Agenda and minutes

- to receive minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet Member, Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 21^st and 28^th September, 2004 be received.

- to receive minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of a meeting of the Joint Service Centre Project Board held on 29^th September, 2004 be received.

- to inform of the current progress relating to the Business Vision Centre proposal and the procurement of a lead partner

Consideration was given to a joint report of the Partnership Implementation Officer and Principal Officer External Funding on current progress relating to the Business Vision Centre proposal and the procurement of a lead partner.

A report presented to Members had outlined the proposal for the Business Vision Centre and work which would be carried out by Digital South Yorkshire to develop the proposals and secure funding.

The proposal had grown out of the work at the Centre for New Technology (CENT) and the digital learning work across South Yorkshire that has seen centres of vocational excellence being developed in Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.

The Business Vision Centre proposal at Magna is to take forward this model of technology driven change and make it available to small and medium sized enterprises in South Yorkshire.  It envisages a lead partner developing the concept and engaging with a series of business partners who can bring specialism in particular aspects of business change.

The proposed centre aims to provide a total solution to enable business growth, with no similar centre operating for the small to medium sized businesses.

Stage 2 of the development work is to procure a lead partner in order to further develop the project and maximise the funding opportunities available.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress in relation to securing external funding and partner organisations be noted.

(2)                 That the process for the engagement of a lead partner, including Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) advertisement, be approved.

(3)                 That the cross programme working methodology including the engagement of Legal and Democratic Services be agreed.

- to note the forecast outturn for 2004/05

Consideration was given to a report of the Strategic Finance Officer containing details of the third Budget Monitoring Report for the Programme Area in 2004/05, with a current forecast to overspend against budget for the financial year by £10k (0.01%) in respect of Schools Transport Costs.

In addition, there are potential underlying pressures currently under investigation, as highlighted in the report.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the forecast outturn for 2004/05, based on actual costs to 31^st August and forecast costs to the end of March 2005, be noted.

(2)  That the potential underlying pressures which are currently being investigated regarding Recreation and Sport (Indoor Sport) and Schools HR buy-back income under the Strategic Contract with RBT, be noted.

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 accept a target cost and agree a date for start on site

Consideration was given to a report and Form CP5 of the Executive Director, Economic and Development Services which outlined details of a Contract for the construction of a new Foundation Stage Unit.  The Unit will be constructed on a new site opposite the existing primary school and will include internal play areas, external hard/soft play areas, toilets, a kitchen/laundry area and a new entrance with car parking spaces.

A mini soccer pitch is also to be constructed adjacent to the Foundation Stage Unit, which will be available for Community Use.  This will be reported on separately at a later stage.

The report set out the procurement strategy for construction related services, design features and a proposed programme of the work.

Resolved:-  That the Target Cost of £483,437 and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of £512,437, as negotiated with Wildgoose Construction Limited, be accepted and a start made on site mid November 2004, subject to the conditions of contract being agreed.

(Exempt under Paragraph 8 – report contains financial information relating to a contract).

- to agree a Target Cost and date for start on site

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director, Economic and Development Services, which contained details of a contract for the removal of two temporary classrooms, construction of two new classrooms and a nursery classroom, with an office, kitchen and toilets, together with alterations within the existing building of the above school.

The MaltbyHilltop SpecialSchool 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 report set out a proposed timetable of the works, design features and current spending profile (Form CP5).

Resolved:-  That the Target Cost of £621,597.24 and Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of £652,677.10 as negotiated with Wildgoose Construction Limited, be accepted and a start made on site on 25^th October, 2004, subject to the conditions of contract being agreed.

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