Monica Forty, Interim Service Head for Learning and Achievement introduced the report seeking Commissioners’ to consider the level of Discretionary Award Determination Commissioners wished to take up and reviewing the Council’s discretionary awards policies.

The Commissioners then asked Members to respond to the proposals in the report. Councillors Shahed Ali, Rachael Saunders Khales Uddin Ahmed and Peter Golds provided responses.

Commissioners considered the report and responses.  They noted there was support for all the awards in principle but that there were some concerns around payment of the Education Award in one sum and the availability of quantitative outcome data in respect of the Higher Education Award.  The Commissioners considered that discretionary awards as set out at appendices 1-3 should be approved for school aged children and that proposals for awards to students over compulsory school age be reviewed and represented for discussion at a future meeting. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the Council making discretionary awards in respect of specified groups of students over compulsory school age in 2015/16 in the areas in respect of which policies are set out in appendices 1 to 3 be approved

2.    That the policy in Appendix 1 for the provision by the Council of school clothing grants in 2015/2016 within the budget specified in paragraph 5.2 of this report be approved.

3.    That the policy in Appendix 2 for the provision of the Budget Holding Lead Professional Scheme for Attendance Support in 2015/2016 within the budget specified in paragraph 5.2 of this report be approved.

4.    That the policy in Appendix 3 for the provision by the Council of discretionary awards in support of education travel in 2015/2016 within the budget specified in paragraph 5.2 of this report be approved.

5.    That the existing recipients of the Education Award continue to receive funds in accordance with the original agreement but that no new awards be made under the existing scheme. Officers are instructed to report to a future meeting on a revised policy which better targeted need and contained proposals for measurable outcomes.

6.    That existing recipients of the Higher Education Award continue to receive funds in accordance with the original agreement but that no new awards be made under the existing scheme.  Officers are instructed to report to a future meeting on a revised policy which better targeted need and contained proposals for measurable outcomes.