Committees
A meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 17 January 2008 at 10.30 am.
You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.
Yours faithfully
Alistair Dodds
Chief Executive
Declarations of Interest – 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.
Business
1. Apologies for Absence
2. Successes
Recent successes in the Education, Culture and Sport Service will be tabled at the meeting.
Representatives of Lyreco and the Chairman will also present prizes to the winners, runners-up and to teachers representing the schools which took part in the annual Lyreco Design Competition.
3. Revenue Budget 2007/08 – Monitoring
There is circulated Report No ECS-01-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the period 1 April to 30 November 2007 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to approve:-
i. a request to the Resources Committee for £2.09M additional funding to
address the significant and on-going demands relating to the Joint
Committee on Children and Young People budget; and
ii. the continuing policy of financial restraint and the identification of off-
setting savings.
4. Capital Expenditure 2007/08 – Monitoring
There is circulated Report No ECS-02-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Capital Expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 30 November 2007 which includes Highland 2007 Year of Culture, progress on the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) schools contracts and information on expenditure of the PPPschools curricular equipment purchases. The report also seeks approval of projects at Knockbreck (Tain), Kilchuimen and Farr Primary Schools to meet accommodation needs due to building failure and increasing school rolls and meeting the costs of implementation of the Phoenix e1 Education Management System through the Capital Programme.
The Committee is invited to note the position as per the monitoring statement and to approve:-
i. the accommodation projects at Knockbreck, Kilchuimen and Farr Primary
Schools; and
ii. that the Phoenix e1 implementation costs be met through the Capital
Programme.
5. Highland 2007 - Highlights and Legacy
There is circulated Report No ECS-03-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport introducing the Highland 2007 Director who will present an overview of some of the highlights of “Scotland’s Year of Highland Culture” pending the full review of Highland 2007 which will be received from the Centre for Cultural Policy Research in Glasgow University in July 2008. The report also presents a full listing of all grants awarded in support of the programme of celebrations across the Highlands and Islands.
The Committee is to note:-
i. the programme and the content of the presentation by the Project
Director;
ii. that the full evaluation of Highland 2007 will be presented to a future
meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee once the
Centre for Cultural Policy Research in Glasgow University submits it’s
report in July 2008;
iii. that the possible legacy budgetary implications will require to be
discussed as part of the Council’s wider budgetary process;
and agree:-
iv. that prior to July 2008, discussions are held with The Scottish
Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Creative Scotland,
representatives of the community sector and other appropriate partners
on the legacy of 2007 so that appropriate management and
administrative arrangements can be considered at that time.
6. Support for the Development of the Duke of Edinburgh Award
There is circulated Report No ECS-04-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out the current operation of the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Highland. It outlines proposed changes and recommends the resultant resource and staffing implications. If adopted, these changes would better allow the Council to meet the obligations of its Operating License.
The Committee is invited to agree:-
i. to transfer the development of the Duke of Edinburgh Award to the
Council, at no additional cost; and
ii. the staffing structure as detained in the report.
7. Sport and Activity Working Group
There is circulated Report No ECS-05-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport recommending the establishment of a Member/Officer Working Group to look at a number of issues in sport and activity linked to the Programme for Administration. The report further suggests a remit for the Working Group and asks the Committee to appoint a Chair and Member representatives.
The Committee is asked to agree:-
i. to establish a Member/Officer Working Group to look at sporting and
activity provision in Highland;
ii. that the Working Group has the following remit:
· to draft a plan for sport responding to “Reaching Higher” and for maximising participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in both Highland representation in the Scottish and possibly other teams, and for volunteers and community participation.
· to draft a multi-agency plan to increase activity in Highland and to promote active lifestyles. This would review the many actions on promoting activity across various strategies and plans in Highland and seek to bring coherence to these, rather than simply replicate work already done.
· review the provision of leisure facilities in Highland and develop a draft facilities plan maximising opportunities for all, including options for ensuring that elite athletes can access facilities in preparation for the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
· to report regularly to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on progress and to bring one or more final reports to Committee for discussion and approval.
iii. to nominate a Chair and four additional Elected Members to sit on the
Working Group.
8. Healthy Living Centres Funding Update
There is circulated Report No ECS-06-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updating Members on the funding position of the three Healthy Living Centre Projects in the Council’s area and to suggest options for the future.
The Committee is invited to:-
i. note the funding position of the three Healthy Living Centres operating
in the Council’s area and the work currently ongoing at a national and
local level to sustain their work;
ii. agree the options for the future as detailed in the report;
iii. agree to the submission of Big Lottery Fund applications on behalf of the
Jannie’s Hoose and Healthways;
iv. agree to delegate to the Director of Education, Culture and Sport
authority to decide on the necessary split of the Council’s £100k as its
match funding for the purposes of the two Big Lottery applications; and
v. note that, should the options for future funding prove impossible, a
further report be submitted to the Education, Culture and Sport
Committee on 13 March 2008.
9. Library and Information Service Policy
There is circulated Report No ECS-07-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport proposing revisions to the currently adopted library policy and associated guidelines to reflect the needs of the Programme for Administration and in line with best practice nationally.
The Committee is invited to approve:-
i. the revised Library and Information Service Policy as detailed in Appendix
A;
ii. the policy for joint use in primary schools as set out in Appendix B;
iii. that the guidelines set out in Appendix C be adopted as management
rules for the library service and that appropriate steps be taken for them
to replace the existing bye-laws: and
iv. the revised Acceptable Use Policy as set out in Appendix D.
10. Duncriag Castle Educational Trust Scheme 1999
There is circulated Report No ECS-08-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport recommending that Members approve a Plan in the required prescribed format for the exercise of the Council’s powers as Education Authority (and as such the governing body of the Trust) in relation to the award of scholarships, grants and assistance in terms of the Duncraig Castle Educational Trust Scheme 1999.
The Committee is invited to recommend to the Council that the Plan as detailed in the report be approved and to note the arrangements for future awards under the Scheme.
11. Minutes of Meetings
There is circulated, for noting, the Minutes of the Education Transport Appeals Committee held on 6 November 2007.