The Committee NOTED the following and AGREED that their congratulations be conveyed, as appropriate, to those concerned.

- Nairn Leisure who had just been awarded Investors in People;

- Leo Geddes a pupil of Culloden Academy who had been   selected for the Under 18 Scottish Football Squad;

There was circulated Report No ECS1/01 by the Directors of Education and Culture and Leisure Services on closer working between Education and Culture and Leisure Services through the direction of the recently constituted Education, Culture and Sport Committee. The report aimed to map out a possible direction over the next 12 months which should see enhanced joint working while still retaining the distinctive goals, values and service delivery priorities that the Council was committed to. Reference was made to existing arrangements within which there were already examples of joint working and proposals were put forward for closer working on further fronts. It was suggested that immediate progress could be made in the field of budget monitoring through the same Finance Manager supporting both Services and one report being prepared for the Committee.

In discussion members welcomed the report but suggested that consideration be given to including further areas for joint working, specifically in relation to Tain Royal Academy Community School and the all weather surface at Wick High School, and in general terms in museums and culture, tourism and the expansion of music tuition.

The Committee concurred with the need for closer working between the two Services and AGREED:-

1. in principle that both Services be supported by the same Finance Manager, with a report on this proposal being submitted to the next meeting of the Committee, and that one monitoring report be prepared for the Committee with clearly identifiable budget data on each Service;
2. the Portfolio Holders Group evaluate progress towards closer working at each of their meetings; and a progress report be submitted to the August, 2001 meeting of the Committee;
3. a formal review take place in 12 months time to inform the shape of future respective Service Plans;
4. Tain Royal Academy be used as an example in monitoring progress towards closer working; and
5. the points raised in relation to further areas for closer working be developed.

There were circulated the following reports on Revenue Expenditure for the period 1st April, 2000 to 31st January, 2001:-

1. Report No ECS2/01 by the Directors of Finance and Education on Revenue Expenditure on the Education Service, together with covering report by the Director of Education; and
2. Report No ECS3/01 by the Directors of Finance and Cultural and Leisure Services on Revenue Expenditure on Cultural and Leisure Services.

There were circulated the following reports on Capital Expenditure for the period 1st April, 2000 to 31st January, 2001:-

1. Report No ECS4/01 by the Directors of Finance and Education outlining the position on the Education Service Capital Programme; and
2. Report No ECS5/01 by the Directors of Finance and Cultural and Leisure Services outlining the position on the Cultural and Leisure Services Capital Programme.

There was circulated Report No ECS6/01 by the Director of Education on the relationship between the increased ring-fenced funding made available for government initiatives and the on-going maintenance of the existing Education Service. The 2001/02 Education Revenue Budget figure was £131.513m, an increase of £8.379m on the previous year. This had allowed the Service to fully fund all existing pay and non-pay inflation. Significant increases had also been received through the Excellence Fund, supplemented by significant capital funding for various initiatives. Whilst the Government initiative funding received by the Education Service had enabled significant additional activity to take place there were issues to be addressed within the overall Service budget, compounded by a shortfall of £0.379m in the funding of the McCrone settlement. It was suggested that it was time to reconfigure the overall Service budget to place it on a firm footing for the new financial year. Appendices to the report gave details of the increased funding received, additional allocations made to appropriate budget headings, reallocations within budget headings and the final budget for 2001/02.

In discussion, members expressed concern about the 2001 examinations and the service provided by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Director of Education gave the up to date position. Other points raised included the current position with regard to school transport, the shortfall in the funding for McCrone, which the Minister Jack McConnell had insisted would be paid in full, and the need to plan ahead bearing in mind that the major part of the Education budget was either ring-fenced or required to cover staffing costs. Information was also sought on the Alternatives to Exclusion initiative and the Director undertook to provide information on the Council’s Pupil Support Service to the member concerned.

