Committees

A meeting of the Adult and Children’s Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 19 February 2014 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

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive

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. Presentations
    Taisbeanaidhean

i. Highland Hospice Strategic Plan   
   Plana Ro-innleachdail Hospice na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No ACS-16-14 (15kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which introduces a presentation by the Chief Executive Officer of the Highland Hospice in relation to the Highland Hospice Strategic Plan.

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the issues raised in the presentation.

ii. CHIP+: 20 Years On  
   CHIP+: Às Dèidh 20 Bliadhna

There is circulated Report No ACS-17-14 (11kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which introduces a presentation by the Chief Officer of CHIP+ to celebrate the organisation’s 20-year anniversary, focusing on the key strands of the charity’s work over the past 20 years and the issues it currently faces.

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the issues raised in the presentation.

4. Revenue Budget 2013/14 - Monitoring
    Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2013/14 – Sgrùdadh

There is circulated joint Report No ACS-18-14 (226kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Health and Social Care which sets out the Revenue Budget monitoring position for the nine months to 31 December 2013 and the year-end outlook position.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.  approve the monitoring statements and to note the current year-end
    position and the commitment to identify further compensatory savings in
    order to further improve upon the reported position;
ii.  note the management actions being progressed to increase the size of
    the supply cover teacher pool in Highland and the initiatives to improve the
    related administrative arrangements; and
iii. note the progress being made with achievement of budget savings in the
    current financial year.

5. Capital Expenditure 2013/14
    Caiteachas Calpa 2013/14 -  Sgrùdadh

There is circulated separately joint Report No ACS-19-14 (203kb pdf) dated 11 February 2014 by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Health and Social Care which updates Members on progress to date with the Education Culture & Sport (ECS) and Health and Social Care (HSC) Capital Programmes and provides monitoring reports on expenditure as at 31 December 2013 along with an update on work being undertaken on fire safety and other health and safety Capital works within the HSC Programme and the major projects underway within the ECS Programme.

The report also identifies a number of new ECS capital projects that are recommended for approval and provides an update on the Sustainable School Estate Review (SSER), including indicative dates of when related reports will be brought to this Committee during 2014.

The Committee is invited to:-

i.   note the status of the 2013/14 HSC capital programme at the end of
    December 2013 as detailed in Section 2 and Appendix 1 of the report;
ii.  note the status of the 2013/14 ECS capital programme at the end of
    December 2013 and the ECS major capital projects, all as detailed in Section
    3, Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 of the report;
iii. agree the list of proposed new ECS capital projects, all as detailed in Section
    4 and Appendix 4 of the report; and
iv. note the status of the Sustainable School Estate Review as detailed in
    Section 5 of the report.

6. Draft Local Fire and Rescue Plan for Highland 2014-2017
    Dreachd Plana Smàlaidh is Teasairginn Ionadail airson na
    Gàidhealtachd 2014-2017

There is circulated Report No ACS-20-14 (976kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue which, together with the attached Draft Local Fire and Rescue Plan for Highland 2014-2017, sets out the key priorities, actions and outcomes within Highland.  The report also recognises the importance of providing fire and rescue services in partnership through the Community Planning Partnership in line with outcomes identified in the Single Outcome Agreement 2013-2019.

The Committee is invited to comment on the Draft Local Fire and Rescue Plan for Highland 2014-2017.

7. Children’s Services
    Seirbheisean Chloinne

i. Performance Report
   Aithisg Dèanadais

There is circulated Report No ACS-21-14 (148kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides an update on the performance framework for Children’s Services.

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the performance information.

ii. Assurance Report – Lead Agency Delivery of Children’s Services
    Aithisg Barrantais – Lìbhrigeadh de Sheirbheisean Chloinne le
    Buidhnean Stiùiridh

There is circulated Report No ACS-22-14 (119kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care, the purpose of which is to provide assurance to NHS Highland in relation to services commissioned and delivered through Highland Council.  The report will be presented to the appropriate strategic committee of NHS Highland.

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

8. Progress in Implementation of Health and Wellbeing Initiatives
    Adhartas ann an lìbhrigeadh de dh’Iomairtean Slàinte is Sunnd

There is circulated Report No ACS-23-14 (20kb pdf) dated 19 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on progress made with two Scotland-wide Health and Wellbeing initiatives:-

• the High Five Health and Nutrition programme; and
• the government target of two hours of PE in Primary Schools and two fifty
   minute periods up to the end of S4 in Secondary Schools.

