Hampshire Governors Representative Group
 
                        Notes of Extra-ordinary meeting
                              25th November 1997
 
Present:  Jim Watt, Chairman    (New Forest);
          John Brailsford       (Fareham & Gosport);
          Terry Tillman         (Basingstoke & Hart);
          Derek Richards        (Winchester &  Eastleigh)
          Paddy Ryan            (Test Valley, Clere & Chandlers Ford);
          Cynthia Hicks         (Winchester & Eastleigh);
          Hugh Deed             (Rushmoor & East Hants);
          Janet Sheriton        (Clerk).
 
In Attendance: Hilary Thompson (Hampshire County Council);
               John Bailey and Colin Beck (Service Review Group)
 
1.   Apologies: David Hammersley; Peter High; Ian Christie; Sylvia Vine;
                Vernon Petherick
 
     [Post meeting note: Apologies also from Martina Powell and Rita Sammons]
 
2.   Organisational Review Personnel and Training
 
     In Rita Sammons absence Hilary Thompson was asked to outline the
     background to the proposals and the present state of play. She
     explained that the Personnel Sub Committee had made these
     recommendations following concerns about the inconsistency of personnel
     practice in the county and the need to strengthen the personnel function
     and its corporate impact. As far as training was concerned members of
     the Personnel Sub-Committee wished to establish a clearer picture
     of the current situation. They saw a relationship between the personnel
     and training functions and wished to be sure that available resources
     and expertise were maximised and duplication of function  or facilities
     eliminated across Hampshire County Council. That is the purpose of the
     proposed training review by external consultants.
 
     The issues with regard to Education Personnel Services (EPS) had been
     discussed with the EPS Service Review Group and Headteacher Conferences
     and EPS would remain as a business unit operationally responsible to the
     Director of Education and under management partnership SLA arrangements.
 
     On training we are still at Stage 1 which is consultation on the
     proposed terms of reference for the external consultant.  Comment
     on the content and scope of the review needs to be with Rita Sammons by
     the 2nd December. Heads Conferences and relevant Service Review Groups,
     HGRG and staff of the units concerned are all being invited to comment.
     Stage 2 would be the review itself  and the timetable and Stage 3
     would be consultation on the outcomes of the review.
 
     In answer to questions it was established that the TOR had been drawn up
     by the Chief Personnel Officer, Chief Executive and Chairman of the
     Personnel Sub Committee; the Education Department had been asked to
     comment on earlier drafts; that the Director of Education was likely to
     request involvement in any re-drafting of the review TOR in the light of
     comments from those consulted.
 
     Faxed comments from Ian Christie were noted and should be passed by the
     Clerk to Rita Sammons.                                                 JS
 
     HGRG supported the view of the Service Review Group that Governor
     Services having been so recently re-organised should not be subject so
     soon to review and  possible further structural change. The uniqueness
     of the position of governors was emphasised as non-employees of the
     County Council exercising control over the majority of the Education
     Service budget. Governor Services needed to continue to be focused
     on working with governors and within the accountability structures of
     the Education Department and Management Partnerships arrangements.
     Should their comments be unsuccessful in excluding Governor Training
     from the review HGRG would like to point out that the information which
     the review seeks is already available in respect of governor training:
     in the Inspection Report of 1994; The Charter Mark Submission and
     Response of 1995; and the Service Performance Indicators produced
     quarterly for the Director of Education and the Service Review Group.
     Answers can be provided without using scarce resources on external
     consultants.
 
     Experience of the amalgamation of smaller units into centrally managed
     ones which initially appeared to pose little threat to levels of
     customer service have often led to a lack of identity and focus followed
     by decline in customer support followed by cuts in staffing levels.
     Members were disappointed that they had not been consulted at the
     appropriate time and before these new arrangements appeared to receive
     the  endorsement of the Personnel Sub Committee. It appeared that for
     at least four education management partnership services the partnership
     had been ignored. It was to be hoped that the County Council as LEA
     would move to re-establish the trust on which the partnership depended.
     As governors were already considering SLA arrangements for the next two
     financial years the County Council should make it clear to governing
     bodies that it intends to  honour the service levels contained in the
     SLAs for the full period of their duration and the service review group
     arrangements which underpin them.
 
     Following discussion it was agreed that the Chairman would write to Rita
     Sammons expressing HGRG views asking for Governor Training to be
     excluded; endorsing Andrew Sebers memo; emphasising the value governors
     place on Management Partnership arrangements; drawing attention to the
     extent to which these and other services are substantially funded by
     governing body decisions to purchase services (or not). Copies of the
     letter should also be sent to Cllrs Allen and Thornber, Chairs of
     Area Forums, HGRG members and Peter Coles.
 
     Members were thanked for fitting in the meeting at such short notice and
     the meeting closed at 6.30 p.m.

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