Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, held on 8^th November, 2011.

Resolved: - That the minutes of the meeting be signed as a true record. 

The following item is 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 March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (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 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 March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)).

The Cabinet Member introduced Collette Bailey, Raising Participation Manager, School Effectiveness Service, Children and Young People’s Services, who presented a report on the options for the future delivery of the Local Authority’s Statutory Requirements in relation to careers information, advice, guidance and targeted support. 

Pursuant to Minute D141 of the Cabinet Member for Safeguarding and Developing Learning Opportunities for Children of 6^th April, 2011, a contract for the provision of careers information, advice, guidance and targeted support between Rotherham MBC and Prospects had been extended to 31^st March 2013.  RMBC now needed to agree the scope and set the budget for the final year of operation of the existing Connexions contract.       

The report detailed the scope of the current service, an analysis of un-met needs through existing service delivery, and options for future delivery and potential financial efficiencies for the contract’s final year. 

Three options were presented for consideration in relation to the future delivery of the Local Authority’s statutory duties on the provision of careers information, advice, guidance and targeted support, as existed within the Education Act (1997), and as amended by the new Section 42A to Part 7 of the same Act.   

The risks and benefits of each option were discussed, and the following discussion points ensued:

• The capacity and preparedness of schools to undertake the delivery of full careers information, advice and guidance prior to the full implementation of their duty under the new Section 42A to Part 7 of the Education Act (1997) that was planned for September 2012, should this be required;
• The potential for in-house delivery of certain careers information, advice, guidance and targeted support provision;
• The total caseload of Professional Advisers and the spectrum of requirements, and the differing delivery requirements of individual young people;
• The capacity of Prospects to deliver the three options that had been proposed;
• The potential risks and benefits to the affected cohorts of young people through the adoption of the options that had been proposed for consideration.  

Resolved: - That option one, to maintain the current Connexions budget at current value, until re-commissioning of the service was completed in October 2012, be approved.