Minutes - 5 Jun 09 RUL

8/9/2019 Minutes - 5 Jun 09 RUL

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Minutes of Learning Partnership Steering Group Meeting

Friday 5th June 2009, 11.00 15.00

Present at Meeting:Mark Manwaring, Lead Union Learning Rep. Chairman SWT (MM)

Tony Shipley, Learning & Development Consultant SWT (TS)

Shaun Seymour, Company Council Rep, ASLEF (SS)

Clive Chown, Lead Union Learning Rep, ASLEF (CC)Mel Taylor, Learning Organiser, TSSA (MT)

Peter Connolly, Lead Union Learning Rep, TSSA (PC)

Emma Ramsey, Learning Project Worker, ASLEF(ER)

John Walsh, CC Rep, TSSA (JW)

Alan Martin, Island Line Union Learning Rep, (AM)

Karen Brooks, RMT Development Worker (South), (KB)

Michael Campbell, RMT Company Council Rep (MC)

Sue Bugden, Business Excellence Assistant SWT (SB) Secretary

Apologies Iain Anderson, Full Time Office, TSSA (IA)

Andy Lester, Union Learning Rep, ASLEF (AL)

Marc Sellis, Vocational Training Manager,SWT (MS)

Rickey Goodman Company Council Rep RMT (RG)

Item Discussion Action(s)

1

Minutes of

Previous

Meeting

Barrier passes. All staff have barrier

passes/travel passes therefore there should

be no issue with staff getting through

barriers. Family members can also show their

family passes to get through barriers. All

learners will be given access to Open

Learning Centres where required with

temporary station passes being issued in line

with security policy where appropriate. Any

request for temporary station passes shouldbe made to TS.

NVQs. Agenda item to be discussed at this

meeting.

Learning Agreement Notification. SS stated

that some managers were still not abiding to

the release of ULRs in accordance with the

Learning Agreement. TS informed the group

that the Learning Agreement had been sent to

all managers and as such, if there were

concerns at a local level, they should be

passed through the appropriate channels.

Job Club. An individual turned up at

Basingstoke for the cancelled job club. This

was due to such short notice of its

cancellation.

SS stated that after discussion with all the

trade union groups prior to the meeting,

there was a belief that the Steering Group

was lacking in clear direction and that there

had to be clearer actions in order for it to

be more effective.

SS fervently proclaimed that he believed the

company was at fault for what he described as

politicising an apolitical agenda with the

short notice cancellation of Union lead

events being used as an example. TS stated


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that SSs opinion in this area was noted.


2

Release

and

Facilities

IT Facilities. The issue of limited

availability to print off material if using

Switch-On outside learning centres was

raised. The question was asked if there is a

way to connect computers to already available

printers within the local area.

Internet Access for ULRs. A request was made

that ULRs be given internet access in order

for them to be able to conduct their ULR

duties more effectively.

ASLEF PC. A PC has been provided at Woking

by ASLEF for Rep/learner use. CC informed

the group that this cannot be connected to

the intra/internet as not a SWT computer.

TS requested that

parties identify

areas where this

would be required.

Reps to send

locations and

number of all

computers that need

setting up to

printers. TS to

speak to IT on

feasibility once

received.

TS requested that

parties identify

reps who already

have a SWT email

account. Those

with no email

accounts also to be

identified. TS to

speak to IT on

feasibility once

received.

TS to speak to IT

to look into

feasibility of SWT

supplying a sparecomputer with

access to intranet

for set up at

Woking.


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3

Time Off

for

Learners

(Essential

Skills)

Staff release. SS made a vociferous request

in which he categorically demanded the paid

release of SWT staff to undertake basic

skills training where required.

SS further stated that SWTs sister companies

at Stagecoach Group make this facility

available to staff and demanded that SWT

follow suit. TS stated that he was not awareof this and argued that other company

policies were not the concern of SWT. SS

countered this by arguing that there should

be parity of treatment across the group.

Discussion was held regarding recent issues

in terms of organisational restructuring and

its effect on manning. With that, the

potential impact on operational services if

such release was granted was also raised. TS

reminded SS that regardless of opinion, due

process had to be followed and advised that

any such requests for release should bepassed through the appropriate channels with

decisions of this nature not being within the

remit of the current forum.

Reps to follow up

through appropriate

channels.

4

Essential

Skills

Courses

within

Learning

Centre

Essential Skills Courses. MT, KB & ER

discussed the issue of Essential Skills

courses being facilitated on SWT premises by

external providers and requested that SWT

facilities be released for such facilitation.


4

Essential

Skills

Courses

within

Learning

Centre

(Contd)

Meeting adjourned at 1230 for clarification

on Company position with TS seeking approval.

Meeting re-convened at 1245.

TS offered facilities for this training

provision with a pilot course being suggested

at Basingstoke for a period of one month.

Take up to be monitored ULRs with a view to

potentially holding similar sessions at

Waterloo and Southampton, based on

availability.

MT to feed back

specific dates for

the Basingstoke

pilot course.

