Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chambers, Kilmory, Lochgilphead. View directions

Contact: Fiona McCallum Tel: 01546 604392 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were intimated from Councillors Maurice Corry, Julie MacKenzie and Elaine Robertson; and from Church Representative, William Crossan and Teacher Representative, William Marshall.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Minutes:

There were none intimated.

3.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Community Services Committee 10 March 2016

Minutes:

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 10 March 2016 was approved as a correct record.

4.

EVALUATION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ROYAL NATIONAL MOD OBAN 2015 pdf icon PDF 26 KB

Presentation by David MacIntyre, Managing Director of The Market Specialists and John Morrison, Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach and Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which introduced an independent report from consultants, The Market Specialists, showing the economic benefit of the Royal National Mod in October 2015 in Oban.  A presentation was also given by David MacIntyre, Managing Director of the Market Specialists, John Morrision , Chief Executive of An Comunn Gàidhealach and John MacLeod Chair of An Comunn Gàidhealach on the key findings of the report.

 

Councillor Robert E MacIntyre joined the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the content of the report and thanked David MacIntyre, John MacLeod and John Morrison for their presentation.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 18 April 2016 and The Market Specialists report, Economic Impact Study of Royal National Mod in Oban October 2015 dated January 2016, submitted)

5.

GAELIC LANGUAGE PLAN ANNUAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 31 KB

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report updating the Committee on progress in delivering the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan was considered.

 

Councillor Mary Jean Devon joined the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

1.    note the progress being made in delivering the Council’s Gaelic Language Plan;

 

2.    note that a number of the measures in the Plan have been updated to enable more accurate recording and more effective measuring of impact; and

 

3.    note that as part of delivering the Plan, there will be a Gaelic Gathering hosted by the Council on 20 August 2016 in the Corran Halls, Oban.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated May 2016, submitted)

6.

PERFORMANCE REPORT FQ4 - 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report on the Community Services FQ4 Performance Scorecard.

 

Councillor Anne Horn left the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted the performance for the quarter.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 June 2016, submitted)

7.

INSIGHT UPDATE

Presentation by Head of Education and Education Manager - Performance and Improvement

Minutes:

The Committee received an informative presentation from the Acting Executive Director of Community Services and the Education Manager updating them on Insight.  The presentation covered what Insight was, the performance measures that are used and the information that the Insight toolkit could provide.  The presentation also provided Members with performance data collected for Argyll and Bute for previous years and with information on the National Improvement Framework.  Following the presentation Members were given the opportunity to ask questions.

 

Decision

 

The Committee noted -

 

1.    the content of the presentation and thanked the Acting Executive Director and Education Manager for the valuable information provided;

 

2.    that copies of the presentation would be provided to Members via email.

 

(Reference:  Presentation by Acting Executive Director of Community Services and Education Manager)

8.

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2017 - 18 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Minutes:

The major school holiday arrangements for Argyll and Bute for session 2017/2018 require to be set by the Council and a report advising on the process being taken in advance of the final pattern of school holidays and in-service days being brought before the Committee for agreement was considered.

 

Motion

 

That the Committee agree:-

 

1.    to note the approach being taken to consult on the proposed arrangements for school holidays in session 2017/2018;

 

2.    to note that further consultation with appropriate Unions on the proposal for school holiday arrangements in session 2017/2018 will be taken forward; and

 

3.    that the final pattern of school holidays and in-service days be presented for consideration at the September Community Services Committee meeting.

 

Moved Councillor Robin Currie, seconded Councillor Rory Colville.

 

Amendment

 

Members of the Community Services Committee note the contents of the report relating to the proposed school holidays for 2017-18 and;

 

1.    agree that the proposed dates are a major departure from the existing arrangements and are likely to cause major concerns for many parents/carers/employers within the Helensburgh and Lomond Area;

 

2.    agree to support the views of Parent Councils in the Helensburgh and Lomond Area and reject the proposed dates for school holidays within that area;

 

3.    request that officers discuss the proposed school holiday dates for 2017/18 with neighbouring local authorities and bring forward proposals that are in line with the current arrangements.

 

Moved Councillor George Freeman, seconded Councillor Isobel Strong.

 

The Committee adjourned for lunch at 1.10pm and reconvened at 1.30pm.  Councillor John MacAlpine was not present at this point.

 

The Chair advised that he would not be accepting the aforementioned Amendment by Councillor George Freeman, seconded by Councillor Isobel Strong, as it was premature in that the consultation process had still to be completed.

 

The Chair invited Members to bring forward any further amendments.

