Agenda and minutes
PDF 62 KBVenue: Woking Adult Learning Centre, Bonsey Lane, Westfield, Woking, GU22 9PR
Contact: Jisa Prasannan or Victoria Lower
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies were received from Alan Young, Chris Pitt and Robert Evans.
Margaret Hicks subsituted for Alan Young. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 15 JANUARY 2014
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Additional documents: Minutes: Mr Saj Hussain informed the Committee that Surrey County Council leased the premises of Knaphill Library from his family.
Mr John Orrick informed the Committee that his wife worked for a Surrey library.
There were no additional declarations of interest. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (14 March 2014). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (13 March 2014). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: None were received. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
A response is included following recommendations made to Cabinet on 4 February 2014.
A response is included following recommendations made to Procurement and Commissioning during the Communities Select Committee meeting on 15 January 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the responses to recommendations from the Cabinet Member and Procurement & Commissioning. |
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Peter Milton, Head of Cultural Services
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Members queried when the Committee would receive an update on plans regarding the Magna Carta celebrations and were informed that an update would be provided in July 2014.
2. The Chairman requested Members to provide feedback on the grant funding list which had been circulated to the Committee following a recommendation made at the last meeting under item 9. Members stated that they felt that they did not have enough information to make specific comments on the list, but that the small grants were not cost effective due to the administrative costs associated with processing them.
3. The Chairman informed the Committee that a Member Reference Group to act as a sounding board for the revision of the Fire and Rescue Service Public Safety Plan was to be set up, and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would decide upon the membership as a number of Members had volunteered to be a part of the group.
Recommendations:
1. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman to decide upon the membership of the Fire and Rescue Service Public Safety Plan Member Reference Group.
Actions/further information to be provided: None.
Committee next steps:
The Committee to consider the Forward Work Programme and Recommendations Tracker at its future meetings. |
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THE VISION FOR SURREY LIBRARIES
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Peter Milton, Head of Cultural Services Rose Wilson, Library Operations Manager Janet Thomas, Libraries Programme Manager Helen Leech, Virtual Content Manager Chris Fardon, Arts Council England Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers provided the Committee with a short presentation, the slides of which can be found attached to the minutes. They informed Members that physical visitors to libraries was declining slowly, as was being seen nationally, but that virtual usage was increasing by 20% annually. One in six people were still visiting the library in person however.
2. Five apps had been developed for the library service including Zinio which provides access to magazines subscribed for by the library service. The impact of e-books was still unknown to the service, with many publishers still not selling the rights to e-books to libraries. This was a national issue which was being looked into.
3. There were challenges within the virtual element of the library in that not all library staff had email accounts, there was a need for an online booking system for the 400 events run annually within libraries, and a project was ongoing to microchip all books so customers can check-out books in one go.
4. The service was moving to introduce a ‘creative journey’ for customers to encourage readers to consider new types of literature. Furthermore, they were trying to encourage new users to visit libraries by arranging talks by well-known authors, such as winners of the Booker Prize.
5. The Libraries were working to strengthen communities by tackling difficult areas of life by helping people to find support and advice e.g. through specialist reading groups.
6. Since 2005, the officers felt that the service had been well supported by the Council, however eight libraries were in need of becoming self-service and 22 were in need of refurbishment. Self service libraries provided some efficiencies while refurbishment provided a distinctive look which linked all Surrey libraries, in addition to making the spaces more useable as the new furniture could be moved for events.
7. The service stated that it was important that attention was also given to the external aspect of libraries, with more people shopping online, it was more of a priority that libraries were positioned well on high streets. For many communities the library is their only noticeable Surrey County Council service.
8. The Surrey Library service was performing well as it had been shortlisted for the library service of the year award and Woking Library had been chosen to be the flagship library for the South East for World Book Night. It was important to the service to maintain the good position of Surrey libraries.
9. Officers informed Members that it was difficult to compare the costs of virtual and physical books as only 2% of the libraries’ budget was spent on e-books due to the difficulties of accessing the books from publishers. There was a government review looking into the access ... view the full minutes text for item 17/14 |
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THE VISION FOR COMMUNITY LEARNING & SKILLS
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Peter Milton, Head of Cultural Services Paul Hoffman, Principal Community Learning and Skills Anu Chanda, Deputy Principal Cheryl Brown, Curriculum Manager – Family Programmes Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services Two adult learners from the Family Learning Programme
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. Officers provided the Committee with a presentation, slides of which can be found attached to the minutes.
2. The Committee were informed that the service generates £1.6 million annually, mainly through fees, and pays the county council around £850,000 annually for the buildings and infrastructure of the seven sites.
3. Funding for the service had fallen around 20% in the last seven years due to no rise in line with inflation.
4. Despite East Surrey College holding the contract for the provision of adult learning for the east of the county, Surrey County Council provided family learning across the whole of Surrey.
