The Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 6 October 2026 to discuss mandatory training for school staff on learning disability and autism, and to consider changes to the establishment of new town and parish councils. The committee resolved to advise Full Council not to support the motion regarding Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training as put forward, recommending instead that the original motion be amended to call on all Schools and Academy Trusts in the District of Tendring to take up available training on Learning Disability and Autism. The committee unanimously recommended changes to the commencement date and term of office for new parish councillors.

Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training for School Staff

The committee considered a motion from Councillor Doyle, which called on Essex County Council and relevant academies to implement Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for all staff across schools in the Tendring district. The motion highlighted concerns that too many children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) are misunderstood or unsupported at school, and that families often have to fight for the right help. It noted that Oliver McGowan Training is the government's preferred training for learning disability and autism in health and social care.

Essex County Council officers, Stephen Chynoweth (Head of Education and Early Years (North)) and Ondrea Bloom (SEND Strategy Lead for Autism), presented information on Essex County Council's Inclusion Strategy, the Essex SEND Reform Plan, and their Neuroinclusive Education Network (NEN). They explained that while Essex County Council cannot mandate training for schools or academies, they offer a comprehensive suite of training and resources. Ondrea Bloom stated that the Oliver McGowan Training, in isolation, does not provide the depth of educationally focused content required by schools and practitioners in Essex, as it does not cover key areas such as anxiety, demand avoidance, and sensory profiles in sufficient detail. She added that much of the content is already covered by existing Essex County Council training, and introducing Oliver McGowan training could lead to duplication and confusion.

The committee was informed that Essex County Council's training is not mandatory due to governance arrangements, but it is provided free of charge with flexible delivery options. Members discussed instances where children with SEND are suspended from school, and the potential for this to lead to home education arrangements. Stephen Chynoweth stated that this is not considered good practice and could be discriminatory.

Following the discussion, the committee resolved to recognise the prevalence of young people with SEND in Tendring, the importance of appropriate training for professionals, and to support ongoing collaborative working to improve experiences for children and young people. They approved the report to be submitted to Full Council on 24 November 2026. Crucially, the committee determined to advise Full Council that while they agreed with the spirit of Councillor Doyle's motion, they did not feel they could support it as put forward because training cannot be mandated and alternative training is promoted for educational settings. They recommended that the original motion be amended to call on all Schools and Academy Trusts in the District of Tendring to take up the available training on Learning Disability and Autism.

Town and Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands

The committee considered a report regarding the establishment of three new parishes and their respective Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea, and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands. Originally planned to commence on 1 April 2027 with a five-year initial term for Parish Councillors, the report proposed amending the commencement date to 1 April 2028 and reducing the initial term of office to three years.

This proposed change was influenced by the UK Government's decision to withdraw its plans for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex, which had restored the existing electoral cycle. The delay to 1 April 2028 would allow more time for preparatory work, engagement with communities, and the alignment of Parish Council elections with the proposed Greater Essex Mayoral election in May 2028, potentially sharing election costs. The reduction of the initial term to three years would align these new Parish Councils with the wider electoral cycle for all other Parish Councils in the District.

The committee unanimously resolved to recommend to Full Council that the new Parishes commence on 1 April 2028, with elections in May 2028, and that the initial term of office for Parish Councillors be three years. They also requested that the Chief Executive await Full Council's decision before the Community Governance Reorganisation Order is made and sealed, incorporating the outcome as necessary. Communication with residents regarding the revised timeline would also be undertaken.

Review of the Work Programme

The report of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) concerning the review of the Work Programme was deferred to the next meeting of the Committee, due to be held on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.