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=504&MId=4329&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 Committee received a presentation from the Imagineers from the Children’s Parliament project who attended Bramble Brae, Manor Park, Riverbank and Tullos Schools.

Thereafter Members asked a number of questions of the Imagineers.

The Committee resolved:

to thank the Imagineers from the Children’s Parliament project for their presentation and attendance.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which advised of the views of three hundred children who imagine Aberdeen as a place where every child is healthy, happy, safe and doing their best.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the following views and requests of children on what key actions adults and services should take:

• Tell children you love them
• Be kind to us
• Give us support when we need it
• All children need enough to eat
• School should be a joyful place
• Families should spend time together
• There should be enough trees and flowers everywhere
• Everyone need to be respected
• Remember we love to play
• We all need to have our say at home and at school
• No-one should feel left out or unwanted
• All playgrounds and parks should be dog-poo free
• All families need to live in a lovely street with nice neighbours.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendation.

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

·         Middleton Park School won prestigious UK learning award

Middleton Park School had triumphed in the prestigious learning technologies awards.  Middleton Park was the latest in a series of Aberdeen schools which had recently won, or been nominated for national awards including Woodside School, which became the first ever Scottish school to be shortlisted for the UK literary association literary school of the year award.

The glittering awards ceremony which took place on 30 November 2016 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London saw the Middleton Park School  scoop first prize in the category of best learning technologies project – public and non-profit sector.  It was also well-deserved as the innovative video approach to shared learning was clearly one that had caught the imagination of the children and their parents alike.

Winning this UK wide award was a massive success for Jenny Watson and everyone at the school.  Congratulations to everyone involved.

·         Harlaw pupils scoop first prize for their energy sector knowledge

Harlaw Academy was awarded for winning the prestigious Northsound 1 energy schools challenge in a special ceremony on 19 December 2016.  The ceremony recognised the efforts of the pupils who took part in the quiz tournament and came out on top in the final on 2 November 2016.

The competition was particularly keen in 2016, so many congratulations to the Harlaw pupils for their efforts in what was a great initiative.

·         Northfield academy 60^th anniversary year ends with a bang

The grand finale of Northfield Academy’s 60^th anniversary celebrations were marked with a spectacular community fireworks display at the school on 20 December 2016.  The noisy and colourful spectacle marked the end of a year of celebratory events at the school including an open morning for former pupils and a drone photograph of over 600 pupils and 80 staff arranged in the shape of the number 60.

Neil Hendry, his pupils and staff had once again come up with a fantastic event to mark 60 years of Northfield academy and what a spectacular way to end a year of celebrations.  Northfield academy had had a special place in secondary education for sixty years and it was great that pupils and staff, old and new, had been able to take part in the year of events and share their fond memories.

·         Muirfield School

It was announced on Tuesday 17 January 2017 that Muirfield School and nursery class had made good progress since an Education Scotland inspection report had identified three key areas for improvement.  Raising attainment was crucial to ensuring all children reached their full potential.  Congratulations to the Head Teacher and her team at Muirfield School who had shown real commitment and dedication to create a positive educational environment which provided all children at the school the opportunity to thrive educationally and socially.

·         Work started to bring ultrafast broadband to schools and libraries

Public buildings in Aberdeen were set to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

At this juncture, Councillor Nicoll requested that item 1 (Aberdeen International Youth Festival / Castlegate Arts Ltd), on the information bulletin be included on today’s agenda for full consideration.

The Committee resolved:

to agree not consider the Aberdeen International Youth Festival/Castlegate Arts Ltd information bulletin report on today’s agenda and therefore to instruct officers to submit a report to the Council meeting on 15 March 2017 detailing (1) the current position regarding the proposal to dissolve the existing Aberdeen International Youth Festival and incorporate it within Castlegate Arts Ltd; and (2) the arrangements for AIYF should it not be incorporated within Castlegate Arts Ltd.

Councillor Nicoll moved as a procedural motion, seconded by Councillor Flynn:-

that consideration of item 6.3 (Education and Children’s Services 2012-2016 Key Outcomes report) be deferred to the additional meeting of the Committee to be held on 1 March 2017.

