Contact: Sue Sylvester, Policy and Performance Officer, ext 7493, e-mail - [email protected]

1. Purpose of this Report

1.1 This report is presented to the Recreation and Heritage PRC at the request of members of the Lifelong Learning Best Value Review Member Panel, for comment, prior to its presentation to Cabinet, for approval. The report was presented to the Education PRC in November, for its comment also.

1.2 The programme of best value reviews is a key element in supporting Corporate Strategy Aim 5 - `Improving Services'. Lifelong Learning contributes to all six Corporate Strategy aims.

2. Background

2.1 The Best Value Review of Lifelong Learning has been undertaken by a team of officers, representing each department working alongside five elected members - Cllr Susan Allbright, Cllr Keith Chapman, Cllr, Brian Dash, Cllr Jo Kelly, and Cllr Roger Kimber .

2.2 The five elected members were nominated by the Education and Recreation & Heritage PRCs, to be both members of the Review Team and to also form a Member Panel, to make key decisions at critical review stages.

2.3 At a meeting in May 2004, the Lifelong Learning Best Value Review Member Panel agreed that out of a range of five options for service delivery identified by the Review Team, `Partnership working, supporting a mixed economy of supply' should form the basis for the review outcome.

2.4 A draft Lifelong Learning Strategy was subsequently produced, based on the Members preferred option.

2.5 The Review is unusual in that two improvement plans have been produced:

Improvement Plan A - for the Best Value Review outcomes, which are internally focussed - designed to ensure that departments of the County Council are best set up to deliver the Lifelong Learning Strategy.

Improvement Plan B - covers a first selection of actions to be progressed to achieve the key outcomes of the Lifelong Learning Strategy.

3. Recommendations of the Lifelong Learning Best Value Member Panel

3.1 The Member Panel met on the 8 September and agreed that the review outcome report, the Lifelong Learning Strategy and the two Improvement Plans represented their views. They also agreed that:-

a) the Strategy, the outcome report and the Improvement Plans should be presented to both the Education PRC and the Recreation & Heritage PRC for their comment

b) Cabinet be advised of the outcome of the Best Value Review, so that it can implement the Improvement Plans

c) Cabinet nominates a Member to be involved in overseeing the implementation of the Improvement Plans, to be a member of the Corporate Lifelong Learning Steering Group and to act as a `champion' for lifelong learning.

d) arrangements are made for the Education and Recreation & Heritage PRCs to receive annual progress reports until the Improvement Plans are completed.

e) a summary of the review is prepared in the standard format for inclusion in the Performance Plan.

4. Attached documents

4.1 Appendix 1 - Outcome Report of the Lifelong Learning Best Value Review, as reported to the Lifelong Learning Best Value Review Panel on 8 September 2004. This report is in two parts:

a) Covering Note - produced by the Chief Executive, providing an `at a glance' summary for members .

b) The Outcome Report - produced by the County Education Officer.

Appendix 2 - The Hampshire County Council Lifelong Learning Strategy. The production of this Strategy was a key aim of the review - and this has been achieved. This Strategy aims to provide a framework for the role of the County Council in the development of opportunities for lifelong learning in Hampshire.

Appendix 3 - Improvement Plan A - internally focussed, designed to ensure that departments of the County Council are best set up to deliver the Lifelong Learning Strategy.

Appendix 4 - Improvement Plan B - covers a first selection of actions to progress to achieve the key outcomes of the Lifelong Learning Strategy.

Appendix 5 - Departmental Statements of Commitment to Lifelong Learning.

Appendix 6 - Glossary

Recommendation

It is recommended that the outcome report of the Best Value Review of Lifelong Learning be noted.

Any comments on the report, arising from this Committee, will be forwarded to Cabinet.

N.B. The list excludes:

1. Published works

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

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