Mr A Anderson

Mr A M Millar

Mr R Saxon

Mr T Jackson

Mr D Allan

Mrs J Urquhart

Mr R W Durham

Mrs M E Paterson

Mrs A MacLean

Mrs I McCallum

Mr H Fraser

Mrs I Campbell

Mr R A C Balfour

Mrs M C Davidson

Mr W J Smith

Mr A Milne

Mrs M A MacLennan

Mr J S Gray

Mrs J N Home

Mr J N Matheson

Mr L Fraser

Mrs S Slimon

Mr G Rimell

Mr D Mackay

Mr A Rhind

Mr D W Briggs

Mrs V MacIver

Dr D Alston

Mr J Laing

Mrs H Carmichael

Mr J T MacDonald

Officials in attendance:
 

Mr B Robertson, Director of Education, Culture and Sport

Mr D MacDonald, Head of Education Services, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr H Fraser, Head of Support Services, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr I Murray, Head of Community Learning and Leisure, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr R MacKenzie, Education, Culture and Sport Finance Manager

Mr B Hemming, Schools Estate Strategy Manager, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr G Watson, Community Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport

Miss M McCarrell, McCrone Development Officer, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr P Mascarenhas, Principal Youth Development Officer, Education, Culture and Sport

Mrs J Mackenzie, Administrative Officer, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr R Campbell, Project Manager, Property and Architectural Services

Mrs F Hampton, Director, Highland 2007

Ms C Shankland, Arts and Heritage Manager, Highland 2007

Mr T MacLeod, Funding Manager, Highland 2007

Mr J Allison, Principal Administrator, Corporate Services

The Committee NOTED a list of recent successes, including the following:-

- Abigail Saunders, S2 had won the runners-up prize in "The Herald" National Harry Potter Writing Competition 2005 (for schools)

- Michelle Chalmers, S4 had been selected to represent Great Britain in Eire later in September as part of the British Junior Equestrian Eventing Team

- Alastair Duncan, S6 had won the Gold Medal at the British Schools’ Roller Ski Championships in London in July

- Paul Donnelly, S5 had won the Scottish "Make a Mark" design competition with his poster and logo for the Scottish Diabetic Association

-Norma Young, Staffin Primary

-Trish Hossack, Dochgarroch Primary

-Gavin MacLean, Glenurquhart High

-John Tracey, Fortrose Academy

-Ainsley Burns, Inverlochy Primary

Regret was expressed that the School Board had not been invited to attend the visit the previous week of the First Minister and Minister for Education and Young People to Inverness High School. It was recognised that there was a need to establish a protocol for such visits to ensure School Boards and Local Members were included. However, the Director of Education, Culture and Sport commented that when the visit was organised at short notice by the Scottish Executive, there was only a limited input that the Council could make to the arrangements.

There had been circulated Report No ECS55/05 dated 12 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Revenue Expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the four month period from 1 April to 31 July, 2005. The report showed that the non devolved sector of the Service was £0.390m over-spent but the Director advised that the August monitoring showed a projected overspend of £0.525m. This was in part due to a rates revaluation exercise increasing the rateable value of Education, Culture and Sport properties by an average of 17%. Members were advised that the increases were being appealed and the Director had written to the Director of Finance and the Chief Executive highlighting this unforeseen expenditure. In addition, the delay in implementing the Early Years Review and the increase in energy costs continued to place pressure on the budget, the former budget falling within the remit, in the first instance, to the Joint Committee for Children and Young People. School roll census data was due shortly and this would enable the impact of changing school rolls on budgeted teacher entitlements to be calculated which could have an impact on the projected figures. However, detailed work was continuing with budget holders to reduce the overspend.

In response to points raised during discussion, it was explained that energy contracts were negotiated by Property and Architectural Services for a three year period and, unfortunately, the end of the gas/electricity contracts coincided with increasing energy costs. It was likely the Budget Working Group would revisit this issue but meantime attempts were being made to reduce the amount of energy consumed. Reassurances were given that, when looking at savings, there would be no detrimental effect on core, frontline services.

After further discussion, the Committee NOTED:-

(i) the corrective actions taken to date in relation to the projected overspend on the budget;

(ii) the particular pressures on energy and rates budgets; and

There had been circulated Report No ECS56/05 dated 12 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 31 August, 2005. In this connection, it was intended that, to improve scrutiny of the School Building Improvement Fund, more detailed reports would be submitted to Portfolio Holders Group meetings.

