MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

Present :

Mrs J L Wareham (Chairman), Mrs B D Clough, Mr C M Gauntlett, Mr C R Hancock, Mr J F Howe, Mr P D Joyce, Mr G S Kendall, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards

Co-opted :

Mr N Mitchell, Ms M Wilson

Apologies :

Archdeacon M Banting, Mrs D Gardiner

Spokesperson :

Mr P G Harris

RESOLVED :

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 8 October 2001 be confirmed.

11. URGENT BUSINESS - LIBRARIES WORKING PARTY

The Chairman raised an item relating to the Libraries Working Party which required clarification before any meetings of it were held. The Working Party had been established by the Select Committee at its meeting on 10 September 2001.

A query had been raised as to the need to have political proportionality on the Working Party. The Head of Select Committee Support indicated the difference in operation between a Working Party and a Task Group. It was felt by Members that it would be more appropriate to have a Task Group to discuss matters pertaining to libraries thereby allowing any interested Member of the Select Committee to attend.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Libraries Working Party be changed to a Task Group.

12. SERVICE PLANS AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The Select Committee gave consideration to the Service Plans that were deferred from its meeting on 8 October 2001. The Service Plans remaining involved Museums Services, Premises Development, Record Office, Music Service, Branstone Farm and Ventnor Botanic Gardens.

In considering the issues relating to the Service Plan for Premises Development, Members were made aware of the comments made by OFSTED which highlighted the management of this function as national best practice. The Senior Education Officer (Planning and Resources) gave an outline of the work involved in capital schemes at schools. Every attempt was made to minimise disruption to school activities caused by building works. There were difficulties in finding a suitable method of benchmarking service delivery.

The Select Committee, in considering the Service Plans for education matters, had identified a number of areas where it would be beneficial to have an informal briefing. Officers indicated that they would make arrangements for this to take place.

With regard to the Ventnor Botanic Garden the Select Committee was told that there had been a reduction of 30% in visitor numbers during 2001. The Curator of the Botanic Garden believed that this was caused primarily by the land slippage at Undercliff Drive. Concern was expressed that the Garden was not listed as a stop by Southern Vectis and that since the road had been closed all bus services had been re-routed away from the area with no connecting service provided between it and the town.

Efforts were being made to expand on the lifelong learning aspect of the Garden together with increased usage of the newly opened Visitor Centre. Concerns relating to the catering contract were expressed and these would be taken up with the company involved. The need to increase revenue to assist in funding improvements to the Garden was emphasised. It was only possible to undertake limited development work due to the staffing resources available. A number of other initiatives were being undertaken in connection with the operation of the Garden both locally and nationally. The Select Committee was advised that capital works costing �35,000 had been approved by the Executive earlier that week thereby enabling urgent repairs to be made to some of the pathways.

The Select Committee then considered the Service Plan for the County Record Office. The County Archivist referred to the main functions of the service. The range of documents kept was outlined together with those retained on behalf of the Public Record Office. The Council had only been issued with a temporary licence by the Public Record Office and unless improvements could be made in the storage of certain records these would be transferred to a more appropriate facility on the mainland. Ways of overcoming the limited facilities provided at the County Record Office at Hillside, Newport had been investigated over a number of years but without a satisfactory conclusion. It was noted that some archives were kept at Northwood House, the Guildhall, East Cowes Heritage Centre and Cothey Bottom. There was a need however to continue the search for a property that could satisfactorily accommodate all the existing archives. Whilst the use of the latest IT methods could assist in the storage of a number of records there would still be a need to retain originals of some of the more important documents. The staffing levels hampered the ability to transfer material onto IT and also the examination of documents being offered to the Record Office.

The Select Committee was advised that, due to other commitments, it had not been possible for the appropriate officers to be available in connection with the remaining Service Plans.

RESOLVED :

THAT arrangements be made, in consultation with the Chairman, for the Service Plans relating to the Music Service, Branstone Farm and the Museums Service to be discussed by the Select Committee at an appropriate, or special, meeting prior to consideration of the 2002/03 budget.

CHAIRMAN