Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to a final summary report of the Acting Strategic Leader, Resources and Information arising from the Best Value Review of Lifelong Learning.  This constituted a Year 4 Review within the Best Value Performance Plan 2003/04.

The report set out the findings and recommendations arising out of the Best Value Review of Lifelong Learning.  The Review examined and made recommendations relating to the activities and services that contribute to the planning, delivery and development of lifelong learning activity within and across the Council and attempts to identify the gaps in service provision and Best Practice.  The recommendations arising out of the Review have been developed to form an Action Plan which sets out the Council’s lifelong learning objectives and incorporates a comprehensive series of key activities that have been identified as being essential to achieving the objectives set out in the report.

The report identifies areas for improvement and development within the age profiles into which the Review was divided and highlights those areas that would benefit from more effective support and planning.

The report drew attention to many activities and initiatives that are well advanced such as the establishment of Children’s Centres, the development of Children and Young People’s Services and the Extended Schools agenda.  In most instances, these activities support several corporate objectives.  The Review recommendations are designed to be both robust and prepare the Council well for future inspection.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received.

(2)                   That the recommendations contained within the Action and Improvement Plan be endorsed.

(3)  That the report be referred to the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel and that the Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel continues to monitor the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Action and Improvement Plan on a quarterly basis.

Consideration was given to a final report of the Strategic Leader, Culture, Leisure and Lifelong Learning on the Best Value Improvement Plan for Green Spaces, following a lengthy consultation exercise to identify areas of green space owned by the Local Authority and how they are managed.

A fundamental purpose of this review has been to identify a more sustainable approach to green space provision.  This includes setting service standards that can be maintained over a long time period and across the borough.

An improvement action plan has been prepared, based on the recommendations of the Best Value Review of Green Spaces completed in 2003. 

The Improvement Plan identifies five principal desired outcomes based  on analysis of findings within the review.  These are:-

a)                  Accessible, good quality green spaces across the Borough, including green-flag awarded sites;

b)                  More responsive grounds maintenance with measures to tackle problem areas and to increase biodiversity;

c)                  Improved actual and perceived public safety in green spaces;

d)                  Increased levels of use of green space services;

e)                  More efficient and responsive customer service

The implementation of the Improvement Plan will complement the adoption of a Green Space Strategy and Playing Pitch Strategy which was currently being prepared.

The meeting discussed the following aspects for future work:-

-                      Community involvement

-                      joint working with Planning Services/Developers

-                      use of green space by different sub-groups

-                      value of Park Rangers

-                      input from Housing Services/Neighbourhood Management

Ideas on the need to prioritise sites and standards to be applied to different grades of site were being formulated.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the Green Spaces Best Value Improvement Plan be noted.

(2)  That the Green Spaces Best Value Improvement Plan be referred to Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee and Cabinet for approval.

(3)  That Quarterly Monitoring Reports be submitted to Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services, Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel and Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Information and Performance Review Manager on the progress made between April and June 2004 on ICT developments and plans within the Programme Area.

This is the 1^st Quarter progress report for 2004/05, and shows that work has commenced in 31 of the 42 action areas.

Areas of noted progress in the first quarter of 2004 are as follows:-

-                      significant activity to ensure that the Programme Area has an active role in developing and supporting a Rotherham-wide ICT strategic planning partnership

-                      work to connect all of Rotherham’s schools to a broadband connection is well underway

-                      development of a new 3-year ICT Strategy for 2005-2008

Other items of work included:-

-                      Partnerships with the Rotherham Learning Grid to expand the grid for use across the wider community

-                      Use of Data Analysis

-                      E-Government priorities and links to Business Plan

A presentation to Lifelong Learning Opportunities Scrutiny Panel on the vision for the Grid and progress to date was being arranged.

Resolved:-  That the progress outlined in the report be noted.

Resolved:-  That Councillors Barton and Hall be nominated on the above Organisation.

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 relating to expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Authority for the supply of goods or services).

Further to Minute No. 333 of a Meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 22^nd June, 2004, consideration was given to a report of the Principal Officer (Legal), Strategic Resources to confirm the appointment of external legal advisers to act on behalf of the Council in the Leisure Facilities and Joint Service Centre PFI Project.

Appendix 1 set out a summary of the evaluation of the three bids, the outcome of which demonstrates that Bevan Ashford’s bid scored the highest in terms of quality and cost.

Resolved:-  That the report be received.