Agenda and minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 4^th May, 2004 be received.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting of the Children and Young People’s Sub Group held on 20^th April, 2004 be received.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director Children and Young People’s Services Development which gave an update on the contents of the Children’s Bill and progress towards the development of Children and Young People’s Services in Rotherham.

The aim of the report was to provide members with the strengths and weaknesses of potential models and timescales and in order to seek guidance regarding the scale and timing of future developments.

The Bill focuses upon the changes necessary to secure better outcomes for children, young people and their families in the light of local circumstances.  Clear, shared outcomes across services, identified by children and young people lie within the Bill, as follows:-

-                      being healthy/physical mental health;

-                      protection from harm/neglect;

-                      education and training/enjoying achieving;

-                      contribution to society;

-                      social and economic well being.

The Local Authority is required to make partnership arrangements with key partners and other relevant agencies, including the voluntary and community sector, to improve the well being of children in their area.

Reciprocal duties to co-operate in these arrangements are placed on the Police, Health Bodies, Connexions, Probation Service and the Learning and Skills Council.

A strength is that Rotherham has a Children’s Board and Executive Group already in place.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the consolidation of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership be supported.

(2)                  That the revisiting of the make-up of the Children and Young People’s Board and Executive Group, in order to better reflect all partners, be supported.

(3)                  That formal Governance arrangements for the Board and Executive Group be drawn up for consideration by members, with the support of relevant legal advisers.

(4)                  That support be given to the alignment of budgets as a first step by October 2004 in order for new budgetary arrangements to be considered by April 2006.

(5)                  That further consideration be given to the appointment of a Director of Children and Young People’s Services.

(6)                  That support be given for the establishment of a Safeguarding Board by September 2004.

(7)  That the Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Services Development prepare a project plan with due regard to items (1) to (6) above.

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Leader Inclusion which explained that over the last eighteen months the Department for Education and Skills has introduced a range of policies in connection with encouraging more efficient use of public transport and, through specific funding arrangements, requiring Councils and colleges of further education to work together to plan strategic transport arrangements, particularly in the post sixteen area. 

Rotherham alongside many Councils has been given a small amount of funding over the next two years to facilitate this partnership.

One of the requirements of the initiative was that the Council produce a policy that describes the mechanisms to support post sixteen transport arrangements across the borough, whilst also encouraging over time more independent travel where appropriate for students.

The policy, which applies to young people who start a Further Education course at Sixth Form or College, has been developed through a partnership which includes all of Rotherham’s colleges, sixth form schools, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), Learning and Skills Council and Rotherham Borough Council.

Resolved:-  That the proposals contained within the report, now submitted, be approved.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information concerning tenders received for exhibition display work at the Clifton Park museum).

In accordance with Minute No. 290 of a meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 13^th April 2004, consideration was given to a report of the Manager, Libraries, Museums and Arts which sought authority to accept Stage 2 Tenders for the exhibition displays work at Clifton Park Museum.

Since the selection of Décor + Display Contracts, further design work has taken place and a Stage 2 Tender received.  This tender, with some adjustments to cater for Direct purchases, is in line with the approved budget for the exhibition display works.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Stage 2 partnering negotiations with Décor + Display Contracts and The Works for the installation of exhibition displays at Clifton Park Museum, in the sums of £683,586.00 and £138,500.00, respectively, be accepted.

(2)                  That Letters of Acceptance to Décor + Display Contracts and The Works be issued, in order that they can proceed with mobilisation of their resources to achieve a suitable start date.

(3)                  That Officers proceed to formalise the Contract Agreements to ensure that they are completed before Décor + Display Contracts and The Works start on site.

(item relates to expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority for the supply of goods or services).