Agenda and minutes

Attention was drawn to the following comments/amendments to Minute No. 28 of the meeting held on 7^th July, 2010:-

1.         (iv) Rotherham Partnership (Lifelong Learning Partnership Spoke and (v) Rotherham Partnership (Lifelong Learning Theme Board) – Clarification was sought as to whether these were the same meeting

2.         (x)  Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership – as from September this would be known as the “Think Family Board”

3.         (xviii) Rotherham College of Arts and Technology Board – delete Mrs. Joyce Thacker

4.         (xix) Thomas Rotherham College – Dearne Valley College should also be included for which Mr. Matt Gladstone was the representative.

Resolved:-  (1)  That, subject to the above, the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7^th July, 2010 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

(2)  That a review be undertaken of the outside bodies to establish frequency of meetings, attendance etc.

Further to Minute No. 128 of 24^th February, 2010, the Performance, Information and Quality Manager reported on progress made since the Notice to Improve had been received identifying a RAG rating and a direction of travel for the areas of improvement, some areas of good performance and key risks.  Also highlighted were the issues to meet the stretching targets set for the Council and its strategic partners.

There were 44 individual actions covering the key performance measures in addition to the operational targets around Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Leadership and Management, Performance Management, Finance, Recruitment and Retention and ICT.  Based on a RAG rating, the current position as at 8^th July, 2010, was:-

Red                  2 (5%)

Amber             19 (43%)

Green              23 (52%) (out of which 14 were now deemed as completed)

The report highlighted:-

-        High Risk areas (red risks)

o       Expenditure on agency staff continued to be high - £219,464 for fieldwork staff and £21,639 for administration staff since 1^st April

o       Business Process Re-engineering

-        Areas of Improvement

o       Improve the quality of Serious Case Reviews – this had been fully re-evaluated by OFSTED and had now been rated as adequate.  Now had OFSTED rating of Green

o       NI60 – Increase in % of Core Assessments – between 1^st April-7^th July, 87.71% of Core Assessments had been completed in time, slightly higher than the March, 2011 target of 87%

o       NI59 – trends over the last 6 months were showing a month-on-month improvement

o       Fostering Inspection – shown significant improvement and had moved from just adequate to almost good

-        14 actions had now been completed – details of which were set out in the report submitted.

The DfE had agreed up to £150,000 financial support to assist with recovery, and a further £125,000 had been secured from the RIEP to fund the work around implementation of Common Assessment Framework.  The DfE funding was being used to supplement Social Work staffing resources and to employ independent staff to assist in the review and further improvement of and service quality activities.  In order to strengthen financial management arrangements, all managers with budget holder responsibility attended specific training.  The moratorium which had been in place since December, 2009, continued into 2010/11 to ensure that resources were directed to priority areas.  In addition a savings work programme was in place to identify efficiencies and enable re-investment into priority areas.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress being made against the targets set in the Notice to Improve be noted.

(2)  That the report be referred to Cabinet.

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Resources and Business Manager, summarising the 2009/10 position on school balances.  The overall position showed a 34% fall from 2008/09 with no school having a balance exceeding the thresholds set by the DCSF at the year ending 31^st March, 2010.

A comparison of Rotherham’s school balances as at 31^st March, 2009, showed that Rotherham’s overall school balance as a percentage of the budget was 4.31%, compared to the statistical neighbour average of 6.62%, metropolitan average of 6.89% and Yorkshire and Humber region average of 5.40%. 

In 2007/08 Rotherham had 42 schools whose balances exceeded the DCSF thresholds.  This fell to 21 schools in 2008/09.  In 2009/10 no school had a balance exceeding the threshold and therefore no clawback would be applied this year.

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

Further to Minute No. 25 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Children and Young People’s Services held on 1^st July, 2009, consideration was given to a report presented by the European Structural Funds NEETs Response Fund Manager detailing the progress in the management and delivery of the European Structural Funds (ESF) 16-19 NEETs Response Fund to 31st May, 2010.

The report focussed on the success of the ESF NEETs Response Fund in creating sustainable outcomes which had resulted in additional ESF funding and helped inform how the Council would manage its new post-16 statutory duties from 1^st April, 2010:-

-        The Authority’s new statutory lead as from 1^st April, 2010, to deliver full participation in learning to the age of 18 years old by commissioning 16-19 (25) learning provision funding from the Young People’s Learning Agency which as a result:-

o       A new 5 year 14-19 (25) Learning Plan being developed focussing on these duties which would be reviewed each July

o       The Council would need to produce an annual Commissioning Statement each autumn setting out the 16-19 (25) learning priorities for the Borough.

-        Broadening provision and developing a bespoke offer (as of 30^th June, 2010)

-        Securing an additional £500,000 of ESF NEETs Response Fund and £150,000 of YPLA LR funding to commission Foundation learning Provision for 16-19 (25) year olds in 2010/11.  An Invitation to Tender had been posted on the Council’s procurement website

-        Rotherham achieved its lowest ever NEET figure of 6.8% in January, 2009 which contributed to the Authority achieving its Local Area Agreement stretch target of 7.1% resulting in an additional £880,000 of funding to the Authority.