On a division, there voted:- for the procedural motion (11) - Councillors Copland, Flynn, Hutchison, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai, Townson and Yuill and Mrs Louise Bruce, Miss Pamela Scott and Mrs Irene Wischik; against the procedural motion (12) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Ironside, Laing, Malik, Young and Mr Anthony Rafferty and Reverend Steel.

The Committee resolved:

to reject the procedural motion and thereby consider item 6.3 (Education and Children’s Services 2012-2016 Key Outcomes report) today.

The Committee had before it the minute of its meeting of 17 November 2016.

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)         to delete items 1 (PVG check – cross service recruitment procedures) and 7 (Education and Children’s Services Performance) subject to the decisions taken later on the agenda; and

(ii)        to otherwise note the updates contained therein.

With reference to article 6 of the minute of the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 17 November 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services and the Head of Finance which advised members of the current year revenue budget to date for the Education and Children’s Service, and outlined any areas of risk, and management action being taken in this regard.

The report recommended –

that the Committee consider and note the report and the information on management action and risks that was contained therein.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve the recommendation;

(ii)        to note that feedback from escorts and schools regarding the escort procedure following the review of escorts would be included in the report on this matter to be considered at the Committee’s meeting on 1 June 2017;

(iii)       to request the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources, by way of email, to advise the Committee of the total donations received in respect of the art gallery redevelopment, as well as the donations pledged but not yet received; and

(iv)       to request the Head of Children’s Services and Head of Finance, by way of email, to provide the Committee with a breakdown of the projected variance for administration costs in the Head of Children’s Services budget.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 8 September 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which provided a summary of the Quarter 2, Education and Children’s Services Directorate performance outcome data from 1 July up to and including 30 September 2016.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the Education and Children’s Service Directorate performance reported for the quarter 2 period to 30 September 2016 attached at appendices A and B to the report.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve the recommendation;

(ii)        in response to the percentage of children with an allocated social worker, to request a full report from the Chief Social Work Officer and Head of Children’s Services to the next cycle of the Committee detailing the challenges both in implementation of the processes and on any additional support and assistance needed by Social Workers to meet the obligations imposed on them by statute and on delivering on our own key outcomes and values, and that this report also include the current numbers of children allocated to individual social workers through the reclaiming social work model;

(iii)       to note that the number of late committee reports would be included in future performance reports considered by the Committee;

(iv)       to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would review the method for reporting the measure for vacancies rate – funded vacancies compared to funded establishment – Education and Children’s Services; and

(v)        to note that the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources would review the target for the percentage of positive informal inspections of early learning and education establishments per academic year.

MATTER OF URGENCY

The Convener intimated that she had directed in terms of Section 50(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the following item could be considered as a matter of urgency as publication of annual Directorate key performance outcomes, prior to the conclusion of each subsequent year, was a requirement which evidenced the extent to which the Council was meeting its Best Value responsibilities against Public Performance Reporting obligations and as there were no further meetings of the Committee before 31 March 2017, the Committee required to consider the report.

With reference to article 7 of the minute of the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 17 November 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented a summary report of the Directorate’s key outcomes against core strategic delivery and performance priorities, linking to the City’s 2016-2026 Local Outcome Improvement Plan, over the course of 2012-16.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the work of the Directorate and provide comment on the content of the Education and Children’s Services Directorate 2012-2016 key progress report (attached at Appendix A) and overview of achievements, awards and recognition attained through the Directorate across the period, attached at Appendix B.

The Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee note the work of the Directorate and the content of the Education and Children’s Services Directorate 2012-2016 key progress report (attached at Appendix A) and overview of achievements, awards and recognition attained through the Directorate across the period, attached at Appendix B..

Councillor Nicoll, seconded by Councillor Townson moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(1)       thank the officers of the Education and Children’s Service for their hard work, diligence and dedication over this Council term;

(2)       note the achievements, awards and recognition attained by officers, staff, volunteers and children in the City as detailed in the report at Appendix B; and

(3)       note that it did not believe that the report provided a holistic overview of both the successes and the failures of the directorate.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (13) – the Convener; the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Ironside, Laing, Malik and Young and Mr Anthony Rafferty, Reverend Steel and Mrs Irene Wischik; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Copland, Flynn, Hutchison, Nicoll, Noble, Samarai and Townson; declined to vote (4) Councillors Jennifer Stewart and Yuill and Mrs Louise Bruce and Miss Pamela Scott.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to adopt the motion;

(ii)        to request the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources, by way of email, to advise the Committee of the initial budget allocation for each of the projects in the capital investment programme 2012-2020; and

(iii)       to request the Head of Finance, by way of email, to advise the Committee of the where the monies underwritten by the Council in respect of the art gallery redevelopment were profiled in the Council’s budget.