5. The Committee were reminded of the Public Value Review (PVR) which recommended in 2012, the need to develop an overarching marketing strategy and plan centred on an effective interactive web presence to drive increased participation rates and income. The Committee were disappointed to note that improvement of the quality of the service’s web presence and creating functionality to provide online enrolment still remain outstanding from the PVR implementation plan. Officers showed the Committee examples of other counties’ adult learning websites which were standalone and were interactive and engaging. Furthermore, these counties had seen a dramatic increase in enrolments after the websites had been developed and online enrolment introduced.
6. Officers felt that they had driven up standards within adult learning and hoped this would be reflected within the Ofsted inspection, which was expected in late 2014. The inspection in 2010 had been good, but new inspection standards had been introduced which required the service to continue to improve, with currently around 74% of classes at a good standard.
7. Over 500 learners had enrolled on accredited learning programmes in English and Maths, which enabled them to work towards GCSEs. In addition, the service was working with Job Centre Plus to develop personal and work skills courses which enables job seekers to find new jobs and gain confidence. The money for these courses come with the referrals from the Job Centre Plus.
8. The service has over 500 learners enrolled who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities which requires supported learning.
9. Family learning was available in all 11 Boroughs and Districts, though they concentrated on super output areas and areas of identified need for learning. The link with the child separates the family learning programme from all other learning provided. An child identified as requiring learning support would often have parents who have learning challenges and it is important to market the family learning service as helping the child as well as the parent as it has been noted that Family Learning increases child development by 15%.
10. Family Learning is marketed through word of mouth, ... view the full minutes text for item 18/14 |
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AUDIT REPORT: ADULT & COMMUNITY LEARNING 2013-2014
Purpose of report: Scrutiny of Services
To review the summary of audit findings and Management Action Plan produced as a result of an internal audit review of Adult & Community Learning (now known as Community Learning and Skills). Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Frank Mannion, Compliance Auditor Peter Milton, Head of Cultural Services Paul Hoffman, Principal Community Learning and Skills
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Compliance Auditor informed the Committee that internal audit had reported high priority recommendations in the Management Action Plan that would assist the service to prioritise resource allocation for the recommendations for improvements. The auditor was satisfied with the progress of the actions. The Management Action Plan had been agreed with the Service.
2. The auditor would report progress to the Audit and Governance Committee. This takes place for audit reports every six months.
3. The service stated that they had invited Internal Audit to review the service as they were in a period of transition and wanted some advice on their performance.
Recommendations:
1. The report was noted by the Committee.
Actions/further information to be provided: None.
Committee next steps:
The Committee to review Internal Audit reports which have attracted an audit opinion of either “Major Improvement Needed” or “Unsatisfactory”, and/or those with high priority recommendations, within its Terms of Reference. |
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REPORT FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Purpose of report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets
To receive a report from the Chairman of the Communities Select Committee following a private Committee workshop on 17 March 2014 on proposed savings and draft MTFP for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None.
Witnesses:
Liz Mills, Chief of Staff, Surrey Fire & Rescue Service Helyn Clack, Cabinet Member for Community Services
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Chairman informed the Committee that on Monday 17 March 2014 a private Communities Select Committee workshop took place to discuss, in detail, the proposed savings and draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS). This had been briefly covered during the Communities Select Committee budget workshop on 20 February 2014.
2. The following Members attended the meeting on 17 March 2014: Denise Saliagopoulos, Chris Norman, Jan Mason, Mary Lewis and Barbara Thomson. At the workshop, SFRS presented the case for change within the service in the context of changes in demand and demographics, environmental changes, different ways of working and budget pressures. On the basis of the presentation and member discussion on 17 March 2014, the majority of members present agreed to put forward the attached tabled report to discuss at the Communities Select Committee meeting. It was being proposed that the recommendations in this report be submitted to the Cabinet meeting on 25 March 2014 to be considered alongside the MTFP 2014/19.
3. The Committee agreed to move into Part Two, under Section 110A of the Local Government Act 1972, which allowed for the public to be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the item of business on the grounds that there would be likely disclosure of exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
4. The Committee received a presentation from the Chief of Staff on the case for change and voted upon the recommendations presented in the attached report. Eight members voted for the recommendations and two voted against.
5. The Committee voted to not publicise the minutes of the Part Two discussion.
Recommendations:
1. The recommendations from the attached tabled report be submitted to the Cabinet meeting on 25 March 2014 to be considered alongside the Medium Term Financial Plan 2014/19.
Actions/further information to be provided: None.
Committee next steps: None. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 10am on 19 May 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the next meeting of the Communities Select Committee would be on 19 May 2014.
Members were asked to note that they were invited to attend the Environment & Transport Select Committee meeting on 24 April 2014 to scrutinise an item on the County Council’s Flood Event Response. |