Mrs M C Davidson
Mr W J Smith
Mr A Milne
Mrs M A MacLennan
Mr A J Dick
Mr J Gray
Mrs J N Home
Mrs S Slimon
Mr G Rimell
Mr T MacLennan
Dr M E M Foxley
Mr N M Clark
Mr J McDonald
Rev A Glass
Rev A J MacDonald

Mr B Barclay
Mr J Laing
Mrs H Carmichael
Mr S J Shiels
Mr J MacDonald
Mrs G McCreath
Mr B Clark
Mrs O J 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 G Watson, Community Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport

Mr B Hemming, Schools Estate Strategy Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr R Campbell, Project Manager, Property and Architectural Services
Mr J Allison Principal Administrator, Corporate Services
Mrs M Moffatt, Committee Administrator, Corporate Services

BUSINESS

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee

1.       

RECESS POWERS

The Committee NOTED that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 24 June, 2004 had not been exercised in relation to the business of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.

2.       

3.       

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

There had been circulated the following reports on Capital Expenditure:-

Capital Expenditure 2004/05 – Monitoring

Report No ECS43/04 dated 3 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1st April to 30th June, 2004.   The report also gave a brief progress report on Acharacle Primary School and made a number of recommendations with regard to specific projects.

In discussion, officials answered points raised in relation to provision being made for vocational training in East Sutherland, the need to make progress in developing sustainable projects in schools, the PPP1 income received from sportscotland and the upgrading of the facilities at The Bridge vocational training centre, including the possible use of the former JET unit and the timescale involved.  The Director undertook to provide to the Local Member for East Sutherland, and any other Member on request, information on the development of vocational courses in schools in their Areas.

The Committee NOTED:-

(a)the content of the report; and

(b)the Council’s liability with respect to a further capital payment of £101,600 for “The Bridge” as per paragraph 3.2.2 of the report;

and AGREED:-

(i)to approve the ongoing Science Laboratory Refurbishment programme partnership with ESA Mackintosh as per paragraph 3.3.2 of the report;

(ii)an award of grant of £40,000 to the redevelopment of Invergarry Village Hall; and

(iii)that a report be submitted to a future meeting on the proposed use of the £859,000 sportscotland PPP1 income which had now been received.

(b)Education, Culture and Sport Service Capital Plan - 21st Century Highland Schools Improvement Programme - 2004/05 to 2008/09

Report No ECS44/04 dated 3 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport giving details of the Service capital allocations for financial years 2004/05 through to 2008/09 and making recommendations regarding the further development of a thematic approach to the Service’s Capital Programme.  The report also made detailed recommendations regarding the continuation of the 21st Century Highland Schools Improvement Programme in both the primary and secondary sectors.

In discussion, points raised included the following:-

Members were advised that there had been Ministerial interest in visiting The Bridge vocational training centre.  It was suggested that the opportunity be taken to discuss with the Minister the need for more similar innovative projects.

There was a need for staff with expertise to work with communities who wished to maximise the use of schools by submitting applications for additional funding.

It was important that Area Committees decide their own priorities for maintenance and be able to use the funding devolved to them flexibly, but also that account be taken of decisions made centrally.

There was a need for a mid-term review of the programme so that adjustments might be made where necessary to the finance allocated to the different themes.

Members were asked to bear in mind the small number of primary school projects which could be funded from the proposed programme, and the demands which remained to be met, when the Budget Working Group were considering bids.

Area Committees were urged to give more consideration to the possible use of Capital Receipts to provide local solutions to local problems.

The view was expressed that the bringing together of offices should lead to savings in the long-term and, therefore, that this development should be considered as self-financing.

There would be a need to maximise opportunities for co-operation with other agencies. 

The Chairman indicated that he was still of the view that no school should close against the wish of the community but where amalgamation was a possibility it should be discussed in realistic terms with the community.

It was pointed out that, following the preparation of the Schools Estates Strategy decisions made on priorities were based on sounder information.

Reference was made to the consultations which had been carried out less than three years ago on the possible amalgamation of some primary schools. Concern was expressed about lack of communication since that time, the expectations raised within communities and the fears which further consultations could arouse.  It was suggested that care should be taken in the messages conveyed to the public prior to further meetings being arranged with local communities to discuss possible amalgamations. 

Communities should be urged to consider above all what was best for the children, which included the standard of accommodation.

