Agenda and minutes

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to accept a late report which provided an update on the inspection of the Education functions of Argyll and Bute Council due to the information only being received last week.  This report is dealt with at item 4 of this Minute.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julie McKenzie, Barbara Morgan and Richard Trail and from Margaret Anderson, Church Representative.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

The Scottish Government published revised Statutory Guidance for the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 in March 2017, bringing new statutory duties for local authorities into force.  The Authority is required to publish an Annual Education Plan before the 12 month planning period commences.  The planning period dates have been prescribed in regulations brought forward by Scottish Ministers in 2017 as1 September 2017 to 31 August 2018.  A report providing information for the Committee of the new legislative duties for the Council in regard to planning and reporting was considered along with the Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan for 2017/18.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to:

a)    note the implications arising from the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 revised statutory Guidance of March 2017;

b)    note the response of the Authority to the further aspects of the statutory guidance as noted at the Community Services Committee meeting of 9 March 2017;

c)    note the progress made by Education Services in responding to the legislative expectations arising from the statutory guidance;

d)    approve the finalisation of the Annual Education Plan for 2017/17 as detailed at Appendix 1 of the report, with the adjustments requested;

e)    approve the publishing of the Annual Plan;

f)     approve the submission of the Annual Plan to the Scottish Government; and

g)    note that the Acting Executive Director - Community Services will make arrangements for a follow-up report to be presented to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services and the Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan for 2017/18, submitted)

A report providing an update to the Committee on the inspection of the Education functions of Argyll and Bute Council was considered.  The report presented an overview of the follow up inspection visit by Education Scotland on 20 June 2017 as outlined in the initial inspection report published by Education Scotland on 21 March 2017.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the inspection report published by Education Scotland on 10 August 2017 following their further inspection of the Education functions of the Council on 20 June 2017;

2.    note the action taken by the Authority in responding to the main points for actions following the conclusion of the inspection in September 2016;

3.    note the further planned inspection of the Authority in September 2017; and

4.    request the Acting Executive Director – Community Services to bring further reports on the progress in addressing the main points for action and the further inspection outcomes to future meetings of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 10 August 2017, tabled)