Committees
A meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 13 March 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.
3. Revenue Budget 2007/08 – Monitoring
There is circulated Report No ECS-09-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 January 2008 and the projected year end position.
The Committee is invited to approve the continuing policy of financial restraint and the identification of off-setting savings and to note:-
i. the potential emerging budget pressures in relation to the achievement of
the 2007-08 budget savings target and those schools that might exceed
the 3% deficit parameter; and
ii. the actions being taken in relation to the annual measurement of the
Additional Support Needs client group.
4. Capital Expenditure 2007/08 – Monitoring
There is circulated Report No ECS-10-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Capital Expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 January 2008 and which includes Highland 2007 Year of Culture, progress on the Education, Culture and Sport Public, Private Partnership (PPP) schools contract and information on expenditure of the PPP2 schools curricular equipment purchases.
The Committee is invited to note the projected monitoring position.
5. Capital Investment - Strategic Planning Model
There is circulated Report No ECS-11-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining an approach to future Capital investment planning in the schools sector taking into account factors such as school building condition, recent Capital expenditure, placing requests, school capacity and the 10 year projected school roll figure. It also has the potential to be used for aspects of community planning decisions and presented to Members at a Ward level. Members are asked to consider this strategic model and approve its use for future Capital investment and work-force planning within the schools sector.
The Committee is asked to approve:-
i. the development of the model as the basis for future decision making in
the school estate including decisions relating to Capital investment, asset
management planning, workforce planning and community planning;
ii. the related protocols that will ensure the on-going integrity of the model
and provide a framework for accountability; and
iii. the governance arrangements as detailed in the report.
6. Active Schools (Sgoiltean Beothail)
There is circulated Report No ECS-12-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport regarding a proposal to restructure Active Schools staffing to meet the expected income grant from sportscotland while maintaining the current financial contribution from Highland Council. The report also seeks approval of the grant offer of funding from sportscoland to Highland Council for Active Schools for the 2008-2011 period and highlights the work of the Active Schools Co-ordinators following a very successful first four years of a funding partnership to develop opportunities for young people to be physically active, take part in sport and live healthier lifestyles in all areas of Highland.
The Committee is asked to note the successes of Active Schools in its first three years and to agree:-
i. the suggested restructuring alterations to:
- combine 19 of the full time Active Schools (primary) posts to include the one day a week secondary provision in their remit
- retain 5 one day a week Active Schools posts for Lochaber High School, Wick High School, Thurso High School, Dingwall Academy and Portree High School
- create an Active Schools (secondary) post to cover the Inverness secondary schools
ii. the offer of funding from sportscotland for the next three years.
7. Healthy Living Centre - Funding Update
There is circulated Report No ECS-13-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updating Members on the funding issues relating to Healthy Living Centres.
The Committee is asked to agree that the Education, Culture and Sport Service:-
i. continue to act on behalf of the Janny’s House and Healthways in
discussions with NHS Highland in order to ensure the speedy allocation of
funds for the one year transitionary fund;
ii. purse longer term funding discussions with NHS Highland colleagues; and
iii. continue with Big Lottery applications on behalf of both Healthy Living
Centres as part of this process.
8. Homecoming Scotland 2009
There is circulated Report No ECS-14-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining current plans to contribute to the potential for the Highlands to benefit from the Homecoming Scotland celebrations in 2009.
The Committee is invited to note:-
i. the main elements of the 2009 Homecoming Scotland project and the
current activity underway in developing plans for participation in the
celebrations within the Highlands;
ii. the partnership meeting with partners to discuss a longer term legacy arising
from Highland 2007;
and agree:-
iii. a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee on the
proposals for continuing partnership arrangements.
9. Library Service - Developing Cancer Information and Support Service
There is circulated Report No ECS-15-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport describing a proposed partnership between the Library Service, NHS Highland and Macmillan Cancer Care to support the provision of Cancer Care Services and information.
The Committee is invited to agree the proposed pilot partnership at Fort William library with NHS Highland and MacMillan Cancer Care.
10. Work Related Learning Policy
There is circulated Report No ECS-16-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members of current developments in relation to work related learning in Highland schools and its importance within “A Curriculum for Excellence” and a “Skills Strategy for Scotland”, as published by the Scottish Government in September 2007. The report relates to the increasing development of courses in secondary schools which will contribute to the Programme for Administration commitment to continue to develop partnerships with Colleges, Work Experience providers and Careers Scotland, employers and businesses.
A copy of the Interim Guidance Note referred to in the report is available in the Members’ Library.
Given the significantly increasing growth of work related learning as part of the closer collaboration between education and employment, education and training, including college provision, the Committee is invited to approve the policy and agree:-
i. the policy and related guidance be issued to schools and partner
organisations as interim guidance; and
ii. that the policy and guidance be subject to regular review.
11. Commonwealth Games Consultation
There is circulated Report No ECS-17-08 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport seeking approval for the Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games to be remitted to the Sport and Activity Working Group.
The Committee is invited to agree that the Council’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games be remitted to the Sport and Activity Working Group.
12. Minutes of Meetings
There are circulated, for noting, the Minutes of the Education Tranport Appeals Committee held on 15 January 2008.