Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=1913&Ver=4

Members are requested to resolve that the business listed under item 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 of this agenda be considered with the press and public excluded.

Prior to considering the matters before the Committee, the Convener proposed that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the items identified as article 20, 21 and 22 of this minute be considered with the press and public excluded so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in paragraphs 8 and 9 (article 20) and paragraph 6 (articles 21 and 22).

The Committee resolved:-

to consider the aforementioned items with the press and public excluded.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 2 June, 2011.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to instruct officers to make information available to Councillor Cooney, as set out in article 7 (Station House Media Unit) and 9 (Rugby Development Programme), as soon as possible;

(ii)        to instruct officers to provide Committee members with a breakdown of admissions to the Virtual Campus when this was available; and

(iii)       to otherwise approve the minute.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sought approval to appoint a member of the Aberdeen City Parent Council Forum to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, with voting powers.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       note the background information and the position in other local authorities in Scotland; and

(b)               note the options for adding a parent representative to the Committee and approve Option 2 (to add a parent representative from the ACPCF to the Committee, with voting rights) using the powers of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to give this effect and referring the necessary changes to Standing Orders to the Council for approval.

Councillor Boulton, seconded by Councillor Laing, moved –

that the recommendations in the report be approved.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice-Convener, moved as an amendment –

that the Committee -

(a)       approve recommendation (a) in the report;

(b)       thank parents for their involvement in the process thus far, and invite a parent representative to join the Committee for the next two cycles without voting rights; and

(c)        instruct officers to submit a report to a future meeting on composition and voting rights, to include an option for pupil representation on the Committee, and to undertake consultation with both parent and pupil representatives in this regard, the outcome of which would also be reported to a future meeting of the Committee.

On a division, there voted:-  for the motion (9) – Councillors Allan, Boulton, Cooney, Crockett and Laing; and Mr G. Bruce, Mr S. Duncan, Mr P. Campbell and Mrs P. Pritchard; for the amendment (12) – Convener, Vice-Convener; and Councillors Cormack, Greig, Leslie, MacGregor, May, McCaig, Reynolds, Townson, Kirsty West and Yuill; declined to vote (1) – Councillor Wisely.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the amendment, whereupon Councillor Boulton indicated that, within the terms of Standing Order 36(3), she wished the matter to be referred to Council for determination.  Councillor Boulton was supported in this regard by Councillors Allan, Cooney, Crockett and Laing; and Mr G. Bruce, Mr S. Duncan and Mr P. Campbell, it being a requirement for one third of the Committee to request such a referral.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport and the Head of Finance which detailed performance to date in relation to the Education, Culture and Sport capital and revenue budgets and advised on the areas of risk which could require management action.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the report on the forecast out-turn on the revenue budget and the information on the areas of risk and management action contained therein; and

(b)       instruct officers to continue to review budget performance and report on service strategies.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which detailed the capital spend to date for the Education, Culture and Sport projects included within the Non-Housing Capital Programme.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the position as set out within the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport seeking approval to declare two properties surplus to the requirements of the service.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       declare the following properties surplus to the requirements of the Education, Culture and Sport service:

·               Former Bankhead Academy (school site only)

·               Torry Community Learning Centre (formerly Torry Nursery)

(b)       remit the properties to the Finance and Resources Committee on
29 September 2011 for a decision on whether they should be declared surplus to Aberdeen City Council, and if so, to authorise the Head of Asset Management and Operations to commence the disposal process of these properties on the open market

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sought approval for the Service Asset Management Plans for Education, Culture and Sport.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee approve the Service Asset Management Plans for Education, Culture and Sport.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to receive regular updates at Committee on the projects listed within the service priorities; and

(ii)        to otherwise approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sought approval for the Service Quality Improvement Framework.  The report described the context and balance of the external and internal scrutiny approaches applied to the Service, and outlined the reasons for an inclusive quality improvement framework, a focus on a calendar of quality improvement activity which makes a difference, and on robust performance measures linked to improving outcomes and quality.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       discuss and agree the Education, Culture and Sport Quality Improvement Framework;

(b)       note the links to the Education, Culture and Sport  Service Plan 2011-2016;

(c)        approve the embedding of an integrated approach to self evaluation activities throughout the Education, Culture and Sport service, with the intention of ensuring that quality is the responsibility of every employee;

(d)       approve the quality improvement calendar 2011/12; and

(e)       instruct that reports on quality improvement activity are presented to Committee as part of the quarterly Education, Culture and Sport Service Plan performance reporting, and as part of the annual reporting of Education, Culture and Sport standards and quality.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport seeking approval for the Education, Culture and Sport Improvement Plan 2011-2016.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the Education, Culture and Sport Improvement Plan 2011-2016; and

