Minutes of Meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 8 November 2007 at 10.30 a.m.
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Present
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Mr W Fernie
Mr B Gormley
Ms K MacNab
Mr D Bremner
Mrs I Campbell
Dr A Sinclair
Mrs J Urquhart
Mr M Finlayson
Ms M Smith
Mrs M E Paterson
Mr C Fraser
Mr E Hunter
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Mr H Wood
Mr R A C Balfour
Mrs G Sinclair
Mr L Fraser
Mr A S Park
Ms J Douglas
Dr M E M Foxley
Rev A Glass
Rev D C Meredith
Mr J McDonald
Miss G Slider |
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Non-Members also present:
Ms L Munro
Mr D Mackay
Mr J Rosie
Mr G Smith
Mr J McGillivray
Mrs A MacLean
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Dr D Alston
Mr H Fraser
Mr B Clark
Mr A Henderson
Mr S Black |
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In Attendance:
Mr H Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport
Mr B Alexander, Head of Integrated Children’s Services, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr D MacDonald, Head of Education, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R MacKenzie, Head of Support Services, Education Culture and Sport
Mr I Murray, Head of Community Learning and Leisure, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr B Hemming, Estate Strategy Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr C Phillips, Lifelong Learning Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr G Watson, Community Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms E Johnston, Policy Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R Campbell, Project Manager, Housing and Property Services
Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office
Miss J Maclennan, Committee Administrator, Chief Executive’s Office |
Mr W Fernie in the Chair
Business
An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council. All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.
Preliminaries
Rev D C Meredith opened the meeting with prayer.
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs E McAllister, Lady Thurso, Mrs D MacKay and Mr D Hendry.
2. Successes
The Committee NOTED a list of recent successes in the Education, Culture and Sport Service that had been circulated at the meeting, including local National Mod and Quality Awards winners, and a short film shown on the Neil Gunn Awards.
3. University of the Highlands and Islands - Presentation
Professor Robert Cormack, Principal and John Spencer, Principal (Inverness College) of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) made a presentation to Members on developments at UHI and its mission to create a collegiate university. In detailing the University’s current structure, it was pointed out it had a pivotal role in the area’s educational, economic, social and cultural development. The background leading to the University’s present status was explained, including a report on recent audits and assessments and a description of the faculties and subject networks now available.
Having thanked Professor Cormack and Mr Spencer for their presentation and emphasising the importance of close collaboration, the Committee NOTED the presentation and that UHI was now on a “fast track” process to full university and degree awarding status and AGREED to forge closer links with UHI.
4. Revenue Budget 2007/08 - Monitoring
There had been circulated Report No ECS 39-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which set out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 31 August 2007 and which showed a projected overspend of £0.351m. The budget pressures and financial issues which could have a detrimental impact on the budget were highlighted together with the proposed action to address these. As it was unlikely the Joint Committee on Children and Young People would be able to off-set the significant pressures on the Out of Authority budget, it was proposed that this overspend be included within the Education, Culture and Sport budget monitoring statement as at the end of November 2007 so that discussions could be held with the Director of Finance about further options available for addressing the issue. Particular attention was also drawn to devolved school management (DSM) budgets and those schools with a projected deficit in excess of the permitted 3%. Given the impact on the overall budgetary position, senior management was working closely with the schools concerned.
Members commented that budgetary information provided at ward level would assist in the scrutiny process. While it was acknowledged that a policy was being developed on how this could best be achieved, it was accepted that it would be helpful for Members to be informed of those schools exceeding the 3% deficit in their DSM budget.
The Committee NOTED the proposed actions relating to the Joint Committee on Children and Young People budget and AGREED:-
i. the management actions, as detailed in the report, to off-set other on-
going budgetary pressures; and
ii. that Members be provided with information in relation to schools within
their ward that were likely to exceed the 3% deficit threshold of their
devolved budgets.
4.1 High Life Leisure Scheme - VAT Implications
Mrs P Munro declared a non-financial interest in this item as a Board Member of Caledonia Community Leisure Limited but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that her interest did not preclude her involvement in discussion.
The Chairman sought and obtained the Committee’s consent to add this item to the agenda in view of the meeting on 21 November 2007 between HM Customs and Excise and the Sport and Leisure Trust Association to discuss the Court of Session ruling resulting in VAT now being due on pre-payment arrangements such as the High Life Leisure Scheme.