5

Communicati

ons/Statist

ics

Sharing of Information. A discussion was had

on the value of sharing of information

relating to staff undertaking NVQs as SWT

were supporting the award indirectly and

employees undertaking learning through Open

Learning. It was agreed that information be

shared in order to establish learner numbers.

Discussion was further had on the sharing of

information on passed drivers in relation to

NVQs and retrospective accreditation.

ULR to share

statistics on NVQ

courses with TS

with PC being a

central point of

contact.

TS to share Open

Learning data on

all learners.

TS to discuss withMarc Sellis.


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6

Adult

Learners

Week

(update)

Successes. Two events were held at Woking

and Fratton An excellent turnout was noted at

Woking. Credit was given to ULR Martin Scott

for organising the event.

The Fratton turn out was not so good as on

that particular day there had been rail

related issues therefore access was less.

Whilst not as successful, ULR Dave Clarkesefforts were noted for the minutes.

A further day at Waterloo is scheduled

onThursday 23rd July 2009, room to be

confirmed.

TS to ask Network

Rail if any

available rooms at

Waterloo were

available and

feedback to KB.

Additionally, SS to

investigate to seeif any available

rooms at Waterloo

through ASLEF.

7

Open

Learning

Update

Learning Mentors. TS informed the group that

since the last meeting, the budget cuts that

were suggested have now taken place.

Moving forward, Open Learning access in terms

of support will be available one day a week,

but instead of a walk in facility to discussrequirements, appointments will need to be

booked through Alan Coleman at Spring Park

House. Four trainers have been appointed as

Learning Mentors (LMs) who will as part of

their duties facilitate Open Learning. The

four LMs will be available at Basingstoke,

but if demand requires it, they will visit

Open Learning Centres where needed. The LMs

are:

Tony Shipley Ann Hoad Kirstie Angell Peter Connolly



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7

Open

Learning

Update

(Contd)

LM Development. TS stated that he was

looking for a course to help the four LMs

become more competent in undertaking their

new duties. Research had identified that as

there are only four in the group is was

deemed to too small for a college to take

on. ULRs suggested that they could find at

least four other participants to join.

Skillsoft. TS informed the group that the

200 Licenses for SkillSoft will cease as of

Sept 2009 due to funding restrictions.

This resource will be replaced with

alternative methodologies.

Funding. SS vehemently requested that the

group be informed on what the Open Learning

budget was and how Open Learning spends its

budget quoting Section 4 of the Learning

Agreement Identify funds for education and

training and Section 13 Equal

Opportunities. It was emphasised by TS thathow SWT funds, and indeed allocates its

funding was not a place for the group. TS

argued that the fact that funding was

allocated met the agreement. SS disagreed

and warned that SWT could be in breach of

the Learning Agreement by not disclosing

this information with the issue of potential

arbitrary/preferential funding being raised

without disclosure. TS emphasised that the

company approach was one of integrity

however, if SS felt the need to challenge

the application of the agreement he was free

to do so through the appropriate channels.

SS requested the criteria for allocation of

funding. TS informed the group that this

criteria was to be reviewed as part of the

changes to Open Learning and with its

criteria being promulgated at the next

meeting.

In addition SS argued that key parts of the

Learning Agreement required group

clarification and requested that this be put

in as an agenda item for the next meeting.

PC to identify

appropriate courses

and feedback as soon

as possible.

TS to provide a listof available

resources and

appointment contact

details.

TS and Marc Sellis

(VTM) to review

criteria for funding

for courses.

MM to add to the

agenda next time

8

NVQs

CSC. JW stated that Customer Services Staff

were offered the opportunity to take up

NVQs with Brockenhurst College. Those

taking up the offer were informed that they

must do so in their own time. JW felt that

this was not reasonable based on the fact

that the offer had been made by SWT

Management. TS emphasised that at the

moment NVQs were not an essential

qualification for staff to do their job in

this case and as such the development was

personal. However, TS did volunteer to

contact the manager concerned to adviseaccordingly.

TS to contact Rob

Potter (CSC) to

advise on NVQ

facilitation.


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9

Release

for Lead

ULRs

Appropriate Release. SS raised the issue of

appropriate time being allocated for ULR

release. TS informed the group that it was

felt that current release times were

adequate. No increase in release for ULRs;

current arrangement stays.

No action


10

Any Other

Business

ULR release for courses. MT stated that two

individuals applications for release for a

course provided by the TSSA has been

declined, even though the request was made

within the agreed 21day period.

Clarification was requested as to why the

requests were declined.

Meeting adjourned at 1430 for clarification

on Company position relating to this

release.

Meeting re-convened at 1455.

TS discussed with ER. ER require a

breakdown of the learning outcomes of the

course to review its appropriateness for

ULRs as the course was deemed to be too

generic. MT felt that this fell in to the

10 days release rules. As such the issue

will be taken up with the Senior Regional

Manager.

SS further stated that the company could not

dictate what was and was not appropriate and

that he would take the issue up further with

Company Council. TS acknowledged SSs

point.

Next Meeting:15th Sept 2009 Learning Partnership Meeting 11.00-13.00 Beaulieu Rm

FBC

Minutes - 5 Jun 09 RUL

Documents

Transcript of Minutes - 5 Jun 09 RUL