asked a number of questions on issues such as the inspection regime once schools converted to academies, home education and the appointment of headteachers and governors.

Resolved:  that the report be welcomed but that future reports include more indicators which show future challenges (such as numbers of exclusions, numbers of school appeals, numbers of children being home educated) facing the local authority in relation to education and schools.

To consider the draft Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Resolved:  that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2013/2014 be adopted and forwarded to the Adjourned Annual Meeting of the Council for consideration.

To consider the draft Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2014/2015.

The Board considered a report which set out the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2014/2015.

Resolved: (i)  that the outline Work Programme for the Overview and Scrutiny Board (including the Health Scrutiny Board), as set out in Appendix 1 to the Report, be agreed;

(ii)        that the Priorities and Resources Review Panel be appointed (comprising the members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board) and meet throughout the year to (a) review and monitor the revenue and capital budgets for the current year, and (b) review and challenge the emerging proposals for delivering the Council’s priorities for the 2015/2016 financial year (in accordance with the draft Project Plan – Timetable set out in Appendix 2 to the report),

(iii)       that a Working Group comprising the Health Scrutiny Lead plus one member from each of the other Political Groups on the Council be appointed to consider the Quality Accounts of each of the local NHS Trusts and the Local Account in relation to Adult Social Care and that the Overview and Scrutiny Lead Officer be authorised to submit (following consultation with the Working Group) any commentary for inclusion in those documents.