 

Amendment

 

That the Committee continue consideration of the matter until the next meeting of the Community Services Committee.

 

Moved Councillor George Freeman, seconded Councillor Isobel Strong.

 

The requisite number of Members present required the vote to be taken by calling the roll and Members voted as follows –

 

Motion                                                Amendment

 

Councillor Rory Colville                      Councillor Gordon Blair

Councillor Robin Currie                      Councillor George Freeman

Councillor Mary Jean Devon              Councillor Robert E MacIntyre

Councillor Roderick McCuish             Councillor Isobel Strong

Councillor Neil MacIntyre

Councillor James McQueen

Councillor Aileen Morton

 

Decision

 

The Motion was carried by 7 votes to 4 and the Committee resolved accordingly.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 June 2016, submitted)

Councillor John McAlpine rejoined the meeting at this point.

9.

YOUTH SERVICES - YOUTH STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report providing information to elected Members of the developments within Argyll and Bute Youth Services, to highlight recent service activity and to outline the detail of the National Youth Work Strategy and Youth Work Outcomes was considered.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

1.    note the current development of Youth Services and the publication of The National Youth Work Strategy (Our ambitions for improving the life chances of Young People in Scotland);

 

2.    note progress within Argyll and Bute in achieving the ambitions of the Strategy; and

 

3.    endorse the adoption by Youth Services of the new National Youth Work Outcomes.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 June 2016, submitted)

10.

SECONDARY SCHOOL YOUTH ENGAGEMENT OFFICERS pdf icon PDF 38 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report advising of a proposal by Police Scotland to deploy Youth Engagement Officers in three secondary schools in Argyll and Bute. 

 

Councillors Robert E MacIntyre and Isobel Strong left the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

1.    accept the offer from Police Scotland for the deployment of Youth Engagement Officers in Hermitage Academy, Dunoon Grammar School and Oban High School; and

 

2.    note the proactive approach being taken to raising community awareness of the deployment of Youth Engagement Officers.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 30 March 2016, submitted)

11.

HERMITAGE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update to the Committee of the progress in taking forward the action plan arising from the internal review of the senior phase curriculum at Hermitage Academy which was carried out during August to November 2015.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

1.    note the progress achieved by Hermitage Academy, supported by Education Services in taking forward the key actions arising from the internal review of the senior phase curriculum at Hermitage Academy; and

 

2.    note that a further progress report will be presented to a future Community Services Committee meeting.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 June 2016, submitted)

12.

EDUCATION STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 114 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report advising elected Members of the introduction of a formal Education Vision and Strategy was considered.  This document has been prepared by Education Services to allow the Service to effectively respond to the changing National and local policy contexts and, in doing so, ensure the future delivery of an Education Service which supports our children, young people and communities to achieve the best possible outcomes.

 

Councillor James McQueen left the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.    to note the preparation of a draft Education Vision and Strategy;

 

2.    to note the proposed timescales for taking forward the consultation, review and revision of this important document; and

 

3.    that a further report be presented to the September meeting of the Committee following consultation.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 2 June 2016 and draft Education Vision and Strategy dated 5 May 2016, submitted)

13.

HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMMES FOR SCOTLAND: AREA BASED SCHEME (HEEPS: ABS) pdf icon PDF 30 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Minutes:

For the past three years the Scottish Government has provided grant funding to the Council for energy efficiency home improvements through the Home Energy Efficient Programme for Scotland: Area Based Schemes (HEEPS: ABS), in order to meet their target to alleviate fuel poverty, as far as reasonably practicable, by 2016 and to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 42% by 2020 (based on 1990 levels) in accordance with the Scottish Climate Change Act 2009.  A report summarising the progress of the Argyll and Bute HEEPS: ABS and seeking approval for the proposals for the 2016/17 scheme and beyond was considered.

 

Councillor James McQueen re-joined the meeting at this point.

 

Decision

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

1.    to note the HEEPS: ABS proposals for 2016/17 as detailed at paragraph 4.7 of the report; and

 

2.    the proposal to target areas, in future years as funding allows, that have not previously benefitted from energy efficiency improvements, as set out in paragraph 4.9 of the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Community Services dated 19 May 2016, submitted)

14.

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE WORK PLAN pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report by Executive Director – Community Services

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the work plan to facilitate forward planning of reports to the Community Services Committee.

 

Decision

 

The Committee -

 

1.    noted the contents of the work plan and;

 

2.    noted that Schools Holidays 2017-18 and Education Strategy would be added as items for the September meeting.

 

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan dated June 2016, submitted)