Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jim Anderson, Mary-Jean Devon, Julie McKenzie and Iain Paterson and from Margaret Anderson and William Stewart Shaw (Church Representatives).

There were no declarations of interest. 

Community Services Committee 14 June 2018

The Minute of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 14 June 2018 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the progress made by the Education Service in achieving the priorities included in the Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan for 2017-18 which had previously been presented to the Committee in August 2017.  The report also provided an outline of priority actions for 2018-19. 

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the progress made with respect to priority actions within the 2017-18 Argyll and Bute Annual Education Plan;

2.    approve the 2018-19 Annual Education Plan (Appendix 1);

3.    approve the publishing of the 2018-19 Annual Education Plan; and

4.    approve the submission of the 2018-19 Annual Education Plan to the Scottish Government. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Chief Officer Health and Social Care Partnership

The Committee gave consideration to the first annual review of the Children and Young People’s Service Plan 2017-2020.  The review contained information on the performance and progress to date, developments that had taken place since the plan was published, and the key plans for the year ahead.  

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note that both NHS Highland and Argyll and Bute Council are jointly and equally responsible for children’s services planning;

2.    to approve the Argyll and Bute Children and Young People’s Services Plan 2017-2020 Year 1 review for the period 2017/18;

3.    that once approved by the Community Services Committee and approved by the Integration Joint Board to approve the submission of the Children and Young People’s Services Plan Year 1 review to the Scottish Government as per the legislative requirement; and

4.    to note that a presentation on the PATHS curriculum (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) would be brought to the next meeting of the Community Services Committee in December 2018.

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer - Health and Social Care Partnership dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

The following 2 reports were presented together.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing detail of the options appraisal process and the options identified for the future of Ardchattan Primary School. 

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the options identified through the preliminary consultation process into the future of Ardchattan Primary School;

2.    that Education Officers begin the formal consultation process as detailed in the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010 as amended; and

3.    to note that papers produced for the public should be readily available. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing detail of the options appraisal process and the options identified for the future of Ashfield Primary School. 

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the options identified through the preliminary consultation process into the future of Ashfield Primary School;

2.    that Education Officers begin the formal consultation process as detailed in the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Act 2010 as amended; and

3.    to note that papers produced for the public should be readily available. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Joint report by Head of Education: Lifelong Learning and Support and Head of Education: Learning & Teaching

Following a further inspection by Education Scotland of the Education functions of Argyll and Bute Council, consideration was given to a report highlighting the outcome and confirming the progress made by the Authority in addressing the main points for action contained within the initial inspection report of 21 March 2017.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the further inspection of the Education functions of Argyll and Bute Council which commenced on 14 May 2018;

2.    note the timetable and programme associated with the inspection;

3.    consider the inspection report published by Education Scotland on 31 July 2018;

4.    note the progress made by Education Services and the Council in responding to the main points for actions contained within the initial published inspection report of 21 March 2017;

5.    note that Education Scotland had informed the Education Service that they would undertake a one day inspection on 2 October 2018; and

6.    request that the Heads of Education bring a further progress report to a future meeting of the Community Services Committee.

(Reference: Report by Heads of Education dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

In January 2018 a Feasibility Study was commissioned by Comann nam Pàrant an Òbain to “consider the feasibility of a stand-alone Gaelic Medium Education (GME) primary school in Oban with additional community use space and potential income generation streams”.  The Feasibility Study has now been completed and presents an argument in favour of the idea of a stand-alone GME primary school.  Consideration was given to a report advising of a request from Comann nam Pàrant an Òbain that the Authority now considers the findings of the Feasibility Study and undertakes a formal consultation of the proposal for a GME primary school in Oban.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the request from Comann nam Pàrant an Òbain; and

2.    that officers continue their evaluation of the feasibility study and bring a further report to the Committee in December 2018 when this exercise has been concluded. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Head of Education: Lifelong Learning and Support

The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining the ongoing work of the Northern Alliance in the development of the second phase of the Regional Improvement Plan, which will be submitted to Education Scotland on 3 September 2018 for sign off. 

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    endorse the continued work of the Northern Alliance; and

2.    note that the Regional Improvement Plan (Phase 2) would be submitted to Education Scotland on 3 September 2018 for sign off and agree that any amendments which may be required are delegated to the Head of Education:  Lifelong Learning and Support in consultation with the Head of Education:  Learning and Teaching, the Executive Director of Customer Services and the Policy Lead for Education. 