A paper was tabled which set out the background to the High Life Leisure Scheme. High Life, introduced to encourage attendances to leisure centres and to contribute to the healthy living agenda, had increased use in all participating leisure centres. Most leisure trust were set up as charities and had been largely free of VAT on income but HM Customs and Excise had ruled that the change from a “pay as you go” system to an all inclusive payment meant customers were paying for right of access to facilities rather than prepaying for activities. The Council had unsuccessfully challenged this at a VAT and Duties tribunal and the Court of Session and would have to pay approximately £50,000-£60,000 more VAT per annum with a three year back claim of about £140,000.
In support of the move to have this issue re-examined, the Committee AGREED that the Council write to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Stewart Maxwell, Scottish Sports Minister and Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Health Minister:-
i. to point out the conflicting policies of promoting active and healthy
lifestyles whilst charging VAT on schemes specifically designed to
encourage lower income families to be more active;
ii. to request that the resultant three year back VAT payment for Councils
and leisure trusts be waived; and
iii. that the contents of the letter be shared with those organisations which
were similarly affected by this issue.
5. Capital Expenditure 2007/08 – Monitoring
There had been circulated Report No ECS 40-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Capital Expenditure in the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 30 September 2007 and which included Highland 2007 Year of Culture, progress on the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) schools contracts and information on expenditure on the PPP2 schools’ curricular equipment purchases. In summary, there was an overall projected underspend of £1.936m but this was associated with the receipt of an additional £1.714m School Fund grant from the Scottish Government and its allocation to projects thus releasing funding to be carried forward into Financial Year 2008/09. The report also sought approval to instruct the building of a two classroom and toilets extension at Inshes Primary School through the PPP contract. A strategic review of school provision was currently taking place, the outcome of which would be reported to the Committee’s next meeting.
Concern was expressed at the decision taken by the National Lottery, and subsequently followed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, not to award funding unless community groups making the application owned the asset concerned. This would have a major detrimental impact not only on the Council but also the wider Highland community.
The Committee:-
i. NOTED the position as detailed in the monitoring statement;
ii. APPROVED the construction of a two classroom and toilets extension to
Inshes Primary School by instructing and implementing a change order to
the PPP2 contract; and
iii. AGREED to investigate, and bring back a report to an appropriate
Committee, on the impact of the National Lottery and Highlands and
Islands Enterprise no longer funding Capital projects unless communities
owned the asset concerned.
6. Older People’s Services
There had been circulated Report No ECS 41-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which outlined the current ways in which the Education, Culture and Sport Service was helping to keep older people mentally and physically active. It also suggested that a more systematic and targeted approach would improve services further and sought approval to participate in a Northern Periphery funded project to encourage older people to provide services to other older people in their communities. The report referred to the Programme for Administration target to increase the number of older people who could be supported in their own homes rather than by institutional care.
The importance of allocating timescales to tasks was pointed out, particularly in relation to the review Social Works Services was to carry out to modernise services for older people in local areas.
The Committee AGREED that:-
i. a systematic review of current services to older people be undertaken by
Community Learning and Leisure staff;
ii. Community Learning and Leisure staff participate in forthcoming local
reviews of services to older people;
iii. Community Learning and Leisure staff take part in the Northern Periphery
“O4O” project; and
iv. Members be advised of the timescale involved in the review of local
services to be carried out by Social Work Services in collaboration with
the Education, Culture and Sport Service.
7. Education, Culture and Sport Service – Restructuring of
Administrative and Clerical Staff in Non-School Sectors
There had been circulated Report No ECS 42-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport continuing the restructuring process agreed by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee at its meetings on 9 November 2006, 25 January 2007 and 8 March 2007 by outlining proposals for a review of all administrative and clerical support posts in non-school sectors. The initial proposals included the deletion of five Area Administrator and Support Services posts and a Business Support Officer post at Headquarters and their replacement with three Business Support Officer posts in the areas and one senior Business Support Officer at Headquarters. However, Members asked that a review consider the maintenance of an administrative presence for each Area.
Having NOTED the proposed consultative and governance arrangements, the Committee AGREED:-
i. the review process;
ii. the initial proposals as detailed in the report; and
iii. that a report be brought back on the future management structure
once information had been gathered to identify the need in each of the
three areas and a briefing be held for members on the revised structures
in the Fort William area.
8. Education, Culture and Sport Structures Beyond April 2007 –
Support for Learning Restructuring
There had been circulated Report No. ECS 43-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport building on the new management structures agreed by the Education, Culture and Sport Committee at its meetings on 9 November 2006, 25 January 2007 and 8 March 2007. It detailed proposed changes in management arrangements for the Support for Learning Team and Psychological Services Team that would be made once changes in current postholders permitted. Assurances were given that the suggested proposals were being made to reflect the new operational structure and that front line delivery would remain unaffected. Both Teams would continue to be monitored to ensure services were maintained.