The Committee APPROVED the realignment of the 2001/02 Education Revenue Budget on the basis outlined in the report and AGREED that:-

1. the possibility of drawing up a Service Level Agreement with the Scottish Qualifications Authority be pursued;
2. the Portfolio Holders consider savings which might be identified within the budget for future years; and
3. the question of funding for the McCrone proposals continue to be pursued.

There was circulated Report No ECS7/01 by the Director of Education on proposed changes to the Scheme of Devolved School Management. The Director referred to the introduction of the original Scheme on a phased basis from 1994. The recent Education Act had placed devolved school management (DSM) on a statutory footing. The DSM budgets, which were funded from the Eduation Revenue Budget, currently amounted to £86.3m. The Scheme had recently been reviewed by a DSM Review Group and details of the main changes to the original Scheme recommended by this Group were given. The revised DSM manual containing the amendments, identifying those budget headings devolved to headteachers and those funded centrally, would be issued in advance of the new financial year. There remained a number of outstanding issues which still required to be resolved, details of which were given.

In discussion it was suggested that representatives of primary and secondary headteachers be invited to take part in discussions on the proposals with regard to the possible transfer of the response repairs element of the Property Maintenance Budget to devolved school budgets. It was pointed out that this was a corporate matter and the suggestion should, therefore, be included in a report to the Resources Committee. It was also suggested that a mechanism be devised for advising communities of the choices made by schools within their DSM budgets and in relation to the funding which was allocated directly by the Government to schools. Officers also answered questions in relation to capitation allowances and the current position with regard to school security systems and undertook to keep the local Area Education Portfolio Holder in Inverness advised of the position with regard to the Best Value Review of SEN provision.

There was submitted a request from Contin Community Council for a lease of the whole premises and grounds of the former Contin Primary School and Schoolhouse. The request was supported by the Local Member, Councillor D W Briggs, and the Ross and Cromarty Committee.

There was circulated Report No ECS8/01 by the Director of Education advising members that the Council’s bid to the Scottish Executive for funding to explore a potential further round of Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements had been successful and a sum of £411,000 had been allocated to the Council on the approximation of costs up to Outline Business Case stage. The Director pointed out that the Education Service was currently near the completion of an existing PPP project and gave details of current staffing to support the project. While the scope of a further PPP had yet to be fully identified, this would be more complicated than the first project and a proposed staffing structure was therefore put forward to deal with both the PPP initiative and the increased workload on the Education client. Reference was also made to the appointment of consultants and it was recommended that the Education Service might consider advertising for external consultants on the basis of the full PPP project but with the insertion of break clauses at appropriate stages within the process. Education officials would commence defining the scope and scale of the project in conjunction with other appropriate Council Services and it was recommended that progress in regard to this development be reported in the first instance to the Education Portfolio Holders for each Area for appropriate guidance.

In discussion, it was suggested that as PPP was a difficult and complex process and involved very significant amounts of work, the second project should concentrate on the straightforward replacement of schools on greenfield sites. Reference was, however, also made to the needs of existing schools. It was also suggested that the community should be involved from the start and that officials should liaise with colleagues in other authorities who had experience of PPP projects.

The Committee AGREED:-

1. to recommend approval to the Resources Committee of the following staffing structure to manage the Education Client function

a) the temporary post established by the Council on 24th June, 1999 to enable the secondment of an experienced and senior manager within a school be extended for a further three years;

b) the temporary post of Education Resource Manager be made permanent; and

c) a new post of Clerical Assistant be established to provide the support services required;

2. the appointment of external consultants to assist the Education Service in drawing up the Outline Business Case for a potential second Public Private Partnership, with consideration being given to these Consultants being contracted for a full PPP project with appropriate break points in the contract to allow the Authority to call off the project with no financial penalty;
3. that officials be authorised to prepare the Outline Business Case for a potential second Public Private Partnership; and
4. that reports in the first instance relating to the project be presented to Area Committees and the Portfolio Holders Group in order to provide guidance for the project and to shape the scope of the project.

