Minutes of meeting held at Middlesbrough College
21st June 2000

Present	Helen Ashton, Bishop Auckland College, Jen Black, Gateshead College, Pat Drew, New College Durham, Christine Goult, Cleveland College of Art and Design, Judith Hodges, South Tyneside College, Chris Kelly, Newcastle College, Paula Kilburn, Middlesbrough College, Jane Lenton, Hartlepool College, Cath Proud, Middlesbrough College, Gillian Rutherford, North Tyneside College, Viv Towler, Tynemouth College, Catherine Walmsley, South Tyneside College.
(1)	Apologies: Jackie Devine, South Tyneside College, Richard Harvey, New College Durham, Fiona Middlemist, Northumberland College, Pam Robinson, South Tyneside College, Jane Spellman, QEVI Form,
(2)	Minutes of the last meeting held at Gateshead College on 14th February 2000 were agreed as a true record.
(3)	Matters arising None
(4)	Appointment of Chair The circle thanked Scott Gibbens for his work as chair of the circle and wished him well in his new job with Wolverhampton Health Authority. It was proposed and agreed to have a "rolling chair" - whoever was hosting the meeting would chair. This would be reviewed after one year.
(5)	Feedback from National Committee - HA East Midlands 2001 - a spatial experience at University of Nottingham 2002 - Joint conference with U C & R Responses to documents New professional adviser - Kathy Ennis CoFHE Bulletin Web site National Grid for Learning
(6)	Feedback from U C & R Committee and joint event - PK Summer visit has been cancelled but event for 12th July has been organised with speakers from Sunderland talking about "Joined-up libraries". More details will be emailed to circle. Joint meeting in May - HA to photocopy handouts and circulate to all circle.
(7)	Web site CoFHE web site has been re-designed. Circle encouraged to look at it and to think about North-East circle site and what we could have on it to make it slightly more interesting. At present, minutes of meeting and annual report are available along with names of members. Discussion about photographs.
(8)	Inspection process Cath Proud (chair for meeting) led the discussion on inspection. General Issues: Learning resources lumped in with accommodation etc. Often intense meetings with questions fired at manager. Facts and figures must be readily available. Statistics are important.  Resources must support curriculum.  All information prepared is not looked at but still need to be prepared. South Tyneside - uniforms obtained before last inspection. Inspectors reasonably happy. College of Art - recently had both FEFC and QAA. Questions included stock replacement policy, budgets, library system, and curriculum links. Students are good advocates of the service. Aide-Memoire available for QAA inspection. Often weaknesses can be put right. Middlesbrough College - LRC quality statements with strengths and weaknesses sent to all SAR writers so Learning Resources included in all SAR's. CoLRiC peer accreditation scheme discussed. Cost often off putting. Criteria very useful.
(9)	Tour of resources at Middlesbrough College
(10)	AOB Issue of books for inspection discussed. Hallsworth Howard booksellers mentioned.
(11)	Date of next meeting 14th November at 2pm proposed at Kirkley Hall, Ponteland. HA to check with FM.