Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, held on 4^th October, 2011.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Member held on 4^th October, 2011 be signed as a true record. 

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

Resolved:- That, with the effective date of appointment as shown, the following appointments be made to school governing bodies, subject to satisfactory checks being undertaken:-

(i)                   New Appointments:

Mrs Claire Spencer                Aston Lodge Primary                          18.10.11

Mrs Wendy Violentano           Aston Springwood Primary                18.10.11

Mr Matthew Ukpe                  Canklow Wood Primary                      18.10.11

Mrs Carolyn Smyth                 Rawmarsh Rosehill Junior                 18.10.11

Dr Richard Boland                  Swinton Brookfield Primary                18.10.11

Mrs Andrea Roberts              Todwick Primary                                 18.10.11

Mr Richard Thomas               Wickersley Northfield Primary           18.10.11

Further to Minute H44 of the Cabinet Member for Adult Independence, Health and Wellbeing held on 6^th December, 2010, Sue Shelley, Extended Learning Manager, presented the report which sets out the next steps in implementing the further education reform programme through a review of informal adult and community learning, and consultation exercise. 

In November 2010, the Government published two strategy documents: ‘Skills for Sustainable Growth’ and ‘Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth’, that set out the future direction of the reform of further education for those aged 19 and over.  The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) was now consulting on proposals to deliver the Government’s aims for Informal Adult Community Learning to:

• Promote consistently high quality teaching and learning;
• Freeing college and other providers from as many bureaucratic restrictions as possible in order to allow a more effective response to the needs of communities.

The consultation on Informal Adult Community Learning was part of a wider consultation on the post-19 further education provision.  This included consultation questions on:

• The structure of the sector;
• The impact of greater freedoms and flexibilities on the sector;
• The impact of simplifying the funding system;
• The provision of adult literacy and numeracy;
• The introduction of FE loans.

It was proposed that a Rotherham-wide response be submitted to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills as stakeholders’ jointly have contributed to the consultation questions arranged through Rotherham’s multi-agency Adult Learning Strategy Steering Group.

Reference was made to the draft response document as submitted which showed the proposed responses to the questions.

Discussion ensued as to why there was no suggested response to Question 7.  It was noted that this was because the Local Authority did not deliver ‘learning across localities’, which was specified in the question. 

The discussion also included:

·         Terminology used within the consultation questions;

·         The importance of the Local Authority’s role in delivering Adult and Family Learning;

·         Quality assurance;

·         The role of the voluntary sector. 

Resolved:- (1)  That the review of Further Education Reform Programme and Informal Adult Community Learning be noted.

(2)  That the Director for Schools and Lifelong Learning respond to the consultation by 21^st October, 2011. 

(3)       That a further report regarding the outcome of the consultation and the impact upon the Council’s delivery of Adult and Family Learning be submitted to the Cabinet Member when the proposals for the future are published.  

(4) That the Extended Learning Manager and the Co-ordinator of Governor Development Services work together to ensure continuing professional development opportunities available are fully utilised and shared.

Consideration was given to the report presented by Elenore Fisher, Cultural Services Manager, which provided a progress update on the proposed implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology required to deliver and improve library services in Riverside House.  

The proposal for implementation (including all financial arrangements) was approved at the Corporate ICT and Information Governance Board meeting on 26^th September, 2011 (‘Technology upgrade in the new Central Library, Riverside House’ - Option 2: Implement RFID technology to replace existing barcode system). 

A request for an exemption from Standing Order 48.2.1 was made so that the Radio Frequency Identification technology contract could be awarded to an existing library supplier, 3M, instead of going through a formal tendering process with 3 suppliers. 

In support of the business reasons that necessitated the exemption of the Standing Order, the report noted that:

·         3M offer technologies not currently available from other providers (e.g. the mobile workstations and printers for more effective on-the-spot enquiry work);

·         3M provide the barcoding self-service units currently in use.  This would provide the most cost effective option for upgrading the units to RFID in the future;

·         RFID recommend a 6-month implementation process (including staff training and familiarisation).  Current timescales state that the new Library will open in April 2012, so it is crucial the project begins as soon as possible; a tendering process would delay the start of the project even further;

·         RFID tags from the library book suppliers need to be ordered urgently, the process of re-tagging all current stock in the Central Library needs to commence, and suppliers need to be instructed to RFID-tag new stock.  None of these are possible until a Radio Frequency Identification technology supplier is appointed.

Discussion ensued as to whether it would be possible to procure Radio Frequency Identification technology from other providers.  It was noted that Radio Frequency Identification was available from other providers, but that, looking at the Library Service as a whole, using an alternative provider would incur extra charges relating to equipment and configuration of existing systems, which would lead to additional costs, compared to the use of 3M as the supplier of RFID.

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

(2) That an exemption from Standing Order 48.2.1 (requirement to obtain at least 3 written quotations for contracts with an estimated value of between £50K and £500K) be approved.

(3) That the supplier 3M carry out the Radio Frequency Identification implementation at the new Library at Riverside House.