The Committee is invited to note the progress in this area.

9. Implementation of 600 hours Early Learning and Childcare
    Lìbhrigeadh de 600 uair a thìde Tràth-ionnsachadh is Cùram-
    chloinne

There is circulated joint Report No ACS-23A-14 (105kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Health and Social Care which forms part of the regular reporting to Members and presents recommendations regarding changes to the local authority nursery staffing structure in order to meet the requirement to deliver 600 hours of funded early learning and childcare across Highland from August 2014.

The Committee is invited to approve the following staffing recommendations with regard to the delivery of 600 hours early learning and childcare by August 2014:-

i.  the current staffing model of Nursery Assistant and Nursery Auxiliary move
    to an Early Years Practitioner model where both staff are on the same
    grade;
ii.  the approach for single session nurseries be to extend the session to 3
    hours 10 minutes in term time with all staff on 23 hour contracts;
iii. the approach for double session nurseries be to extend both sessions to 3
    hours 10 minutes per day in term time with all staff on 23 hour contracts
    and therefore only responsible for delivery of one pre-school education
    session per day (Option 2); and
iv. there be an additional 0.1 FTE allowance for all double session nurseries
    from August 2014.

10. Additional Support Needs Review – Progress Report
      Ath-sgrùdadh air Feumalachdan Taice a Bharrachd – Aithisg
      Adhartais

There is circulated joint Report No ACS-24-14 (76kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Health and Social Care which provides an update on the progress made thus far by the six subgroups working as part of the Additional Support Needs Review.

The Committee is invited to note the progress to date and the next steps proposed by the review group.

11. Self Directed Support
      Taic Fèin-stiùirichte

There is circulated Report No ACS-25-14 (1152kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which sets out the critical issues that need to be considered by the Council as part of the implementation of Self Directed Support.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider and comment on the issues raised in the report;
ii. agree to progress the release of resources; and
iii. agree to seek further reports as the various activities are taken forward.

12. Alternatives to Out of Authority Placements 
      Roghainnean a bharrachd airson Suidheachadh Thar Ùghdarrais

There is circulated joint Report No ACS-26-14 (33kb pdf) dated 25 January 2014 by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Health and Social Care which provides an update on further exploratory activity that has taken place to date to define the scope of the programme to find alternatives to out of authority placements for Highland children.

The Committee is invited to note and endorse the further scoping work undertaken to date to identify alternatives to out of authority placements for the young people of Highland.

13. School Office Review
      Ath-sgrùdadh Oifis Sgoile

There is circulated Report No ACS-27-14 (125kb pdf) dated 4 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which explains that the School Office Review commenced in July 2013 under the governance framework of the corporate Business Support project board.  The report summarises progress to date and the next steps, including:-

• The governance and establishment of the project
• The work carried out so far and main themes established
• The next phase of work around those themes
• The communication and engagement plan.

The Committee is invited to note progress to date and comment on the School Office Review project.

14. SEEMiS Implementation Update
      Fios as Ùr air Lìbhrigeadh SEEMiS

There is circulated Report No ACS-28-14 (46kb pdf) dated 6 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on progress with the implementation of SEEMIS, the new Education management information system to replace Pearson e1.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i.  the good progress to date; and
ii.  the challenging timescales within which the project has to be delivered and
    the significant interdependencies between establishing technical links, data
    migration and the delivery of training to the appropriate teaching and non-
    teaching staff within all Highland Schools during May and June 2014.

15. The Introduction of Universal Free School Meals in P1 to P3 from
      January 2015
      Tòiseachadh air Biadh Sgoile An-asgaidh Coitcheann ann an P1 –
      P3 bho Fhaoilleach 2015

There is circulated Report No ACS-29-14 (16kb pdf) dated 6 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the implications of the introduction of universal free school meals in P1 to P3 from January 2015.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. the changes to free school meal arrangements from January 2015; and
ii. the potential impact on facilities, service delivery and revenue
   consequences.

16. School Lets Pilot Project – Progress Report
      Pròiseact Pìolait Ghabhaltasan Sgoile – Aithisg Adhartais

There is circulated Report No ACS-30-14 (37kb pdf) dated 22 January 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on progress on the pilot school lets project and asks Members to agree a number of key principles and immediate actions in relation to school letting activity. 

