Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the People Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 6 December 2017 at 10.05 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

Stewart Fraser
Head of Corporate Governance

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. Outstanding Achievements
Coileanaidhean Air Leth

Members will be informed about outstanding achievements by people and groups, to be noted and commended by the Committee.

4. Housing Revenue Budget Monitoring Report – 1 April to 30 September 2017
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais – 1 giblean gu 30 Sultain 2017

There is circulated Report No PEO/40/17 dated 24 November 2017 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the revenue budget position for 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017; and
ii. note the work being done to consult with tenants on rent levels for 2018/19.

5. Housing Performance Report – 1 April to 30 September 2017
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 giblean gu 30 Sultain 2017

There is circulated Report No PEO/41/17 dated 28 November 2017 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April 2017 to 30 September 2017.

6. Local Housing Strategy
Ro-innleachd Taigheadais Ionadail

There is circulated Report No PEO/42/17 dated 28 November 2017 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to approve the Council’s Local Housing Strategy 2017-2022.

7. Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation
Dìth Dachaigh agus Àite-fuirich Sealach

There is circulated Report No PEO/43/17 dated 28 November 2017 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the national policy commitments on Homelessness contained in the Scottish Government Programme;
ii. the commitment from all agencies in Highland to work together and that multi-agency working in Highland should be focussed on addressing the underlying factors that contribute to homelessness;
iii. the progress being made and constraints involved in increasing the number of Housing Revenue Account properties being used as temporary accommodation, particularly in Inverness; and
iv. the impact of Universal Credit on affordability of temporary accommodation and the recent announcement on changes to UK Government Legislation that will allow temporary accommodation costs to be dealt with under the Housing Benefit system.

8. Care and Learning Revenue Budget 2017/18
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach a’ Chùraim agus an Ionnsachaidh 2017/18 

There is circulated Report No PEO/44/17 dated 27 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the forecast budget outturn for 2017/18;
ii. agree the RAG (Red-Amber-Green) status of the 2017/18 budget savings; and
iii. agree to transfer the budget of £45,911 for Poolewe Swimming Pool from the Council’s voluntary sector grants budget to the budget for services commissioned from High Life Highland (HLH), and that the Service Delivery Contract with HLH to be amended accordingly.

9. Children’s Services – Performance Report
Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Choileanaidh

There is circulated Report No PEO/45/17 dated 27 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise and comment on the performance information;
ii. agree the proposed new performance measures; and
iii. note the information provided on quality improvement.

10. Children’s Services – Assurance Report
Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Bharantais

There is circulated Report No PEO/46/17 dated 15 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise the data and issues raised in the report; and
ii. note that comments will be incorporated into a report to NHS Highland as part of the revised governance arrangements.

11. Educational Attainment
Buileachadh Foghlaim 

There is circulated Report No PEO/47/17 dated 22 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise and comment on the performance information; and
ii. note the information provided on quality improvement linked to closing the poverty related attainment gap.

12. Gaelic Medium Education
Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig

There is circulated Report No PEO/48/17 dated 27 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and discuss the report.

13. Corporate Parenting
Pàrantachd Chorporra

There is circulated Report No PEO/49/17 dated 23 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. support the proposal to the Community Planning Partnership to establish a Corporate Parenting Board;
ii. agree to recommend to Council an exemption from Contract Standing Orders to enable the continued use of spot-purchased placements for Looked After children; and
iii. note the ongoing work to improve outcomes and reduce costs for Looked After Children.

14. Education of Looked After Children
Foghlam do Chloinn a Tha air an Coimhead às an Dèidh

There is circulated Report No PEO/50/17 dated 22 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to approve:-

i. the Improvement Plan as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. the creation of a time-limited post of Programme Manager for the Education of Looked After Children, which will be essential to the delivery of the Plan.

15. Chief Social Work Officer Report – 2016/17
Aithisg Prìomh Oifigear na h-Obrach Sòisealta – 2016/17

There is circulated Report No PEO/51/17 dated 24 November 2017 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to note and comment on the issues raised in the annual report.

16. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-

i. Highland Council/NHS Highland Joint Monitoring Committee – 6 November 2017 (draft for noting);
ii. Annual General Meeting of Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers – 9 November 2017 (draft for noting);
iii. Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers – 9 November 2017 (draft for noting); and
iv. Poverty and Inequalities Working Group – 21 November 2017 (for approval) (to follow)