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Answer:

In Tower Hamlets, the scrutiny function is made up of a committee structure known as the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (OSC).

This committee has 10 Ward Councillors. The OSC is also able to set up more sub-committees which look at more specific issues e.g. local community safety, health, housing the environment, children and young people, along with the council spending decisions etc.

The OSC can recall the Mayor, Cabinet or senior officers at the council and or partner agencies to attend the committee meeting to explain particular decisions that they made; how well a local public service is doing for which they are responsible for. How much of the decision made reflect the council’s budget and policy structure.

Answer:

From a legal point of view, there is a duty for all English and Welsh councils to provide a scrutiny function under Local Government Act (2000) and Localism Act (2011) where there is an elected Executive Mayor and Cabinet Structure.

The reason why Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) carry’s out monthly checks on local issues at public Committee meetings is to: 

  1. Examine in detail a particular local issue affecting the residents and Tower Hamlets community
  2. Check on behalf the residents that the service the community receives is meeting their needs and is performing well
  3. Allows for your councillor to raise issues, concerns and ask pre decision questions and power to ‘call in’ decisions
  4. Investigate decisions made by the Mayor, Cabinet and council are in the best interests of the residents
  5. Creates an independent group which can hold the Mayor, Cabinet and council responsible for their decision making.
Answer:

The council is looking for residents to get involved with the scrutiny meetings. There are four ways you can get involved with scrutiny: 

  1. You can attend one of the scrutiny committee public meetings (dates for the meetings and what issue is going to discussed can be seen on the calendar and work programme) 
  2. You can give evidence to the scrutiny committees
  3. You can apply to join one of the scrutiny committees  as a co-opted member (recruitment is through an open competitive process)
  4. You can suggest a topic for the scrutiny committee to check as part of their area of work.
Answer:
At the time when parents were able to apply for places at Secondary transfer (i.e. September 2018) the LA and Diocese was not certain that they would eventually need to consider the closure of Raine’s. This became evident in the late spring of 2019, and after the school’s application numbers had fallen to a level that only 36 offers could be made for admission to Year 7 for September 2019.
Answer:
Parents are not being "instructed" to do anything. The LA has informed parents of the plans for Raine’s School to close in August 2020. A substantial number, particularly those parents of children in Year 9, have applied for other schools as they want to be certain that their child will be able to complete their GCSE studies at the same school. Parents of children in Year 10 have been advised to apply for a 6th form place at an alternative school for September 2020, given that the proposal is for Raine’s to close at the end their child’s Year 11.
Answer:
There are plans for there to be Year 10 at Raine’s for September, but the number of pupils remaining in this year group will very much depend on how many parents decide to apply for places at schools elsewhere.
Answer:
The proposal includes plans for Oaklands School to be expanded to ensure that existing Raine’s pupils are able to transfer to an alternative school nearby. However, it is not being presented as the only option. Parents may also apply for places at alternative schools, including nearby faith schools.
Answer:
The consultation document provides information on other Church of England Schools, both in Tower Hamlets and its surrounding boroughs. This is so that parents, both now and in the future, can seek to secure a place at a Church of England School  should they consider the options amongst the other Tower Hamlets unsuitable. Depending on where families live, their nearest appropriate alternative school may be outside Tower Hamlets.
Answer:
There are options for parents to apply for faith schools in Tower Hamlets and in neighbouring boroughs. The London Diocesan Board, the Diocese responsible for Church of England Schools in this area of London, has made special arrangements for Raine’s pupils at nearby Urswick School in Hackney. Raine’s pupils who meet the Urswick Church admissions requirements will be placed at the top of the school’s waiting list.
Answer:
The LA is increasing parental choice by providing additional places at Oaklands and other nearby schools that would otherwise be full. Raine’s has not been full for a number of years and it is therefore evident that it is no longer a popular choice for parents in Tower Hamlets and surrounding areas.
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