There was circulated Report No ECS9/01 by the Director of Education on the proposed programme of new build and improvement projects for pre-school provision in financial year 2001/02 now that intimation of pre-school development funding had been received from the Scottish Executive. The allocation of funding for the next financial year had declined by over 30% to an estimated £800,000, on the assumption that the infrastructure was nearing completion. Details were given of the programme of new builds for 2001/02, revised to take account of the reduced level of funding, and of new and improvement projects which would require to be further considered and scheduled into the next and following financial years.

The Director reported that a response had been received from the Scottish Executive to the Council’s representations requesting an increase in the current level of development funding and the continuation of pre-school development funding beyond March 2002. The response indicated that development funding would not continue beyond 2002 when pre-school funding would be incorporated into GAE but that a rural supplement would continue, targeted at the twelve authorities where rurality was an issue.

Points raised in discussion included the following:-

- It was suggested that, while the rural supplement was welcome and the Council should submit a bid for a substantial amount, officials should also try to identify funding for non-rural schools.

- The Council should also make a case for Gaelic funding to continue.

- In view of the significant difficulties the Council was likely to encounter in providing for the last 20% of schools, one or two examples should be selected to support a bid for capital funding to continue.

- Members should be aware that the estimated costs given were provisional allocations and could vary.

- Schools which required improvements to other accommodation in addition to nursery accommodation would be considered in relation to the Capital Plan.

- It was confirmed that a report on the Playbox Playgroup at Inverness High School would be submitted to the next meeting of the Area Committee along with a report updating members on the timescale etc for the projects at Crown and Farr.

The Committee NOTED the level of funding available for further development of the pre-school infrastructure in financial year 2001/02 and AGREED:-

1. the revised prioritisation of new build projects;
2. officers continue to progress the overall infrastructure requirements within the development funding available;
3. a substantial bid be submitted for funding from the rural supplement agreed by the Scottish Executive; and
4. a plea also be made for further funding for Gaelic Pre School provision and for capital funding to be continued with examples being put forward of remote rural schools where significant investment was required.

There was circulated Report No ECS10/01 by the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services which proposed, in preparing for a Best Value review of Library and Archive services and recognising that the total expenditure on stock was in excess of the EC Procurement Directives threshold of £150,000 per annum, the creation of a Highland Libraries Stock Specification with a view to going out to tender in financial year 2001/02 for library materials supply contracts to commence as soon as possible thereafter. Details were given of the overall aim of the stock specification, the need for the tender process and specification highlights.

The Director of Cultural and Leisure Service confirmed that a decision on whether the open or restricted tendering route should be followed would be made in consultation with the Council’s Purchasing Officer. The invitation to tender would also include packages allowing a contractor to tender for either the whole or part of the overall contract.

There was circulated Report No ECS11/01 by the Director of Education referring to the closure of Lieurary Primary School in 1996 at which time children had been given the option of continuing their education at Miller Academy Primary School or Reay Primary School. There was now a need to review the arrangements in the former Lieurary Primary School delineated area to establish firm boundaries for the delineated areas of both Miller Academy and Reay Primary Schools. Under the Council’s current arrangements, following a decision by the Committee to go to statutory consultation on the delineated areas, the exact content of the consultation paper would be decided at Area Committee level. In this instance both Sutherland County and Caithness Area Committees would require to agree the format of the consultation paper.

There was circulated Report No ECS12/01 by the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services reviewing progress to date one year after the launch of the Highland Sports Strategy. The report gave details of the organisations involved and the purpose of the strategy. A summary of progress under the three headings, Access, Development and Excellence was appended to the report.

The Director of Cultural and Leisure Services indicated that the process of developing the strategy had been useful and the strategy had been well received both locally and nationally. A report would be submitted to an early meeting on how various joint initiatives were being taken forward. Members welcomed the report but suggested that consideration should be given to developing provision of and access to facilities and also to involving communities more in the process.

