Agenda and minutes

-           to agree Member attendance on the above Conference

Consideration was given to a report of the Libraries, Museums & Arts Manager, together with Programme details, regarding the above Conference to be held in Edinburgh on 13^th-15^th September, 2004.

Resolved:-  (1)  That approval be given for the attendance of one Officer at the Museums Association Conference to be held in Edinburgh.

- to agree Member attendance at the above Conference

Consideration was given to a report of the Libraries, Museums and Arts Manager containing details of the above Conference.

Resolved:-  That approval be given for the attendance of one Member and one Officer to attend the Public Library Authorities Conference 2004, to be held in Newcastle on 12^th-15^th October, 2004.

Further to Minute No. 17 of a meeting of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 17^th August 2004, consideration was given to a report of the Principal Officer, External Funding on the need to suspend Standing Order 44, which will permit exemption from normal contract standing orders.  This exemption will facilitate the allocation of funding for initial consultancy work to be carried out by Young Enterprise Yorkshire and Humberside (YEYH) regarding development of a five year project.

The project will establish Rotherham as the first Borough in the UK to offer enterprise learning to every pupil at all Key Stage levels in all schools.

YEYH Young Enterprise operates through support from the business community and the Government.  This support is provided in a variety of forms:  financial, in-kind, and through the provision and encouragement of volunteers. 

YEYH preliminary proposals have received support at a regional level and Yorkshire Forward, in consultation with the Learning and Skills Council, have committed £1m Single Pot Funding for project delivery, subject to the submission of a viable business plan and project appraisal.

Yorkshire Forward consider that the consultation and development activity should be progressed as soon as possible and have approved the allocation of £50,000 Single Pot revenue.

The Council is, therefore, seeking to suspend standing orders to enable the Authority to contract with YEYH for the delivery of the scoping exercise.

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

(2)                 That the invoking of Standing Order No. 35 be agreed to enable a contract to be established with YEYH as a consequence of the circumstances outlined in the report submitted, and having regard to the representation of the Officer.

(3)  That a progress report on the Pilot Scheme be submitted to a future meeting.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 8 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

- to seek approval to accept a negotiated Target Cost tender

Consideration was given to a report of the Project Manager, Design and Engineering Service which sought approval to accept a negotiated Target Cost tender for the construction of an extension at Milton Special School.

A Tender Evaluation Report was submitted to Members on 19^th May, 2004 recommending the appointment of strategic Construction Partners, which included G. Hurst & Sons Limited (Minute No. B326 of a meeting of the Cabinet).  The second stage process involves an open book approach to ensure full accountability.

The Milton Project is part of the ‘Special School Review’ which, following public consultation, approved a change in role for the three Moderate LearningDifficulty Schools and the two Severe LearningDifficulty Schools.

The report contained financial details of the contract and tender selection process.

Resolved:-  That the Target Cost Tender Sum of £600,710.13 and Gross Maximum Price of £653,710.13 negotiated with G. Hurst and Sons Limited for the Milton Special School Extension be accepted and a start made on site on 25^th August, 2004, subject to the conditions of contract being agreed.

(Exempt under Paragraph 8 of the Act – report contained financial and contractual information).

- to seek approval to accept the Target Cost, Guaranteed Maximum Price and a start on site

Consideration was given to a report of the Project Manager, Economic and Development Services containing details of a Contract to demolish the swimming pool and four temporary classrooms, to construct a new six classroom teaching block and administration/reception area, together with internal re-modelling and refurbishment to the staffroom, toilets, changing rooms and an existing classroom to form a science laboratory.

The AbbeySpecial School project is part of the ‘Special School Review’ which, following public consultation, approved a change in role for the three Moderate LearningDifficulty Schools and the two Severe LearningDifficulty Schools.  The ‘Special School Review’ sets out the future for Special Education Needs (SEN) pupils in Rotherham, the recommendations of which seek to support a number of the Council’s priorities and will enable Abbey Special School to continue to provide for pupils in Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.

The report contained financial information regarding the contract, together with details of a two-stage partnering process and tender selection.

Resolved:-  That the Target Cost of £992,398 and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of £1,063,398, as negotiated with Wildgoose Construction Limited, be accepted and a start be made on site on 16^th August 2004, subject to the conditions of contract being agreed.

(Exempt under Paragraph 8 of the Act – report contains financial and contractual information).