(b)       request that quarterly reports on progress against Service Improvement Plan actions are presented to Committee as part of the Education, Culture and Sport performance reporting framework.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update on the Standards and Quality of our education services.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the Education Service Standards and Quality Report 2009/10;

(b)       approve the Educational Psychology Service Standards and Quality Report 2010-2011; and

(c)        commend our children, young people, staff, parents and carers for their commitments and achievements reflected in the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport presenting the Service Policy Framework for the period 2011-2016.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the Education, Culture and Sport Policy Framework 2011-2016;

(b)       agree the priority areas for policy development as outlined in the appendix; and

(c)        request regular updates on policy development, implementation and review using Covalent.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of its previous meeting of 2 June, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented applications for financial assistance from two sports organisations and the recommendations in respect of each.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee consider the applications and approve the following recommendations -

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation for funding awards as contained in the table above.

With reference to article 10 of the minute of its previous meeting of 2 June, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided a further update on the implementation of the decision to reduce the costs of the Communities Team by £1.4million in 2011/12 and provisionally by a further £1million in 2012/13.  The report also included an update on the reduction of the staffing provision within the Service, and an update on progress made towards the move of community learning centres to leased centre status.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee:-

(a)       note the progress made in relation to the appointment of staff to the new structure, and the reduction of the overall workforce;

(b)       note the progress in relation to moving community learning centres to leased centre status, and agree recommendations in relation to the following centres:-

(i)         Rosemount Community Centre – officers to report back to a future Committee on negotiations with Arts Development, Arts Education, City Moves and Peacock Visual Arts about potentially being based in this building along with the Community Centre and potentially other public bodies;

(ii)        Cults Primary School Community Rooms – to cease operating formally as a community centre and instead to be managed by the school for school and community use as required;

(iii)       Loirston Community Wing – to cease operating formally as a community centre and instead to be managed by the school for school and community use as required;

(iv)       that no further progress be made at the current time on developing a new community youth facility on the Hillylands site, and that the site be declared surplus to the requirements of the Education, Culture and Sport Service; and to refer this point to the Finance and Resources Committee on 29 September, 2011 in order that this property could be declared surplus to Council requirements and be incorporated in marketing for disposal with the adjoining former Burnside Centre to maximise value; and

(v)        subject to Torry Community Learning Centre being declared surplus to requirements (article 6 of this minute refers) and once disposed of, to agree that the associated building costs be used for the delivery of youth development and adult learning within the Torry area;

(c)        to approve the virement of £190,000 from this year’s sports budget to a communities budget to fund transitional grants for Management Committees transferring to leased centre status, as set out in section 3.3 of the report;

(d)       to note that the model Management Agreement complies with the decision taken at the Finance and Resources Committee on 17 June, 2011, but in doing so, does not comply with Council’s current Following the Public Pound requirements; and

(e)       note the proposed model Lease, Constitution and Management Agreement as per Appendices C, E and G to the report, and that the responsibility for finalising these documents is delegated to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Head of Asset Management and Operations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its meeting of 24 March, 2100, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update on progress being made with reviewing the primary school estate, particularly highlighting issues arising from a detailed review of educational needs within north-west Aberdeen to address two large housing developments in this area.

The report included figures on the projected school rolls at Bucksburn and Stoneywood Primary Schools, taken from a study to assess the impact of proposed new housing developments at Mugiemoss Road and Stoneywood Estate.  Circulated to the Committee were revised figures, in the case of Bucksburn Primary School to the effect that it would exceed its capacity by 171 pupils by 2014, and in the case of Stoneywood Primary School that it would exceed its capacity by 32 pupils by 2017.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the progress being made on reviewing the Primary School Estate;

(b)       note the outcome of the consultant’s report in relation to educational provision within north-west Aberdeen, to be reported to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee in relation to progressing planning applications for major housing developments in this area of the city; and

(c)        authorise officers to continue negotiations with developers and colleagues within Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, in order to identify the optimum solution to address the increased pupil numbers resulting from the proposed new housing developments in Stoneywood and Mugiemoss in terms of both educational impact and deliverability.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note the revised projected school roll figures for Bucksburn and Stoneywood schools circulated at the meeting; and

