Contact: Sue Sylvester, Policy and Performance Officer, ext 7493

This covering report is intended to provide an `at-a-glance' summary for Members and introduces the project brief and project timetable, which has been drafted by the core review team.

1 Purpose of the Service

1.1 On 23 December 2002, the Cabinet agreed the programme of Best Value Reviews for 2003/04, following consultation with departments via the officer Corporate Performance Steering Group. This included a cross cutting review of Lifelong Learning. This review will focus on how opportunities are created for lifelong learning, enabling people to develop the skills and abilities they need to contribute to the well being of their families and the community. The outcome of the review is likely to be a corporate lifelong learning strategy - to stimulate, widen and promote contributions to this area of activity across the County Council.

1.2 The best value review will build upon work undertaken by the Corporate Lifelong Learning Steering Group - an inter-departmental group that was first established in September 1999 and reconstituted in 2002. A framework for a Corporate Lifelong Learning Strategy developed by this Steering Group has provided a basis for the work to be undertaken during the course of the best value review.

1.3 Lifelong learning includes statutory services such as the provision of education of children aged from five to sixteen and the duty to secure education for children aged three to five years.

2 Performance

2.1 There are Corporate Strategy priorities to increase the number of 16 - 19 year olds in further and higher education and to increase adult participation in learning. There are further implications for lifelong learning arising from the outcomes of the best value review of economic prosperity, completed in 2002/03 and from issues emerging from the development of the Cultural Strategy that will need to be considered during the course of the review.

2.2 Whilst the review is intended to focus on the County Council's contribution to lifelong learning across all departments, the review will also extend to considering the joint working arrangements with external partners.

2.3 The review will follow the revised Best Value processes and focus on the areas where there is most potential for achieving improvement.

3 Outcomes sought

3.1 A `working' vision for Lifelong Learning in Hampshire was established by the review team (subject to refinement during the course of the review), describing a future where:

`Everyone in Hampshire has access to high quality learning (recreational, vocational and academic) and opportunities to develop their skills and abilities'.

3.2 Issues that will need to be addressed in the course of the review were identified as follows:-

· effective use of buildings

· availability of funding

· adequate skilled and trained staff

· range of provision, including targeted schemes eg family learning and the importance of work place learning

· effective communication and information sharing

· cultural changes including organisational leadership

· access to provision and facilities, including ICT

· partnership working

4 Members

4.1 The following members participated in this phase of the review:

· Cllr Susan Allbright

· Cllr Keith Chapman

· Cllr Brian Dash

· Cllr Jo Kelly

· Cllr Roger Kimber

5 Review details

5.1 At this stage it is estimated that the review will take 150 person days, and incur additional direct costs of £5,000.

Recommendation

1. That the Best Value review of Lifelong Learning proceeds in accordance with the approach and timetable outlined in the attached project brief.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.