Agenda, decisions 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=2894&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Convener advised of a number of good news stories as follows:-

·         Wee Green Space

The Wee Green Space Project was an improvement being taken forward in Aberdeen using the Early Years Collaborative methodology.  The project aimed to encourage the weekly use of local green space by Nursery and Primary 1 classes.  Children’s safety and independence has been achieved through the development of micro-routines.

·         Rwanda – Global Learning Partnership

Eight City teachers went to Rwanda for four weeks this summer, to work with teacher mentors from the International Education Exchange (IEE), who have many schools in Rwanda. The whole project was organised, and heavily subsidised, by the Wood Foundation.

About 3 years ago, Rwanda changed the language of instruction from French to English. City teachers went out to help with skills in spoken English, as well as sharing teaching methods from Scottish schools including active learning and outdoor learning.  A Global Citizenship Quality Mark was to be introduced for teachers/schools to work towards, to ensure the learning is embraced by the whole school community. This partnership is continuing in 2014-15.

·         Science

Nineteen of Aberdeen’s primary schools gained PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark) Awards, at Bronze, Silver and Gold.

1020 pupils gained a P6/7 Science Champions Award, having taught science to Early Years classes.

S6 Science Ambassadors have continued to help deliver science in primary schools.  From 2015, they can also gain a Silver Crest Award in Science Communication.

Science Buddies in secondary schools help with science clubs or junior science classes.

The Intertek Primary School Science Fair increased in size again, with 40 outstanding projects being judged by professional scientists. Each project & pupil who made it to the final also gained a Bronze Crest Award.

Secondary schools were also working with Arcola Energy on a hydrogen fuel challenge, to build and race hydrogen powered Lego cars.

·         Sport

Amongst the athletes who took part in the Commonwealth Games were local athletes who had been supported by Aberdeen City Councils Sports Grants programme.  The three grant recipients representing Team Scotland were Rebecca Bee, Andrew McGovern and Zoey Clark.  Rebecca Bee is a rhythmic gymnast, who alongside her team mates placed 7^th overall.  Andrew McGovern was the fastest Scot in the swimming pool in the 50m backstroke, reaching 5^th place in the semi-finals.  Zoey Clark and fellow team mates took part in the 4 x 400m relay and narrowly lost out on qualifying for the finals by 0.65 seconds.

As well as a number of local athletes that competed, many officials and volunteers from the city also took part at the games and their contributions were to be recognised at a civic reception later this month.

·         Bucksburn Community Sports Hub

The Bucksburn Community Sports Hub was currently supporting a number of events during September which were aimed at young people in the local community.   The hub had agreed to support Bucksburn Academy’s first ever extra-curricular fair, which was designed to market the school’s extra-curricular programme.  Sports clubs who were members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Convener advised that Ms Angela Bowyer had been elected by the Aberdeen Parent Council Forum as the new Primary and ASN Parent Representative on the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.  She welcomed Ms Bowyer to the Committee and added that she hoped that she enjoyed her time as a member.

The Committee resolved:-

to concur with the remarks of the Convener.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 16 June 2014.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

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)         in relation to item 2 (Sistema Scotland) to agree to remove this from the business statement as the item was now being progressed via a report to Council on 8 October 2014;

(ii)        in relation to item 4 (Garthdee Alpine Adventure Park Business Plan), to note that a report would go to the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee on 30 September 2014; and

(iii)       to otherwise note the updates provided.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of its previous meeting of 16 June 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised members of the current year revenue budget to date for the Service, and outlined any areas of risk, and management action being taken in this regard.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the report on the near actual figures on the revenue budget and the information on areas of risk and management action that was contained therein; and

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         in terms of the underspend on the probationers’ budget, to note the action being taken to try to resolve the recruitment difficulties;  and

(ii)        to approve the recommendations contained within the report.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its previous meeting of 16 June 2014, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure which detailed the capital spend to the end of July 2014 for Education, Culture and Sport projects included within the non housing capital programme.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the current position.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

With reference to article 3 of the minute of its meeting of 7 February 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which detailed the outcome of the statutory consultation on the proposals to (a) rezone the former Victoria Road School zone and remove the dual zoning arrangement for Tullos School and Walker Road School, with effect from August 2015; and (b) rezone the Hanover Street School zone from that of the St Machar Academy Associated School Group to that of the Harlaw Academy Associated School Group, with effect from August 2015.

The report recommended –

that the Committee implement proposals (a) and (b) above and instruct officers to make the necessary arrangements to ensure successful implementation in time for the start of the academic session 2015/16 in August 2015.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided information on Scottish Rugby’s new policy initiatives and the development of a new regional academy in the north of Scotland.  The report advised that discussions were ongoing between the University of Aberdeen, the Council and Scottish Rugby in relation to locating the academy at the Hillhead Centre.  The site was owned by the University of Aberdeen and consisted of an office and meeting space, strength and conditioning area, and a grass pitch.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       welcome Scottish Rugby’s decision to locate the North academy in Aberdeen City;

(b)       instruct officers to continue to work with Scottish Rugby to provide training facilities for the rugby academy within Seaton Park;

(c)        note that a proportion of the current investment into rugby development through the Aberdeen Youth Rugby Association will be realigned to support this project and future projects in line with Scottish Rugby’s new policy initiative to grow the game; and

(d)       otherwise note the report.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Convener intimated that she had directed in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and in accordance with Standing Orders, that the following report be considered as a matter of urgency to enable timeous consideration of the requests for funding, since the Culture and Sport Sub Committee had now been disbanded.

With reference to article 14 of the minute of its previous meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented eight applications for financial assistance from various sporting organisations and individuals.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)  consider the applications through the club development grants and approve the following recommendations:

(b)  consider the applications through the significant sporting events grant programme and approve the following recommendation:

(c)  consider the application through the coach and volunteer workforce development grant programme and approve the following recommendations:

and;

(d)  consider the applications through the talented athlete grants programme and approve the following recommendations:

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Convener advised that this was the last meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee in its current format, as the Council had recently approved a new committee structure.  She explained that it was also her last meeting as Convener, and thanked officers from Committee Services, Education, Culture and Sport and the Media team for their help and assistance during her time in the chair.  She also thanked Councillor Thomson for his support in the role of Vice Convener and wished him well with his new role of Vice Convener of the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee.  The Convener also paid tribute to all the members of the Committee, past and present and thanked them for the lively and robust debates, as well as the informed decision-making which had been undertaken.  She concluded by wishing Councillor Taylor and Councillor Ironside well in their new roles as Convener and Vice Convener, respectively.

Councillor Boulton stated that she felt Councillor Laing had been an excellent Convener, ensuring that difficult subjects were expedited efficiently.  She thanked Councillor Laing and Councillor Thomson for all their hard work.

Councillor Townson commended Councillor Laing for her command and control of the Committee and thanked her for her time as Convener.

Councillor May recalled that Councillor Laing had been particularly kind and generous in her comments to him when he had stepped down as Convener of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.  He stated that she had done a great job and that her parents would be proud.

Councillor Jennifer Stewart stated that she appreciated the approach of Councillor Laing in how the business of the Committee had been handled and thanked her for allowing members the opportunity to have their say.

Reverend McKenna, speaking on behalf of the external members, advised that they greatly appreciated all the work undertaken by the Convener, and thanked her for her availability to them and the interest she had shown in their role.

-        JENNIFER LAING, Convener