There had been circulated Report No ECS57/05 dated 8 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport regarding a third stocktaking exercise which had been undertaken on Service wide progress in year three (2004/05) of the 2002-2005 Service Plan and an assessment towards achieving the identified improvement objectives in the new Service Plan 2005-2008. The reviews demonstrated good progress in delivering targets set but it was pointed out that national initiatives had a significant effect on these Plans. Progress on the Improvement Objectives was identified with specific elements highlighted. Members would be kept informed of performance through regular updates, the next being the Quality and Standards report which would be submitted to the Committee at its meeting on 19 January 2006 along with data on pre-school, 5-14 and SQA performances.

In discussion, the following points were raised by Members:-

The Director addressed each of these points and explained that part of the McCrone settlement was to give teachers more class contact time by the provision of practical assistance. Although there would be some enhancement to the budget for McCrone, it was unclear at this stage how much this would be. Once this was known, money could then be released for support staff. Schools had been asked to identify their priorities with the overwhelming response calling for assistance with new technologies although it would be in order for the allocations to be used for janitorial support.

There had been circulated Report No ECS58/05 dated 8 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the Statutory Performance Indicators for the Service and the key issues arising from the outcomes reported for 2004/05. The Director indicated that class sizes in Highland were below the Scottish maximum and there had been an increase in the use of swimming pools and leisure facilities. However, the Authority was below the national average on the time taken to complete Special Educational Needs Assessments and there had been a drop in the average number of book issues per borrower at libraries, the latter being a national trend. Further information on the education function of the Service would be provided in the Quality and Standards report at the January meeting.

In discussion, the continuing problems encountered by disabled visitors to Inverness Museum were highlighted. Although a fuller explanation would be provided to City of Inverness and Area Members at their next meeting, it was explained there had been difficulties in sourcing parts for existing stair lift equipment but it was hoped to address the matter by installing a lift with work commencing in the next 6 months.

The Committee NOTED the Service’s Statutory Performance Indicator outcomes for 2004/05 and AGREED that:

(i) a further report on the Education, Culture and Sport Service’s national benchmark position for 2004/05 be submitted following the publishing of data by Audit Scotland early in 2006; and

(ii) a further report in January 2006 be submitted on performance against the national education priorities; and

There had been circulated Report No ECS59/05 dated 8 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members of the current position of Youth Development Work in terms of the various strategic planning framework outcomes that required delivery by Youth Development staff. It described the role of Youth Development staff both locally and within the developing national picture.

Youth Work was prominent in Scottish Executive policy and also featured in all the Council’s high level plans. It brought a number of benefits including increased attainment and a reduction in vandalism and crime. In reviewing how best to provide Youth Work, it was felt that a logical and stable grouping that closely reflected natural communities were associated school groups (ASG) i.e. secondary school catchment areas. The Scottish Executive had wanted increased focus on areas of multiple deprivation (AMD) but the Council did not feel that AMD’s adequately reflected rurality whilst ASGs had a number of advantages including stability, their local nature and their links to other parts of the Service. £850,000 a year had been spent on Youth Work through the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) but this would reduce over the next three years. The Budget Working Group (BWG) had agreed to meet the first third of this as part of the current year’s budget but it was hoped to make a bid to the BWG for the remaining amount. If this bid was unsuccessful, however, Members would have to determine how to target limited resources.

In discussion, Members discussed the following points:-

The Committee AGREED:-

(i) that Associated School Groups be used as the method of designing a basic youth work service;

(ii) a strong well argued bid be made to the Budget Working Group of £594,000 for the remaining two thirds of the former SIP budget for Youth Work; and

There had been circulated Report No ECS60/05 dated 6 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport seeking agreement to the further development of the partnership agreement with the University of Aberdeen, in particular to the joint development of the Scottish Teachers for a New Era project. It was explained that the new model would replace the current four year B.Ed. course with one lasting six years.

It was hoped to achieve a seamless transition between Aberdeen University and the Council to enable teachers to move from formal study into schools. Teachers graduating from other universities would continue to be employed but, with the Ministerial response to the "Review of Initial Teacher Education" highlighting the Aberdeen University initiative, the signs were that other universities would develop similar courses. A number of Associate Tutors had been appointed for the distance learning courses, the cost of which would be reimbursed to the Council. The proposal offered a key opportunity to influence positively the direction of teacher training in Scotland. A record number of teaching probationers had been recruited by the Council in 2005 but a report would be submitted to the next meeting showing the age profile of the teaching profession in Highland and the need for an on-going recruitment strategy.