The Committee NOTED the successful progress to date on the Highland Sports Strategy and AGREED:

1. the next formal review be carried out in one year’s time;
2. Area Sports Development Officers report to Area Committees on progress on the strategy; and
3. a report be submitted to the Portfolio Holders Group on Development Officer posts for which funding from outside organisations was about to be withdrawn.

There was circulated Report No ECS13/01 by the Director of Education on the inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools of the Council’s Education Service. The full report had previously been circulated to members. The Director gave the background to the inspection and summarised the main findings in the report which on the whole was very positive. While identifying key strengths, HMI had, however, also indicated a number of points for action or recommendations for consideration, details of which were appended. These would be addressed by the Education Service over the next two years as part of service planning and continuous improvement. The Council had to submit an Action Plan to HMI by early April indicating how it would address the main points for action.

Members indicated that they were pleased with the positive outcome of the report, although there was some room for improvement, and asked that their congratulations be conveyed to all concerned. It was also suggested that the Council, in addressing the points for action, should consider examples of good practice elsewhere.

There was also considerable discussion of the Council’s commitment to Gaelic Language and Culture which was affected by a lack of adequate resources and a shortage of teachers. It was suggested that part of the problem lay in the fact that responsibility for Gaelic lay within the Culture Department at the Scottish Executive. Despite repeated invitations the Minister for Gaelic had not yet found time to meet with representatives of the Council to discuss their concerns. After discussion the Director of Education undertook to investigate the position with regard to Gaelic teaching materials and teacher training courses.

The Committee otherwise NOTED the positive outcome of the inspection of the education functions of Highland Council and AGREED:

1. that the Portfolio Holders Group meet to discuss the detail of the report and the associated Action Plan before it was submitted to HMI; and
2. representations be made to the Scottish Executive concerning the current arrangements within the Executive for Gaelic and the Minister for Gaelic continue to be pressed to attend a meeting to discuss the Council’s concerns.

There was circulated Report ECS14/01 by the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services to which were attached jointly developed guidelines for active referral schemes for use by Health and Cultural and Leisure Services’ officers. The report referred to national and local initiatives related to pursuing active lifestyles and gave details of how active referral schemes worked. Alness, Invergordon and Golspie were examples of where active referral schemes were already in existence. The guidelines had recently been endorsed by the Health Board and had been developed by a joint working group involving various organisations. Responsibility for diagnosis and medical tracking of patients involved in referral schemes remained with GPs. However, other staff required to be adequately trained to ensure the safety and progression of those referred. Details were given of proposals for a skills audit of such staff and appropriate training. The guidelines were planned to be introduced on a phased basis and reference was made to the need for evaluation of referral schemes.

The Committee AGREED:

1. to endorse the "Guidelines for Highland Active Referral Schemes"; and
2. that the three phases for the implementation of the guidelines and training strategy be approved as laid out in the report.

There was circulated Report No ECS15/01 by the Director of Education on the implications for policy associated with changes in legislation introduced by the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Etc (Scotland) Act 2000 in relation to the involvement of School Boards in the appointment of head teachers and the ability of parents to make placing requests for younger entrant infants.

The Committee AGREED the following policy adjustments as recommended:-

1. that following consultation with the school board, the Area Education Manager should finalise the short leet for Headteacher posts in consultation with the Education Portfolio Holder for the Area, arrangements for interview panels continuing as before; and
2. requests from parents of children aged 4½ to 5 years old at entry to school continue to be treated as if they were legitimate placing requests, even to the extent of using the formal appeals mechanism, while noting that there could be no further appeal to the Sheriff.

There was circulated Report No ECS16/01 by the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services informing members of the progress to date on the Am Baile Digitisation Project Bid. The report gave details of funding already secured from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and an implementation plan recently submitted for ICT infrastructure improvements. The third New Opportunities Funding stream was for the digitisation of material and the creation of new learning content. The Highland Council had been asked by NOF to lead one of only two consortia in Scotland in submitting a bid for project funding.

