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 Barrier passes. All staff have barrier
Minutes of passes/travel passes therefore there should
Previous be no issue with staff getting through
Meeting 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 should
be 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
 that SS’s opinion in this area was noted.

Item Discussion Action(s)

2 IT Facilities. The issue of limited TS requested that
Release availability to print off material if using parties identify
and Switch-On outside learning centres was areas where this
Facilities raised. The question was asked if there is a would be required.
way to connect computers to already available Reps to send
printers within the local area. locations and
number of all
computers that need
setting up to
printers. TS to
speak to IT on
feasibility once
Internet Access for ULRs. A request was made received.
that ULRs be given internet access in order
for them to be able to conduct their ULR TS requested that
duties more effectively. 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
ASLEF PC. A PC has been provided at Woking feasibility once
by ASLEF for Rep/learner use. CC informed received.
the group that this cannot be connected to
the intra/internet as not a SWT computer.
TS to speak to IT
to look into
feasibility of SWT
supplying a spare
computer with
access to intranet
for set up at
Woking.
 3 Staff release. SS made a vociferous request Reps to follow up
Time Off in which he categorically demanded the paid through appropriate
for release of SWT staff to undertake basic channels.
Learners skills training where required.
(Essential
Skills) SS further stated that SWT’s sister companies
at Stagecoach Group make this facility
available to staff and demanded that SWT
follow suit. TS stated that he was not aware
of 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 be
passed through the appropriate channels with
decisions of this nature not being within the
remit of the current forum.

4 Essential Skills Courses. MT, KB & ER

Essential discussed the issue of Essential Skills
Skills courses being facilitated on SWT premises by
Courses external providers and requested that SWT
within facilities be released for such facilitation.
Learning
Centre

Item Discussion Action(s)

4
Essential Meeting adjourned at 1230 for clarification
Skills on Company position with TS seeking approval.
Courses
within Meeting re-convened at 1245.
Learning TS offered facilities for this training
Centre MT to feed back
provision with a pilot course being suggested specific dates for
(Cont’d) at Basingstoke for a period of one month. the Basingstoke
Take up to be monitored ULRs with a view to pilot course.
potentially holding similar sessions at
Waterloo and Southampton, based on
availability.

5 Sharing of Information. A discussion was had ULR to share

Communicati on the value of sharing of information statistics on NVQ
ons/Statist relating to staff undertaking NVQs as SWT courses with TS
ics were supporting the award indirectly and with PC being a
employees undertaking learning through Open central point of
Learning. It was agreed that information be contact.
shared in order to establish learner numbers.
TS to share Open
Learning data on
Discussion was further had on the sharing of all learners.
information on passed drivers in relation to
NVQs and retrospective accreditation. TS to discuss with
Marc Sellis.
 6 Successes. Two events were held at Woking TS to ask Network
Adult and Fratton An excellent turnout was noted at Rail if any
Learners Woking. Credit was given to ULR Martin Scott available rooms at
Week for organising the event. Waterloo were
(update) available and
The Fratton turn out was not so good as on feedback to KB.
that particular day there had been rail
related issues therefore access was less. Additionally, SS to
Whilst not as successful, ULR Dave Clarke’s investigate to see
efforts were noted for the minutes. if any available
rooms at Waterloo
A further day at Waterloo is scheduled through ASLEF.
onThursday 23rd July 2009, room to be
confirmed.

7 Learning Mentors. TS informed the group that

Open since the last meeting, the budget cuts that
Learning were suggested have now taken place.
Update
Moving forward, Open Learning access in terms
of support will be available one day a week,
but instead of a walk in facility to discuss
requirements, 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

Item Discussion Action(s)

 7 LM Development. TS stated that he was PC to identify
Open looking for a course to help the four LMs appropriate courses
Learning become more competent in undertaking their and feedback as soon
Update new duties. Research had identified that as as possible.
(Cont’d) 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.
TS to provide a list
Skillsoft. TS informed the group that the of available
200 Licenses for SkillSoft will cease as of resources and
Sept 2009 due to funding restrictions. appointment contact
This resource will be replaced with details.
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 that
how 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 TS and Marc Sellis
company approach was one of integrity (VTM) to review
however, if SS felt the need to challenge criteria for funding
the application of the agreement he was free for courses.
to do so through the appropriate channels.

SS requested the criteria for allocation of MM to add to the

funding. TS informed the group that this agenda next time
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.

8 CSC. JW stated that Customer Services Staff TS to contact Rob

NVQs were offered the opportunity to take up Potter (CSC) to
NVQ’s with Brockenhurst College. Those advise on NVQ
taking up the offer were informed that they facilitation.
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 advise
accordingly.
 9 Appropriate Release. SS raised the issue of No action
Release appropriate time being allocated for ULR
for Lead release. TS informed the group that it was
ULRs felt that current release times were
adequate. No increase in release for ULR’s;
current arrangement stays.

Item Discussion Action(s)

10 ULR release for courses. MT stated that two
Any Other individuals applications for release for a
Business 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 SS’s
point.

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

FBC