• Agenda

Minutes of Meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee held in Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 8 March 2007 at 10:30am

 

 

Mr A Anderson in the Chair

 

Business

 

An asterisk in the margin demotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.

 

Preliminaries

 

Rev A Sinclair opened the meeting with prayer.

 

1.           Apologies for Absence

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr H Fraser; Ms E MacDonald; Mr T MacLennan and Rev A Glass.

 

2.           Successes

 

The Committee NOTED a list of recent successes and AGREED that their congratulations be conveyed to those concerned:-

 

·        the Culture Minister had announced funding of £1.5 million over two years to expand the world’s first baby book gifting scheme Bookstart in Scotland;

·        ESF grant funding of £100,000 had been confirmed through the Highlands and Islands (Scotland) Structural Funds Partnership Ltd to assist the language needs of immigrant families;

·        Grantown Primary School pupils had won first prize of £2,000 in a nation-wide competition winning the “It’s our Future” sustainable food category for their organic vegetable garden and farmer’s market project which involved pupils growing, harvesting and marketing organic vegetables. 

·        the Ladies Golf Union, had recently announced that the Curtis Cup would be played at The Nairn Golf Club in 2012;

·        the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management and Grass Roots had teamed up to provide high quality, low cost disability and diversity awareness training on a distance learning basis and 6 members of staff from Golspie Swimming Pool, had completed 2 courses and successfully passed exams.  Staff involved were Kyle MacKay, Lenka Oakley, Lisa Hay, Rona Gordon, Rick Paylor and Kelly Skinner;

·        Fifth year Alness Academy pupil Toni Morgan had recently won the College Link category in a national hairdressing competition;

·        following Grantown Grammar School taking part in the British Council Mandarin Course last summer in Beijing, a link had now been established between the school and Xinying Middle School in Kumning in Southwest China;

·        Charleston Academy was the second school in Highland to achieve School of Ambition status.  The school would receive £100,000 a year for the next 3 years to develop sporting activities and achievement;

·        Healthy Highland Week had held a photographic competition, to help launch Highland 2007 with the first prize being awarded to Hillhead Primary School and their picture entitled “100% Fruit”. The runners ups were Tain Cluster,  Inverness High School; Kilchoan Primary School, and Alness Academy;

·        Children from Dunvegan, Dunvegan Gaelic Unit, Edinbane and Struan Primary Schools working in collaboration with Out of Eden and the Cultural Co-ordinators in Skye and Lochalsh had produced four films around the subject of a Time Traveller. The project had been supported through funding from First Light Films and the Scottish Executive. An excerpt from one of the films was shown to Members.

 

The Depute Chairman took the opportunity on behalf of the Committee to thank Councillor Anderson for the work undertaken and the successful completion of many developments achieved while he had been Chairman of the Committee

 

 

 

3.           Revenue Budget 2007/08

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS13/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, setting out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the ten months to January 2007 and the projected year end position.

 

Members were informed of the budget pressures, additions and savings to the 2007/2008 revenue budget. There had been an increase of £14.136m to the ECS revenue budget for 2007/08 and details of how this was to be used were given to Members, including proposed measures for meeting budget pressures. An additional £310k remained to be allocated and Members were asked to allocate these funds towards completing the Youth Dialogue Scheme across the Highland area and towards Healthy Living centres

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

i.           to delegate to the Acting Director in consultation with Chairman to approve the final proposals in relation to the allocation to schools of the additional £278K funding provided by the Scottish Executive;

ii.          the actions in relation to the 2006/07 Budget outlined in section 4 of the report; and

iii.        the proposed uses of the £310K funding included within the 2007/08 Budget settlement as out-lined in paragraph 5.3 of the report.

 

4.           Capital Monitoring to 31 January 2007

 

Councillor J Home declared a non-financial interest in this item as a director of the Spectrum Centre, Inverness and remained to participate in the meeting.

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS14/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, providing details of the capital expenditure position to 30 January 2007. The report was summarised to Members, indicating that although there was a projected overspend on the ECS budget, this was balanced by a current under spend within the Highland 2007 budget. The report further sought Members’ agreement to approve a Council contribution to the cost of consultancy for the development of a brief for an integrated Highland art gallery, museum and library in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and the Inverness City Partnership. The contribution would depend upon the tendered cost of the consultancies and funding being forthcoming from the partner groups, but was likely to be £15-25K.

