Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mary-Jean Devon and Alison Palmer, Teacher Representative.

There were no declarations of interest.

Community Services Committee 12 March 2020

The Minutes of the Community Services Committee held on 12 March 2020 were approved as a correct record.

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

Superintendent Brian Gibson presented the FQ4 – 2019/20 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan for 2017-20 and the FQ1 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan for 2020-23 on behalf of Chief Superintendent John Paterson, who had submitted his apologies for today’s meeting. 

Superintendent Gibson referred to the different stages of recovery in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing impact this has had on trends in respect of crimes and behaviours.  He expressed his thanks to the Policing team who have worked tremendously hard beyond what was expected, he also thanked Alan Morrison and Jim Smith from the Council for the huge support they had given to him during this period.   He then responded to a number of questions. 

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the content of the reports.

(Reference: Reports for FQ4 2019/20 & FQ1 2020/21 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue

The Chair welcomed Joe McKay, the new Area Commander for Scottish Fire and Rescue, to his first meeting of the Community Services Committee.  

Mr McKay presented reports highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for FQ4 2019-20 and FQ1 2020-21 which showed a downward trend across all key priorities.

Before inviting questions from the Committee, the Chair expressed her thanks to the previous Area Commander, Andrew Watt, for his invaluable input while in this role.  She also welcomed Graham Fraser from HM Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland who was listening into the proceedings today.

Decision

The Committee noted the content of the reports.

(Reference: Q4 2019/20 and Q1 2020/21 Reports by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue, submitted)

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

A report highlighting the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Performance Reporting Framework and Exception Reporting Arrangements which was reported recently to the Integrate Joint Board (IJB) was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted:

1.    the Integration Joint Board Health and Social Care Partnership performance report for quarters 3 and 4 for 2019/20;

2.    the impact of Covid-19 on some of the IJB performance targets;

3.    the resumption of services and revised performance targets in line with national phase four route map; and

4.    the delay in the production of the IJB Annual Performance Report.

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

Report by Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP

A report presenting the Committee with a new policy to ensure and safeguard SSSC registration for social care employees of Argyll and Bute Council who are managed by the Argyll and Bute HSCP was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to recommend approval of the policy to the Council and then notify the IJB (Integrated Joint Board).

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP dated 4 August 2020 and SSSC Registration Policy, submitted)

Report by Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP

The Committee considered the Year 3 review of the Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2017-2020.  The review considered updates on 2019/20 progress, provided information on developments that had taken place since the plan was published, and set out key plans for the year ahead.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1.    to note that both NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute were jointly and equally responsible for children’s services planning;

2.    to approve Argyll and Bute’s Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2017-2020 Year 3 review for the period 2019/20; and

3.    that once approved by the Community Services Committee and approved by the Integration Joint Board, to approve the submission of the Children and Young People’s Services Plan Year 3 review to Scottish Government as per the legislative requirement.

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP dated 8 July 2020, submitted)

Margaret Anderson, Church Representative, and Councillor Robin Currie joined the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

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 Education Plan for 2019-20 presented at the Community Services Committee in September 2019, and to outline priority actions for 2020-21 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2019-20 Argyll and Bute Education Plan;

2.    note the Covid-19 Education Recovery Plan;

3.    approve the 2020-21 Annual Education Plan (Appendix 1);

4.    approve the publishing of the 2020-21 Annual Education Plan; and

5.    approve the submission of the 2020-21 Annual Education Plan to Scottish Government.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 August 2020 and Annual 2020/21 and 2019/20 Progress Report, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

In response to the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, consideration was given to a report setting out proposals to further extend the statutory consultation exercise with regard to the proposal to close Skipness Primary School and to reschedule the public meeting to such a time during the consultation process that this is permissible under the Regulations relating to public gatherings.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1.    a further extension of the current consultation period, due to end on 31 August 2020, to 18 December 2020; and

2.    that a new date for the public meeting is established once the UK/Scottish Government restrictions on public assemblies allow it to proceed.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 August 2020, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on the initial outcome of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 2020 awards was considered.

Following the cancellation of the formal SQA examination diet due to Covid-19, schools submitted estimate grades relating to each presentation and level made on behalf of each young person.  These estimate grades were originally considered, moderated and awards allocated by the SQA to each presentation and level.  On 11 August the Scottish Government indicated that SQA would change this approach and revert to candidate awards based solely on the estimates provided by schools and colleges.  Any learner that was awarded a grade higher than their estimate in the original process maintained their award at the higher level.

Decision

The Committee:

1.      considered and noted the outcome of the initial SQA awards for pupils in academic year 2019/20 ie

I.              National 4 results were above the national outcome by 9.1%

II.            National 5 results were above the national outcome by 2.5%

III.           Higher results were above the national outcome by 1.3%

IV.          Advanced Higher results were above the national outcome by 2.6%

2.      requested that the Executive Director with responsibility for Education provide a further report to the Community Services Committee in December 2020 to allow the consideration of further statistical school and national information, released by Insight (school data analysis tool) in September 2020; and

3.      agreed that in session 2020/21 attainment and achievement outcomes would be presented to the Community Services Committee only following release of Insight data which affords full access to statistical school and national information in relation to attainment and achievement outcomes of the young people of Argyll and Bute.

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

Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A report updating the Committee on progress in delivering the actions in the approved Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan was considered.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the progress made in delivering the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.

(Reference: Report by Interim Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services and Gaelic Language Progress Action Plan, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of all external education establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the period March – August 2020 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 13 August 2020, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2020/21 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2020/21, submitted)