(ii)        to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the requirement to build a new school on the Newhills School site to accommodate an amalgamation of Newhills and Bucksburn schools and to transfer land, owned by the Council and held on the Housing Revenue Account, to this end.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the decision of the Housing and Environment Committee to declare the land surplus to their requirements and to apply to the Scottish Government for approval to transfer the site to the General Services Account, subject to the approval of the Finance and Resources Committee on 29 September, 2011;

(b)       request the Finance and Resources Committee on 29 September 2011 to agree to earmark the land within the General Services Account for potential future educational use, subject to the agreement of the Scottish Government; and

(c)        receive a further report on the long-term use, date of transfer and transfer value of the site once a business case and funding is approved for a new school at Newhills.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 2 of the minute of meeting of Council of 10 February, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining proposed new ways of providing library services within the city.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note and endorse the contents of the report;

(b)       agree and endorse the proposed vision for the Library and Information Service and its service delivery for 2011-2016 within the wider context of the Service Plan for Education, Culture and Sport;

(c)        instruct officers to report back to this Committee items which relate to or impact upon provisions of public service, for example, opening hours and service levels at community libraries, within the timelines proposed for each item, with items relevant to internal operations to be presented in the form of regular progress reports within the Information Bulletin;

(d)       approve the revised Home Service incorporating all eligible residents of sheltered housing currently served by the Mobile Library; and

(e)       approve that the Mobile Library service currently operating to Kingswells be replaced by a library drop in session at Kingswells Community Centre, and the subsequent disposal of the vehicle.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a statement of committee business prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to delete items 1 (Library Service Development), 5 (Kaimhill Community Learning Hub – Transfer of Funds), 12 (Working Better Together) and 18 (Service Level Agreement for Aberdeen International Youth Festival);

(ii)        to note that a report would be submitted to the next meeting in relation to item 10 (Tullos Swimming Pool);

(iii)       to note the update in relation to item 8 (Raeden);

(iv)       in relation to item 16 (Pupil Support Assistants) to receive a report to a future meeting on an impact study to assess the reduced number of Pupil Support Assistants; and

(v)        to otherwise note the statement.

The Committee had before it a motions list prepared by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note that a report on Councillor Boulton’s motion (Parent’s Charter) would be submitted to the next meeting; and

(ii)        to otherwise note the list.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided a summary of performance data up to 30 June, 2011 for the Education, Culture and Sport Directorate.  Appended to the report were:-  the Education, Culture and Sport Service Plan Performance Report for the financial year 2010/11, a report on 5 to 14 secondary attainment for 2010/11, a report outlining incidents of violence against school staff in 2009-10, a report on school leaver destinations in 2009-10, and a report on educational outcomes for looked after children.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the Education, Culture and Sport service performance report for the period up to 30 June, 2011;

(b)       note the progress towards service plan actions and performance targets; and

(c)        approve the briefing note for 5 to 14 attainment 2010/11, incidents of violence against school staff 2009/10, school leave destinations 2009/10 and educational outcomes for looked after children.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

In terms of article 2, the following items of business were considered with the press and public excluded.

With reference to article 25 of the minute of its meeting of 16 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which sought approval to tender for and award the annual school, social work and client transport contracts, with the introduction of a framework agreement.

It was noted within the report that the recommendations before the Committee would also be submitted to the Social Care and Wellbeing Committee on 10 November, 2011 for approval.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee instruct the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure to proceed with the combined school and social work transport invitation to tender and award for 2011/12, in consultation with the Conveners of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure, Education, Culture and Sport and Social Care and Wellbeing committees.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

With reference to article 12 of the minute of meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee of 29 March, 2011, the Committee had before it a report providing information on the governance arrangements in place between Aberdeen City Council and the Aberdeen International Youth Festival.  The report outlined the current status of a Service Level Agreement, and the timeframe for putting this in place.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       note the current governance arrangements in place; and

(b)       note the current Service Level Agreement status and timeframe in place for development.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 32 of the minute of meeting of the Resources Management Committee of 30 September, 2008, the Committee had before it a report by the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport and Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure seeking approval to relocate the Museums Reserve Collection and Archaeology Store from Frederick Street to units at Crombie Road, Torry, as part of the required clearance of Frederick Street to facilitate the sale of the building to NHS Grampian.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the relocation of the Museums Reserve Collection and Archaeology Store to Units 5, 6, 7 and 8 at Crombie Road, to be refurbished to meet the requirements of the service provision;

(b)       agree to the transfer of the Crombie Road units to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee account from the Property Investment account; and

(c)        refer the matter to the Finance and Resources Committee for approval of the financial implications of the transfer of the property assets and the capital costs detailed within the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

- JOHN WEST, Convener.