Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Daniel Hampsey, Margaret Anderson, Church Representative and Dan Semple, Teacher Representative.

There were no declarations of interest.

Community Services Committee held on 5 March 2026

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 5 March 2026 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 April 2025 – March 2026.

With the aid of power point slides, a presentation on local activities was also given by Chief Inspector James McArthur, Chief Inspector Lee Page and Inspector Alastair MacLaren and thereafter Officers responded to questions asked.

Decision

The Community Services Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report for April 2025 – March 2026 by Divisional Commander for Argyll & Bute & West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

With the aid of power point slides, Group Commander Kevin Rennie presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance and partnership working within Argyll and Bute for Q4 (1 January – 31 March 2026) and responded to questions asked.

Decision

The Community Services Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Q4 2025/26 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by HSCP Performance & Information Team Manager, Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership

A reporting detailing performance for FQ3 (October – December 2025) 2025/26 for Argyll & Bute Health & Social Care Partnership was before the Committee for consideration.

Decision

The Community Services Committee:

1.    acknowledged performance for FQ3 2025/26 (October –December) against latest Key Performance Indicators within the Integrated Performance Management Framework for 2025/26;

2.    noted latest Delayed Discharge Sitrep as of 16 February 2026;

3.    acknowledged latest performance against the National Health & Wellbeing Outcomes and Ministerial Steering Group Integration Indicators; and

4.    acknowledged the inclusion of additional A&B HSCP performance metrics aligned to national reporting across Centre for Sustainable Delivery Unscheduled Care, and the Planned Care performance focus within the Operational Improvement Plan.

(Report by Senior Manager Performance & Improvement, Argyll & Bute HSCP dated 4 June 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing the Committee with an update of the work being undertaken to develop the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Council’s Education Service was considered.

Decision

The Community Services Committee:

1.    noted the ongoing work to develop the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Education Service, as outlined within the report; and

2.    endorsed the work undertaken by Officers and agreed that further reports be submitted to the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 28 April 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report providing details of a Temporary Closure Procedure document, which has been drafted by Officers following the publication of updated Statutory Guidance on the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed:

1.    to the adoption of the Procedure, attached as Appendix 1 of the report; and

2.    that the Procedure should be published on the Council’s website.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 24 April 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report providing details of the Options Appraisal for Furnace Primary School carried out in accordance with the preliminary requirements set out in Section 12A of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, as amended.

Decision

The Community Services Committee:

1.    noted the outcome of this consideration of the preliminary requirements; and

2.    agreed that Officers now formulate a draft closure proposal that would be presented to the December 2026 meeting of the Committee for approval by Members which, if adopted, would subsequently trigger the formal consultation process under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 22 April 2026, submitted)

Reverend Dorothy Wallace left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing details of a draft Proposal to relocate the current Tobermory 2-18 Campus to a new purpose-built 2-18 campus school building in accordance with the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 was considered.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to adopt the draft Proposal, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, as a “Relevant Proposal” that would 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 Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 22 May 2026, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

A report providing Members with an overview of the outcome achieved through the partnership between Argyll and Bute Council and MCR Pathways, supporting care experienced and vulnerable young people through one-to-one mentoring and group work in secondary schools was considered.

Decision

The Community Services Committee:

1.    noted the continued positive impact the MCR Pathways Programme has had on young people since the programme began in 2023 and the importance of the programme in taking forward our Corporate Parenting responsibilities for Care Experienced Children and Young People;

2.    noted the number of Argyll and Bute Council staff contributing their time as volunteer mentors and commended this work; and

3.    endorsed the positive contribution which the MCR Pathways Programme has had on Argyll and Bute Council’s work to ‘Keep the Promise’ for Scotland’s Care Experienced Children and Young People.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education dated 12 May 2026, 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 March 2026 to June 2026 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 2026, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2026 - 2027 was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2026 - 2027, submitted)