Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 22nd and 29th June, 2004, be received.

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Services Development, detailing the requirement to establish a Safeguarding Board, by September, 2004, to operate in accordance with the guidance for Area Child Protection Committees. The report included the recommended membership of the Safeguarding Board, together with its roles, responsibilities and terms of reference. It was noted that the Children Bill, requiring the establishment of the Safeguarding Board, was likely to receive Royal assent in November, 2004.

Resolved:- (1) That the establishment of a Safeguarding Board, to operate from September, 2004, be supported.

(2) That the Chief Executive of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council shall be appointed as Chair of the Safeguarding Board.

(3) That the membership of the Safeguarding Board, as detailed in the revised report now submitted, be approved.

(4) That partners be asked to nominate representatives to the Safeguarding Board, as outlined in the revised report now submitted and a further report be submitted detailing the names of the Board’s membership.

(5) That the Safeguarding Board shall operate in accordance with the guidance for the Area Child Protection Committee, until such time as new guidance is made available from the Secretary of State.

(6) That the interim terms of reference for the Safeguarding Board, as set out in the report now submitted, be adopted, subject to revision when the Children Bill receives Royal assent.

(7) That the current funding arrangements, to support the Area Child Protection Committee, remain in place and support the new Safeguarding Board until April 2005 and new budgetary arrangements be a part of the budget making process for the 2005/06 financial year.

(8) That the first meeting of the newly-constituted Board be held in September 2004.

Consideration was given to a report of the Community Learning Manager detailing the outcome of the recent re-inspection of the Council’s Adult Community Learning Provision. The report included the Service provision’s strengths and weaknesses, which had been identified as part of the re-inspection and also compared the re-inspection results with those of the original inspection, carried out during Spring, 2003. It was noted that a post-inspection action plan had to be submitted to the South Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council by 20th August, 2004.

Resolved:- (1) That the contents of the report be noted and the good progress being made across all aspects of the Council’s Adult Community Learning Provision be welcomed.

(2) That a further report be presented to the Education, Culture and Leisure Services Strategic Leadership Team, and to Elected Members, after the review of the Foundation area of Adult Community Learning delivery, in February, 2005.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting about the Education of Looked After Children, held on 17th May, 2004, be received.

Consideration was given to the following reports concerning the Education, Culture and Leisure Services Programme Area:-

(a) the Performance Indicator Out-turn Report for 2003/04, which provided a comparison with the 2002/03 out-turn and the All England top quartile performance; and

(b) the Consolidated Action Plan for 2004/05, containing a summary of action being undertaken to address performance in specific areas where there was a significant shortfall against 2003/04 targets.

Resolved:- That the Performance Indicator Out-turn Report for 2003/04 and the Consolidated Action Plan for 2004/05, for Education, Culture and Leisure Services, be received.

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Leader, Inclusion which included the first Annual Report of progress in implementing the agreed activities with the Special Educational Needs Strategic Development Plan 2002-2006. The progress report covered the period from September, 2003 until July, 2004.

Resolved:- (1) That the contents of the Annual Report of the Special Educational Needs Strategic Development Plan 2002-2006 be noted and the progress being made be welcomed.

(2) That approval be granted for the production of a further strategic plan which consolidates the progress made to date and incorporates current national strategies and initiatives.

(3) That the Annual Report be submitted to the Cabinet for further consideration.

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Leader, Inclusion which highlighted the key findings of the District Audit Report of the progress of Special Educational Needs provision, completed in July, 2004. The report indicated the way in which the District Auditor had evaluated the progress and impact made with the implementation of changes and developments within the Special Educational Needs Strategic Development Plan 2002-2006 and other associated work. Included within the report were the areas identified as strengths by the District Auditor, as well as those areas requiring further development.

Resolved:- (1) That the contents of the report be noted and the progress being made be welcomed.

(2) That the report be submitted to the Cabinet for further consideration.