March 2010

last updated:August 2010

Meeting of Executive Committee, 16 March 2010 

Summary of work report back from other Committees   
The Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee highlighted the rationale for the recommendation in respect of fee collection and that the number of teachers involved was relatively small.

In respect of the report back from the Registration and Regulation Committee, Members raised questions regarding the proposals in respect of part heard hearings and whether the timescales were realistic and the rationale for the proposed expansion of the pool of Additional Committee Members; the Chair of the Committee provided clarification.

The Committee reports were noted  

Committee agreed the recommendation from the Finance and General Purposes Committee in respect of fee collection.

Teacher Learning Academy – Update
The Committee received a report from the TLA Special Governance Group updating key issues and progress with the TLA Gateway Review process.

The Chair of the TLA Special Governance Group presented the report back and referred to the three options previously notified to the Committee and set out the group’s preferred approach which included some project integration but was at a confidential stage in terms of contractual /legal issues.  Discussion centred on the potential risk for the Council upon which the Chair of the Special Governance Group set out the measures being taken to contain such risks and that financially any risk would be contained within the budget.  The Director of Policy provided some clarification regarding contractual matters and the rationale for the preferred integrated option.

The Committee affirmed the continued delegation by the Executive Committee  to the SGG and Chair of Council of the scrutiny and approval of the business case for the next phase of the service as well as governance responsibility for the continuation of transition to a fully developed product / state.

Committee:

• noted the contents of this report
• noted the continued need for Special Governance of the Transition Programme by the SGG as currently comprised, reporting to Executive Committee
• affirmed that the Special Governance Group and Chair of Council have the delegated responsibility to sign off the Business Case for the evolved TLA.

Licence to Practise Update 
The Committee received and approved an update paper on progress against the Government’s White Paper commitment to introduce a Licence Practise following on from previous papers. Committee was updated by the Director of Communications on the Parliamentary progress of the Children, Schools and Families Bill highlighting that there is still considerable uncertainty whether Royal Assent to the provisions will be achieved before the General Election.

The Council’s advice will be offered (subject to the above) at the point of consultation on the Regulations to be laid.

Committee:

• noted the up to date position with Licence to Practise as outlined by the Registrar and Director of Communications at the meeting
• noted the options considered for licensing by DCSF with regard to the principles previously affirmed by Council
• affirmed the level of benefits, concerns and risks identified
• agreed that the GTC work with the DCSF to address concerns and risks
• agreed that the opportunity presented for a fitness to practise model is pursued
• noted the appended paper, on the evidence base.

Event Management Services Contract 2010-13
The Committee received a paper on the outcome of the tendering process for a new event management services contract for the three years from 1 April 2010. The event management contract is reviewed and retendered every three years and the contract covers a wide range of services from support for Council meetings to the management of GTC-led conferences and the provision of storage and support for the GTC’s presence at industry conferences. The tender process was conducted under the restricted EU tender process. Key considerations for the tender included cost effectiveness, understanding of education environment, the ability to provide innovative solutions and information security.

Upon the unanimous recommendation of the tender panel Committee approved the appointment of Lewis Live as the GTC’s event management service provider for three years from 1 April 2010.