Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Care, Learning and Housing Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 10 October 2019 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.    Good News/Outstanding Achievements
Naidheachdan Matha/Coileanaidhean Air Leth

4.    Presentation: Highland Rugby Club
Taisbeanadh: Club Rugbaidh na Gàidhealtachd

Iain Chisholm, Rugby Development Officer at the Highland Rugby Club, will give a presentation on the range of work undertaken by the Club in support of Care Experienced Young People and other vulnerable young people.

5.    Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Non-HRA Budget Monitoring Statement to 30 September 2019
Aithris Sgrùdaidh Buidseat Cunntas Teachd-a-steach Taigheadais agus Neo-thaigheadais gu 30 Sultain 2019

There is circulated Report No CLH/61/19 dated 1 October 2019 by the Interim Chief Officer Resources (Community Services).

The Committee is invited to approve the budget position on the Housing Revenue Account and Non-Housing Revenue Account.

6.    Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator
Aithris Bharantais Bhliadhnail do Riaghladair Taigheadais na h-Alba

There is circulated Report No CLH/62/19 dated 30 September 2019 by the Interim Chief Officer Resources (Community Services).

The Committee is invited to approve the Annual Assurance Statement 2019/20 at Appendix 1 of this report.

7.    Care and Learning Revenue Budget Monitoring Quarter 2 2019/20
Sgrùdadh Buidseat Teachd-a-steach Cùraim agus Ionnsachaidh airson Cairteil 2 2019/20

There is circulated Report No CLH/63/19 dated 30 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to consider the revenue budget outturn forecast for the year, and the actions being taken to address the budget position in the current year.

8.    Air Quality and Highland Schools
Càileachd Èadhair agus Sgoiltean na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No CLH/64/19 dated 24 September 2019 by the Interim Chief Officer Resources (Community Services).

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the continued promotion of the resources available to schools to enable Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects;
ii.    note that Environmental Health will further promote awareness of measures that can be taken by the public and businesses to improve air quality and, where resources permit, undertake projects aimed at reducing idling vehicles at schools; and
iii.    agree to Road Safety and Environmental Health developing a pilot project on air quality improvement with a willing and appropriate school. 

9.    Education Transformation Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Chruth-atharrachadh Foghlaim

There is circulated Report No CLH/65/19 dated 19 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The report introduces a presentation on progress made by the Change Team.

The Committee is invited to note the progress and plans being put in place to deliver better outcomes for young people.

10.    School Attainment Review Processes
Pròiseasan Ath-sgrùdaidh Coileanadh Sgoile

There is circulated Report No CLH/66/19 dated 19 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The report introduces a presentation by the Interim Head of Education which will give Members an overview of the Scottish Government database (Insight) that secondary schools use to carry out detailed analysis of exam results.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the work done by schools to analyse and plan improvement around their exam results;
ii.    note the range and type of additional attainment information available from Insight; and
iii.    agree to a seminar at which agreement can be reached about how best to use this information to allow Members to carry out their scrutiny function. 

11.    Pupil Equity Funding (PEF) Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Mhaoin Cheartais Sgoilearan

There is circulated Report No CLH/67/19 dated 26 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The report introduces a presentation by representatives of Cauldeen Primary School and Tain Royal Academy demonstrating how they have used their PEF funding to make a difference.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the changing pattern of expenditure;
ii.    the infrastructure supporting this; and
iii.    the examples of effective use of resources.

12.    Deferred and Early Entry to School
Inntrigeadh Dàilichte agus Tràth dhan Sgoil

There is circulated Report No CLH/68/19 dated 20 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    approve the Guidance (at Appendix A of the report) on being educated outwith the peer group, including deferred and early entry to school; and
ii.    note the supporting information and references.

13.    Highland Council School Admissions Policy
Poileasaidh Inntrigeadh Sgoile Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No CLH/69/19 dated 13 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    approve the Policy at Appendix A of the report; and
ii.    note the content of the updated leaflet for parents at Appendix B of the report.

14.    Care and Learning Capital - Early Learning and Childcare Programme
Calpa a’ Chùraim agus an Ionnsachaidh – Prògram Tràth-ionnsachaidh agus Cùraim-chloinne

There is circulated Report No CLH/70/19 dated 1 October 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.    the current status of the individual projects in the capital programme; and
ii.    the approach that has been adopted in order to identify and manage the risks associated with those projects that have been classed as high priority and/or high-risk in terms of being able to deliver the expanded Early Learning and Childcare service from August 2020 onwards.

15.    Regional Improvement Collaborative Improvement Plan
Plana Leasachadh Co-obrachail Leasachadh Roinneil

There is circulated Report No CLH/71/19 dated 18 September 2019 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.    note the progress made in the Phase 2 Plan; and
ii.    endorse the Northern Alliance Phase 3 Regional Improvement Plan.

16.    Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting:-

i.    Highland Violence Against Women Partnership Group – 12 February 2019;
ii.    Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Strategy Group – 4 June 2019; and
iii.    Highland Community Justice Partnership – 12 June 2019.