Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Reverend Sandy MacPherson as one of the religious representatives on the Committee and Lorna Stewart who has been nominated as a Teacher representative on the Committee.

A welcome was also extended to Chief Superintendent Lynn Ratcliff who has recently taken over from John Paterson.

The Chair also advised that this would be last meeting attended by Louise Connor, Head of Education: Learning and Teaching, as she would be retiring from this post at the end of the year.  Councillor McNeilly thanked Louise for her commitment and service to the children and young people of Argyll and Bute and for all her hard work during her time with the Council, and wished her well for the future.   It was noted that Louise would continue to work with the Council to take forward the Education Change Programme.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julie McKenzie and Donald MacMillan BEM.

Councillor Graham Hardie noted in relation to item 7 (Argyll & Bute HSCP – Performance Report) and item 8 (Argyll & Bute HSCP Annual Performance Report 2020/21) on the Agenda that he was appointed to the role of non-Executive Member of NHS Highland Board by the Council.  Having taken note of the updated Standards Commission Guidance in relation to declarations (issued on 7 December 2021) with specific reference to section 5.4(c) he did not consider that he had a relevant connection and as such would remain the meeting and speak and vote on these reports.

Community Services Committee 25 August 2021

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 25 August 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 2 – 2021/22 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan 2020 – 2023.

Chief Superintendent Lynn Ratcliff also provided an update on Police Scotland’s response to the current Covid-19 position, both locally and at a national level, in respect of the Omicron variant.  Thereafter both Officers responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report for Quarter 2 2021/22 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Area Commander Joe McKay presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q2 2021-2022 and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q2 2021-2022 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Councillor Liz McCabe left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are consulting on the next Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland and have requested input to the consultation from the Community Services Committee.   Consideration was given to a report setting out a draft response to this consultation.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve the response to the consultation on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Framework attached at Appendix 1 to the Executive Director’s report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal and Regulatory Support dated 16 November 2021, submitted)

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to vary the order of business to enable the Argyll & Bute HSCP’s Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology to present the Argyll & Bute HSCP reports when he joined later in the meeting.

These reports were subsequently considered at items 11 and 12 of this Minute.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A paper presenting the Committee with the FQ2 2021/22 Key Performance Indictors (KPIs) for the Education Service was considered.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and scrutinised the FQ2 2021/22 KPI report as presented.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 9 November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing an overview of key performance data and outcomes for all pupils across each of the ten secondary schools for session 2020/21 using the local authority data available was considered.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    noted that pupil performance and outcomes were based on teacher professional judgement based on a range of quality assured evidence, and not examination performance as the last formal SQA examination diet took place in 2019; and

2.    considered the contents of the report and appendices attached.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 11 November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, HM Inspectors of Education (HMIE) took the decision to pause all inspection activity on 13 March 2020.  In September 2021, HMIE agreed with the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, the arrangements to resume a programme of scrutiny activities for session 2021-22.

A report setting out this programme and how HMIE will approach scrutiny was before the Committee for consideration.

Decision

The Committee:

1.    noted the proposed programme of HMIE engagement including Phase One: late September 2021 to December 2021 and Phase Two: February 2022 onwards as detailed in section 3 of the Executive Director’s report; and

2.    agreed that the Education Service would resume the arrangements for reporting Inspection outcomes that were in place pre Covid-19 ie –

·         details of all inspections carried out on a quarterly basis will be presented to Community Services Committee as a standing item;

·         the quarterly report will detail all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period; and

·         that Ward Members will receive copies of school inspection reports for schools within their area as published by Education Scotland.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 15 November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on the appointment of one non-voting teaching representative to sit on the Community Services Committee to represent the teacher workforce was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the report and endorsed the appointment of Lorna Stewart as the representative nominated as a non-voting member of the Community Services Committee.

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

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

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 presented to the IJB in November 2021.

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

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given to the Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report for 2020/21.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report for 2020/21.

(Reference: Argyll & Bute HSCP Annual Performance Report 2020/21, submitted)

Extract of Minute of Argyll and Bute Council Meeting held on 25 November 2021

The Committee considered a request to initiate the statutory procedure in terms of the Schools (Consultation) Act 2010, to extend the school catchment for St Joseph’s school to cover the whole of the Helensburgh and Lomond area.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1.    to note the terms of the referral from Council;

2.    to take forward the statutory procedure in terms of the Schools (Consultation) Act 2010, to extend the school catchment for St Joseph’s school to cover the whole of the Helensburgh and Lomond area, noting that the necessary resources to undertake this work will not be available until the completion of the ongoing work relating to the Education Change Programme; and

3.    that an initial report on how the statutory procedure will be progressed will be brought forward to Members early in the life of the new Council.

(Reference: Extract from Minutes of Argyll and Bute Council meeting held on 25 November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Head of Education: Lifelong Learning and Support outlined the details of a Census planned by the Scottish Government for completion by April 2022 and delivered digitally to pupils in primary 5 through to S6.  Concerns had been expressed about the types of questions being asked which had led to one third of Scottish local authorities choosing to proceed with participating in this Census, one third choosing not to participate, and one third pausing.

A discussion took place and the views of Committee Members were invited as to whether or not Argyll and Bute Council should participate in this Census.

Motion

To agree that Argyll and Bute Council does not participate in the Health and Wellbeing Census at this time.

Moved by Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, seconded by Councillor Mary-Jean Devon.

Amendment

To agree to pause this decision until privacy issues are clarified by the Children’s Commissioner.

Moved by Councillor Lorna Douglas, seconded by Councillor Audrey Forrest.

A vote was taken by calling the roll.

Motion                                     Amendment

Councillor Anderson               Councillor Blair

Councillor Devon                    Councillor Douglas

Councillor Green                     Councillor Forrest

Councillor Hardie                    Councillor Paterson

Councillor McNeilly

Councillor Penfold

Councillor Reid

Councillor Robertson

Margaret Anderson

Reverend Sandy MacPherson

The Motion was carried by 10 votes to 4 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

Decision

The Committee agreed that Argyll and Bute Council would not participate in the Health and Wellbeing Census at this time.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing information on the most recent Annual Participation Measure published in August 2021, covering the period April 2020 – March 2021 was before the Committee for noting.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Community Services Committee agreed at its meeting on 10 June 2021 to embark on a wide ranging community engagement exercise to discuss and co-develop proposals for the future delivery of education in Argyll and Bute.

A report providing an update on the community engagement activity currently underway was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 19 November 2021, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A report providing an update on progress in delivering the actions in the approved Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

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

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

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

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