Committees

A meeting of the Adult and Children’s Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 26 September 2012 at 10.00 am.

 

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

 

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

 

Yours faithfully

 

Michelle Morris
Assistant Chief Executive

 

Business

 

1. Apologies for Absence
    Leisgeulan

 

2. Declarations of Interest
    Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

 

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

 

3. Presentations
    Taisbeanaidhean

 

i. New School Inspection Model
   Modail Ùr Sgrùdadh Sgoile

 

Mr A Brown, Education Scotland, will give a presentation on the new School Inspection Model.

 

ii. Health and Wellbeing
    Slàinte agus Mathais

 

Highland pupils will give a presentation on Health and Wellbeing activity which they have undertaken.

 

4. Revenue Budget 2012/13 – Monitoring
    Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2011/12 – Sgrùdadh

 

i. Education, Culture and Sport
   Foghlam, Cultar agus Spòrs

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-26-12 (101kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the revenue budget monitoring position for the four months to July 2012.

 

The Committee is invited to agree:-

 

i.  the ongoing management actions being taken to achieve a balanced
   budget at the end of the financial year; and
ii. that as the Facilities Management (FM) model is rolled out across Highland,
   any schools which previously were entitled to dedicated janitorial provision
   and which will lose this dedicated provision as a result of the transition to
   the FM model will receive funding for a playground supervisor.

 

ii. Health and Social Care
   Slàinte agus Cùram Sòisealta

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-27-12 (127kb pdf) dated 13 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care setting out the revenue monitoring statement for the Health and Social Care Service budget for the four months to 31 July 2012.

 

The Committee is invited to note:-

 

i. the projected overspend of £1.463m monitoring position; and
ii. that there is a further report on this Committee agenda about external
   placements, including actions being taken.

 

5. Capital Expenditure 2012/13 – Monitoring
    Caiteachas Calpa 2012/13 -  Sgrùdadh

 

i. Education, Culture and Sport
   Foghlam, Cultar agus Spòrs

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-28-12 (322kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the net Capital expenditure position for the four months to 31 July 2012, the related year-end projections and progress on the major projects that will be completed within the next three financial years. The report also seeks approval for specific projects and provides an update on progress with the Sustainable School Estate Review.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i.  agree that an independent post-project review of the Lochardil Primary
    School extension/refurbishment project be progressed and that the
    recommendations contained in that report be presented to a future
    Committee;
ii.  agree that £0.137M be drawn down from the Life Cycle Investment
    budget to fund the infrastructure and new server configuration required to
    progress the upgrade of the People’s Network;
iii.  agree that £0.100M be drawn down from the generic Life Cycle
    Investment budget to fund various works at Inverness High School;
iv. agree that up to £0.050M be drawn down from the Life Cycle Investment
    budget to fund a replacement vehicle in the Sutherland School Transport
    fleet;
v. agree that £0.020M be drawn down from the Life Cycle Investment budget
    to fund the creation of additional play space at MacDiarmid Primary School
    required as a result of the loss of existing play space to house modular
    classroom accommodation;
vi. agree that £0.050M be allocated from the Community and Leisure Facilities
    budget for the formation of a fitness suite at the Leven Centre in
    Kinlochleven;
vii. agree that £0.017M be drawn down from the Life Cycle Investment
    budget to fund the replacement of the grass cutting machinery at
    Inverness Royal Academy;
viii. agree that Maryburgh Primary School be declared surplus in accordance
     with the procedures outlined in paragraph 3.8 of the report;
ix. note that the post-occupancy evaluation report on the building operating
    efficiency of Acharacle and Milton of Leys Primary Schools will be presented
    to this Committee in November 2012;
x.  agree that the project to provide a synthetic surface play area at Roy
    Bridge be overseen and managed by the Council on the basis that all
    related costs will be met from the sum raised by the local community;
xi. agree that a feasibility study be carried out in relation to the boiler system
    at the Averon Centre, Alness and that the findings be reported to
    Committee in November 2012 for further consideration; and
xii. agree that the second phase of the building condition survey programme
    to inform the Sustainable School Estate Review be undertaken at a cost of
    £0.300M and that this funding be drawn down from the SSER budget
    heading.

 

ii. Health and Social Care
   Slàinte agus Cùram Sòisealta

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-29-12 (92kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides an update on progress to date with the Health and Social Care Capital Programme and includes a monitoring report on expenditure in 2012/13; details of a proposal to provide financial assistance to a foster carer to create an additional bedroom; and an update on work being undertaken in relation to a number of fire safety and other health and safety capital works.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. agree to support the request to the full Council for an allocation of £0.007m
   to provide increased foster provision by a current foster carer; and
ii. approve the report and the budgetary position.