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. the key principles relating to school letting activity as detailed in section 2.2
   of the report; and
ii. the implementation of the actions detailed in section 3.1 of the report.

17. Highland Culture Fund – Support for National and International
      Events taking place in Highland
      Maoin Cultair na Gàidhealtachd – Taic airson Tachartasan
      Nàiseanta is Eadar-nàiseanta a tha a’ tachairt sa Ghàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No ACS-31-14 (24kb pdf) dated 4 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which invites Members to approve funding from the Highland Culture Fund for key national or international events which are scheduled to take place in the Highland area during 2014 and 2015, including the Mountain Bike World Cup, the World Sheepdog Trials, Etape Loch Ness, the Queen’s Baton Relay and the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.  It is envisaged that other requests for support will be received during the months ahead and a further report will be submitted later in the financial year.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the existing Highland Culture Fund commitments up to and including
   the 2015/16 financial year as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

ii. agree the following new commitments:-

• Etape Loch Ness - £5,000
• World Sheepdog Trials Championships - £10,000
• UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - £25,000 in 2014 and 2015
• Queen’s Baton Relay - £20,000
• Scots Trad Music Awards - £9,000; and

iii. subject to the new awards being agreed, note the budget implications as
    set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

18. Developing Leaders for the Future
      A’ Leasachadh Cheannardan airson an Ama ri teachd

There is circulated Report No ACS-32-14 (24kb pdf) dated 6 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an update on leadership training within the Education, Culture and Sport Service and on the progress and implementation of the Next Generation Leadership Programme.

The Committee is invited to note the progress made to date to train educational leaders of the future.

19. New SQA National Qualifications
      Teisteanasan Nàiseanta Ùr SQA

There is circulated Report No ACS-33-14 (38kb pdf) dated 11 February 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provides an overview of the new SQA qualifications being implemented in Highland secondary schools from 2013.  The report also sets out a brief summary of the implementation strategy being developed in Highland schools.

The Committee is invited to note the key qualification information and comment on the implementation progress in Highland schools.

20. Health and Safety Policy
      Poileasaidh Slàinte is Sàbhailteachd

There is circulated Report No ACS-34-14 (53kb pdf) dated 9 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which provides an update on the revised Health and Safety Policy for the Health and Social Care Service and recent associated statistics for the Service.

The Committee is invited to approve the revised Health and Safety Policy for the Health and Social Care Service.

21. Scheme for Curators Ad Litem and Reporting Officers
      Sgeama Cùradairean Ad Litem

There is circulated joint Report No ACS-35-14 (19kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care and Head of Legal and Democratic Services which seeks approval for an updated scheme for Curators ad Litem and Reporting Officers in Highland.

The Committee is invited to agree the scheme for Curators ad Litem and Reporting Officers, including the level of fee set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report.

22. Highland Child Protection Committee Biannual Report
      Aithisg Dà-bhliadhnail Chomataidh Dìon Chloinne na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No ACS-36-14 (169kb pdf) dated 10 February 2014 by the Director of Health and Social Care which introduces the Highland Child Protection Committee Biannual Report.

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the issues raised in the Highland Child Protection Committee Annual Report.

23. Duncraig Castle Educational Trust Scheme 1999
      Sgeama Urrais Foghlaim Chaisteil Dhùn na Creige 1999

There is circulated Report No ACS-37-14 (43kb pdf) dated 22 January 2014 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which recommends the approval of an amendment to the Duncraig Educational Trust Scheme Plan to change the minimum qualifying age for sports awards from 16 to 14.

The Committee is invited to agree to recommend to the Council that the approved Duncraig Educational Trust Scheme Plan be amended to change the minimum qualifying age for scholarships, grants or assistance to individuals participating in sporting events at national and international level and/or for assistance with costs of attendance at specialist sports coaching from 16 to 14. 

24. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas

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

i.   Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Strategy Group of 6 November
     2013 (39kb pdf);
ii.  Adult Services Development and Scrutiny Sub-Committee of 24 January
    2014 (36kb pdf); and
iii. Culture and Leisure Contracts Scrutiny Sub-Committee of 30 January 2014
(23kb pdf).