Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the People Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 25 January 2018 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 October to 31 December 2017
Aithisg Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais – 1 Dàmhair gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2017

There is circulated Report No PEO/01/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the revenue budget position for 1 April 2017 to 31 December 2017; and
ii. agree that the projected revenue surplus associated with savings on loan charges be applied as additional Capital From Current Revenue.

5. Housing Revenue Account – Revenue Estimates 2018/19
Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais – Tuairmsean Teachd-a-steach 2018/19

There is circulated Report No PEO/02/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. a 0.5% increase for council house rents for 2018/2019;
ii. that the above percentage increase (0.5%) is applied to all residential HRA rents and service charges and to Gypsy/Traveller site pitches;
iii. that rents for garages and garage sites be increase by 3%;
iv. that non-HRA rents for leased property should increase as stipulated in existing contracts; 
v. that the estimated HRA surplus of £4.722m in 2018/2019 be applied as Capital from Current Revenue to fund HRA capital investment; and
vi. that proposals on delegation of functions on setting garage rents to Local Committees be included as part of the next planned review of the Scheme of Delegation to Committees for approval by the Council.

6. Housing Revenue Account Capital Plan 2018/19
Plana Calpa HRA 2018/19

There is circulated Report No PEO/03/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. agree the allocation of resources to local area levels as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; 
ii. note the investment priorities as set out in section 4.2 of the report;
iii. agree the proposed HRA Capital Programme 2018-19 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report; and
iv. note that updates on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme will continue to be provided through ward briefings and at Local Committees as requested by local Members, in addition to reporting to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

7. Housing Performance Report – 1 October to 31 December 2017
Aithisg Coileanaidh Taigheadais – 1 Dàmhair gu 31 Dùbhlachd 2017

There is circulated Report No PEO/04/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to note the information provided on housing performance in the period 1 April to 31 December 2017.

8. Response to Scottish Government Consultation on Fuel Poverty
Freagairt do Cho-chomhairle Riaghaltas na h-Alba mu Bhochdainn Connaidh 

There is circulated Report No PEO/05/18 dated 16 January 2018 by the Director of Community Services.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. the Council’s response as detailed in Appendix 1; and
ii. that updates on the Fuel Poverty Strategy and forthcoming legislation by the Scottish Government be reported to the Poverty and Inequalities Working Group, whose minutes are submitted to this Committee.

9. Care and Learning Revenue Budget
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Cùraim agus Ionnsachaidh

There is circulated Report No PEO/06/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the forecast budget outturn for 2017/18; and
ii. agree the RAG (Red-Amber-Green) status of the 2017/18 budget savings.

10. Children’s Services – Performance Report
Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Coileanaidh

There is circulated Report No PEO/07/18 dated 12 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. scrutinise and comment on both the performance information and the new reporting template at Appendix 1 of the report; and
ii. note the information provided on quality improvement.

11. Children’s Services – Assurance Report
Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Barantais 

There is circulated Report No PEO/08/18 dated 12 January 2018 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 agreed governance arrangements.

12. Criminal Justice Social Work
Obair Shòisealta Ceartas Eucoireach

There will be a presentation by James Maybee, Principal Officer, on the establishment of the Highland Community Justice Partnership, the plan for community justice in the authority, and current issues in relation to criminal justice social work.

13. Management of Schools Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Rianachd Sgoiltean

There is circulated Report No PEO/09/18 dated 16 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider and comment on the progress being made in the delivery of the management of schools programme; and
ii. agree the principles of a revised plan for the roll-out of 1140 hours early learning and childcare.

14. Response to the Consultation on the Provisions of the Education (Scotland) Bill
Freagairt dhan Cho-chomhairle mu Sholar Bile an Fhoghlaim (Alba)

There is circulated Report No PEO/10/18 dated 12 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to discuss and agree the Council’s response to A Consultation on the Provisions of the Education (Scotland) Bill as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

15. Council Redesign: Review of Music Tuition Services
Ath-dhealbhadh Comhairle: Ath-sgrùdadh air Seirbheisean Oideachadh Ciùil

There is circulated Report No PEO/11/18 dated 15 January 2018 by the Head of Revenues and Customer Services (Review Team Leader).

The Music Tuition services redesign report is circulated separately as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the findings set out in the Music Tuition services redesign report; and
ii. agree the recommendation of the Redesign Board that Music Tuition services should transfer from The Highland Council to High Life Highland with effect from 1 April 2018.

16. Statutory Consultation – Gaelic Medium Catchment Proposals for Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar
Co-chomhairle Reachdail – Molaidhean Sgìrean Sgoile Foghlam tron Ghàidhlig airson Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar

There is circulated Report No PEO/12/18 dated 4 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to agree to proceed to statutory consultation on the basis of the Proposal appended to the report.

17. Year of Young People 2018
Bliadhna Dhaoine Òga 2018

There is circulated Report No PEO/13/18 dated 11 January 2018 by the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the information provided on the Year of Young People 2018; and
ii. give full support to the stated aim, “to inspire Scotland through its young people, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contribution to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally”.

18. Complaints Review Committee Outcome
Toradh Comataidh Ath-sgrùdaidh nan Gearanan

There is circulated Report No PEO/14/18 dated 10 January 2018 by the Depute Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Resources and the Director of Care and Learning.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. that the Complaints Review Committee met to consider the case, and the findings; and
ii. that there were no recommendations made by the Complaints Review Committee.

19. Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

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

i. Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Strategy Group – 13 June 2017 (for noting);
ii. Highland Violence Against Women Partnership Group – 5 September 2017 (for noting);
iii. Highland Child Protection Committee – 26 September 2017 (for noting);
iv. Highland Community Justice Partnership – 27 September 2017 (for noting);
v. Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Strategy Group – 28 September 2017 (for noting);
vi. Adult Services Development and Scrutiny Sub-Committee – 1 December 2017 (for approval); and
vii. Poverty and Inequalities Working Group – 11 January 2018 (for approval).