Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amanda Hampsey, Jennifer Kean and Yvonne McNeilly.

Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson declared a financial interest in item 6 (Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership – Annual Performance Report) and item 7 (Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership – Quarterly Performance Report FQ1 2024/25) as he ran a business which dealt with people with special needs.  He advised that he would remain in the meeting during the discussion of these reports.

Community Services Committee held on 22 August 2024

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 22 August 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 Q2 April – September 2024.  He also provided a briefing on the new Police Scotland 2030 vision and three year business plan and responded to questions asked. 

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the content of the report along with the briefing on the new Police Scotland 2030 vision and three year business plan.

(Reference: Report for Q2 2024 – 2025 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute, West Dunbarton Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

With the aid of power point slides, Group Commander Barrie McCutcheon and Station Commander Rob Taylor presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q2 (1 June – 30 September 2024) and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q2 2024/25 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

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

A report presenting the Annual Performance Report for the Health & Social Care Partnership for the year 2023/24 was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted and considered Annual Performance Report for the Health & Social Care Partnership for the year 2023/24

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer, Argyll & Bute HSCP dated 12 December 2024, submitted)

Report by Senior Manager, Performance & Improvement, Argyll and Bute Health & Social Care Partnership

A report detailing performance for FQ1 (April – June) 2024/25 for Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    acknowledge performance for FQ1 2024/25 (April – June);

2.    acknowledge performance update on the National Health & Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators; and

3.    note Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 1 July 2024.

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager, Performance and Improvement, Argyll and Bute HSCP dated 12 December 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report updating the Committee on the current situation of Furnace Primary School and proposing a number of measures under which the Education Service can monitor the position of the School over the forthcoming year was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed that:

1.    Furnace Primary School is mothballed on a temporary basis, and that the building be retained for one year on a care and maintenance basis;

2.    Officers would conduct a review of the School’s mothballing ahead of the Committee’s December 2025 meeting, at which Members could decide on a continued period of mothballing or request that Officers commence a preliminary exercise to examine the future options for Furnace Primary School; and

3.    The community should have pre-arranged access to the building to promote any community functions during the period of mothballing.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 6 November 2024, submitted)

Councillor Iain Shonny Paterson left the meeting at this point.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A consultation on School Holiday Dates was carried out from 12 August – 4 October 2024 with an aim to set the in-service days for teachers and the holiday dates for pupils across the authority for 2026-2029.  The consultation included parents/carers, pupils and staff.

The proposed dates, contained within Appendix 1 of this report, were before the Committee for consideration.

Decision

The Committee agreed the school holiday dates for 2026-2029 contained within Appendix 1 of the report.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report giving an overview of essential performance data and outcomes for all students in Argyll and Bute’s ten secondary schools for the 2023-2024 academic session was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    consider the information contained in this report;

2.    commend the hard work and commitment of pupils and staff in securing these levels of attainment and achievement and recognised the crucial role in such success played by parents and carers in partnership with the schools;

3.    note the SQA directive that, because of the different assessment arrangements in place each year over the period 2020-2023, meaningful comparison between results in 2024 and the other years in this period specifically 2020 and 2021, was limited; and

4.    note that a further report would come to a future meeting of the Committee once final Insight date for session 2023-2024 was made available in the February 2025 Insight update.

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

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing Members with information on the most recent Annual Participation Measure published by Skills Development Scotland in August 2024 covering the period April 2023 – March 2024 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    consider the information in relation to the 2023-2024 Annual Participation Measure;

2.    note the consistently strong performance of Argyll and Bute as a council area in facilitating the participation of 16 – 19 year olds; and

3.    note the change in statistical detail brought about by the revision of 2023 Participation figures to exclude data provided by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 December 2024, 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 2024-2027 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:

1.    note the areas for action identified in the new plan; and

2.    consider and approve the CLD Partnership Strategic Plan for 2024-2027.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 December 2024, 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 August to December 2024 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note:

1.    the contents of this report;

2.    that 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 December 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)