The Committee AGREED:-
i. the Education, Culture and Sport Management Structures for the
Support for Learning Team and Psychological Services Team as detailed
in the report; and
ii. that the changes to these structures be progressed as and when
changes in postholders enabled the structures to be implemented on a
progressive basis.
9. Statutory Performance Indicators 2006/07
There had been circulated Report No. ECS 44-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport analysing the outcomes of the Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) for the Education, Culture and Sport Service for 2006/07. It also highlighted the key issues arising from the 2006/07 performance data and pointed out that the SPIs would also provide important information to evidence progress in the delivery of the Programme for Administration, particularly in relation to commitments on health improvement and Looked After Children.
The Committee NOTED the Service’s Statutory Performance Indicator outcomes for 2006/07 and AGREED:-
i. that a further report on the Education, Culture and Sport Service’s
national benchmark position for 2006/07 be submitted following the
publication of data by Audit Scotland early in 2008; and
ii. to await an Annual Standards and Quality report early in 2008.
10. Education, Culture and Sport Service Plan 2007-2011
There had been circulated Report No ECS 45-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the proposed objectives and supporting actions which would deliver the Council’s Programme for Administration and the statutory and core functions of the Service. A draft of the Service Plan 2007-11 (Appendix A) had also been circulated.
Referring to the Council’s Annual Performance Survey, information from which had helped to inform the review of the Education, Culture and Sport Service’s Plan, it was recognised that the timing and sample size of the survey had had a clear impact on the performance reported. Nevertheless, those taking part in the survey should be kept informed of developments that had been taken place as a result of the survey’s outcomes. Furthermore, a request was made that the benefit of Service Level Agreements be examined in relation to ensuring value of the service provided by organisations receiving funding from the Education, Culture and Sport Service. It was also suggested that in regard to the aim to minimising environmental impact, each repair carried out in schools be examined to ensure the most appropriate measures were adopted.
The Committee AGREED:-
i. the Education, Culture and Sport Service Plan for 2007-2011;
ii. that annual reviews on the Plan’s progress be reported to Committee;
iii. that the Head of Policy and performance investigate the possibility of
responding to those participating in the Council’s Annual Performance
Survey;
iv. that, in relation to the objective to develop a five year concordat with
the voluntary sector, five year Service Level Agreements be examined
for those organisations who had been receiving funding on a regular
basis; and
v. to look at the overall environmental impact of any repair carried out in
schools, with the aim of reducing environmental impact and waste.
11. Museums: Policies and Plans
There had been circulated Report No ECS 46-07 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on two actions relating to the Council’s museum collections. The first proposal related to the adoption of an Acquisition and Disposals Policy in order to achieve Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Commission Accredited status. The benefits of achieving Accredited status were explained, including the requirement for accessing external funding and being eligible to loan or acquire certain artefacts. The second proposal related to the transfer of ownership of the Council’s Caithness collections to Caithness Horizons Collections Trust (CHCT), the body developing the new museum within facilities being developed at Thurso Town Hall. The transfer would greatly increase public access to the collections and improve the care of the collections.
The importance of ensuring that Caithness artefacts were returned to Caithness was emphasised and that, once returned, they were not lost again to the area as a result of some unforeseen event happening to CHCT. While it was vital that collections were conserved and displayed in appropriate environments, it was recognised that this, together with the standards required to achieve accredited status, were likely to incur additional costs.
The Committee AGREED:-
i. to adopt the Acquisition and Disposals Policy and Forward Plan for the
Council’s museums;
ii. to transfer ownership of the Council’s Caithness museum collections to
Caithness Horizons Collections Trust subject to the Trust achieving
Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission Accredited status;
iii. that, in the event of Caithness Horizons Collections Trust ceasing to
function at some point in the future, a safeguard be built in to ensure
artefacts were returned to the Council’s ownership;
iv. a report be submitted to a future Committee on how Caithness artefacts
lost from the Area might be restored to local collections;
v. to investigate the availability of additional storage for museums;
and NOTED the possible funding implications that might arise for museums in meeting the standards required of the Museum Accreditation Scheme.
12. Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies
AGREED as follows:-
i. Highland Children’s Trust: Mrs M E Paterson (Independent)
ii. Caithness Horizons Trust: Lady Thurso (Liberal Democrat)
13. Minutes
The Committee dealt with the following Minutes of the Meetings, copies of which had been circulated, as follows:-
i. NOTED the Minutes of the Education Transport Appeals Committee held
on 17 September 2007; and
ii. APPROVED Minutes of the Annual General and Ordinary Meeting of the
Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff held on 23 October
2007
The meeting ended at 1.15 pm.