Local Members made specific reference to projects at Beauly, Bower, Tomnacross, Maryburgh/Conon Bridge, Wick High School, Plockton High School and Tain Royal Academy science laboratories and to possible future requirements in relation to secondary schools in Inverness.

The Committee AGREED:-

(i) the thematic approach to the Capital Plan;

(ii) the use of the criteria in identifying primary school projects;

(iii) that Aviemore Primary School be prioritised as the first priority for building replacement;

(iv) that meetings take place with communities, at the instigation of the Council, on other primary school priorities;

(v) Special Educational Needs provision in Tain be reviewed and further reports be submitted once the mapping exercise was complete;

(vi) Plockton, Thurso, Culloden, Farr, Charleston and Inverness Royal Academy be the secondary school priorities;

(vii) the science laboratory upgrade programme be reviewed to complete works at Wick and Thurso and to start refurbishment at Nairn;

(viii) further reports be submitted once the PPP2 contract was finalised and project costs were known; and

(ix) Officials investigate whether the rationalisation of office accommodation could be made self-financing.

4.       

There had been circulated Report No ECS45/04 dated 2 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the report of the Review Group set up by the Minister for Education to advise on the provision of religious observance in schools following the publication of the HMI report “Standards and Quality in Secondary Schools: Religious and Moral Education 1995-2000”.

Following discussion, during which reference was made to possible consequences of the new guidance and to the importance of achieving a balance between inclusiveness and retaining the tradition of Christianity in the Highlands, the Committee:-

(i)NOTED the detailed recommendations of the religious observance report as detailed in paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6; and

(ii)AGREED that a working group, comprising Councillor N Clark, the Church Representatives on the Education, Culture and Sport Committee, two primary Headteachers, one secondary Headteacher, one member of the Quality Development Team and one teacher of Religious Education,  be set up to consider the findings of the report, and any further guidance issued by the Scottish Executive Education Department, in order to prepare revised guidance on religious observance in Highland schools.

5.       

RECENT SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS

There had been circulated Report No ECS46/04 dated 2 July, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on recent announcements made by the Scottish Executive in relation to a major review of culture in Scotland, including rights of cultural access, and proposals for additional PE teachers and targets for the provision of PE in response to a recent review of Physical Education.  In relation to the review of culture, Highland Council had written to the Chairman of the Commission established to carry out the review offering the Highland Cultural Pledge as a pilot for the national review.

In discussion, while it was acknowledged that the statistics relating to the fitness of young people in the Highlands were bad, Members expressed concern about where the proposed additional PE teachers would be placed, what the resource implications would be for the Council and the possible effect on other subjects.  They also asked whether there had been any prior consultation with local authorities on whether this was a priority and how and when the proposals would be implemented. 

After hearing the Director, the Committee AGREED that the Chairman write to the relevant Ministers welcoming the announcements and offering to discuss particular Highland issues related to the development of them, but also pointing out the concerns raised by Members in relation to the proposed recruitment of additional PE teachers and referring to other needs which had been identified, for example, in relation to Gaelic Medium teachers.

The Chairman also undertook to report back if no additional PE teachers were recruited in the Highlands within a reasonable timescale as a result of this announcement.

6.       

7.       

PROPOSED REVIEW OF PROVISION - ASSYNT, SOAY, GLENBORRODALE AND DULCHREICHARD PRIMARY SCHOOLS

There had been circulated Report No ECS48/04 dated 3 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which recommended that, in terms of the Council’s agreed procedures, a consultation process should commence on the formal closure of the following schools which were currently “mothballed” - Assynt, Soay, Glenborrodale and Dulchreichard Primary Schools.

In discussion, reference was made to the need to consider affordable housing in the Highlands, and to the possible use of capital receipts by the local school or retention of the schools closed for community use.

Given that the schools had been “mothballed” for a period exceeding two years and that local circumstances remained constant, the Committee AGREED:-

(i)that a consultation should be undertaken on the future of Assynt Primary School, Soay Primary School, Glenborrodale Primary School and Dulchreichard Primary School;

and, in order that locally based consultation should commence, that;

(ii)consultation papers be drawn up for the consideration of the appropriate Area Committees, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee.

8.       

