Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=143&MId=2519&Ver=4

The Convener warmly welcomed the newly appointed Director of Education, Culture and Sport, Gayle Gorman to her first meeting of the Committee.

The Convener advised the Committee as to a number of good news stories as follows –

• Jasmine Duncan (P7 Kittybrewster School) had a novel published over the Christmas break, “The Unicorn Legacy” which was available as an ebook; hardback and paperback versions would be available later in the month.
• Adele Barber, Riverbank Primary, had won the Keith Bishop Award as Primary Science Teacher of the Year for teaching under difficult circumstances and is the first Scottish teacher since 2009 to win such an award.

The Committee had before it a request for deputation in relation to item 5.3 of the agenda (Rubislaw Field Agreement) from Mr Jim Rae, Aberdeen Grammar Rugby Club.

The Committee resolved:

to agree to hear Mr Rae, and to consider item 5.3 of the agenda (Rubislaw Field Agreement) as the first item of business on this day.

With reference to the minute of meeting of the Rubislaw Field Committee of 4 December 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised members of ongoing discussions between the parties involved in the Rubislaw Field Agreement.  The report stated that it was the view of officers that the current Agreement required to be replaced in order that it would be fit for purpose and reflected the current use of the grounds.

The Committee heard from Mr Jim Rae, Honorary President of Aberdeen Grammar Rugby who stated that he did not feel that the report before members offered a constructive way forward or best value for the Council or people of Aberdeen.  He continued that the report did not, in his opinion, adequately reflect the significant expenditure over an extended period of time made by the Former Pupils’ Club.  Mr Rae continued that although he accepted that the Agreement had to be updated, that the Former Pupils’ Club rights in perpetuity should be retained in the new Agreement.

Members asked a number of questions of Mr Rae and officers, and the Convener thanked Mr Rae for his contribution.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       notes the current position, that the Rubislaw Field Committee has been unable to reach agreement on replacing the existing 1923 Agreement for the reasons outlined in the report and the appended minute;

(b)       instructs officers to make a final effort to obtain the agreement of the Rubislaw Field Committee to implement a revised Agreement in the terms set out in the report at paragraph 5.8 and that, if this is successful, to receive a recommendation from the Rubislaw Field Committee that these terms be implemented; and

(c)       agrees that, if such agreement cannot be reached, officers be instructed to issue Conditions of Let restricted to the terms of the existing 1923 Agreement with effect from 31 March 2013, thereby preventing any additional, unauthorised usage from that date.

The Committee resolved:

(i)        to approve recommendation (a) above;

(ii)       to instruct officers to make an effort to obtain the agreement of the Rubislaw Field Committee to implement a revised Agreement in the terms set out in the report at paragraph 5.8 by 31 March 2013 and to report back on the outcome of these discussions to the meeting of 30 May 2013;

(iii)      to not agree recommendation (c) above; and

(iv)      to request officers to (1) seek details of the finances and sports development contributions of the various sections of the Aberdeen Grammar Former Pupils’ Club, and (2) to advise on the financial implications to the Council, in order to present a balanced view of the overall financial contributions/ implications.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 22 November 2012.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the minute of meeting of the Culture and Sport Sub Committee of 7 November 2012.

The Committee resolved:

to note the minute.

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

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the verbal updates in relation to item 2 (Strategic Music Partnership – Big Noise – Sistema Scotland) and 11 (Community Centres);

(ii)        to note that a further update in relation to item 11 (Community Centres) would be provided at the next meeting and to instruct that local members be kept informed of any developments in relation to Cumming Park and Henry Rae community centres, and consulted on for any future committee reports on these matters;

(iii)       to otherwise note the updates as contained within the statement.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its previous meeting of 22 November 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Head of Finance which advised members of the current year revenue budget performance to date for the Service, and outlined any areas of risk and management action being taken in this regard.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the forecast outturn on the revenue budget and the information on areas of risk and management action being taken;

(ii)        to instruct officers to continue to review budget performance, and report on Service strategies;

(iii)       to request that officers advise members as to the number of out of authority placements for this year, and how this compares with previous years; and

(iv)       to request that officers circulate further details in relation to the “staff costs” budget line referred to on page 33 of the report.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its meeting of 22 November 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which detailed the capital spend to date for Service projects included within the non housing capital programme.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the current position; and

(ii)        to request that the “forecast outturn” column be reinstated in future reports.

With reference to article 15 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 February 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided an update following implementation of the travel afternoon initiative, which enhanced learning opportunities for pupils through the City Campus.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the content of the report;

(ii)        to instruct officers to continue to develop the City Campus project which would open up learning opportunities for pupils, particularly in the upper stages of secondary schools;

(iii)       to instruct officers to complete a further evaluation of travel provision following the completion of the courses in 2013;

(iv)       to request that officers provide details of (1) how many pupils signed up to courses, how many pupils completed the courses, and how many pupils passed the courses; and (2) the schools that pupils travelled from to attend the courses, in the report back to this Committee; and

(v)        to request that elected members be provided with a briefing on the City Campus project.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of meeting of 7 June 2012 the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised members as to the extent and content of feedback received during informal engagement on the nursery and primary school estate, undertaken between 24 September 2012 and 7 December 2012.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the content of the report;

(ii)        to note that a summary of the points raised in the facilitated discussion groups at the engagement events had been placed on the Council website and that copies of all submissions are placed in the Members’ Library;

(iii)       to instruct officers to consider the major issues raised when formulating proposals on the development of the school estate which would be included in the report to the meeting of Education, Culture and Sport Committee on 7 February 2013; and

(iv)       to request that Head Teachers and parent councils be offered hard copies of the responses to consultation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Development Policy for all staff within the Directorate.  By way of background the report advised that officers had identified a need to increase the uptake of science in primary schools, and to improve the confidence in teachers in the delivery of STEM subjects, and it was hoped that by increasing and improving the teaching of the STEM subjects in city schools, this would improve the attainment of pupils in the STEM subjects and increase the movement into STEM careers, particularly the oil and gas industry.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the new policy, and to instruct officers to carry out the necessary work to ensure its successful implementation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented information on the accreditation scheme for museums and art galleries in the UK (2011 Standard), and appended, for approval, a Collections Development Policy for Aberdeen Art Gallery and museums.

The Committee resolved:

to adopt the Collections Development Policy.

With reference to article 11 of the minute of its meeting of 24 November 2011 the Committee heard from the Service Manager (Assets and Finance) who provided an update on the current position in relation to Tullos Pool.  Members were advised that a contract for the works had been awarded in January 2013 and that it was expected that the end date would be in autumn of this year.

The Committee resolved:

to note the update.

With reference to article 14 of the minute of its previous meeting of 22 November 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented an application for financial assistance from Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to award Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association £12,000; and

(ii)        to note the recent successes of Aberdeen Schools Rowing Association being named as Local Club of the Year in the Sunday Mail Scottish Sports Awards which took place on 6 December 2012 in Glasgow.

With reference to article 15 of the minute of its previous meeting of 22 November 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided members with a summary of performance of the Service up to December 2012.

The Committee resolved

(i)         to approve the performance report for the period up to December 2012; and

(ii)        to request officers to circulate comparator data (between this Directorate and other local authorities comparable Directorates) in relation to absence management.

- JENNIFER LAING, Convener.