Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 29 May 2018 for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        in respect of article 5(i) (Maximising Attendance Policy), and the request that the report be circulated to Members as a service update following consideration by the Staff Governance Committee, to note that the report to Staff Governance Committee had been delayed for a cycle to allow for further consultation with Trade Unions, and to therefore note that it would be circulated to Members in November; and

(ii)       to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the committee business planner as prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance.  Members asked a number of questions in respect of items on the planner.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         in respect of item 6 (St Peter’s School Long Term Education Provision), to note that a report on the options appraisal would be brought to Committee in the next cycle;

(ii)        in respect of items 7 (Annual Statutory Performance Report) and 8 (Reporting against proposed KPIs), to note that these reports would now be presented to Committee in November;

(iii)       to request that officers circulate information outwith the meeting to outline the remit of the posts of the Chief Officer – Integrated Children’s and Family Services and Chief Education Officer;

(iv)       in respect of item 13 (Impact of Free School Meals Workstreams), to note that the officer taking forward the work on the report was Catriona Walker;

(v)        in respect of item 15 (Pupil Equity Fund), (a) to request that the External Members also be invited to the Pupil Equity Fund briefing session, and (b) to note that there was a conflict with another Elected Member session and to request that consideration be given in future to arranging sessions on different dates; and

(vi)       to otherwise note the planner.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which highlighted the work of the Regional Improvement Collaborative and presented the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      note the content of the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan (Phase 2); and

(b)      endorse the work of the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Collaborative.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to request that information be included to identify which local authority each workstream lead represented;

(ii)       to note that officers would circulate a service update as the plan developed further;

(iii)      to request that the Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessments be provided for this report and those at items 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4; and

(iv)      approve the recommendations contained in the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided an evaluative summary of progress towards realising the outcomes set out in the Aberdeen City Council National Improvement Framework (NIF) Plan 2017/18, and sought approval to implement the refreshed NIF plan for 2018/19 following submission of both documents to the Scottish Government.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      approve the Evaluation Report highlighting the impact of Aberdeen City work on the ACC National Improvement Framework Plan 2017/18 in Appendix B of the report;

(b)      instruct the Chief Operating Officer to submit the Evaluation Report to the Scottish Government as soon as reasonably practicable;

(c)       approve the proposed ACC National Improvement Framework Plan for 2018/19 in Appendix D of the report;

(d)      instruct the Chief Operating Officer to implement the proposed ACC National Improvement Framework Plan for 2018/19 as soon as reasonably practicable;  and

(e)      instruct the Chief Operating Officer to provide an overview of progress towards realising the outcomes detailed in the ACC National Improvement Framework Plan through a service update in January 2019 and formally report on progress in September 2019.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to request that appendices be clearly marked in future reports;

(ii)        to note that officers would be providing a report to the next Committee in respect of the gap in attainment, including actions to be taken to reduce the gap further;

(iii)       to  note that officers would look at amending the format of future reports as to how data was presented, as well as the timing of reports to future meetings;

(iv)       to note that the Chief Education Officer would circulate an amended version of the plan as it had been slightly changed based on consultation received prior to the closing date for response;

(v)        to thank officers and partners for the work on and input to the plan; and

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

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which provided a summary of the improvement activity proposed in School Improvement Plans and highlighted how the plans dovetailed with the work of the Regional Improvement Collaborative.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      note the content of School Improvement Plans for 2018/2019;

(b)      note how School Improvement Plans will be partially supported by the Regional Improvement Collaborative; and

(c)       note the participation of Aberdeen City Council staff in the workstreams of the Regional Improvement Collaborative.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)        to note the briefing for Members and report that was to be prepared on the Pupil Equity Fund spend, and to request that it include the detail of how the money had been spent and how it would assist with attainment; and

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

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which sought approval for an Aberdeen City: Workforce Delivery Plan – Early Learning and Childcare.

The report recommended:-

that Committee –

(a)      approve the Aberdeen City: Workforce Delivery Plan – Early Learning and Childcare; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Integrated Children’s and Family Services to implement the Workforce Delivery Plan.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to note that officers would arrange a workshop for Members in respect of the Workforce Delivery Plan and Early Learning and Childcare;

(ii)        to note that officers would provide feedback to the Committee towards the end of the 12 month period as to how effective the scheme to retrain staff in Early Learning and Childcare had been and whether the scheme would be extended further;

(iii)       to thank the Chief Education Officer and her team for the huge amount of work that had gone into the Plan; and

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

-        COUNCILLOR LESLEY DUNBAR, Convener