Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Daniel Hampsey.

Councillor Maurice Corry declared a non-financial interest in Agenda Item 11 (Live Argyll – Monitoring and Performance Report) as he was a Board Member on Live Argyll.  Having taken note of the 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 in the meeting.

Community Services Committee held on 6 June 2024

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 6 June 2024 was approved as a correct record.

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

Chief Superintendent Gary I’Anson presented the Argyll and Bute Performance Summary Report of Police Scotland’s Policing Priorities for Q1 April – June 2024 and responded to questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the content of the report.

(Reference: Report for Q1 2024 – 2025 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute, West Dunbarton Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

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

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

With the aid of power point slides, Station Commander Brian Wardle presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q1 (1 April – 30 June 2024) and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q1 2024/25 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on progress made by the Education Service in achieving the priorities included in the Argyll and Bute Education Strategic Plan for 2022-24 (2023-24 update) presented at Community Services Committee in August 2023 and outlining priority actions for 2024-2026 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2022-24 Education Strategic Plan (2023-24 update) outlined in the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2023-24;

2.    approve the Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2023-24 and Strategic Plan 2024-26 (Appendix 1);

3.    approve the publishing of the Education Strategic Plan 2024-2026 and Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2023-24 on the Council website; and

4.    approve the submission of the of the Education Strategic Plan 2024-2026 (2023-24 update) and Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2023-24 to Scottish Government.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 18 July 2024, Education Strategic Plan 2024-2026 and Education Service Progress and Impact Report 2023-24, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of a draft Proposal to extend Dalmally Primary School’s catchment area, formulated in accordance with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to adopt the draft Proposal (as set out in Appendix A) as a “Relevant Proposal” that should now proceed to a statutory consultation under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, in accordance with the timeframe as set out in the draft Proposal Paper.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 18 July 2024 and Proposal Paper, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of the outcome and findings of the statutory consultation exercise undertaken in respect of the formal Proposal to close Kilchrenan Primary School as detailed in the published Consultation Report (Appendix A); and in accordance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended, was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the contents of the Consultation Report (Appendix A); and

2.    approve the implementation of the following Proposal as consulted on –

a)    that education provision at Kilchrenan Primary School shall be permanently discontinued with effect from 29 November 2024; and

b)    that the delineated catchment area of Taynuilt Primary School shall be extended to subsume the whole delineated catchment area of Kilchrenan Primary School from 29 November 2024.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 18 July 2024 and Consultation Report – Kilchrenan Primary School dated August 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing an update on the initial outcome of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 2024 examination diet for young people in Argyll and Bute was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the guidance from the SQA, detailed at paragraph 4.3 of the report, about qualitative comparisons of data over the last three years, with reference to ‘pre-pandemic’ data in 2018/19;

2.    note the outcome of the initial SQA examination results for pupils in academic year 2023/24, and that the performance of Argyll and Bute schools in 2024 was above the current national performance in SQA examinations in two of the four measures (National 4 and Advanced Higher) at A-C, and above in three measures (National 4, National 5 and Advanced Higher) at A-D; and

3.    request that the Executive Director with responsibility for Education provide further reports to the Community Services Committee to allow the consideration of updated statistical school and national information, scheduled to be released by Insight (school data analysis tool) in September 2024 and February 2025.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 22 August 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Refugee Resettlement

A report providing an update on the support model provided in Argyll and Bute for the Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children/young people (UASC) who arrive through the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) following an internal review of the programme in autumn 2023 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to

1.    endorse the support provided for UASC arriving in Argyll and Bute and note the challenges that the National Transfer Scheme and the associated funding model brought to the authority; and

2.    request an annual review of UASC support was prepared for the Corporate Parenting Board.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Refugee Resettlement dated 24 July 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services

A report providing the Committee with an update on the performance and monitoring arrangements between Live Argyll (LA) 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 together with the Live Argyll Annual report 2023/24 attached at Appendix 1.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Commercial Services dated August 2024 and Live Argyll Annual Report 2023/24, submitted)

Councillor Paul Kennedy left the meeting at this point.

Report by Head of Children, Families and Justice Services/Chief Social Work Officer, Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

A report on the first annual review of the Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2023 – 2026 which provided an overview of performance and progress to date in delivering the agreed outcomes was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note that Argyll and Bute Council were jointly responsible for children’s services planning along with NHS Highland;

2.    note the significant work of the wider multi-agency children’s planning partners including many third sector partners along with the Scottish Reporter’s Administration, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Police Scotland;

3.    note the progress indicated within the Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2023 -26 Year 1 review; and

4.    endorse the review for submission to Scottish Government as per legislative requirement.

(Reference: Report for Head of Children, Families and Justice Services/Chief Social Work Officer, Argyll and Bute HSCP dated 1 August 2024 and Year 1 (2023/24) Annual Review of the Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2023 - 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services

A report updating the Members on progress that the Council is making on the delivery of the Council’s statutory Gaelic Language Plan was considered.

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the good progress that was being made in relation to the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Customer Support Services dated 21 August 2024 and Argyll and Bute Gaelic Language Monitoring Report 2022-23, 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 May to June 2024 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted:-

1.    the contents of this report;

2.    this quarterly report would be presented on an ongoing basis to the Community Services Committee detailing all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period; and

3.    that Ward Members would 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 June 2024, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2024-2025 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2024-2025, submitted)