1.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2004 were confirmed.
2.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no interests declared at this stage.
3.
FORWARD PLAN
The Select Committee were advised by the Portfolio
Holder of the relevant items within the Forward Plan for June to September
2004. It was noted that the action plan following the SSI Inspection of
Children’s Services would now be considered at the Executive on 14 July 2004.
Members discussed the best approach to be taken with regard to this matter as
the result of changes to the remit of this Select Committee and the Adult and
Community Services Select Committee.
With regard to the services that were being transferred
between Select Committee remits, consideration would need to be given as to how
this could be successfully achieved so that relevant issues could still be
progressed. Members indicated that
rather than circulating a copy of the Forward Plan at the meeting a copy should
be displayed on the projection screen.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :
A copy of
the relevant items contained within the Forward Plan be displayed at the
meeting.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES AND THE STRATEGIC
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES
To assist in the transfer of Children’s Services between the two Select
Committees the Adult and Community Services Select Committee, on 15 July 2004,
consider the Action Plan following the SSI Inspection of Children’s Services
and pass on its comments and recommendations to this Select Committee
4.
QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4
The Deputy Leader of the Council reported on the
performance of various services for the quarter ended 31 March 2004, which came
within the Select Committees previous remit.
He outlined a number of achievements, ongoing activities from the Annual
Action Statement and CPA Improvement Plan.
The Portfolio Holder indicated that the comments
made by the Select Committee on the performance information on mobile
libraries, visits to libraries and book renewals should be contained in the
report for the first quarter of the new financial year.
In discussing the key achievements members clarified
that the training yacht acquired through the New Opportunities Fund would be
managed by the Island Youth Water Activities Centre and not have any financial
implications for the Council.
With regard to the cost of home to school transport
being an area of concern the Select Committee believed that this issue should
be the subject of further debate. It
was noted however that the Environment and Transport Select Committee had
established a Task Group to scope a Best Value Review on Transport. This Group could be asked to consider
including home to school transport within the scope of the Review. If this did not prove possible then the
Select Committee could then discuss how to tackle the issue.
The Portfolio Holder indicated that due to lower
than predicted visitor numbers to the Dinosaur Isle museum, income levels would
be affected. Officers were however
investigating options including changing opening hours. Members noted that this was a service that
was included in the recent changes to Select Committees remit.
The Select Committee then debated the problems
associated with the Council’s licence to hold public records. No funding had been allocated for 2004/05 to
enable a feasibility study to be undertaken on the creation of new storage
facilities. The Libraries, Museums and
Archives Manager outlined the effect that the loss of the licence would
have. Members indicated that urgent
consideration on the options available was required. It was noted that with the proposed report on the Children’s
Services Inspection being dealt with in July 2004 by the Adult and Community
Services Select Committee an opportunity existed for this Select Committee to
consider a report and make recommendations on future actions
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE
AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT
A request
be made to the Task Group scoping the Best Value Review on Transport for this
to include home to school transport.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT AND LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES
MANAGER
A site
visit be arranged before the meeting on 6 July 2004 of the Record Office and
then an item be discussed on the future options.
ACTION TO
BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR ADULT AND COMMUNITY AERVICES AND
LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES MANAGER
A report be made to the Adult and Community Services Select Committee in
six months time on the range of options available to the Council for increasing
visitor numbers to Dinosaur Isle.
5.
POST 14 – 19 INSPECTION DRAFT ACTION PLAN
The Chairman welcomed Mr P Higgins of the Learning
and Skills Council to the meeting. Mr
Higgins had been involved with Council Officers and the Portfolio Holder in
drafting the proposed action plan arising from the 14 – 19 Area Inspection
undertaken by Ofsted.
The Select Committee was advised that the education
and training provision for 14 – 19 year olds on the Island was graded as
satisfactory overall. This appeared to
be in line with the majority of other authorities inspected to date.
Members were told of the areas of service where
strengths and weaknesses had been identified.
The improved achievements at the College was particularly highlighted
together with strategies employed by the Connexions Service. The three priorities where developments were
required were :
i.
Raising
standards and improving the quality of teaching and learning at Key Stage 4.
ii.
Developing
and implementing for 14 – 19 year olds an entitlement to an appropriate choice
of curriculum options, information, advice and guidance.
iii.
Safeguarding
the long term viability and quality of the full range of post 16 provision.
The process involved in preparing the draft Action
Plan was outlined and this was still ongoing.
The final Action Plan had to be with DfES by 26 June 2004. If the Plan was accepted, funding would be
made available via the Learning and Skills Council, to assist with its
implementation. In considering the
draft Action Plan members emphasised the importance of retaining staff to
assist in the development and improvement of standards. It was vital to ensure that staff were kept
motivated and could access training opportunities. The Council’s Inspection Service was a key component in delivery
and attainment. It was known that this
was one area where resources were currently under pressure and the Action Plan
should include a review of staff required to support the service.
The Select Committee debated the roles and
responsibilities of the different partners and agencies involved in the
service. Some concern was expressed as
to the membership of the Executive Group.
Whilst the Strategic Director would be a member, the Select Committee
considered that, based on the comments made previously by Ofsted on member
involvement, the Portfolio Holder should also serve on the Executive
Group. This would ensure full LEA
accountability and responsibility although it was noted that the Portfolio
Holder would serve on other bodies feeding into the structure.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER OF
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
i.
The Action Plan to include reference to the need for
staff retention to assist in the improvement of standards.
ii. A review
on the level of staffing required for a robust inspection service be included.
iii. Consideration
should be given to the Portfolio Holder being a member of the Executive Group
to ensure LEA accountability and responsibility.
iv.
A final draft of the
Action Plan be circulated to all members of the Select Committee by the end of
the week for any final comment.
6.
WORKPLAN
The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support
presented the draft Workplan based on items raised at the Select Committee’s
Awayday. Members were reminded that
earlier in the meeting it had been agreed that the Children’s Services
Inspection report proposed for the 6 July 2004 meeting would be considered by
the adult and Community Services Select Committee. This would enable the Select Committee to investigate options for
the future of the Council’s Records and Archives Services.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE
AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT
The workplan be agreed subject to the amendments made earlier relating
to the 14 July 2004 meeting.
CHAIRMAN