Agenda item

With reference to article 8 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 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 Convener, seconded by the Vice Convener moved:-

that the Committee –

(1)       note the contents of the report;

(2)       note the decision by the Scottish Government to set up an Attainment Fund, and to agree with the Scottish Parliament, that the SNP Scottish Government’s decision to collect Aberdeen City Council Tax payers money and redistribute Aberdeen City Council tax payers monies in the central belt and beyond undermined the principal of local accountability and autonomy;

(3)       instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution asking both of them to outline the mechanism with which the additional income raised from the increase in Council tax bands E-H would be calculated and passed to the Scottish Government and to provide details of the actual or estimated amount, and methodology, Aberdeen City Council would receive back from the Scottish Government from the new Attainment Fund; and

(4)       refer the reported overspend position in relation to the Aberdeen Treasure Hub to the February 2017 meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee.

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

that the Committee –

(a)       note the report;

(b)       note the decision taken by the Scottish Parliament on 3 November 2016 to implement an increase in Council tax bands E-H from April 2017;

(c)        agree that these changes were an improvement upon the current system and would help foster a more fair and equal Scotland;

(d)       believe that all children, regardless of where they were born and then brought up by their parents/carers, should have access to the best educational opportunities available;

(e)       commend the Scottish Government’s attempts to increase attainment across Scotland and recognise the positive impact which success on this front would have for both Aberdeen and Scotland as a whole; and

(f)        refer the reported overspend position in relation to the Aberdeen Treasure Hub to the February 2017 meeting of the Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee.

On a division, there voted:- for the motion (13) – the Convener; the Vice Convener; and Councillors Boulton, Cooney, Crockett, Donnelly, Lesley Dunbar, Laing, Malik, Jennifer Stewart, Young and Yuill and Mrs Irene Wischik; for the amendment (7) – Councillors Copland, Flynn, Hutchison, MacGregor, Nicoll, Noble and Townson; declined to vote (1) – Mr Mike Paul.

The Committee resolved:

(i)         to adopt the motion;

(ii)        to request the Head of Inclusion to submit a report on escort costs following completion of the review of inclusion, particularly the criteria for escorts and the impact of the review on escort costs;

(iii)       to request the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources, by way of email, to advise the Committee of the total monies paid to Constantine for storage during the art gallery redevelopment and the terms of the initial contract with Constantine and whether this had been extended; and

(iv)       to request the Head of Policy, Performance and Resources, by way of email, to confirm to Councillor MacGregor that all of the works required in respect of the new Dyce 3G pitch and the areas immediately surrounding the pitch had been completed.