Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gordon Blair, Mary-Jean Devon and Julie McKenzie.

Councillor Graham Archibald Hardie declared a non-financial interest in the report dealt with at item 6 on the Agenda (Argyll & Bute HSCP – Performance Report June 2021) as he was appointed to the role of non-Executive Member with NHS Highland by the Council.

Councillor Hardie also declared a non-financial interest in the reports dealt with item 7a on the Agenda (Live Argyll – Monitoring and Performance Reporting – Update Report) and 7b on the Agenda (Live Argyll Annual Report 2020/21) as he was appointed to the Board of Live Argyll by the Council.

Councillor Hardie claimed the benefit of the dispensation contained at Section 5.18(2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to enable him to remain in the meeting and speak and vote on these reports.

Councillor Audrey Forrest declared a non-financial interest in the reports dealt with item 7a on the Agenda (Live Argyll – Monitoring and Performance Reporting – Update Report) and 7b on the Agenda (Live Argyll Annual Report 2020/21) as she was appointed to the Board of Live Argyll by the Council.

Councillor Forrest claimed the benefit of the dispensation contained at Section 5.18(2) of the Councillors Code of Conduct to enable her to remain in the meeting and speak and vote on these reports.

Councillor Jim Anderson declared a non-financial interest in the report dealt with at 7b on the Agenda (Live Argyll Annual Report 2020/21).  He advised that he would be remaining in the meeting.

Community Services Committee 10 June 2021

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 10 June 2021 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland

Superintendent Claire Dobson presented the Quarter 1 – 2021/22 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan 2020 – 2023 and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report for Quarter 1 2021/22 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Group Commander Gregg McKearney presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q1 2021-2022 and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q1 2021/22 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance & Technology, Argyll & Bute HSCP

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the impact of service performance with regards to the Covid-19 pandemic and the progress made with regard to remobilising health and social care services in Argyll and Bute.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the IJB Health and Social Care Partnership report as at June 2021.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance & Technology, Argyll & Bute HSCP, submitted)

Margaret Anderson joined the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

A report providing an update on the performance and monitoring arrangements between Live Argyll and the Council as set out in the various agreements between the Council and the Trust was considered.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated 9 August 2021, submitted)

Report by General Manager, Live Argyll

Consideration was given to Live Argyll’s Annual Report for 2020/2021.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Live Argyll Annual Report 2020/2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on the development of the Community Learning and Development (CLD) Strategic Plan for 2021 - 2024 was considered.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    noted the areas requiring further action during the lifetime of the new plan; and

2.    approved the CLD Partnership Strategic Plan for 2021 – 2024.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 25 August 2021 and CLD Strategic Partnership Plan 2021-2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A paper presenting the Committee with the Service Annual Performance Review and Scorecard for 2020/21 for the Education Service was considered.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and approved the Service Annual Performance Review and Scorecard 2020/21 as presented prior to publishing on the Council website.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 25 June 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A paper presenting the Committee with the FQ1 2021/22 performance report for the Education Service was considered.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and scrutinised the FQ1 2021/22 Performance Report as presented.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 29 July 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on the progress made by the Education Service in achieving the priorities included in the Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan for 2020-21 and outlining priority actions for 2021-22 was considered.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    noted the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2020-21 Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan;

2.    approved the 2021-22 Annual Education Plan;

3.    approved the publishing of the 2021-22 Annual Education Plan; and

4.    approved the submission of the 2021-22 Annual Education Plan to Scottish Government.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 August 2021 and Annual Education Plan 2021/22 and 2020/21 Progress Report, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

In 2018 the Scottish Government published a Learning Estate Strategy to set out a joint vision for the learning estate of the future ‘Connecting People, Places and Learning’.  In line with this National Strategy being produced, the Education Change Programme identified Education Learning Estate as a work stream which would produce a bespoke Learning Estate Strategy for Argyll and Bute.

As part of the Education Change Programme a project board was established to develop a Learning Estate Strategy.  Membership of the board was made up of a cross section of Council services who contributed to the layout and content of the document that has been prepared for approval.  This document sets out the agreed guiding principles for the Argyll and Bute Learning Estate Strategy that aligns with those of Scottish Government and was before the Committee for consideration.

Decision

The Committee considered the document and agreed that it be adopted as the Learning Estate Strategy for Argyll and Bute Council.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education and Argyll & Bute Learning Estate Strategy 2020-2030, submitted)

Councillor Donald MacMillan left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report informing the Committee of the background and context relating to Argyll and Bute Council’s continuing preparation for the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into Scots Law, and the associated work currently underway in Argyll and Bute in response to the opportunities and challenges which have emerged was considered.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    noted the current position with regard to the incorporation of UNCRC into Scots Law and the associated opportunities and challenges, and work currently underway in Argyll and Bute;

2.    noted the Action Plan priorities defined in the Argyll and Bute Children’s Rights Report 2020-2023;

3.    endorsed the work of the Officer Working Group co-ordinating preparation for the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots Law; and

4.    agreed to a further report coming to the Community Services Committee with further progress outlined.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated August 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing an update on the outcome of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Certification Model 2021 awards was considered.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the outcome of the initial SQA awards for pupils in academic year 2020/21 as follows:

·         National 4 results are 100%

·         National 5 results are 87.33%

·         Higher results are 90.15%

·         Advanced Higher are 91.41%

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2021 – 2022 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2021 – 2022, submitted)