Agenda and minutes

Councillor Aileen Morton, Policy Lead for Education, Lifelong Learning and Strategic IT Services, took the Chair at this point.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Mary-Jean Devon and

Robert E Macintyre and from William Crossan, Church representative.

Councillor Robin Currie declared a non financial interest in respect of West Highland Housing Association’s application for funding.  He left the room and took no part in the discussion of this application which is dealt with at item 11 of this Minute.

Community Services Committee 8 May 2014

The Minute of the Community Services Committee of 8 May 2014 was approved as a correct record.

Report by NHS Highland

Stephen Whiston of NHS Highland presented a report providing an indicative profile of the range, type and value of SLA/Contracts Argyll and Bute Community Health Partnership (CHP) commissioned and managed within NHS and with other partner services.  Thereafter he responded to a number of questions arising from the report.

Decision

1.        Noted the range, type and value of SLA/Contracts that Argyll and Bute CHP commissions and manages within the NHS and other partner services; and

2.        Noted that a copy of the SLA document would be circulated to Members of the Committee.

(Reference: Report by NHS Highland dated 16 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Following consideration of a request to alter the catchment area of Strone Primary School at the Council meeting on 20 March 2014, a report was before the Committee which considered the principles, options and implications for the development of a Council policy on school rezoning taking account of Schedule 1 of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 recently amended by the Children and Young Person (Scotland) Act 2014.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.        note the amendments to the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, the revised timeline and process for the public consultation as detailed in sections 4.1 and 4.2;

2.        approve the process by which future requests to alter the catchment area of a school be considered as detailed in sections 4.3 – 4.10;

3.        that any proposal received from a Parent Council being taken forward to a public consultation would require to have the support all parent councils affected by the proposal; and

4.        that subsequent requests for altering the catchment area of a school  following either a decision to refuse a request to do so  or a decision following the publication of the consultation report not to proceed with such an alteration will only be considered if there has been a material change of circumstances from those originally considered.

Having moved an Amendment which failed to find a seconder, Councillor Anne Horn required her dissent from the foregoing decision to be recorded.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 30 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report updating the Committee on the implementation of The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.        note the figures contained within the report relating to pupils with Additional Support Needs (ASN) across Scotland and in particular the number of pupils within Argyll and Bute with additional support needs as a percentage of the total school roll and that a copy of these figures broken down into the four administrative areas of the Council would be circulated to Members;

2.        acknowledge the higher number of ASN pupils in Argyll and Bute with Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs), Individualised Education Plan (IEP) and assessed or declared as disabled in comparison to the national figures; and

3.        note the ongoing review of ASN resource allocation  procedures which will be reported on completion to the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 14 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to the Community Services financial quarter one performance scorecard.

Decision

1.        Noted that the quarterly performance scorecards will be programmed into the Committee’s meeting schedule;

2.        Reviewed performance for the quarter;

3.        Noted that feedback from the Committee Development Day and from the Committee meetings would be used to ensure ongoing improvement to the performance review and scrutiny process; and

4.        Noted that report on the funding secured by Creative Scotland to help boost youth arts provision across Argyll and Bute would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing details of all external inspection/audit reports received within Community Services during the period 1 January to 30 June 2014 was considered.

Decision

Noted the contents of the report and appendix.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 28 July, 2014, submitted)

Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Community & Culture and Strategic Housing took the Chair at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to a report outlining the key successes of the Argyll and Bute leg of the Queens Baton Relay on Sunday 13 July 2014, highlighting the multi-agency approach to the planning and delivery of a high quality sporting and cultural event across Argyll and Bute.

Decision

1.        Noted the outstanding contribution made by Services across the Council and from Partner agencies and extended their thanks to the many individuals for their contribution;

2.        Noted that there was now a unique opportunity to continue to build on the Council’s commitment to increasing high quality physical education, physical activity and sport for young people as part of the Council’s Commonwealth Games Legacy Plan which can be taken forward by effective partnership working between internal service areas, external partners and volunteers; and

3.        Endorsed Provost Scoullar’s appreciation of the wonderful work undertaken by staff across the whole of Argyll and Bute in respect of the event.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 7 August 2014, submitted)

Alison Palmer and William Marshall left the meeting.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing the Committee with information about the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland Area Based Scheme and its application within Argyll and Bute was considered.  The report provided background to the programme, which was managed by Alienergy on behalf of the Council, and included the information required by the Scottish Government application process and informed the Committee about what the programme would deliver in 2014/15 and beyond.

Decision

Noted the content of the programme and the associated benefits from it.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 1 July 2014, submitted)

Having previously declared an interest in the following item Councillor Robin Currie left the room and took no part in consideration of the application for funding received from West Highland Housing Association.

Councillor Elaine Robertson also declared a non financial interest in respect of West Highland Housing Association’s application for funding.  She left the room and took no part in the discussion of this application

Councillor Douglas Philand took the Chair at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to an application from West Highland Housing Association for a 25 year loan to deliver the 18 house development at Imerval, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay.

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed to adjourn the meeting at 1.00 pm for lunch.

The Committee reconvened at 1.30 pm and resumed consideration of the application received from West Highland Housing Association.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve a twenty five year loan of £955,024.54 to West Highland Housing Association to build 18 properties for affordable rent at Imerval, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay.

Councillors Robin Currie and Elaine Robertson returned to the meeting and Councillor Currie resumed the Chair.

