Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1^st July, 2009 be approved as a correct record.

Julie Westwood and Warren Carratt, report authors

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Workforce Strategy, Planning and Development Manager, stating that in line with Department for Children, Schools and Families requirements and guidance from the Children’s Workforce Development Council, the Workforce Development Strategy had been produced to represent the strategic aims of the One Children’s Workforce in Rotherham and with regard to workforce development over the next three years, 2009 to 2012. A copy of the Workforce Development Strategy, 2009 to 2012, was appended to the report submitted.

The report stated that the key local driver is the Children and Young People’s Plan, supported by individual Service plans. The overall direction is determined through Every Child Matters and the Change for Children agenda.  In order to deliver against the Council’s vision, high impact priorities and core values, the workforce needed to be transformed to ensure the needs of today are met and fitness for the future. The Children and Young People’s Plan brings together the Council’s shared vision, identity and purpose, through the use of common values and language.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the Workforce Development Strategy 2009 to 2012, as now submitted, be approved.

(3) That the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services be informed of:-

- the possibility of earlier completion of the actions listed in the Strategy; and

- the membership of the Workforce Planning Group.

(4) That the report and strategy be submitted to the Children’s Board.

Joanne Robertson, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Resources and Access detailing the expenditure, income and the net budget position for Children and Young People’s Services, compared to the profiled budgets, for the period 1^st April until 31^st May 2009 and the projected year end (2009/2010) outturn position. The report stated that, currently, the Directorate is forecasting an overspend of £2,444,000.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the current 2009/2010 forecast outturn position for the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate, based on actual costs and income to 31^st May 2009 and forecast costs and income to 31^st March 2010 be noted.

David Ashmore and Vera Njegic, report authors

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Manager, Resources and Access, summarising the 2008/09 position on schools’ surplus balances and    proposing that approval be granted to follow the procedure as described in Rotherham’s Fair Funding Scheme

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the overall position in Rotherham of school balances, as now reported, be noted.

(3) That the Director of Resources and Access convene a sub-group of the Schools Forum to review surplus balances and report back to the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services during the Autumn 2009.

David Hill, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the School Organisation, Planning and Development Manager stating that all admission Authorities must consult by 1^st March, in the determination year, on the admission arrangements for those schools for which they are responsible. The consultation must take place for a minimum of eight weeks between 1^st November and 1st March and a final determination made by 15^th April. The report advised on the proposed admission policy/coordinated scheme for the admission year 2011/2012, which is in relation to the criteria used where a school is oversubscribed and any changes required as a consequence of requirements arising under the new Admissions Code of Practice published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the changes to the admission policy/coordinated scheme for the admission year 2011/2012, as detailed in the report submitted, be approved.

(3) That the report be forwarded to the Local Admissions Forum for information/comment.

(4) That the appropriate consultation with School Governing Bodies/other Local Authorities shall take place, as usual, mainly in the Autumn Term, 2009 and up to 1^st March, 2010.

(5) That a further report be presented to the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services on any feedback from the annual admissions consultation, during March, 2010.

Pam Allen, report author

Further to Minute No. 163 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 8^th April, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Strategic Director of Children and Young People’s Services on the implications of the findings of the Lord laming report about the protection of children from harm. Appended to the report was a copy of this Authority’s action plan, prepared in response to the findings of the report.

Resolved:- (1) That the report and action plan be received and their contents noted.

(2) That the following actions be endorsed:-

(a) that the Safeguarding Board Members shall undertake to consider their Agency’s required actions following an assessment of the current position;

(b) that the Safeguarding Board Manager undertakes to collate the Action Plan and monitor the process accordingly; and

(c) that the Safeguarding Board Manager shall update the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, at quarterly intervals, of progress to date.

The following items are likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to financial or business affairs)

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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to financial or business affairs).

ShereeHenchley, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Capital Projects Officer (Early Years and Childcare Service) concerning proposed criteria for the distribution of the Department for Children, Schools and Families Quality and Access Capital Grant funding to private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years and childcare providers. The report referred in particular to the need for a decision on the funding of fixed capital equipment, such as canopies.

The Quality and Access Capital Grant is provided to local authorities to improve the quality of the environment in private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years and childcare settings, both to support higher quality experiences for young children and to ensure that all children can access services and benefit fully from them. The grant is time limited and all purchases must be made by 31^st March, 2011. The proposal is to implement an application process to enable providers to apply for the grant within the stated aims of the scheme.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That settings on non-Borough Council land and/or property must have a current lease, if applying for fixed capital equipment (for example: canopies).

(3) That, subject to (4) below, approval be granted for an allocation of a maximum sum of £5,000 for each Affiliated Childminder (where application approved) with an agreement to support ‘exceptional’ applications above £5,000 to a maximum of £12,000, where recommended by the project manager and the grant assessment panel.

(4) That each setting and each Affiliated Childminder in receipt of a Quality and Access Capital Grant shall be required to continue as a setting and/or as an Affiliated Childminder for a period of three continuous years beginning on the date of receipt of the grant; if they do not comply with this condition, the full amount of the grant shall be repayable.

(5) That a report be submitted to the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services, during the Autumn, 2009, detailing the allocation criteria of the Quality and Access Capital Grant scheme and such criteria shall endeavour to target grants at the most disadvantaged areas of the Rotherham Borough.

(6) That an appropriate press release be issued about the allocation of these grants.

Brian Barrett and Kathryn Walton, report authors

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Senior Building Surveyor concerning the tenders received for the construction of a new brick clad, pitched tiled roofed Modular Unit within grounds of the Rockingham Junior and Infant School, as an extension to Rockingham Children’s Centre. The report stated that the contract had been awarded to Henry Boot Construction (UK) Ltd, from within the team of the Rotherham Construction Partnership’s strategic contractor partners, in accordance with the agreed criteria. The contractor has been an integral member of the project team and has agreed the target price and guaranteed maximum price based on the approved design.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the tender submitted by Henry Boot Construction (UK) Ltd.,dated 27^th May, 2009, in the sum of £530,818.58, be accepted in respect of the construction of a new brick clad, pitched tiled roofed Modular Unit within grounds of the Rockingham Junior and Infant School.

(3) That an appropriate press release be issued about this construction project.

Graham Sinclair, report author

Further to Minute No. 144 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 25^th March, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the Director of Resources and Access concerning the proposal to create a Childrenand Young People’s Health, Emotional Well Being and Short Break Centre on the site of the former Kimberworth Comprehensive School. The report stated that the project was being delivered and funded in partnership with Rotherham NHS.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the proposal to refurbish the former Kimberworth Comprehensive School to provide multi-agency co-located services, as described in the report now submitted and in partnership with Rotherham NHS, be supported.

The Director of Resources and Access submitted the revised document ‘Transforming Rotherham Learning – Strategy for Change Part’, which had to be submitted to the Department for Children, Schools and families by 25^th August, 2009, in accordance with the timetable for Building Schools for the Future.

Resolved:- That the contents of the revised document be approved.

The Strategic Director, Children and Young People’s Services and the Human Resources Manager reported on proposals for a revised organisational staffing structure for Children and Young People’s Services.

Resolved:- That the revised organisational staffing structure for the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate, as now submitted, be approved.