Issue - meetings

(i)       in relation to a question from Councillor Cooke regarding the comparison between other local authorities and the Council for the take up of Early Learning and Childcare, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee;

(ii)      in relation to questions from members regarding the paying of childcare places in advance of the school term and the discussions with external providers for changing the payment times, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would provide the Committee with an update to advise on where the Council were with those discussions and the impact changes may have on providers;

(iii)      in relation to a question from Councillor Dunbar regarding whether the recommendation at 2.24 of the audit report had been completed, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee; and

(iv)     to otherwise note the content of the report and endorse the recommendations for improvement as agreed by the Service.

The Committee had before it a report by the Internal Auditor which presented an audit in relation to Pre-School Nursery Places which considered whether statutory obligations were being delivered and that adequate control was exercised over expenditure and to consider if plans were in place to deliver the Scottish Government’s expansion of early learning and childcare which would come into force in August 2020.

The report recommended:

that the Committee review, discuss and comment on the issues raised within the report and the attached appendix.

Councillor Cooke sought information relating to how the Council were performing compared to other Local authorities in relation to the percentage of children accessing the early learning and childcare services, wherein the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources advised that he would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee.

Councillors Duncan and Graham sought information relating to the Council paying childcare places in advance of the school term and the discussions with external providers for changing the payment times, wherein the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources advised that he would provide the Committee with an update to advise on where the Council were with those discussions and the impact changes may have on providers.

Councillor Dunbar asked whether the recommendation at 2.2.4 had been completed, wherein the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources advised that he would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to a question from Councillor Cooke regarding the comparison between other local authorities and the Council for the take up of Early Learning and Childcare, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee;

(ii)      in relation to questions from members regarding the paying of childcare places in advance of the school term and the discussions with external providers for changing the payment times, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would provide the Committee with an update to advise on where the Council were with those discussions and the impact changes may have on providers;

(iii)      in relation to a question from Councillor Dunbar regarding whether the recommendation at 2.24 of the audit report had been completed, to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would liaise with colleagues and provide a response to the Committee; and

(iv)     to otherwise note the content of the report and endorse the recommendations for improvement as agreed by the Service.