 

During discussion the following points were made:

 

·        there was a greater need to address drainage works at playing fields in Lochaber, before work was done on the changing facilities at these places. It was indicated there should be some flexibility  for the Area Committee to address such priority works;

·        information on the timescale for moving forward with the hostel facility in Mallaig was sought and concern expressed that parents needed to be informed of how work was progressing. In response, it was indicated that parents would be informed of developments by letter and a meeting would be called to allow parents to view the plans for the proposed building when available;

·        concern was expressed over the capacity of schools within the Inverness area as although capping had been introduced at some schools, there were still pressures to accommodate the existing class numbers within the schools concerned. It was also indicated that there was a need to re-assess catchment areas and provision within Inverness and a report should be submitted to a future Committee on the issue

 

The Committee NOTED the report and AGREED:

 

i.           that the Lochaber Area Committee consider the use of the £149k identified for Lochaber Parks Changing facilities for priority works, such as drainage works to the parks concerned;

ii.          an allocation of between £15,000 and £25,000 towards the development of the Brief and strategic plan for an integrated Highland art gallery, museum and library. 

 

5.           Capital Report including all projects completed this Council Term  

 

The Head of Support Services gave a presentation to Members detailing the capital projects completed during the current term of the Council. Members were reminded that the estate of the ECS Service, in terms of the number of schools, was the largest in Scotland. It contained 184 Primary Schools; 29 Secondary Schools; 5 Special Schools and 3 Hostels, as well as 15 Leisure Centres, 44 Libraries, 7 swimming pools and a Network of 10 synthetic Turf Pitches.

 

The Committee had made several difficult decisions in developing a successful capital programme and in total there had been a capital investment between 2003 and 2007, of £51.169m into the ECS estate. This was in addition to the £130m invested as part of the PPP2 schools programme. Funding had come from a variety of sources, including:

 

·        ECS Service basic floor allocation;

·        Flexibility Bids from 2005/6 to 2010/11 from the Council;

·        Grant Funding from Big Lottery Fund, Sportscotland and the Local Enterprise Companies;

·        Specific Scottish Executive (Schools Fund)  School Building Improvement Grant; and

·        Capital receipts from sale of assets declared surplus to requirements

 

Successful developments in the estates of the ECS Service were also summarised to Members. However, it was acknowledged that there had been a few set backs which had affected programme delivery. Incidents such as flooding and a fire had occurred, but had been dealt with as they arose.

 

Members welcomed the presentation and acknowledged the successful range of work undertaken during the present term of the Council. It was indicated that although there had been difficulties along the way, the Committee had left a positive legacy of School and Community facilities for Highland. It was recognised that there would be challenges for the succeeding Committee but it was hoped they would continue the good work achieved to date.

 

The Committee NOTED the review of capital works undertaken in the period 2003-2007 and those contained in the future programme.

 

6.           Education, Culture and Sport Service Structure Beyond April 2007 

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS15/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, building on the new management structures agreed by the ECS Committee in November 2006 and January 2007 and proposed changes in management arrangements for the Quality Development Team, the Support for Learning Team, Psychological Services, in Integrated Children’s Services and in Library Services

 

Details of the proposals were summarised to Members and it was highlighted tha there were ongoing talks with staff and trade union representatives on the restructuring of the Support for Learning and Psychological Services Teams. It was also highlighted that within the proposals for Library Services the three new Senior Librarian posts would manage community libraries within a cluster of Associated School Groups and would have responsibility for driving forward the integration of school and community libraries.

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

i.           to adopt the ECS Management Structures outlined in the report from April 2007; and

ii.          further reports be submitted to the Committee, subject to ongoing consultation and discussions with staff and unions.

 

7.           Interim Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) Strategy

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS16/07  by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, updating Members on the progress made in developing the Highland NEET Strategy to create and guarantee positive destinations for young people into employment, education and training when leaving school. The report highlighted that six associated school groups had undertaken audit activity to better understand the needs of those people at risk of becoming NEET in their local area. Work had been progressing well and a seminar was to be held at the end of March to discuss the findings.

 

During discussion Members indicated that the strategy had to look at an age range wider than just young people. Concern was also expressed that there had to be sufficient opportunities for, and a balance of, academic and vocational training. However, better information should be available to those at risk of becoming NEET, of the range of options available to them

 

The Committee NOTED the progress made in developing the Highland NEET Strategy; and AGREED a further report be submitted to the Committee once the Strategy had been discussed and finalised with the Scottish Executive.