(Reference: Report by Head of Education: Lifelong Learning & Support/Chief Education Officer dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing an update on the initial outcome of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) 2018 examination diet.  

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    note the outcome of the initial SQA examination results for pupils in academic year 2017/18 and that the performance of Argyll and Bute Schools in 2018 is above the current national performance in Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) examinations in all four of the national measures; National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher; and

2.    request the Executive Director to provide further reports to the Community Services Committee to allow the consideration of further statistical school and national information, scheduled for release by Insight (school data analysis tool introduced in 2015) in September 2018 and February 2019. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Councillor Anne Horn left the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report providing monitoring information on the grants distributed through the Growing Gaelic Participatory Budgeting pilot, including the end of year (2017/18) monitoring on the projects funded, which was collated from the information taken from the end of year project monitoring reports returned by those organisations awarded funding.  It was noted that the total funding available through the project for allocation across Argyll and Bute for 2017/18 was £15,000. 

Decision

The Committee considered and noted the contents of the report showing the contribution of the groups to Growing Gaelic in Argyll and Bute. 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 23 August 2018, submitted) 

Councillor Horn returned to the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Chief Executive

The Committee gave consideration to a report outlining a proposal to provide funding support for Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s work in Argyll and Bute in 2018/19.

Decision

The Committee agreed a Service Level Agreement of £20,000 in 2018/19 to fund the work of Fèisean nan Gàidheal as detailed in 4.1 of the report. 

(Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

The Chair ruled, and the Committee agreed, to vary the order of business on the Agenda and consider the Education Service Annual Performance Review 2017/18 and Performance Report – FQ1 2018/19 next.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the Service Annual Performance Review (APR) from Education for 2017-18 and the departmental performance report and associated scorecard for performance in FQ1 2018-19 (April-June).

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1.    endorse the APR as presented; and

2.    review and note the scorecard as presented.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Customer Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the initial progress with the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill which is currently in the first stage of the parliamentary process.  The report included information on the changes to the definition, which would have considerable challenges for Argyll and Bute as a whole, as well as the additional challenges faced with the proposals identified in the Energy Efficient Scotland consultation. 

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1.    to note the response to the consultation submitted by Officers; and

2.    that the Chair would discuss with the Leader and Depute Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition political input to this consultation and bring a report back to the Community Services Committee in December 2018 on the outcome of these discussions.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Development and Infrastructure Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the Service Annual Performance Review (APR) from Housing Services for 2017-18. 

Decision

The Committee endorsed the Service APR as presented. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Development and Infrastructure Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Councillor Elaine Robertson joined the meeting during consideration of the foregoing item.

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report presenting the Housing Services performance report with associated scorecard for performance in FQ1 2018-19 (April to June 2018). 

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the scorecard as presented. 

(Reference: Report by Executive Director - Development and Infrastructure Services dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

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

A report highlighting the National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes (NHWBO) Performance Reporting Framework and Exception Reporting Arrangements was before the Committee for consideration.  The Committee also gave consideration to the Integrated Joint Board (IJB) Performance scorecard and the IJB Annual Performance Report 2017/18. 

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    considered and noted the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) performance report in line with the current national reporting requirement;

2.    noted the content of the IJB performance scorecard within the Pyramid System;

3.    noted the publication of the IJB Annual Performance Report 2017/18; and

4.    requested that the Chief Officer of the HSCP review the governance arrangements in respect of Care Inspection Reports to ensure that IJB Members are made aware of any significant service issues.

(Reference: Report by Head of Strategic Planning & Performance, HSCP, dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

A report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) FQ1 review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for 2018-19 was before the Committee for consideration. 

Stuart McLean, Group Manager, 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: Q1 2018/19 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 providing the FQ1 – 2018/19 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan for 2017 - 2020 was before the Committee for consideration. 

Chief Superintendent Hendren referred to the recent tragedy on the Isle of Bute in July 2018.  She spoke about the community pulling together and all the partners involved and thanked everyone involved for their input.  She then presented the detail of the report and responded to a number of questions from the Committee.

Decision

The Committee:-

1.    reviewed and noted the contents of the report and responses to questions asked; and

2.    noted that the recently appointed Local Roads Policing Inspector for the area would attend a future meeting of the Community Services Committee to give an update on road traffic issues.

(Reference: Report by Local Police Commander for Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland dated 23 August 2018, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2018/19 was before the Committee for information. 

Decision

The Committee noted the contents of the report. 

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