Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 17 March 2015 at 10.05 am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

Business

1. Apologies for Absence
    Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
    Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Presentation: Youth Voice Priorities
    Taisbeanadh: Prìomhachasan Guth na h-Òigridh

Kat Bateson, Youth Convener, will lead a presentation regarding the current priorities and work of the Highland Youth Parliament.

4. Outstanding Achievements
    Coileanaidhean Air Leth

Members will be informed about outstanding achievements by people and groups, to be noted and commended by the Committee.

5. Revenue Budget – Monitoring 2015/16
    Buidseat Teachd-a-steach – Sgrùdadh 2015/16

There is circulated Report No ECAS/18/16 dated 4 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update in relation to the Care and Learning revenue budget and gives the monitoring position for the current year as at 31 January 2016.  It also provides information on actions being taken to deliver budget savings in secondary schools, approved in December 2014.  Finally, the report seeks approval to create staffing establishments in two new residential units that will provide alternatives to out of authority placements.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider the report and approve the forecast outturn position; and
ii. approve the staffing establishments for the two new residential units.

6. Capital Expenditure - Monitoring 2015/16
    Caiteachas Calpa – Sgrùdadh 2015/16

There is circulated Report No ECAS/19/16 dated 8 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update on the Care and Learning capital programme.  The report details the monitoring position for the current financial year to the end of January 2016, the current status of the major projects that are underway and progress with the exercise to identify future capital investment priorities.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. approve the capital monitoring position to the end of January 2016 as set out in Appendix 1 and Section 1 of the report;
ii. note the current status of the major projects as set out in Appendix 2 and Section 2;
iii. note the progress on the projects detailed in Section 3 and approve the specific recommendations contained in Paragraphs 3.3 and 3.6;
iv. note the progress in identifying future capital investment priorities as detailed in Section 4 and Appendices 3 to 5 and approve the specific recommendations contained in Paragraphs 4.3 to 4.6, including the new projects listed in Appendix 4; and
v. note the issues relating to resources in Section 5 and approve the specific recommendation in Paragraph 5.1.

7. Children’s Services – Performance Report
    Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Coileanaidh

There is circulated Report No ECAS/20/16 dated 2 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update on the performance framework for Children’s Services.

The Committee is invited to consider and scrutinise the performance information.

8. Children’s Services – Assurance Report
    Seirbheisean Chloinne – Aithisg Barantais

There is circulated Report No ECAS/21/16 dated 4 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning, the purpose of which is to provide assurance to NHS Highland in relation to services commissioned and delivered through Highland Council.  The content of each assurance report is informed by the Highland Health and Social Care Committee and discussion with the Child Health Commissioner.

The Committee is invited to consider and scrutinise the issues raised in the report.

9. Care and Learning Service Management Structure
    Structar Stiùiridh Seirbheis a’ Chùraim agus an Ionnsachaidh

There is circulated Report No ECAS/22/16 dated 3 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which sets out proposals for the management of Care and Learning Services, further to a recent review and the savings measures contained in the 2016/17 budget.

The Committee is invited to agree:-

i. the replacement of the Head of Health post with a Senior Manager; and
ii. the replacement of a Head of Service post with an Area Care & Learning Manager.

10. Highland Practice Model – Further Evaluation Outcomes
      Modal Cleachdadh na Gàidhealtachd – Tuilleadh Thoraidhean Measaidh

There is circulated Report No ECAS/23/16 dated 4 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides a further update on core findings which have emerged from an ongoing evaluation of the Highland Practice Model along with key areas for improvement and the actions proposed to take these forward.  The report also provides a short update on the implementation of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. consider and scrutinise the evaluation findings summarised in section 4 of the report; and
ii. note the areas for improvement and actions detailed in section 5 of the report.

11. Achfary Primary School - Proposal to Proceed to Statutory Consultation for Formal Closure
      Bun-Sgoil Ach Taigh Phàiridh – Moladh a Dhol air Adhart gu Co-chomhairle Reachdail airson Dùnadh
      Foirmeil

There is circulated Report No ECAS/24/16 dated 3 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which explains that Achfary Primary School is currently mothballed and has been since the end of session 2011/12.  The report seeks agreement to proceed to a statutory consultation, under the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, for formal closure of the school.

The appendices to the report are circulated separately as Booklet A.

The Committee is invited to consider the report and the proposal contained in Booklet A and agree to proceed to statutory consultation, per the requirements of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, regarding the proposal for formal closure of Achfary Primary School and the re-assignment of its catchment area to that of Kinlochbervie Primary.

12. Management of Schools Update
      Fios às Ùr mu Stiùireadh Sgoiltean

There is circulated Report No ECAS/25/16 dated 8 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update on progress on the management of schools programme and seeks approval for specific developments to support early learning and childcare and the development of a business plan for changes to the delivery of catering, cleaning and janitorial services.

The Committee is invited to note the update on progress on the management of schools programme and agree:-

i. the further establishment of early level classes where appropriate;
ii. the proposed restructuring of curricula support to early learning and childcare; and
iii. the development of a full business case for the transfer of catering, cleaning and janitorial services to High Life Highland, to be considered at the May 2016 meeting.

13. Employment of Care Experienced Young People
      Clann ann an Cùram le Cosnadh

There is circulated Report No ECAS/26/16 dated 7 March 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which provides an update on the employment and training opportunities for care experienced young people.

The Committee is invited to consider and scrutinise progress on the issues raised in this report.

14. Brokerage Service for Children and Young People
      Seirbheis Gnothachais do Chloinn agus Dhaoine Òga

There is circulated Report No ECAS/27/16 dated 29 February 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which sets out options for taking forward the establishment of a brokerage service for children and young people who are in receipt of an Individual Budget through Self-Directed Support.

The Committee is invited to consider the options outlined and agree to a further period of consultation and options appraisal, with a report being brought to Committee in August 2016.

15. Children’s Services Commissioning Strategy
      Ro-innleachd Barantachaidh Sheirbheisean Chloinne

There is circulated Report No ECAS/28/16 dated 29 February 2016 by the Director of Care and Learning which describes the development of a commissioning strategy for Children’s Services.

The Committee is invited to agree the proposed Commissioning Strategy.

16. Complaints Review Committee Outcome
      Toradh Comataidh Ath-sgrùdaidh nan Gearanan

There is circulated joint Report No ECAS/29/16 dated 3 March 2016 by the Depute Chief Executive and the Director of Care and Learning which sets out the findings and recommendations following a Complaints Review Committee held on 18 January 2016.  The report also provides an overview of the complaints process and highlights the requirement for decisions of the Complaints Review Committee to be reported to the Education, Children and Adult Services Committee.

The Committee is invited to note:-

i. that the Complaints Review Committee met to consider the case, and the findings; and
ii. the recommendations made by the Complaints Review Committee.

17. Minutes
      Geàrr-chunntas

The following Minutes are circulated for noting or approval as appropriate:-

i. Highland Alcohol and Drugs Partnership Strategy Group – 19 November 2015 (for noting);
ii. Highland Child Protection Committee – 8 December 2016 (for noting);
iii. Adult Services Development and Scrutiny Sub-Committee – 19 February 2016 (for approval);
iv. FHC4 Leadership Group – 24 February 2016 (for noting); and
v. Criminal Justice Sub-Committee – 3 March 2016 (for approval).