Consideration was given to an application for an extension to an existing loan from Fyne Homes, subsidiary Fyne Initiatives for bridging finance for the Old Courthouse Development in central Rothesay.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve the extension to existing loan at the reduced figure of £1,145,700 to Fyne Initiatives until 31 March 2018 on the terms set out in paragraph 4.1 of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 23 July 2014, submitted)

Councillor Rory Colville returned to the meeting during consideration of the application from Fyne Homes

Councillor Douglas Philand, Policy Lead for Adult Care took the Chair at this point.

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing an update on the progress of the Early Years Collaborative in Argyll and Bute and outlining a number of new developments across the Community Planning Partnership area was considered.

Decision

1.        Noted the current actions being progressed by the Argyll and Bute Early Years Collaborative; and

2.        Noted the implementation of a series of Leadership Walk Rounds which commenced in April 2014, displaying commitment to local Early Years Collaborative developments by Community Planning Partnership leaders.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A reporting providing an update on the implementation of the Children and Families Service Review which was nearing completion was considered.

Decision

Noted the approach being taken by Children and Families to implement the new structure.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 31 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

The Children and Young People Bill was introduced to Parliament on 17 April 2013.  The Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 19 February 2014, and it received Royal Assent on 27 March 2014, making the Bill an Act of the Scottish Parliament.  Reconfiguring the Council’s services to meet the requirements of the Act will have cost implications for the Council and consideration was given to a report providing the Committee with an update on the cost estimates and the allocation of funding to support delivery.

Decision

1.        Noted the cost estimates and Scottish Government funding allocations as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report; and

2.        Noted that the remaining financial consequences of the Act were currently the subject of detailed negotiation between the Scottish Government and COSLA and that any aspect of the Act not fully funded on a recurring basis could introduce a cost or demand pressure to the Council.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 28 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing a summary and update on the investment of the Change Fund revenue in Argyll and Bute and confirming the timescale and process for when recurring funds will/will not be allocated to existing services from April 2015 when the fund ends was considered.

Decision

1.        Noted the content of the report; and

2.        Noted that decisions relating to the future recurring funds from 1 April 2015 will be made by the Argyll and Bute Partnership during September/October 2014.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 8 July 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Social Work Services have a requirement to commission residential care services for a range of car groups, across both adults and children and families services.  Given the specialist nature of some services, many are located out with the Council area and provided by the third and independent sectors.  A number of the national level contracts area facilitated through joint contract negotiation by COSLA on behalf of all local authorities or through Scotland Excel.  A report providing an overview of the current national residential care commissioning and procurement arrangements available to the Council was considered. 

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.        to note the information contained in the report relating to the procurement of care services through national framework contracts;

2.        to support retention of the National Care Home Contract (NCHC) model, as the preferred option, for future commissioning of older people’s residential and nursing care;

3.        if the option of the NCHC is not available, the Council should consider options for collaborative commissioning with other bodies;

4.        that the Council should continue to utilise existing Scotland Excel national agreements wherever possible; and

5.        that the Council should continue to support the development of Scotland Excel’s additional national framework agreements.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

An initial report relating to Integration was presented to full Council on 20 March and to NHS Highland Board on 1 April 2014.  A report providing an update on progress with the Integration of Health and Social Care was considered.

Decision

The Committee noted:-

1.        that Argyll and Bute Council and NHS Highland have agreed the scope of services to be delegated to the new Health and Social Care Partnership at their respective Council and Board meetings in June 2014;

2.        that the first meeting of the Shadow Integration Board took place on 10^th September 2014 where Councillor Philand was appointed as Chair of the Board and Councillors Mary-Jean Devon, Anne Horn and Elaine Robertson were appointed as representatives of the Council;

3.        that a Programme Board and Joint Project Team to deliver the work required to meet the statutory requirements of the Public Bodies(Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 has been formed;

4.        the progress being made to recruit a Chief Officer in line with the statutory requirements of the Act; and

5.        the requirement to produce an Integration Scheme in line with the statutory regulations and guidance from Scottish Government. The Integration Scheme must be signed off by the Government before 1^st April 2015.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 4 August 2014, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Consideration was given to the Care Inspectorate’s report to the Scottish Government Ministers on the effectiveness of child protection and adult protection arrangements across Scotland.  The Care Inspectorate also analysed inspections and data information to produce a statement position for Argyll and Bute.

Decision

1.        Noted the content of the report;

2.        Agreed that the report be distributed through the Child Protection Committee and Adult Protection Committee structures; and

3.        Noted that the report was considered by the Community Planning Partnership Management Committee at its meeting on 19 August 2014.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 29 August 2014 and Care Inspectorate Report on the effectiveness of Public Protection arrangements, submitted)

Councillors John McAlpine and James McQueen left the meeting.

The following three items were considered collectively by the Committee.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

NRS published 2012-based population projections for sub-national areas on 14 May 2014.  A report describing the projections as they relate to Argyll and Bute was considered.

Decision

Noted the content of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

NRS published its Mid Year Estimates for local authority and health board areas on 26 June 2013.  A report outlining the estimates for Argyll and Bute was considered.

Decision

Noted the population estimates.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

NRS published its 2012-based Household Projections for Scotland and for Council areas on 30 July 2014.  The projections cover the period 2012 to 2037 and a report advising on the projections for Argyll and Bute was considered.

Decision

Noted the content of the report.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services, submitted)