As of 31^st May, 2010, the Authority had committed/spent £1.3M and drawn down £960,000 for achieving 368 young people starts and 175 progressions.  In addition £1.3M was allocated for 14-16 NEETs prevention work (June, 2009 to September, 2010).

However, Michael Grove, Secretary of State for Education, had announced on 19^th July that local authorities would no longer be responsible for the education provision of 16-19 (25) year olds – with exception of School Sixth Forms.  Firm details were unknown at the present time. Officers have commenced discussions with YPLA colleagues on the implications for the LA of this announcement. Sub-Regional DCs are meeting on 21 July and will discuss what the Sub-Regional response might be.

The announcement did mean that the 14-19 learning plan, developed with partners and signed off at the beginning of the month, would no longer be a key decision for the Cabinet as it would not have the £37M post-16 funding attached to it.

Under the new proposals the authority would not be responsible for funding provision at the 2 Further Education Colleges and 1 Sixth From College.

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

(2) That a further report be submitted in October once the implications of the new announcement are known by September.

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 2012/2013, 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 Education. 

The Local Authority had previously supplied a hard copy of the ‘Admission to School’ booklet to every parent applying for Admission to Primary School and for Admission to Secondary School.  The information contained in the booklets was available on the website together with details on how to make an on-line application.  Prompted by the current financial position, booklets would now only be provided upon request.  All parents would receive a short summary explaining how to apply for a school plan, a copy of the Common Application Form and information on how to access the on-line system.

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

(2)  That the changes to the admission policy/co-ordinated scheme for the admission year 2012/13, as detailed in the report submitted, be noted.

(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, 2011.

The Director, Children and Young People’s Services submitted a report summarising proposals by the Secretary of State for Schools to convert to Academy Status.

The Secretary of State wrote to the Head Teachers of all schools on 26^th May, 2010, encouraging them to express an interest in becoming academies.  In particular he wrote to the Head Teachers of outstanding schools encouraging them to consider “acquiring academy freedoms” from 1^st September, 2010.  This would be done under the Academies Bill which was currently being debated in Parliament.

An academy was an independently funded state school.  If a school became an academy it would receive its budget from the Young People’s Learning Agency which also managed funding for all 16-19 year olds.  It would no longer receive the funding from the local authority.  Staff and land would be transferred to the newly formed Academy Trust, an independent charity.

The DfE had published a list of schools who had expressed an interest in becoming an academy.  3 Rotherham schools had expressed an interest – Wales, Brinsworth and St. Bernard’s.  No primary school had expressed an interest.  The DfE had assigned a Project Officer to the LA for Wales and Brinsworth to ensure the conversion is a smooth process and confirmed that they should be academies by 1^st September, 2010.

Wales and Brinsworth had confirmed that they wish the Local Authority to continue the HR and Payroll Service and, for that reason, it had been agreed that they become Academies as from 1^st October, 2010.  A portfolio of services and Service Level Agreements had been drawn up that the Authority had to provide/which the Academy could buy-in.

Resolved:-    (1)  That the report and mitigating actions be noted

(2)  That land and buildings be transferred to the new Academies on a leasehold basis.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Children’s Board held on 21^st June, 2010 be noted.

Consideration was given to the contents of the minutes of the meeting of the Building Schools for the Future Project Board, held on 29^th June, 2010.

Resolved:- That the contents of the minutes 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 item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves 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 the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

The Director of Children and Young Peoples’ Services presented a report proposed the appropriation of the former Herringthorpe Library as required in accordance with Item 76, Appendix C of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

The vacant asset shown on the plan attached at Appendix 1 of the report submitted was surplus to requirements and held in the Property Bank.  The property required refurbishment to bring it back into beneficial use.

The Director of Community Services had agreed in principle to the appropriation of the asset in order to expand the existing Youth Service provided in the adjacent youth centre.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the appropriation of the former Herringthorpe Library from the Department of Culture and Leisure to the Department of Community Services, at a value of £96,000, be approved, subject to the necessary operational funding being available.

(2)  That the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Democratic Services complete the necessary documentation.

(3)  That the Director of Central Finance amend the Council’s financial records accordingly.

The Design Consultancy Manager presented a report on the current situation with regard to the proposals for the “My Place” youth facility to be constructed on a site adjacent the Wharncliffe Flats in the town centre.

Discussion was taking place with the contractor to bring costs within budget without seriously undermining the basic design concepts favoured by the client.

The programme for the project, dictated by the funding regime, required completion of the project by August, 2011.  In order to achieve that date, approval to accept a tender would need to be given in advance of the next scheduled Cabinet Member meeting in September. 

This had been discussed with Legal Services who were in agreement with the proposed way forward.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the project team continue to work closely with the Client and Contractor in order to bring costs within budget and to ensure that the scheme was completed and handed over within the site time period.

(2)  That the appointment of the contractor, (Wildgoose Construction Ltd), be approved subject to the contractor submitting a tender price within the project budget and meeting the financial and technical constraints of the project.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).