Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note the establishment of a universal offer available to all children and young people;

(ii)       to note the general move to group lessons for learners in the Broad General Education;

(iii)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Education to consult with pupils, parents and instructors in order to determine the scope of a digital anytime offer to be made available to our learners;

(iv)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Education to track uptake to help evaluate the changes in service delivery;

(v)      to instruct the Chief Officer – Education to present an evaluation of the impact of the changes to Committee within one calendar year;

(vi)      to note that the evaluation would also take the Music Centre into consideration;

(vii)     having consulted with the Convener of the City Growth and Resources Committee, to instruct the Chief Officer – Finance to write to the Scottish Government and COSLA requesting an update on progress they have made on ensuring that the shortfall in budgeted income for the delivery of Music Instruction is provided to Aberdeen City Council in 2021/22 and for a clear longer term funding strategy; and

(viii)    to instruct the Chief Officer - Education to implement the continuity of instructors for the provision of musical education noting that this is a vital component in the delivery of the music curriculum.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which set out progress on the instruction from the Council Budget meeting of March 2021 that officers investigate how the Music Service could use digitisation to offer a more affordable offer to families and extend the reach of the service.  The report advised that Members had also requested that officers explore opportunities for collaboration.  Furthermore, the report provided an update on national policy changes from June 2021 whereby Ministers and COSLA Leaders had agreed a new policy of free music instruction.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      note the establishment of a universal offer available to all children and young people;

(b)      note the general move to group lessons for learners in the Broad General Education;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education to consult with pupils, parents and instructors in order to determine the scope of a digital anytime offer to be made available to our learners;

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education to track uptake to help evaluate the changes in service delivery; and

(e)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education to present an evaluation of the impact of the changes to Committee within one calendar year.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the evaluation would also take the Music Centre into consideration;

(ii)       having consulted with the Convener of the City Growth and Resources Committee, to instruct the Chief Officer – Finance to write to the Scottish Government and COSLA requesting an update on progress they have made on ensuring that the shortfall in budgeted income for the delivery of Music Instruction is provided to Aberdeen City Council in 2021/22 and for a clear longer term funding strategy;

(iii)      to instruct the Chief Officer - Education to implement the continuity of instructors for the provision of musical education noting that this is a vital component in the delivery of the music curriculum; and

(iv)      to approve the recommendations contained in the report.