Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of the following:-

Councillor George Freeman

Councillor Robert G MacIntyre

The Chair advised, that the business dealt with at Item 13 of this Minute had been withdrawn.

Councillor Aileen Morton declared a non-financial interest in relation to Item 11 – Hermitage Academy Update and advised that in terms of the objective test she regarded the interest to be so remote and insignificant as to have no influence on her consideration of the matter.

The Minute of the previous meeting held on 13 October 2015 was approved as a true record.

Matters Arising

The Chair advised that the Roads Performance Manager would provide an update regarding the new street cleaning machine under Item 9 Roads Revenue Budget.

The Minute of the special meeting held on 23 November 2015 was approved as a true record.

The Chair invited questions from the public in attendance at the meeting.

No questions were submitted.

Report by Bill Brackenridge, Chair of the Adult Protection Committee.

The Committee considered a report and update providing the detail of the delivery of adult support and protection in Argyll and Bute.

Discussion followed and Members requested information in regards a Ministerial response to the report, linkage with the local Third Sector organisations, procedure for an investigation and if any military veterans were included on the data provided.  Rebecca Barr, Area Manager advised that, as yet, there had not been a Ministerial response to the report, although in previous years they had received one. She affirmed that they had good relations with local Third Sector organisations and that the local Police Scotland Inspector chaired the local Forum group.  In regards instigating an investigation, she highlighted the procedure in place which included case conferences and discussions between various agencies to reach a resolution. She verified that their data collection process could now identify military veterans.

The Chair thanked Rebecca Barr for her informative update and report.

Decision

Members agreed to note the report and update.

(Reference: Report by Bill Brackenridge, Independent Chair dated 8 December 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which presented the Area Scorecard, with exceptional performance for financial quarter 2 of 2015-16 (July - September 2015.

Decision

Members agreed:

1.         To note the exceptional performance presented on the Scorecard; and

2.         The proposed changes at paragraph 3.1.; and

3.         That the Programme Manager would include performance information 

            Advanced Higher under the Education Scorecard and Car Parking Fines

            income under the  Environment Scorecard.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted)

Reports by Executive Director – Community Services.

The Committee considered a report which provided information by the Highland Games Committee within the End of Project Monitoring Report.

Decision

Members agreed that:

1.         There is no underspend from the £4,000 allocated to the Highland

            Games Committee;

2.         There are no unspent funds for the Highland Games Committee to

             carry forward from this year; and

3.         The Highland Games Committee is eligible to apply for the maximum

            funding available through the Third Sector Grants in 2016.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted)

The Committee considered a report which provided information by the Highland Games Committee within the End of Project Monitoring Report.

Decision

Members agreed that:

1.         There is no underspend from the £4,000 allocated to the Rosneath Highland

            Games Committee;

2.         There are no unspent funds for the Rosneath Highland Games Committee to

             carry forward from this year; and

3.         The Rosneath Highland Games Committee is eligible to apply for the

            maximum funding available through the Third Sector Grants in 2016.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services.

The Committee considered a report which advised that Funds of £1,644 were offered in a third round of grant funds in 2015/16 and that no applications were received. In addition, an award of £4,000 granted in 2015/16 has not been drawn down by the applicant.

Discussion followed and Members questioned if participatory budgeting could be utilised in the decision making process for Third Sector grants applications.

Members agreed that:-

1.            To note that the carry forward of funds to 2016/17 would be £5,644; and

2.            That the Community Development Officer would provide information to a

            future meetings on the options for using participatory Budgeting.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted)

Councillor James Robb entered the meeting at 10.10a.m.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which advised on the Roads Revenue Budget at the end of the 2^nd Quarter of the financial year 2015/16.

Discussion followed and Members raised the following issues:

More information in regards the Street Cleaning machine. The Roads Performance Manager agreed to advise Members when the machine was next ‘in situ’ in Helensburgh Town Centre.

An update on the cyclepath between Colgrain and Helensburgh and the land purchase issues. The Roads Performance Manager agreed to review this issue and update Members accordingly.

An update on progress on footways in Helensburgh and clarification on responsibility.

The issue of the footway in Barrs Road, Cardross.

Verification that gully cleaning was being undertaken routinely and effectively. The relief gully on the A814 was Members pointed out that MOD funding was in place to remediate drainage issues.

Drainage issues on the carriageway between Colgrain Farm and Lylestone.

Members congratulated the local Roads team in the work which they had undertaken to address localised flooding issues over the previous weekend.

Decision

Members agreed:

1.    To note the report; and

2.    That the Roads Performance Manager would review the issues raised and report back to Members.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Community Services.

The Committee considered a report which updated on the findings of the continuing quarterly evaluation of the Care at Home provision within the Helensburgh and Lomond area and the performance of the operational Adult Care Social Work Team.

Discussion followed and Members highlighted recent staffing issues in the local area and asked for clarification that there was now an element of stability. Jim Littlejohn, Service Manager outlined recent appointments and stated that he hoped that this would result in a more stable team. Members questioned how potential service cuts would impact onto the service and the Area manager affirmed that this would present a challenge.

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    To note the report; and

2.    That the next report would include information on funding resources.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted)

Verbal update by Head of Education.

The Committee heard a verbal update from Ann Marie Knowles,  Head of Education.

Mrs Knowles outlined the progress in taking forward an internal review of the senior phase curriculum at Hermitage Academy. She advised Members of the composition of the team undertaking the review and affirmed that the review would be robust and address concerns which had been raised. Education Scotland had also been  invited by the Council’s Education Service to join the review team.

Mrs Knowles reported on the analysis of a wide range of background information including the scrutiny of examination statistics, approaches to whole school and departmental tracking and monitoring, including the effectiveness of the school’s supporting learners programme - I Time.

Questionnaires had been sent out to all parents/carers, pupils and staff of Hermitage Academy and a full analysis of the questionnaire responses had been undertaken. 

Mrs Knowles advised that a report was being presented to the Community Services Committee meeting on 10 December 2015. In addition, an action plan was being compiled, but as yet no timescale was in place.  She highlighted that further discussions will be taken forward between the school, Education Services and the recently elected Parent Council to share the findings of the review and subsequent actions.

Discussion followed and Members raised concerns regarding the level of effective communication between the school and parents and the style of terminology which had been used in a recent letter sent out to parents by Hermitage Academy.

The Chair thanked Mrs Knowles for her update and noted her dedication and commitment to resolving this issue. He requested that local Members be kept up-to-date with developments.

Decision

Members agreed:-

1.    To  note the update; and

2.    That the Head of Education would forward a progress report to local Helensburgh and Lomond Members.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

The Committee considered a report which advised on the Final Account for the Helensburgh CHORD public realm improvement works undertaken by Maclay Civil Engineering.

Decision

1.    To note the contents of the report

2.    That the CHORD Project Manager bring a report to a future Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on how best to appropriate the remaining CHORD funds.

3.    To congratulate the CHORD Project Manager on the success of the Helensburgh CHORD project and bringing in the project within budget.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted).

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services.

This item had been withdrawn from the Agenda as noted at Item 1 of these minutes.

The Committee noted that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the report submitted contained information that would have made it possible to exclude the public for this item of business on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Notwithstanding this, Members unanimously determined not to exclude the press and public and to discuss the item in public session.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services.

The Committee considered a report which updated Members in relation to the proposed exchange of ground at the former Mariners site, the Pier, Helensburgh.

Decision

Members agreed to note the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated 8 December 2015, submitted).