Agenda and minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10^th February, 2010 be approved as a correct record.

Karen Borthwick, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Assistant Head of School Effectiveness 11-19 concerning the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 which becomes operational on 1st April 2010 and will bring about radical change in post-16 learning, including:-

(i) the dissolution of the Learning and Skills Council and placing upon local authorities a new duty to secure sufficient, suitable education and training provision for all resident 16-19 year olds, 16-25 year olds who have learning difficulties and disabilities and young people in young offender institutions;

(ii) the establishment of the Young People's Learning Agency to have responsibility for funding16-19 education and training and for overseeing the allocation of post-16 resources to Academies;

(iii) the creation of a Skills Funding Agency that will have overall responsibility for the performance and resourcing of Further Education colleges and, through the new National Apprenticeship Service, for securing sufficient apprenticeships for all young people who are suitably qualified and who want one;

(iv) recognising, for the first time, Sixth Form Colleges as a distinct legal category and make them the responsibility of the local authority.

The report stated that preparations for the transfer are being made at national, regional and sub-regional level. Details of the sub-regional implementation plan and its monitoring were included with the submitted report. Members debated issues concerning the transfer of resources during the governance changes and the need to update the Borough Council’s risk register.

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

(2) That the transfer of 16-19 responsibilities from the Learning and Skills Council to the Borough Council be noted.

(3) That the preparations being made by officers for the adoption of these new responsibilities and commissioning powers, as now reported, be endorsed.

(4) That approval be granted for the Strategic Director of Children and Young People Services to draw down funds from the Young People’s Learning Agency for the purposes detailed in the report submitted.

(5) That the report be submitted to the Cabinet and to the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel.

(6) That a seminar be arranged for all Members of the Council about the changes in the post-16 learning governance arrangements.

Sue May, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Looked After Children Service Manager concerning the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme which gives local authorities a financial incentive to encourage local business growth by rewarding qualifying business growth with a non-ring-fenced grant.

The report stated that a LABGI funding allocation of £30,000 was agreed in August 2009 to support developmental work and activities for Looked After Children. Members considered the proposals for allocation of this grant funding, as detailed in the report submitted.

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

(2) That approval be granted for the allocation of the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives grant funding to the projects listed below, in accordance with the details contained in the report now submitted:-

(i) transfer £10,000 LABGI funds to the Looked After Children Trust, with the remainder of the monies divided between:-

(ii) sessional youth work;

(iii) The Pledge (wallet sized version);

(iv) Quarterly Magazine ‘Magazina’ – published by the Looked After Children Council; 

(v) Ministerial Stock-take and visits to meet young people in other authorities;

(vi) Looked After Children Council celebration day and entertainment;

(vii) Young people’s resource publications;

(viii) Developmental work;

(ix) Purchasing rooms, refreshments, children’s payments for the Looked After Children Council.

Joanne Robertson, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Finance Manager  providing details of expenditure, income and the net budget position for the Children and Young People’s Services Directorate compared to the profiled budgets for the period ending 31st January, 2010 and the projected year end outturn position for the 2009/2010 financial year. Currently the Directorate is forecasting an overspend of £4.228m.

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

(2) That the current forecast outturn position for the Directorate based on actual costs and income to 31st January 2010 and forecast costs and income to 31st March 2010 be noted.

(3) That the work continuing to be undertaken within the Children and Young People's Services’ Directorate, to mitigate the budget pressures upon the services, be acknowledged.

Joanne Robertson, report author

Consideration was given to a report submitted by the Finance Manager stating that the revised 2009/10 capital programme for Children and Young People’s Services is £20.594 millions. The report stated that the programme is forecast to be fully spent by 31^st March, 2010. Included within the report (based upon exception reporting) were the actual capital programme expenditure to 15^th January, 2010 and the projected expenditure to 31^st March, 2010.

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

(2) That the capital programme for Children and Young People’s Services of £20.594 millions and the current expenditure to 15^th January, 2010, totalling £14.915 millions, be noted.

(3) That it is noted that the2009/10 capital programme for Children and Young People’s Services is expected to spend to budget by 31^st March, 2010.

(4) That a report be submitted to an early meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People's Services concerning the capital programme proposals for the Goodwin Crescent, Swinton, children’s home.

David Light, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Head of School Effectiveness containing details of the GCSE (Key Stage 4) examination results for 2009 and how they compare to previous years, to the national average and to the results of this Council’s statistical neighbours.

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

(2) That the improved levels of performance across all indicators at the end of Key Stage 4 be welcomed.

(3) That all schools be encouraged to continue to improve their results and strive to achieve outcomes at least in line with the national rate of improvement.

(4) That endorsement be given to the drive to:-

(i) reduce the gap between Rotherham’s performance and the national average performance especially in relation to 5A*-C including English and Mathematics;

(ii) continue to improve boys’ attainment;

(iii) continue to improve the attainment of black and minority ethnic (BME) pupils; and

(iv) continue to improve the attainment of Looked After Children.

(5) The report be also submitted to the Cabinet and to the Children and Young People's Scrutiny Panel.

Karen Borthwick, report author

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Assistant Head of School Effectiveness 11-19 concerning the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 which received Royal Assent on 12th November 2009. The report stated that the principal provisions of the Act transferred responsibilities for commissioning and funding 16-19 education and training from the Learning and Skills Council to local authorities on 1st April, 2010. Details of the allocation of 16-19 funding to schools and colleges for 2010/11 were contained within the report submitted.

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

Consideration was given to the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Building Schools for the Future Project Board, held on 23^rd February, 2010.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes be noted.