Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Audrey Forrest, Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson, Reverend Sandy MacPherson (Church Representative) and Lorna Stewart (Teacher Representative).

There were no declarations of interest.

Community Services Committee held on 25 August 2022

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 25 August 2022 was approved as a correct record.

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

Chief Superintendent Lynn Ratcliff presented the Quarter 2 – 2022/23 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan 2020 – 2023.

In addition she advised of Police Scotland’s Festive Safety Campaign which commenced on 1 December and would run until 2 January 2023; L Division’s Road Safety social media Question and Answer Session aimed at Road Safety on 14 December 2022 with Sergeant Archie Maguire from Road Policing; and Operation Balaton which ran over the summer in Loch Lomond National Park and focused on water safety and anti-social behaviour.

Chief Superintendent Ratcliff then advised of the exceptional achievements of a couple of dedicated Police Scotland Officers who live and work in Argyll and Bute - Police Constable Laura Evans based at Dunoon, who was runner up for the Police Officer of the Year and Police Constable Eilidh Ann Dewar from Oban, who won the Excellence in Policing Award at the Scottish Women’s Development Awards.

Thereafter, she, along with Chief Inspector Simon Shanks, Area Commander for Oban, Lorn, the Isles, Mid Argyll and Kintyre and Chief Inspector Samantha Glasgow, Area Commander for Bute, Cowal and Helensburgh, responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report for Quarter 2 2022/23 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Councillor Gemma Penfold joined the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal & Regulatory Support

Police Scotland are consulting on local police priorities set out within the Local Police Plan – Argyll and Bute 2023-2026 and have requested input 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 Police Scotland’s consultation on the ‘Local Police Plans – Argyll and Bute’ set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Legal & Regulatory Support dated November 2022, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

With the aid of power point slides, Group Commander Grant Fraser presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q2 2022-2023 and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q2 2022-2023 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

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

Consideration was given to a report which had been presented to the Argyll and Bute Integrated Joint Board (IJB) in November 2022. 

The report advised of new Key Performance Indicators established in relation to long waiting times across both inpatient and outpatient specialities for 2022, 2023 and 2024 and detailed current performance against the new targets building on previous remobilisation performance.  In addition the report also focused on performance with regards to Treatment Time Guarantee, Delayed Discharge and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)/Psychological Therapies 18 Week Local Delivery Plan Standards with an update on the Integrated Performance Management Framework.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the IJB Health and Social Care Partnership report which was presented and approved by the IJB at its November 2022 meeting following scrutiny by its Clinical and Care Governance Committee.

(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 & Social Care Partnership

Consideration was given to the Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report for 2021/22.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Annual Performance Report for 2021/22.

(Reference: Argyll & Bute HSCP Annual Performance Report 2021/22, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing an overview of key performance data and outcomes for all pupils across Argyll and Bute’s ten secondary schools for session 2021-2022, using local authority data on attainment, and data as supplied by the Scottish Government’s Insight tool, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note that, for the first time since session 2018/19, pupil performance and outcomes were based on examination performance;

2.    consider the information contained in this report; and

3.    note that a further report would come to a future meeting of the Committee once Insight final outcomes were available.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 15 December 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing Members with information on the most recent Annual Participation Measure published in August 2022, covering the period April 2021 – March 2022, was considered.

The Annual Participation Measure reports nationally on the economic and employment activity of the wider 16-19 year old cohort including those at school.  The measure is used to inform policy, planning and service delivery and to determine the impact of the Opportunities for All commitment.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the publication of the 2021-2022 Annual Participation Measure, and the strong performance of Argyll and Bute as a council area in facilitating the participation of 16-19 year olds; and

2.    recognise the good progress which had been made by the Education Service and schools in relation to pupil progress in this area.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 15 December 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report detailing the range of initiatives in Argyll and Bute to support children and young people and families from Armed Forces service backgrounds was considered.

The report details the funding sources on which such support relies, the ways in which such funding is directed within Argyll and Bute, and describes the variety of approaches employed to ensure the welfare of pupils from service backgrounds and their families.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    consider the support in place for young people and their families from a service family background; and

2.    note the change to the Education Support Fund for session 2023-24 and that feedback would be received on the current bid in January 2023.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 15 December 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Argyll and Bute Council’s Digital Learning Team was awarded £100,000 through the UK Government Community Renewal Fund (UK CRF).   The funding was used to commission the creation of high quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) materials.

A report presenting the details of the high quality STEM materials that have been created as a result of the UK CRF grant was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to recognise the benefits the STEM materials, which have been created, would provide pupils and employers in this area.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 26 October 2022, submitted)

Councillor Paul Kennedy left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education

A submission has been made to the Scottish Government to bid for funding for a new campus on Mull from the Learning Estate Investment Programme (LEIP).  The announcement for successful projects awarded the funding is expected by the end of the year.

A report outlining the details of a draft Engagement Strategy prepared in anticipation of a positive announcement for the Mull Campus Project was considered.  The Strategy has been prepared to provide reassurance to the communities affected by the project that the engagement will be wide ranging and fully inclusive.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve the draft Strategy.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services and Education dated 21 November 2022 and Mull Campus Engagement Strategy, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of all external establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the period September to November 2022 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 15 November 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report sharing the progress and impact report for the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Collaborative and setting out the Phase 4 Regional Improvement Plan for the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Collaborative 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 8 November 2022, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing an update on the refreshing of the Managing Distressed Behaviour Guidance and the Education Management Circulars 3.08 on Exclusions and 2.26 Managing Violence and Aggression towards Staff, 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 28 November 2022, submitted)

Report by Chief Social Work Officer, Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership

A report providing an update on the Argyll and Bute’s Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2020-2023 Year 2 review for the period 2021/22 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee agreed to refer this item to the next meeting of the Community Services Committee as a substantive item.

(Reference: Report by Chief Social Work Officer, Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership dated 30 August 2022, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2022/23 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2022/23, submitted)