Download report to - Lancashire County Council

REPORT TO
DATE OF MEETING
LANCASHIRE LOCAL - SOUTH RIBBLE
12 JANUARY 2006
SUBJECT
PORTFOLIO
SCHOOLS EVENT – 1 NOVEMBER 2005
“WHO RUNS THIS PLACE”
AUTHOR
Ron
Matthews
ITEM
8
SUMMARY
The above event took place at the Marsden Theatre, Worden Park, on Tuesday 1 November, 2005
involving four of the borough’s high schools and approximately 130 pupils aged 14/15.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the Committee notes the success of the event and considers whether a similar event should
be supported in the future.
DETAILS AND REASONING
The event took the form of a play which sought to explain:
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The difference between County, District, Borough, Metropolitan and Unitary Councils;
The differences between Councillors and Council Officers;
Council Tax and why we have to pay it;
Local Government Finance, CCT and Best Value.
Following the play there was an interactive workshop which sought to explore the concepts of
democracy, its history and the problems associated with its practice. Particular emphasis was
given to the different voting systems (first past the post, proportional representation, single
transferable vote etc.). The programme was designed to meet the requirements of the schools
citizenship curriculum.
The whole event was operated and run by the Solent Peoples Theatre Company which undertakes
a great deal of similar socially responsible work on behalf of Hampshire County Council.
The four schools taking part were Wellfield Business and Enterprise College, Balshaws High
School, Penworthan Girls High School and Walton-le-Dale High School.
All the schools have been invited to provide feedback on the sessions. Up to the date of the
publication of the agenda only one school had responded:
Wellfield Business and Enterprise College found the event excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by the
pupils. The aims of the event were met and the event formed an enterprising way of getting the
message across. They would be pleased to take part in such an event on an annual basis as the
pupils got so much understanding from the production and workshop.
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The three remaining schools will again be contacted prior to the meeting and any response
reported verbally.
FINANCES
The cost of the production was £1,000 for the two performances and an additional £100 for the two
workshops. The Lancashire Local – South Ribble Innovation Fund contributed £1,500 which was
used to meet the £1,100 cost with the remaining £400 going towards the cost of the coach hire.
The borough council met the remaining costs of the coach hire, use of the Marsden Theatre for the
day and provision of lunch for the cast, crew, the pupils and their teachers attending the afternoon
session.
CONCLUSION
The play managed to relate the message of local government to the pupils in a practical and
effective way. The interactive workshop worked well, complemented the play and allowed the
children to experience dilemmas of choice similar to those experienced by councillors.
From the feedback gained immediately after the event and the response reported above it is clear
that all the high schools in South Ribble would benefit from their pupils attending such an event.
On this occasion it was not practical to involve more than four schools in a single day.
Furthermore, over a longer period of time it would have been possible to fit in an evening
performance for a residents group or similar to help explain the mysteries of local government.
WIDER IMPLICATIONS
In the preparation of this report, consideration has been given to the impact of its proposals in all
the areas shown below. A risk assessment has also been carried out. The table shows the
implications in respect of each of these.
FINANCIAL
Funding of £1,500 was obtained from Lancashire Local with additional
funding for the coaches, use of the theatre and lunch for those attending
in the afternoon being met from within the borough council’s existing
resources.
LEGAL
The schools undertook the legal requirements of children attending an
outside engagement and provided the necessary supervisory cover. The
Marsden Theatre complies with all the necessary licensing requirements
and finally the theatre company complied with all their licensing
responsibilites.
RISK
Risk assessments were undertaken by the theatre company on arrival at
the theatre.
OTHER (see below)
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Asset Management
Fair Access
Implementing
Electronic Government
Corporate Plans and
Policies
Freedom of
Information Act 2000
Staffing
Crime and Disorder
Act 1998 – Section 17
Health and Safety
Sustainability
Data Protection
Human Rights Act
1998
Training and
Development
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Report to Lancashire Local – South Ribble – 22 September 2005
Minutes of Lancashire Local – South Ribble – 22 September 2005 & 9 November 2005
Letters to Schools September 2005
Letters to Schools November 2005
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