Agenda and minutes

It was agreed that County Councillor F De Molfetta be appointed as the Chair of the Forum.

It was agreed that Councillor N Cartwright be appointed as the Deputy Chair of the Forum.

The Membership and Terms of Reference of the Committee were noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors T Hart and D Walker

The note of the meeting held on 18 September 2013 was presented and agreed.

Members received an update on the action taken in response to issues raised at the previous meeting.

County Councillor David Borrow assisted by Lisa Kitto, Deputy County Treasurer presented a detailed report regarding the nature of the financial challenge facing the County Council over the next few years and informed the meeting that the County Council was faced with making savings of around £300m over the next few years which was the equivalent of 38% of its current budget.

It was reported that in response to the increasing financial constraints the County Council had adopted a number of approaches, including a review of planning assumptions and forecasts which had led to a reduction of £17.4m in the level of savings required over the next four years. In addition a further £19.1m of efficiency savings had been identified over the next two years through a range of measures such as reducing supplies, squeezing costs, removing vacancies or reducing hours. 

The Environment Directorate's "dashboard" performance for the second quarter of 2013/14 had been circulated with the agenda papers.  A further update was circulated to members at the meeting, a copy of which is appended to this note.

In considering the updated "dashboard" members of the Forum made the following comments:

The Guild Wheel: There was continuing concern about the ongoing delay in completing the link from the old railway. It was noted that the action sheet, presented at item 6, included an update on the current position. A further update was requested.

There was also concern among residents and parish councillors about the stretch of the Guild Wheel from Broughton Police Station to D'urton Lane, which was shared by cyclists and pedestrians, including school children. A member of the public said that it had previously been suggested that a white dividing line be painted on the stretch.

Fishergate Pavement Works – An update was requested.

Highway between the Saddle Inn and the Smiths Arms – Members were concerned that the road had been closed for some six weeks already and wasn't due to re-open until February 2014. It was acknowledged that the road had been closed in order that British Rail could replace the bridge. The impact of this closure on the Smiths Arms' business, especially over the Christmas period, was a significant concern. Also, motorists were not following the diversion signs and moving cones and barriers. It was suggested that it might be considered appropriate to consider getting the Police involved. Debbie Thompson agreed to follow this up.

Fishergate Central Gateway Project – it was emphasised that an improved train station forecourt would need to be integrated with the wider gateway scheme.

A6 Broughton Congestion Relief - LCC staff were thanked for keeping traffic moving whilst resurfacing work was being carried out.

The attached table sets out the list of priorities identified by members since the last meeting which could be funded from the Local Priorities Response Fund. In order to support the development of the 2014/15 Commissioning Plan, the Forum is asked to consider the schemes using the allocations and information contained within the table.

A table was presented which set out the list of priorities identified by members since the last meeting which could be funded from the Local Priorities Response Fund. In order to support the development of the 2014/15 Commissioning Plan, the Forum was asked to consider the schemes using the allocations and information contained within the table.

The list as presented was agreed.

Briefing to follow

It was explained that the validated figures for attainment in primary and secondary schools in Preston would be presented to Preston Children's Trust on 21 January 2014 after which a full report would be available to Members of this Forum.

In the meantime Jonathan Hewitt, Head of Quality and Continuous Improvement, Children and Young Peoples Directorate had provided some provisional data as set out below. Members were invited to raise any questions or comments which would be referred to Jonathan for a response.

Key Stage 2

The proportion of 11 year old pupils in Preston gaining the nationally expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics rose slightly compared to the performance in 2012.  At 77%, attainment was in line with the Lancashire average and about 2% above the national average.

The attainment of Free School Meal pupils also rose by around 1% to 58%, a figure which is just below the Lancashire average.

The attainment of Pakistani heritage pupils rose significantly in 2013 and was in line with the Lancashire average for all pupils.

The attainment of Indian heritage pupils fell but, at 81%, was well above the average for all pupils. 

Key Stage 4

The proportion of 16 year old pupils gaining 5 A*-C grades at GCSE including English and mathematics at the end of Year 11 fell by around 5% in 2013 compared with a rise of 1% across Lancashire. Attainment was around 2% below the Lancashire average at 59%.

The attainment of Free School Meal pupils also fell by around 3% but, at 35%, remains above the Lancashire average for this group of pupils.

The attainment of Pakistani and Indian heritage pupils fell in 2013. Indian heritage pupils' attainment remained well above the Lancashire average for all pupils but the attainment of Pakistani heritage pupils was below average. 

It was agreed that Jonathan Hewitt be invited to attend the next meeting of this Forum and that, at that meeting, members would discuss also the way in which the pupil premium is being used in schools.

Any suggestions for themes to be discussed at future meetings should be forwarded to theChair and Mark Wardale, Localities Officer, Environment Directorate, Strategy and Policy, Mobile 07919 227424  mark.wardale@lancashire.gov.uk

Members of the Forum were asked to submit any suggested items for the next Preston 3 Tier Forum to Mark Wardale mark.wardale@lancashire.gov.uk. Any suggestions would need to be cleared with the Chair.

Suggestions made at this meeting were:

Preston Bus Station – an update be provided.

Cycle paths – there was concern that a number of cycle paths terminate on highways thus presenting the cyclist with a potential hazzard. Statistics relating to accidents involving cyclists were also requested.

City Deal – an update, including timescales, for the development of individual schemes and infrastructure.

Plans to Commemorate World War I – The Lord Lieutenant, supported by the Lieutenancy Office at County Hall, had agreed to draw together many plans which were already in hand to commemorate the World War.

The Chairman had agreed to accept this additional agenda item.

It was suggested that it would be important for councillors to receive a plan and schedule of works, including road, sewer and other utilities, together with pre-determined access routes for each site during the large programme of development work that was going to take place in North Preston over the coming years. It was felt important to keepconstruction traffic away from the existing, over-loaded local network.

Members agreed, suggesting that it would also be important to receive information about the phasing of developments and how traffic would move through the area before the project was complete. The east west spine road and western distributor weren't part of the consultation, but were likely to be affected and it would be important to keep traffic moving.

It was reported that a meeting had been arranged with Marcus Hudson, Head of Planning at Lancashire County Council, for 20 January 2014 to include county, city and parish councillors to discuss this issue.

It was acknowledged that any plan would be a 'live' document; and members were looking forward to having sight of it as it developed.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business.

The next scheduled meeting will be held at 6.00pm on Monday 14 April in Committee Room A, Preston Town Hall.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be held at 6.00 pm on Monday 14 April 2014 in Room A, Town Hall, Preston.