LEARNING CENTRE STRATEGY

There had been circulated Report No ECS49/04 dated 3 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised that there were approximately 80 learning centres operated by voluntary, public and private organisations in the Highlands and Islands with funding from a variety of sources.  Many of the funding sources were short-term and the Council had, therefore, been working with partner organisations to identify factors affecting the sustainability of the centres.  A Learning Centre Strategy had been produced by the partners with the wider support of learning centre practitioners and the Community Learning Strategy Partnership.  Endorsement of this multi-agency strategy was sought

In discussion, it was pointed out that in an area such as the Highlands with its problems of supersparsity no Learning Centre would ever be self-financing and suggested that they should be funded in the same way as schools.  Apart from their need for basic funding they also often had problems with staffing.  The Chairman reported that he had requested that a map be prepared showing the location of Learning Centres in the Highlands and how they related to the catchment areas of schools.

The Committee:-

(i)NOTED the detailed work at operational and strategic level that has informed the development of the Learning Centre Strategy;

(ii)NOTED the role of learning centres in delivering the national priorities for education and for community learning and development; and

(iii)ENDORSED the Learning Centre Strategy as part of a multi-agency agreement.

9.       

COMMUNITY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

There had been circulated Report No ECS50/04 dated 1 July, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which updated Members on progress on developing a strategy for Community Learning and Development in Highland and sought approval to submit it to Communities Scotland by 1 September, 2004.  The thrust of the strategy was that Community Learning and Development should be at the forefront of the Community Planning process and should cover three areas, namely, achievement through learning for adults, through learning for young people and through building community capacity.  The existing Community Learning Partnership had taken on the task of producing the strategy.

Following discussion, during which it was suggested that further information was required on the meaning of and benefits to be gained from community planning and that the Scottish Executive be asked to speak at the proposed Seminar, the Committee APPROVED:-

(i)the submission of the Community Learning and Development Strategy to Communities Scotland by 1st September 2004, on the understanding that the strategy would be brought to the next meeting of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee and that any changes required would be incorporated then; and

(ii)the holding of a seminar to discuss Community Learning and Development and community planning in the light of new expectations by the Executive.

10.   

SCOTTISH MUSEUMS COUNCIL: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE FUND
 
There had been circulated Report No ECS51/04 dated 1 July, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport giving details of a proposed application to the Scottish Museums Council Regional Development Challenge Fund.   The key criteria for the fund included developing new partnerships across local authority boundaries and taking a strategic approach to building capacity and strengthening infrastructure in the museum sector.    The proposal was to develop and deliver a three year rolling programme of skills training in localities throughout the Highlands and Islands and, if successful, it would bring some £250,000 of new investment into the heritage sector, at least 60% of which it was anticipated would be accessed by museums and heritage groups in the Highland Council area.

The Committee AGREED to enter into a three year partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Moray Council, Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute Council for the purposes of applying to the Scottish Museums Council’s Regional Development Challenge Fund as described in the report.

11.   

PRIVATE ONE-TO-ONE TUITION IN LEISURE FACILITIES

There had been circulated Report No ECS52/04 dated 2 August, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which discussed the desirability of allowing private operators to use the Council’s leisure facilities to provide instruction and tuition services for profit.

Taking into account both the disadvantages and the advantages, the Committee AGREED that the policy for private tuition should be:-

To permit private instruction by members of the public, but only:

- when there was no parallel one-to-one service being provided “in-house” (unless there were waiting lists)
- at times approved by the manager
- on payment of one additional activity fee
- by appropriately qualified and insured instructors only

12.   

TEACHER TRAINING DEVELOPMENTS

There had been circulated Report No ECS53/04 dated 28 July, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which referred to the need for a supply of high quality teachers in Highland schools, particularly with the current age profile of the profession in Scotland and the Scottish Executive commitment to reduce class sizes.   The Council had supported a successful bid by the University of Aberdeen to the Hunter foundation for £1.2m to help to establish a radically different approach to the preparation of teachers.  The Scottish Executive had also increased the quota of student places in Initial Teacher Training establishments which would mean increased requirements for placements in schools and resultant co-ordination between universities, schools and authorities.  Highland had been asked to co-ordinate placements across the Highlands and Islands, for which an annual grant of £40,000 had been made available.

The Committee AGREED to:-

(i)support the partnership with Aberdeen University to develop new approaches for Initial Teacher Education; and

(ii)accept the grant of £40,000 from the Scottish Executive to co-ordinate student placements in the Highlands and Islands.

13.