PAPER G
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EDUCATION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND LIFELONG LEARNING SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mrs J L Wareham (Chairman), Mr C B W Chapman, 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 A J Mellor, Mr K Pearson, Mr R C Richards,
Co-opted :
Archdeacon M Banting, Sister Patricia, Ms M Wilson
Also Present (non-voting) :
Mr A J Mundy
Apologies :
Mr P G Harris, Mr N Mitchell
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2001 be confirmed.
9. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
(a) Local and Regional Cultural Strategies
The Director reported that all local authorities had to prepare a Local Cultural Strategy by the end of 2002. Consultation meetings were currently being held with relevant local groups on the development of such a strategy. Additionally the South East England Cultural Consortium was seeking views on a Regional Cultural Strategy.
Members noted the wide ranging services that were encompassed by a cultural strategy. The Select Committee Liaison Committee had discussed the issues involved and considered that the Education, Community Development and Lifelong Learning Select Committee should take the lead on this. It would however be necessary to ensure that the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee was involved in any Task Group.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT this Select Committee be responsible for matters relating to the Local and Regional Cultural Strategies.
(ii) THAT work undertaken in connection with the strategies be done through a joint Task Group comprising members of this Select Committee and the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee.
(b) Isle of Wight Arts Strategy 2002 - 2007
The Select Committee received a presentation by the Council's Arts Development Officer on the process involved in producing the draft Isle of Wight Arts Strategy for 2002-2007. Members were advised of the individuals and stakeholders participating in the consultation exercise and the facilities that had been visited. Southern Arts, together with an external consultant, had assisted with the preparation of the draft strategy.
The Arts Strategy identified seven objectives for the arts over the next 5 years. Some of these could be met from existing resources. The role of arts in the wider context of community and economic regeneration, social inclusion and neighbourhood renewal was highlighted. Particular mention was made of the work undertaken in connection with Ryde carnival and the development of these to other areas of the Island. Members also emphasised the inclusion of writing in the strategy.
The Select Committee discussed the priorities for year one of the strategy and the renewal of the contract for the Council's theatres at Ryde and Shanklin in 2003. It was believed that there was a need for a Working Party to be established early in 2002 to consider the basis of negotiations for any future contractual obligations. An appraisal of the conditions of the properties involved, together with access arrangements, would form a key element in this.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Executive be recommended to endorse the Arts Strategy for 2002 -2007.
(ii) THAT a Working Party be established early in 2002 to prepare for the renegotiations of the contracts with Council owned theatres, drawing on expert assistance as required.
(c) Service Plans and Performance Indicators
Prior to the commencement of the meeting Members of the Select Committee had been asked to rank the order of priority of the Service Plans to assist in discussions. The outcome of this exercise was 1. Education Personnel; 2. Education Financial Services; 3. Early Years; 4. Museums Service; 5. Premises Development; 6. Record Office; joint 7. Music Service and Branstone Farm and 9. Ventnor Botanic Garden.
The Director explained the format of the Service plans and how those for Education and Community Development linked in with other plans and strategies. A number of other Service Plans would be discussed as part of considerations by Task Groups and Working Parties. Instead of the Select Committee discussing Service Plans in their entirety Members were asked to focus on the Statement of Performance, Strategic Aims and Objectives for the Service and Service Targets.
Detailed consideration was given to the Service Plans for Education Personnel, Education Financial Services and Early Years. Some concern was expressed by Members as to the lack of a definable criteria for targets in the Plans so to identify any improvements in service delivery achieved. In the Service Plan for Education Personnel it was believed that teacher retention should be a target in addition to the recruitment strategy identified.
The Chairman indicated that given the time it would not be possible to consider all the remaining Service Plans at the meeting. It was suggested that these should be dealt with at a further meeting on a date to be arranged within the following six weeks. Appropriate recommendations could then be made when all nine plans had been discussed.
RESOLVED :
THAT a further meeting of the Select Committee be arranged to consider the remaining six Service Plans.
CHAIRMAN
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 1 November 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