Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chair of the Committee who was held up due to a road accident, the Vice Chair chaired the meeting until item 6 of the Agenda.

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Devon, Hardie, Lynch, McKenzie, Reid and William Shaw, Church Representative and Alison Palmer, Teacher Representative

Councillors Horn and Robertson each declared a non-financial interest in item 10 (Strategic Housing Fund - RSL Additional Financial Requests) of the Agenda due to them being Board Members of the West Highland Housing Association.

Community Services Committee 11 December 2018

The Minute of the Community Services Committee meeting held on 11 December 2018 was approved as a correct record. 

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report providing details of the draft proposals for Ardchattan and Ashfield Primary Schools after satisfaction of the Preliminary Requirements of s12A of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed the draft Proposals, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report, as relevant Proposals that would now proceed to statutory consultation in compliance with the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the progress of a request from St Columba’s Primary Parent Council to vary the current catchment area of St Columba’s Primary school to that of the mainland catchment area for Oban High School.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed:

1.    that this was a relevant proposal and that Officers should now carry out a full consultation on the proposed change to the catchment area of St Columba’s Primary school, as defined in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 as amended;

2.    to note that on completion of the consultation period a report would be presented to the committee detailing the results of the consultation for consideration; and

3.    to note that the relevant Area Committee would be given the opportunity to comment as part of a consultation exercise. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Councillors Anderson, Douglas, Paterson and McNeilly joined the meeting at this point. Councillor Yvonne McNeilly chaired the meeting from this point forward.

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave consideration to 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 funded ELC in Argyll and Bute by 2020. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed:

1.    to note the progress of implementation to date and the areas and settings to be phased in by August 2019;

2.    to endorse the positive steps the Service had taken in implementing the Argyll and Bute Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Plan;

3.    to support the progress on developing Early Years as an attractive area of employment with a growing workforce within Argyll and Bute; and

4.    requested that the Executive Director of Customer 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 Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

The Committee gave the Education Service revised Parental Engagement Strategy 2019-2021.  It was noted that the Parental Engagement Strategy 2019-2021 had been revised in line with feedback from consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including parents, Parent Council members, teachers, Head Teachers and other partners such as representatives from the Educational Psychology team and Youth Services. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee:

1.    agreed to note the continued commitment of the Education Service to enhance and further develop opportunities for parental engagement in all of our schools, in context of the Scottish Government’s policy position in regard to the development of a National Action Plan; and

2.    agreed the revised Parental Engagement Strategy 2019-2021 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Community Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A paper presenting the Education performance report with the scorecards for Customer Services for FQ3 2018-19 (October – December) was considered.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to note the scorecards as presented.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

A paper presenting the Housing Services performance report with associated scorecard for performance in FQ3 2018-19 (October – December 2018) was considered.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to note the scorecard as presented.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services

The Committee gave consideration to a report detailing the requests from Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) and West Highland Housing Association for additional Strategic Housing Fund (SHF) funding for 2 of the affordable housing projects detailed in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP).

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to recommend to Council:

1.    to contribute an additional £30,492 SHF to be awarded to the ACHA new build development in Tarbert (£48,000 SHF had already been agreed to assist in the delivery of the 4 affordable housing units in this development); and

2.    to contribute an additional £16,000 SHF to be awarded to the West Highland Housing Association new build development in Imeraval, Islay (£96,000 SHF had already been agreed to assist in the delivery of 8 affordable housing units in this development). 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

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

The Committee gave consideration to a report by Police Scotland which provided the FQ3 – 2018/19 update in relation to the Argyll and Bute Local Policing Plan for 2017-2020.

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to note the contents of the report. 

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

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Committee gave consideration to a report highlighting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) FQ3 review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for 2018-19.

Decision

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report. 

(Reference:  Q3 2018/19 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report was before the Committee for noting which provided details of all external education establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the period January 2019 to March 2019. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to note:

1.    the contents of the report and appendices;

2.    that a quarterly report would be presented to the Committee detailing all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period; and

3.    that Ward members would receive copies of school inspection reports for schools within their area as published by Education Scotland.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

Report by Executive Director – Customer Services

A report was before the Committee for noting which provided an overview of the Argyll and Bute Primary and Secondary achievement in Literacy and Numeracy for P1, P4, P7 and S3 published by the Scottish Government on the 12 December 2018 in Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) Levels 2017/18 (Appendix A).  The report also provided an update on the Scottish Governments 2019 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish Education (Appendix B).

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed:

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

2.    to note the update on the Scottish Governments 2019 National Improvement Framework and Improvement Plan for Scottish Education. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director - Customer Services, dated 14 March 2019, submitted)

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

Decision

The Community Services Committee agreed to note the contents of the work plan.

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