Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mary-Jean Devon, William Shaw, Church representative, Alison Palmer, Teacher representative and Chief Superintendent Hazel Hendren.

There were no declarations of interest.

Community Services Committee 14 December 2017

The Minute of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 14 December 2017 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Chief Executive

Presentation by James McNeill, Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has commenced a 90 day consultation on the safe and planned future of the Service which will run until 14 May 2018.  A presentation on this consultation was given by James McNeill, Local Senior Officer.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the service transformation changes and content within the public consultation report.

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive and Scottish and Fire Rescue Service Consultation on the safe and planned future of the Service dated 13 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

A report which highlighted the Scottish Fire and Rescue’s (SFRS) third quarter review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for 2017-2018 was considered.

James McNeill, Local Senior Officer, presented the detail of the report and responded to a number of questions from the Committee.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report and responses to questions asked.

(Reference: Q3 2017/18 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland

A report by Police Scotland which provided the third quarter update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan for 2017/18 was before the Committee for consideration.

Superintendent Alan Gibson gave an overview of statistics in respect of priorities going forward in 2017/18 and responded to a number of questions from the Committee.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report and responses to questions asked.

(Reference: Report by Local Police Commander for Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland dated 22 January 2018, submitted)

Councillor Rory Colville joined the meeting at this point.

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report updating the Committee on the appointment of 2 non-voting teaching representatives to sit on the Community Services Committee to represent the teacher workforce was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the content of the report; and

2.    endorse the appointment of the representatives nominated as non-voting members of the Community Services committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 20 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report presenting the Community Service Performance Scorecard for FQ3 2017/18 was before Members for consideration.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the departmental performance for the quarter.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 22 January 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing an update for Members on the progress being made by the Education Service in preparing for the proposed expansion of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and the implementation of 1140 hours of funding ELC in Argyll and Bute per year by 2020 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the Early Years’ Service will be supported by the National ELC Improvement Service to review the Delivery Plan and Financial Template for re-submission by 2 March 2018;

2.    note the progress of the 1140 hours Trials on Tiree and Tobermory;

3.    note the Phasing of Funded ELC which commenced in January 2018;

4.    note the positive engagement of Argyll and Bute ELC Partners as part of National consultation to shape National Quality Standards;

5.    endorse the positive steps the Service has taken in implementing the early stages of the Argyll and Bute ELC Delivery Plan; and

6.    request that the Acting Executive Director - Community Services bring forward progress updates in relation to the Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare to future meetings of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director - Community Services dated 21 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing the Committee with an update on the Scottish Government’s 2018 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish Education and summarising the actions undertaken by the Education Service during the course of 2017 to secure educational improvement for all children and young people within Argyll and Bute was considered.  The report also provided an overview of the Primary and Secondary pupils’ achievement in Literacy and Numeracy for P1, P4, P7 and S3 in Argyll and Bute published by the Scottish Government on 12 December 2017 in Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) Levels 2016/17.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the actions that the Education Service planned and implemented in 2017 to secure educational improvement for all children and young people within Argyll and Bute;

2.    note the overview of the Primary and Secondary achievement in Literacy and Numeracy for P1, P4, P7 and S3 within Argyll and Bute;

3.    endorse the actions to be undertaken by the Education Service in response to the 2018 revised National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish Education; and

4.    request that further updates on progress in implementing the National Improvement Framework are presented to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 15 March 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

On 14 December 2017, the Community Services Committee agreed that the Education Service would undertake the required preliminary consultation for both Ardchattan and Ashfield Primary schools.  A report presenting an outline of the statutory responsibilities and next steps for an Authority whilst considering the possible closure of rural schools for considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the background to the detail and programme to complete the preliminary consultation requirements, undertake an options appraisal, consult and prepare a proposal paper on the closure of Ardchattan and Ashfield Primary schools;

2.    continue to be aware of the legislation in respect to the proposed closure of a rural school; and

3.    request further updates on the progress in taking forward the statutory processes to be presented to future meetings of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 19 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing the Committee with an update on the Scottish Government Pupil Equity Funding (PEF), introduced in 2017 as a core element of the Scottish Attainment Challenge which distributed £120 million Pupil Equity Funding to schools across Scotland was considered.  The report also provided an overview of the 2018 Scottish Government Pupil Equity Funding allocations for Argyll and Bute schools eligible to receive PEF funding.

Councillor Rory Colville left the meeting at this point.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.     note the update on the 2018 Scottish Government Pupil Equity Funding;

2.     note the provision of strategic guidance at Scottish Government and Authority levels to support the implementation of the Pupil Equity Funding; and

3.     request that further updates on Pupil Equity Funding are presented to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 13 February 2018, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report advising the Community Services Committee of the further planned inspection of the Education functions of Argyll and Bute Council and confirming the detail of the inspection programme which will evaluate the progress being made by the Authority in addressing the main points for action contained within the initial inspection report of 21 March 2017 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the further inspection visit which is planned by Education Scotland to commence on 14 May 2018;

2.    to note the timetable associated with the inspection;

3.    that Education Service will submit a further summary self-evaluation summary detailing the further progress of the Council in addressing the main points for action contained within the initial published inspection report of 21 March 2017 and the subsequent report published on 7 December 2017; and

4.    to request the Acting Executive Director – Community Services to bring a report confirming the outcome of the inspection to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 1 March 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report updating the Community Services Committee on the public consultation responses to the Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan 2018 – 2022 was considered.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the responses made to the public consultation of the Argyll and Bute Council Gaelic Language Plan 2018 – 2022;

2.    with the recommendations contained in Appendix 1 in terms of amending the final Plan as a result of consultation;

3.    to recommend the finalised Plan at Appendix 2 to Council for formal approval; and

4.    to recommend to Council that the Plan is submitted to Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director – Customer Services dated February 2018, Draft Gaelic Language Plan Consultation Responses and Recommendations, and Argyll and Bute Gaelic Language Plan 2018 – 22, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning & Performance, Argyll and Bute HSCP

Consideration was given to a report presenting Argyll and Bute Health & Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) performance against National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4 for FQ2 and FQ3 2017/18.  The Head of Strategic Planning & Performance also responded to a number of questions from the Committee.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    considered the HSCP performance report in line with the current national reporting requirement; and

2.    noted the content of the Integration Joint Board performance scorecards for FQ2 and FQ3 2017/18.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning & Performance, HSCP, submitted)

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

Decision

The Committee agreed the contents of the work plan for 2018/19.

(Reference: Community Services Committee Work Plan 2018/19, submitted)

Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services

A report providing an overview of the Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland No. 8: 2017 Edition published on 12 December 2017 which supercedes all previously published statistics was before the Committee for information.

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

(Reference: Report by Acting Executive Director – Community Services dated 26 January 2018, submitted)

The Chairman, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly presented Ann Marie Knowles with a Quaich to mark her retirement. She thanked her for all her support over the last year and wished her all the best from the Committee.