 

6. Preventative Spend: Early Years and Families, Older People and
    Deprivation
    Cosgais Chasgach: Tràth-bhliadhnaichean agus Teaghlaichean,
    Seann Daoine agus Bochdainn

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-30-12 (132kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which makes proposals to direct expenditure into activities associated with preventative interventions, promote the well-being of individuals and communities, and achieve the better use of resources and avoid unnecessary public spending.

 

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the proposals to inform the report and recommendations for future meetings of the Committee and the full Council.

 

7. External Placements of Looked After Children
    Suidheachaidhean air an Taobh a-muigh do Chloinn a tha air an
    Coimhead às an Dèidh

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-31-12 (196kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides information on placements of Looked After Children in external care, residential school and fostering placements.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. consider and comment on the issues raised in the report; and
ii. agree the actions being taken to address the projected overspend.

 

8. Integration of Health and Social Care - Update
    Amalachas Slàinte agus Cùraim Shòisealta – Cunntas as Ùr

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-32-12 (308kb pdf) dated 18 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides an update on progress towards integrated services for children and adults in Highland.

 

The Committee is invited to agree the terms of reference for the Strategic Commissioning Group and the updated guidance for the Health and Social Care District Partnerships as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

 

9. Additional Support Needs – Allocation Model
    Feumalachdan Taic a Bharrachd – Modail Riarachaidh

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-33-12 (111kb pdf) dated 18 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which proposes an allocation model for additional support needs (ASN) funding.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. note the significant progress made thus far to modernise support within the
   classroom; and
ii. agree the implementation of the proposed budget allocation model as a
   transparent means of equitably allocating the ASN budget across the four
   Council areas and providing a guide to the level of support required to meet
   identified need at varying levels across schools in Highland.

 

10. Update on Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership
      Cunntas as Ùr mu Chom-pàirteachas Deoch-làidir is Dhrogaichean
      na Gàidhealtachd

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-34-12 (981kb pdf) dated 18 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which presents the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Annual Report and informs Members about progress towards a single substance misuse service for adults.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. note the work of the Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership; and
ii. endorse the work towards a single substance misuse service for adults.

 

11. Update on Carers Services – Presentation by “Connecting Carers”
      Cunntas as Ùr mu Sheirbheisean Luchd-cùraim – Taisbeanadh le
      “Connecting Carers”

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-35-12 (45kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which introduces a presentation by “Connecting Carers” about the services they now operate to support unpaid carers and young carers.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. acknowledge the significant contribution that carers make to those for
   whom they care, their communities and the local economy; and
ii. endorse the work of the Council, NHS Highland and the Highland Community
   Care Forum in supporting carers.

 

12. Curriculum for Excellence – 3 Year Strategic Plan
      Curraicealam airson Sàr-mhathais – Plana Ro-innleachdail 3
      Bliadhna

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-36-12 (644kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on progress in implementing a Highland Curriculum for Excellence Strategic Plan.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. note the progress made in developing a Highland Curriculum for Excellence
   Strategic Plan and associated strategic advice papers; and
ii. endorse the approach of providing strategic direction coupled with advice
   papers built on existing good practice in Highland.

 

13. The Highland Council PE Plan 2012-2014
      Plana Eòlais Chorporra Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2012-14

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-37-12 (65kb pdf) dated 14 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on progress in developing a plan for delivering two hours of PE per week in both primary and secondary schools.

 

The Committee is invited to endorse the Highland PE Plan and request an interim report in September 2013.

 

14. School Handbook Review
      Ath-bhreithneachadh air Leabhran Sgoile

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-38-12 (124kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which summarises new requirements for school handbooks and seeks endorsement for an implementation approach for Highland schools.

 

The Committee is invited to:-

 

i. comment on the draft aide memoire for school handbooks in Highland; and
ii. endorse the approach of “working towards” the content changes and
   deadline in the current session with full implementation in session 2013
   -2014.

 

15. Consultation Response on Children and Young People Bill
      Freagairt Cho-chomhairle mu Bhile na Cloinne agus nan Daoine
      Òga

 

There is circulated Report No ACS-39-12 (232kb pdf) dated 17 September 2012 by the Director of Health and Social Care which proposes a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the proposed Children & Young People Bill.

 

The Committee is invited to agree the proposed response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Children & Young People Bill.

 

16. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas

 

The following Minutes are circulated for noting, and approval where necessary:-

 

i. Education Transport Entitlement Review Sub-Committee of 27 August 2012 (50kb pdf); and
ii. Duncraig Trust Scheme Sub-Committee of 30 August 2012 (61kb pdf).