Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located 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.

The following statements of transparency were noted:-

·       in relation to items 10.1 (Integrated Children’s Services Plan) and 10.2 (Early Learning and Childcare Longitudinal Study), the Vice Convener advised that her daughter attended Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision, and in relation to item 10.3 (Consultation Reports: Greenbrae School / Glashieburn School Catchment Areas and Walker Road School Relocation), that Greenbrae School was in her ward, however she did not consider that any of these connections amounted to an interest which would require her to withdraw from the meeting for these items; and

·       also in relation to items 10.1 and 10.2, Councillor Grant advised that he had a child and a niece who attended ELC provision, however did not consider that this amounted to an interest which would require him to withdraw from the meeting for these items.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 24 January 2023 for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it a planner of committee business as prepared by the Interim Chief Officer – Governance.

Members asked a number of questions on the planner, in relation to the Bucksburn Academy Extension Full Business Case and the Autism Strategy.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to request that officers provide a service update to Members outwith the meeting in relation to ParentPay;

(ii)       to agree to remove item 10 (Bucksburn Academy Extension - Full Business Case) as no report was required; and

(iii)      to otherwise note the planner.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Customer Services and the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services which presented the status of key performance measures relating to the Children’s and Family Services function; as well as a progress update in relation to implementation of the Aberdeen City National Improvement Framework Plan 2022/23.

Members asked a number of questions on the report.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee note the report and provide comments and observations on the information contained in the report appendices.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Customer Services which provided an update on progress achieved at the end of Year 2 of Aberdeen City Council’s Equality Outcomes for the year 2021- 2023. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the progress from 2021 – 2023 on the Education Equality Outcomes

as detailed in the Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Progress Report 2021-2023;

(b)      note that the Staff Governance Committee, Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee and Licensing Board were also due to consider the Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Progress Report for 2021-2023; and

(c)      provide comments to be taken into account by the Chief Officer – Early

Intervention and Community Empowerment in future reporting cycles.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director Children’s and Family Services which outlined the progress made in developing the statutory Integrated Children’s Services Plan and sought approval to finalise, submit and then deliver against the Plan from April 2023 to March 2026.

Members asked a number of questions on the report in relation to youth work, free school meals uptake, mental health and wellbeing and work being undertaken with partner organisations.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the progress made in developing the draft Aberdeen City Integrated Children’s Services Plan for 2023-26;

(ii)       delegate authority to the Interim Director Children’s and Family Services to submit the Plan to the Community Planning Management Board for approval and thereafter submit the Plan to Scottish Government;

(iii)      note the refreshed Getting it Right for Every Child Operational Guidance which sits at the heart of all planning for children and families; and

(iv)      instruct the Interim Director Children’s and Family Services to ensure that yearly progress reports are presented to the Education and Children’s Services Committee and thereafter for approval by the Community Planning Management Board over the lifetime of the Plan.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       in relation to the action to improve breastfeeding initiation from 20 to 30% in targeted communities (Sheddocksley, Summerhill and Mastrick) and decrease drop off at 6-8 weeks, to note that officers could include further detail around this in the next report; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.

With reference to article 8 of the minute of its previous meeting of 24 January 2023, the Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services which presented a proposed scope for a longitudinal evaluation of the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the preparatory work in the development of a scope; and

(b)      instruct the Interim Director – Children’s and Family Services to work with the Interim Director for The Aberdeen Health Determinants Collaborative to formally commission the evaluation.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve the recommendations; and

(iii)      to request that officers keep Members informed by email in respect of any major milestones with the evaluation work.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Resources which presented the outcomes of recent statutory public consultations on proposals to make changes to the catchment areas for Greenbrae School and Glashieburn School; and on proposals to relocate Walker Road School to a new school building, and to make associated changes to the catchment areas for Walker Road School and Tullos School.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      agree to implement the revised alterations to the catchment areas for Greenbrae School and Glashieburn School, as defined within Map B in the consultation report at Appendix 1 of this report, with effect from 1 August 2023;

(b)      agree to relocate Walker Road School to the new school building at Tullos Circle in Torry, Aberdeen, with effect from 1 August 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter; and

(c)      agree to implement alterations to the catchment areas for Walker Road School and Tullos School, as defined within Map B in the consultation report at Appendix 2 of this report, with effect from 1 August 2023; and

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)       to note that officers would liaise with the Road Safety Team to ascertain if any data was available to circulate to Members in relation to whether there were specific distances from schools where children would walk / cycle or would be more likely to be transported by car.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services which provided an update on some of the key events which had taken place in schools to educate children and young people about Climate Change and the drive towards Net Zero during 2022.  The report further highlighted the ideas and solutions provided by children and young people, including the proposals that had originated from the Youth Climate Change Group for the allocation of their £150,000 of funding.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the summary of key Climate Change highlights that took place in schools to educate children and young people about Climate Change and the drive towards Net Zero since 2021;

(b)      note the plans for a further event for secondary pupils organised by the Youth Climate Change President and Vice presidents to help shape city approach to Net Zero and Climate Change;

(c)      instruct the Chief Officer - Education to support the process of appointing a new Youth Climate Change President and Vice Presidents for session 2023-2024 to allow the work that has begun in 2022 to continue; and

(d)      instruct the Chief Officer - Education to report back on progress in one calendar year.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to thank Charles Turner and the other members of the Pupil Climate Change Group for their work to date on the various climate change initiatives;

(ii)       to request that the report back include further detail about the work of the various eco-groups in schools;

(iii)      to note that officers would circulate information to Members outwith the meeting on the comprehensive waste strategy in schools; and

(iv)      to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services which provided an update on how Aberdeen City schools and Early Learning and Childcare settings had engaged with His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIe) and The Care Inspectorate since January 2023.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the content of the report; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Education to continue to support Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings and schools to implement continuous improvement in keeping with the Quality Frameworks.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that officers would provide an update to Members outwith the meeting in relation to when the indoor door alarm system at Kingsford School was to be fitted; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.

At this juncture, the External Members of the Committee departed the meeting.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services which presented the Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee’s (CPC) Annual Report 2021-22 to provide Members with assurance that the work of the CPC was effectively helping reduce risks to children and young people.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the content of the CPC’s Annual Report 2021-22, including the Child Protection Programme 2021-2024; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to provide Committee with a further report in 2024 detailing the continuing impact and effectiveness of partnership work in relation to child protection.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)       to note that the Chief Social Work Officer would organise a briefing session for Members on the work of the Child Protection Committee and any other areas of child protection that Members would find helpful; and

(ii)       to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report by the Interim Director of Children’s and Family Services to provide assurance to Elected Members on the quality of care provided by Aberdeen City Council’s regulatory care services following inspections undertaken by the Care Inspectorate.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)      note the findings of the most recent inspections of Aberdeen City’s Fostering Service, Adoption Service, Kingsfield Children’s Home, Marchburn Road Children’s Home and Gilbert Road Children’s Home; and

(b)      instruct the Chief Officer – Children’s & Family Services to bring an updated report to Committee in March 2024.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

-          COUNCILLOR MARTIN GREIG, Convener