 

8.           Review of the Scheme of Devolved School Management

 

There had been circulated Report No  ECS17/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services asking Members to approve changes to the Council’s Scheme of Devolved School Management (DSM). These changes were in accordance with the national guidelines issued by the Scottish Executive in February 2006, which required at least 90% of school based expenditure budgets to be devolved to the control of Head Teachers. The revised Council scheme would ensure 94% was devolved to Head Teachers and details were given of the main changes to the DSM scheme. It was explained that the proposal to increase the carry forward parameter for a financial year end surplus from 3% to 5 %, would be effective from the current financial year. The proposals reflected extensive consultation with representative groups of Head Teachers.

 

During discussion Members welcomed the proposals as they gave further clarity to the Scheme but questioned the support and training offered to Head Teachers and expressed concern that increasing the responsibilities of Head Teachers could affect recruitment. Comment was also made on the flexibility for Head Teachers within some of the additional budget headings under DSM.

 

In response, it was highlighted that the changes were a tidying exercise for DSM, and Head Teachers welcomed the proposals. Head Teachers were given induction training upon their appointment and increased management time to undertake these duties. It was also explained that there would be no flexibility in some budget headings, as they would operate within existing Council Policies.

 

The Committee AGREED:

 

i.           the revisions to the existing DSM as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

ii.          the carry forward parameter for a financial year end surplus be increased from 3% to 5%; and

iii.        an implementation date of 1 April 2007 for the proposals as detailed in the report, with the exception that the increase in the carry forward parameter for a financial year end surplus be effective from the current financial year.

 

9.           Response to Draft Culture (Scotland)  Bill

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS18/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, which presented Members with a draft response to the Scottish Executive’s Draft Culture (Scotland) Bill and associated draft Statutory Guidance, currently out to consultation. The draft response had incorporated comments from Members and stressed that along side local entitlements, national entitlements delivered locally should be developed.

 

The Committee NOTED the response to the draft Culture (Scotland) Bill and Statutory Guidance.

 

10.       Improving Services for Older People  

 

There had been circulated joint Report No ECS19/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services and the Director of Social Work, updating Members on recent discussions on how joint working between the Education, Culture and Sport and Social Work Services would enable a more effective use of resources and offer a wider range of opportunities for older people in the community. The report outlined plans and set out a possible timetable for the proposals and detailed that throughout the process there had to be clear communication between all those involved and effective training in place for both new and existing staff. Members were also informed that it was proposed to implement the transfer during the 2007/2008 financial year.

 

During discussion Members made the following comments:

 

·        Members welcomed the proposals to ensure greater coordination and cohesion between the services provided to older people by the Council, or by a group funded by the Council;

·        there were a number of successful schemes, such as day care facilities, that received no support from the Council and it was important to consider how they were structured and how they could be incorporated into coherent provision to older people;

·        service provision should be delivered locally, wherever possible;

·        joint working in the services provided should be developed, where possible;

·        a local co-ordinator should be in place to ensure local people were made aware of local opportunities and activities;

·        it need to be stressed to all involved, that the proposal was not aiming to centralise services but to ensure greater co-operation and flexibility;

·        Member involvement should be sought throughout the transfer process; and

·        in addition to the transfer of some day care facilities, consideration should also be given to the co-ordination of the opportunities available through community learning.

 

The Committee NOTED the proposals to progress the transfer of some day care facilities from Social Work Services to the Education, Culture and Sport Services; and AGREED;

 

i.           the project should seek to implement any transfer during the financial year 2007/08; and

ii.          local Member involvement be sought throughout the transfer process and on the future of service provision.

 

11.       Scotland’s Languages Consultation    

 

There had been circulated Report No ECS19/07 by the Acting Director of Education, Culture and Sport Services, advising Members of the current consultation on ‘A Strategy for Scotland’s Languages’ and the proposed response to the consultation process.

 

Members were informed that the response highlighted that there was a need to ensure linguistic access and diversity as there was a percentage of the population with neither Gaelic nor English as their first language, due to the influx of migrants from Eastern Europe and other parts of the world. The response had also indicated the importance of developing bilingualism and multilingualism and therefore there should be adequate access to learning provision for other languages, beyond English and Gaelic.

 

The Committee NOTED the draft response to the consultation which included reference to the need for appropriate funding to be made available to authorities to implement ‘A Strategy for Scotland’s Languages’.

 

12.       Minutes

 

The Committee NOTED the minutes of the Education Transport Appeals Committee held on 21 February 2007, subject to identifying in the minute that the local Member for Appeal No 01/07 was Councillor W Clark.

 

The Chairman took the opportunity on behalf of Members to express their appreciation for the work undertaken by the staff of the Education, Culture and Sport Service team, including the former Director, Bruce Robertson, and hoped the good work they had achieved be continued.

 

The meeting closed at 12:40pm.