Contact: Ian Beacham, Education Officer (Sport), ext 6367,

e-mail: [email protected]

Richard Howlett, Head of Hampshire Music Service, 02380 652037

email: [email protected]

Janet Mein, Head of Arts Service, ext 5468 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

The following decision is sought:

1.1 That the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approves the proposals for the development of a remodelled system of awards for music and dance and the Directors of Children's Services and Recreation & Heritage be given delegated authority to implement the recommendations as described in the supporting report.

1.2 That the remodelled schemes are jointly promoted with the Hampshire Talented Athlete Scheme as a complete package to support excellence in performance by young people

2 Proposals

2.1 That the current awards system for music and dance be further developed to ensure that the ambition to open up opportunities to a wider range of young people is realised, that the scheme strands are promoted with a single corporate identity and provides best value. Further, that the awards are monitored, evaluated and assessed to demonstrate their impact on the standards and improved outcome for young people.

2.2 Applications for the main bursary scheme will be invited annually and be managed by the individual services. Information on awards made and any additional recommendations will be reported to the Executive Member Policy and Resources annually.

2.3 Current budgets are committed until 2008/2009, therefore in order that the new system can start with within the framework of currently advertised timetables, an interim budget of £40,000, as a one-off resource be made available (the source of this funding to be agreed at Chairman's briefing).

2.4 In order to ensure that the County Council has a system which can process all requests currently received on an ad hoc basis, it is further suggested that a miscellaneous fund with a budget of £5,000 per annum be set up. This will cover requests for funding not within the criteria of current schemes such as applications to support young people attending a one-off specialist course in music, dance or a summer school. That this sum be identified from Policy and Resources and that awards are of a maximum of £500. Such grants to be dealt with under delegated powers by the officer panel from Children's Services and Recreation and Heritage and reported annually as part of the main report to the Executive Member Policy and Resources.

2.5 That the panel dealing with such miscellaneous applications be made up of officers from Children's Services and Recreation and Heritage.

2.6 That a web page be developed on Hantsweb containing all the information that parent/carers and young people will need in order to make applications. The information will contain the facility for online application.

2.7 That a launch event be held which celebrates Hampshire County Council's support for young people who aspire to excellence in performance.

3 Current situation

3.1 Dance: A budget of £40,000 per year is available for dance bursaries and is administered by Recreation and Heritage department. Auditions are held and currently this budget supports up to three students per year at residential dance schools for between three to five years. These schools are approved by DfES. The current commitments on this budget will end in March 2009. The Recreation and Heritage department is currently remodelling the dance bursary scheme in order to open it up to a wider range of young people and provide greater opportunity in a range of dance training in Hampshire and in the new DfES approved Centres for Advanced Training

3.2 Music: A budget of £110,000 provides specialist music opportunities for talented young musicians (instrumentalists, singers and composers) in both primary and secondary schools. In primary schools, additional teaching is provided where individual children show exceptional musical progress. Older pupils who attain a high standard are able to apply for a Hampshire music award. These awards are offered following audition, each award lasts three years and funds 15 hours of specialist tuition per year. Membership of a Hampshire Area or County Ensemble provides further, excellent musical opportunities alongside the awards. Awards are funded and administered by Hampshire County Council's Music Service, Children's Services Department. Hampshire Music Service is currently reviewing the music award system in order to provide a broader range of musical experiences to talented young musicians.

3.3 Currently, requests for funding are received by both Children's Services and Recreation and Heritage departments, as well as directly to elected members and the Leader of the Council. The proposed new system seeks to rationalise all such requests and provide an open, transparent and inclusive system which maximises the impact of the Council's available investment in talented young people.

LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY
	YES	NO
Hampshire safer and more secure for all		_
Maximising well-being	_
Enhancing our quality of place	_

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

The following documents discuss facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and have been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

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

None.