Paul Crossley

At the latest LDPB we had an interesting discussion on the Governments Valueing People agenda and the consultation process. We felt that it had been too rushed, had questions framed so as to steer people to answers and that even the easyread version was far too complicated to take in and understand easily.

Myself and co-chair Nigel sent the attached letter to the National Office as our feed back on the process. letter_to_Office_of_the_National_Director.pdf

At the LSP PSB meeting main topic was the progress being made by the Council on the formation of our adult services merger between Council adult services and the PCT. It has been a long journey with lots of discussion. It is not easing bringing together professionals from such diverse professions as health and social services.

In the evening went to the Youth Bank celebrations and sat with the table of young carers. Young people who really are facing challenges in life in caring for adults or other young people in the family. They have special needs and are special young people. The Youth Bank idea is one of the current governments real success stories and I am glad they have kept up with the commitment to funding it for a further three years.

In Bath and NE Somerset we are about to consult on a major re-organisation of our secondary school provision. There are a lot of issues to consider - falling numbers of pupils, large numbers of new housing planned by the RSS, large number of pupils who come to our schools rather than schools in Bristol or South Glos. In Bath we also have two boys schools and two girls schools. So we have a mix and a number of issues.

The Cabinet will shortly be deciding on its consultation process and at the special full council meeting the cabinet and council listened to a range of views and statements that will inform that process.

My speech. Paul_s_Edu_speech_FINAL.doc

This will all be tied up with Building Schools for the Future money and whether we can get an earlier start date from the Government. An additional problem on this money it is not allowable against out of authority pupils we educate. So much for the Governments principle of parental choice!

In Bath I hope we can reduce the number of single sex schools from 4 to 2 by getting a boys and a girls school to go co-ed. The main arguement will be whether we need to reduce our schools by one or not. Certainly Culverhay needs to be co-ed.

In Keynsham it is a similar debate - do the two schools need reducing to one or is the planned increase in house numbers enough to warrant keeping two schools open. I feel that with the housing growth planned there is a good arguement to keep both schools open.

Yesterday met up with Claire Stlyes from the Museums and Library Board. In my role on the LGA Culture Board I have been appointed to one further committee which is to do with libraries and young people. I missed the first meeting because of a late date change (meeting dates once agreed should not be altered in my view) ss she came to Bath to give me an update on the work and objectives of the board. Next meeting May 9.

Attended the Board Meeting of People First today. They are based in Radstock and the aim is to get people with Learning Difficulties into meaningful employment. They are an active group and within the Partnership Board we are currently collecting employment figures so that we will be able to measure our progress for this group of people who have the worst employment opportunity of any group in our society.