With reference to article 9 of the minute of the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Committee of 2 June 2016, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which provided an update on the recruitment and selection process for teachers which allowed new employees to take up post without the need for the Council to have received an approved PVG Disclosure form, which demonstrated that there was nothing to bar an individual working with children and young people.

The report recommended –

that the Committee -

(a)       agree that the existing arrangements which allowed teaching staff to be employed prior to the PVG Disclosure procedures being completed and a PVG form being received by the Council be stood down with immediate effect;

(b)       agree that, with immediate effect, all new employees appointed to teaching posts would not take up employment with the Council until a PVG form had been received and approved by the appropriate officer(s), which was in line with the corporate policy; and

(c)        to otherwise note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 3 of the minute of the meeting of the former Education, Culture and Sport Committee of 7 February 2013, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which advised of the outcome of recent statutory consultations on the proposals to remove an area of dual school zoning for Fernielea School and Hazlehead School, and to make changes to the primary and secondary school zones in the vicinity of a new housing development at Maidencraig in Aberdeen.

The report recommended –

that the Committee agree to implement the following proposals:

(1)       for the Fernielea School and Hazlehead School rezoning proposal, to remove an area of dual school zoning for Fernielea School and Hazlehead School, and to include this area within the zone for Hazlehead School only, from 1 August 2017; and

(2)       for the Maidencraig rezoning proposal, to adjust the school zone boundaries for Fernielea School, Kingswells School, Hazlehead Academy and the new Countesswells secondary school, to accommodate the new housing development at Maidencraig, with effect from 1 August 2017.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which sought approval of the revised and updated Out of School Care Policy and Good Practice Guidelines.

The report recommended –

that the Committee -

(a)       approve the revised and updated Out of School Care Policy and Good Practice Guidelines (November 2016);

(b)       instruct officers to disseminate the revised and updated policy widely to all out of school care partners across the city; and

(c)        instruct officers to establish a process for monitoring the completion and review of Out of School Care Policy Agreements.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Lesley Dunbar declared an interest in the subject matter of the following article of business by virtue of her involvement with Aberdeen Woman’s Alliance who had made one of the nominations for a commemorative plaque.  Councillor Dunbar did not consider her interest required her to leave the meeting.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which sought approval to proceed with current applications for the Commemorative Plaque scheme.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note that the non standard plaque for James Clerk Maxwell would be replaced with a round commemorative plaque;

(b)       approve the current nominations for new commemorative plaques; and

(c)        instruct officers to proceed with these nominations, pending relevant permission and funding guarantees.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)        to instruct officers to advise the Committee, by way of email, (1) of any expenditure to be incurred by the Council for any of the plaque applications detailed in the report; and (2) to agree that the plaque for Nan Shepherd would be located at 503 North Deeside Road, Cults.

At this juncture, the external members of the Committee departed.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which presented a pre consultation draft of the Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020 for comment and approval.

The report recommended –

that the Committee –

(a)       note the content of the draft Aberdeen City Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020 and approve its release for formal consultation;

(b)       to note that it was a statutory requirement that the final Aberdeen City Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2017-2020 be completed before 1 April 2017;

(c)        note that Elected Members would have further opportunity to provide feedback on the plan’s content and development as part of the formal consultation; and

(d)       note that the finished Children’s Services Plan would be presented to full Council on the 21 June 2017.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Education and Children’s Services which provided assurance to the Integration Joint Board (IJB), Education and Children’s Service (ECS) and key stakeholders that implementation of the Social Care (Self-Directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013 was progressing in Aberdeen City.

The report recommended –

that the Committee note the content and future focus of the report as outlined at section 5.4 of the report.

The Committee resolved:

to approve the recommendation.

- COUNCILLOR ANGELA TAYLOR, Convener