There had been circulated Report No ECS61/05 dated 13 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which informed Members of the current status of the Highland Festival and proposed a joint agency approach to winding up the Festival company. Members were reminded that in 2003 the Highland Festival had rebranded itself into an Inner Moray Firth Arts Festival but had suffered a number of difficulties in recent years. As a consequence no Festival was run in 2005 and it had effectively ceased trading leaving debts of approximately £60,000, its creditors including local businesses. Representatives from the Council, Inverness and Nairn Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council had met and suggested, given the strong direction they had set the Festival, it was appropriate for the debt to be met from grant monies already allocated within each of the agencies. Investigations would take place to assess whether a future festival should take place and, if so, in what form.

In discussion, disappointment was expressed that similar assistance had not been extended to the Northlands Festival which had encountered similar problems. However, it was pointed out the significant difference between the two Festivals was the instrumental role the local authority and other funding agencies had taken in the establishment of the Highland Festival. The Festival itself had achieved a number of successes but perhaps, with hindsight, it was felt a review should have been undertaken at an earlier stage. As regards the future of a Festival in the Inner Moray Firth Members were assured that all interested and appropriate parties would be consulted to ascertain their views and this could be facilitated by running a seminar in conjunction with the Partnership Arts Network. It was also suggested it would be beneficial for Members to be more aware of the duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Directors of Boards given the serious undertaking of such a role and that the responsibilities of the Boards were clearly set out from the start.

Thereafter, the Committee NOTED the current position of the Highland Festival and AGREED:

(i) in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Arts Council, to release part of the 2005/06 allocated grant to enable the company to clear their debts and be wound up; and

(ii) that officers work with other agencies and local organisations to consider the future of an Inner Moray Firth or Inverness Festival and that this include a day seminar, in conjunction with the Promoters Arts Network, involving all the agencies that might have an interest; and

There had been circulated Report No ECS62/05 dated 13 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on progress in developing the programme for "Scotland’s Year of Highland Culture". The Highland 2007 team were present and gave a detailed account to Members of their plans in respect of marketing, funding, proposed events and developing sustainable links with key national agencies. A video of images, as previously shown to MSPs at a recent reception attended by officials and Members, was also shown to the Committee.

In discussion, points raised included the following:-

There had been circulated Report No ECS63/05 dated 5 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided Members with an overview of the report of the Cultural Commission, established by the Scottish Executive, and highlighted recommendations that were particularly relevant to the Highland Council. The Cultural Commission’s report was being discussed by the Scottish Parliament later that day but the Scottish Executive did not intend to make any formal response until later in the year. However, it was hoped that the opportunity could be taken to approach the Scottish Executive to suggest Council’s Cultural Pledge/Your Choice Programme be linked to the national cultural entitlement programme.

There had been circulated Report No ECS64/05 dated 9 September, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport regarding a Scottish Executive consultation on an ESOL Strategy for Scotland and which also summarised the draft strategy and its guiding principles. The strategy fitted in well with the Highland Council’s approach but it was felt that issues of rurality needed closer examination and that the establishment of forums to look at ESOL matters added to the existing large number of such groups and the same role could be undertaken by the existing Community Learning and Development Partnerships. Also, there was no additional resources provided by the Scottish Executive despite the identified need to bring migrant workers to Scotland to address skills shortages and existing demand for ESOL had to continue to be met from within Adult Basic Education resources.

Following discussion, where Members welcomed the proposed Adult ESOL Strategy for Scotland, the Committee AGREED the response as set out but with emphasis being placed on:-

(i) the importance of ensuring migrant workers had access to the full range of advice as to their rights and entitlements;

(ii) the importance of funding being directed to grass roots work rather than committees, forums etc;

(iii) the need for additional resources to be allocated to the Council to meet increasing demand, particularly in view of the Executive’s wish to encourage inward migration; and

The Director of Education, Culture and Sport reported that, due to population changes within areas of the City of Inverness, accommodation pressure was being experienced at Holm and Cradlehall Primary Schools. This pressure was likely to continue to increase with the high levels of building and development. However, others Schools were projecting downward roll trends and, to address this issue, it was proposed that a review of the catchment areas of the Holm, Lochardil, Cauldeen, Cradlehall and Smithton Primary Schools be undertaken. An examination of community facilities could be undertaken as a separate exercise.

The Committee AGREED to commence a statutory consultation, which would include pre-school provision, on the catchment areas of the schools and that a draft paper be prepared for consideration by the City of Inverness and Area Committee.