Agenda and minutes

Pursuant to Minute No, C50 of January 2000, consideration was given to nominations received to fill LEA vacancies on school governing bodies.

Resolved:-  That, with the effective date of appointment, the following appointments be made to school governing bodies:-

Bramley Sunnyside Junior                              Mrs B Edwards          1/5/07

Arnold Centre                                                 Mrs M Bhatti              1/5/07

Re-appointments

BroomValley Juniors                                     Mrs H Eadson            22/7/07

Catcliffe Primary                                             Mrs J Taylor               22/7/07

Flanderwell J & I                                             Mrs L Bowmar           22/7/07

Kiveton Park Meadows Junior                       Mrs E Hall                   22/7/07

RawmarshRosehill Junior                             Mrs D Douglas           22/7/07

Wickersley Northfield Primary                       Mrs A Greaves           1/9/07

WickersleySchool and SportsCollege          Mrs G Lawrence        22/7/07

Wingfield Comprehensive                              Mrs C Neale               22/7/07

Arnnold Centre                                               Mrs D Venn                1/9/07

Aughton Early Years Centre                           Mr M Woodhouse      1/9/07

Aughton Early Years Centre                           Mrs B Bartholomew   1/9/07

The above appointments are subject to satisfactory checks being undertaken.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the Local Admissions Forum held on 29^th March, 2007 be received.

- to receive the minutes

Minutes of a meeting of the Clifton Park Restoration Project Board held on 13^th April, 2007, attended by Councillors St. John (in the Chair) and Austen, McNeely and Smith were noted.

- to consider the grant applications outlined in the report

In accordance with Minute No. 211 of a meeting of the Cabinet Member for Education, Culture and Leisure Services held on 3^rd February 2004, consideration was given to a report of the Director of Service Culture and Leisure which contained a list of Grants for Community Arts Projects 2007.

This is the fourth year of this small arts grants scheme, managed by the Community Arts Service, out of funds originally routed through Arts Council England, Yorkshire.

This year there are fifteen applicants, requesting a total of £11,426.  This is slightly less than previous years and is done in order for the Community Arts Service to be able to give the level of support needed for successful outcomes of schemes. The total sum available is £10,000 and the total of the awards recommended amount to £9,993.

All projects will be required to complete a report to enable the Authority to monitor the amount of arts activity in the Borough and the success of this scheme.

It is the intention to evaluate the impact of the grants scheme at the end of 5 years, with the development of an Arts Strategy for Rotherham which will give a policy for proceeding in the future.

Groups from all wards are being encouraged to apply, though priority is given to those with disadvantaged communities, to assist in having an impact across the Borough.  All the applications support active participation in the arts by local people.  Six applications support work with children and young people.  Four applications support activities and events which raise the profile of arts in Rotherham, encouraging visitors as well as providing activities and entertainment for local people.  One application is from a group supporting people with mental health needs.  This project is supported by Rhiannon Galloway Coburn, Community Arts Officer, Arts in Health and Social Work, as are four applications targeted at supporting activities for people in South Rotherham, which is a priority area for Arts and Health Development.  Four applications are for projects which have an element of celebrating Cultural Diversity and promoting Community Cohesion.

The report set out the total projects costs and the criteria of match funding for FAIR funded projects for cultural activities into the Borough.  Much of these funds are levered from the Arts Council England, Yorkshire (ACEY).  When groups apply to ACEY, the Local Authority is requested to comment, and to state whether they are providing match funding through FAIR or through other means.  It holds therefore that ACEY are keen to see confirmed local support for projects as part of applications submitted to them.

Discussion took place on:-

-                       Colourscape Project and involvement of Rotherham schools

-                       Capacity and development work towards Cultural Diversity Festival

-                       Role of Festival & Events Team in helping groups to work together

Resolved:-  That the grant applications, as contained in the report now submitted, be approved.

- to approve the revised Corporate Records Management Policy

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Culture and Leisure which gave details of the Council’s commitment to the development and implementation of a records management programme.

This commitment stems from legislative obligations; recognition of the need for efficient conduct of business and the authority’s stated aim to be a ‘Proud Council’ demonstrating openness and accountability.

A records management policy statement was agreed by Council in February, 2005.  It is in need of review to maintain its currency, both internally to the Council and externally in relation to best practice in other local authorities.

The report set out the main areas of change with regard to:-

-                       Legislative obligations and compliance

-                       Rotherham MBC and the modernising transformation agenda

-                        

Corporate Information Governance Group had approved the proposed revisions.

Approval of revisions to the policy will add renewed weight to the implementation of the records management programme across all Directorates.  This will, in turn, contribute to wider agendas such as e-government, performance and inspection ratings and the transformational Our Futures projects.

Approval of the Revised Corporate Records Management Policy will underpin and give authority to the continued development and implementation of a corporate records management programme in order to ensure responsibility at all levels of the Local Authority.

Resolved:-  That, subject to approval by Cabinet, the revised Corporate Records Management Policy be agreed. 

(The Chairman authorised consideration of the following item in order to expedite the matter without further delay)

Further to Minute No. A85 of a meeting of the Council held on 25^th April, 2007, and as a result of the completion of the call-in process, the Cabinet Member and Advisors gave further consideration to a decision taken by them on the 13^th March, 2007 (Minute No. 129) to remove the above play area.

In addition, a petition containing 222 signatures in favour of the play area remaining open was considered.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the play area remain open.

(2)         That the local Councillors, local community members (including the Youth Service), and Neighbourhood Action Group, in conjunction with Culture and Leisure officers, put into place strategies to address the anti-social behaviour that is causing problems to nearby residents, including consideration being given to the setting up of a Task and Finish Group, involving all interested parties, through the Area Assembly structure (Wentworth North).

(3)  That an update report be sent to the Cabinet Member, Lifelong Learning, Culture and Leisure, Members, and both the Regeneration and Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panels after six months.