Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th June 2011 were taken as read and signed as a correct record.

          The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought agreement to allow for the extension of Service Level Agreements for a period of 12 months for current providers of education to KS4 Pupil Referral Unit learners in order to secure the continuity of education for these vulnerable learners.

          It was noted that in April 2011 the Procurement Team supported the 14-19 Division to procure provision for the KS4 PRU from September 2011, advertising the tender opportunity with The Chest, the Council’s e-tendering facility hosted by Due North.

          Following the assessment of the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and Invitation to Tender (ITT) Documentation, all those providers who submitted a tender failed to progress further in the process as they did not pass Gateway questions on the PQQ or failed to meet the minimum standards for information within the ITT document.

          As the timescale to run a full procurement exercise again did not allow provision to be in place for September 2011, provision was required for a 12 month period so learners had the opportunity to complete qualifications with one provider during that period of time.

          RESOLVED: That

          1)       under Procurement Standing Order 1.8.2 Standing Orders 3.1 and 3.2 be waived in respect of the current provision of education for KS4 Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) learners with the intention to extend existing contracts to August 2012 in view of the exceptional circumstances following a recent procurement process that resulted in no contracts able to be awarded. There would insufficient time to conduct a further tender exercise as provision needed to be in place before September 2011; and

          2)       the 14 – 19 Divisional Manager be authorised to negotiate a 12 month extension with providers where a Service Level Agreement was already in place.

          The Sub-Committee considered a report which sought agreement to waive standing orders to enter into a contract with Alkemygold Limited as the only provider of the Advance Level Performance System for the analysis of results for the academic year 2010/11. The ALPS was a nationally used Level 3 A Level and BTEC Course analysis and training package for delivering quality improvement in schools and colleges. It was developed to raise standards in education on a national scale and to engage teachers and educational professionals to give them practical tools to achieve this.

          Members were advised that Halton had historical ALPS value added scores for post 16 institutions and each subject area, which allowed analysis of trends over time. Continuation of the use of ALPS would allow for continued analysis of the effectiveness of Post 16 Institutions’ improvement plans in raising attainment for learners compared to other institutions nationally.

          It was noted that Post 16 institutions made valuable use of the target setting software to set challenging targets for learners and this was part of the strategies that had resulted in the increased Level 3 performance Halton had experienced. In 2010, 42.3% of Halton learners had achieved a Level 3 qualification by age 19. This was an 8.4% increased upon the 2009 recorded figure for this indicator and represented the second largest local authority increase. The cost of purchasing ALPS for the academic year 2010/11 was £4,000 excluding VAT, and was included in the spending plan for the 14 – 19 Division 2011/12.

          RESOLVED: That

          1)       under Procurement Standing Order 1.8.2 (a) Standing Orders 4.1 and 4.2 be waived in respect of Alkemygold Limited for the Advanced Level performance System (ALPS); and

          2)       the 14 – 19 Divisional Manager be authorised to enter into a contract with Alkemygold Limited as the only provider of the ALPS for the analysis of results for the academic year 2010/11. 

            The Sub-Committee received a report of the Strategic Director, Policy and Resources which sought Members’ consideration of two applications for discretionary rate relief, under the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.

            The Sub-Committee was advised that under the provisions of Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1988, the Authority was allowed to grant discretionary rate relief to organisations that were either a charity of a non-profit making organisation. This relief may also be awarded to Community Amateur Sports Clubs. A summary of the applications was outlined within the report and a list of the associated figures was included.

            RESOLVED: That

            1)         under the provisions of Section 47, Local Government Finance Act 1988, discretionary rate relief be granted to the following organisation at the percentage indicated, for the period from 1^st April 2011 or the commencement of liability, whichever is the later, 31^st March 2013:

                        Halton District Citizen Advice Bureaux Service                            20%

            2)         in respect of the following organisation, it was also recommended that they should be granted discretionary rate relief for the backdated element of the charge from 1^st April 2010 or the commencement of liability, whichever is the later:

                        Halton District Citizen Advice Bureaux Service                            20%

            3)         under the provisions of Section 47, Local Government Finance Act 1988, the following application for discretionary rate relief be refused:

                        National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations

                        (Incorporated)                                                                                    20%

          The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources which advised that transport tenders for a complex range of passenger transport contracts and arrangements for vulnerable children and adults were to be publicised by The Chest. The accumulative value of the contracts was projected to be in excess of £1m.

          RESOLVED: That

1.                         the Sub-Committee note that transport tenders were being advertised for services on behalf of Children and Enterprise and Communities Directorates, required from September 2011; and

2.                         a further report be submitted to the Sub Committee detailing the results of the passenger transport contracts tenders.

MINUTES ISSUED:  July 2011

CALL IN:  July 2011

Any matter decided by the Executive Board Sub Committee may be called in no later than July 2011