Details were given of the consortium partners, the overall objectives and key outcomes of the project. The overall cost of the project was estimated at £1,074,009 and details were given of the proposed sources of income, including match funding from Highland Council (£280,000 over two years). The Service was also committed to investing funding of approximately £100,000 per annum from the Library Service Budget for the ongoing maintenance and development of the Am Baile website, a programme of digitisation of source material and the creation of newly created learning content to support the sustainability of the project for at least 3 years beyond the 2 year project funding. The project submission would now be assessed by the New Opportunity Fund’s expert panel and it was expected that a final decision would be received by the end of June 2001.

There was circulated Report No ECS17/01 by the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services summarising the recent developments at a national level to promote the development of golf and locally, in anticipation of some of these developments proposing a series of primary school golf competitions for 2001. Nationally, a Junior Golf Development Manager and a Development Officer were to be appointed and the Scottish Executive had announced that by 2009 every child in Scotland would be introduced to golf by the age of 9; there would be encouragement and support for all individuals to develop their talent; and the Executive would ensure that success at every level, including the world stage, was part of the culture of Scottish golf. The proposal to hold a series of primary school golf competitions had emerged from one being developed in East Sutherland/Easter Ross. Cultural and Leisure Services Sports Development Officers had undertaken to work with local clubs to organise competitions planned for late June.

The Committee NOTED the following Minutes, copies of which had been circulated:-

1. Minutes of a Meeting of the Joint Consultation Group held on 16th January, 2001; and
2. Minutes of a Meeting of the Education Service Public Private Partnership Sub-Committee held on 1st March, 2001.

The following points were raised in relation to the latter Minutes:-

- Members of the Sub-Committee wished to record the depth of their concern about the lack of communication with Local Members on proposed design changes and on the current stage of negotiations and suggested that some of the design changes which might still be proposed were more than minor.

- There was a need to set up at an early date, ground rules with the contractor for the construction period.

- There was a need to resolve the question of the future of the Janitor at Glen Urquhart High School and the provision of housing for him.

- The Sub-Committee Members had wanted rather than suggested that the Senior Management of Gleesons be invited to meet with Members and Officials to discuss the Council’s concerns about the project, including ensuring that they understood the need for community input throughout the period of the contract.

- The Local Member indicated that he would insist on a woodchip heating system being incorporated in the design of the new school at Strontian if there was any delay in the commencement of the construction of the school.

- Reference was made to the difficulty of incorporating community funded additions if they were not provided with up-to-date designs.

- There was a need to make sure the contractors understood that they must work more closely with Councillors.

- The Director of Education confirmed that he had written to Gleesons and a meeting would be set up as requested.

The meeting adjourned at 1.05 p.m. and reconvened at the Aquadome, Inverness at 2.00 p.m.

Present: Mr A Anderson, Mr R W Durham, Mrs C A Wilson, Mr R Balfour, Mr J W A Thomson, Mr A J Dick, Mr J Gray, Mrs J N Home, Mr J N Matheson, Mr G M Bruce and Mr N M Clark.

In attendance: Mr A Jones, Director of Cultural and Leisure Services and Mrs E Sutherland, Administrative Assistant, Corporate Services.

The Committee met with the representatives of Caledonia Community Leisure Limited to discuss their management and operational agreement.

It was NOTED that the Head of Legal Services and the Company’s Lawyers were satisfied with the terms of the proposed revised agreement between the Council and CCL Ltd.

It was AGREED to RECOMMEND acceptance of the Agreement and specifically:

- approval of the revised management structure, which included a strategic and operational unit and the appointment of an in-house Accountant and Business Development Manager i.e. the Company would now be responsible for keeping its own accounts and financial records.

- that changes to staffing structures would not require the prior approval of the Council; that the Company would apply its own terms and conditions in relation to new employees; that the SJC terms and conditions would continue to apply to former Council employees and any significant changes to these would require the prior approval of the Council.

- that the Company would make its own contractual conditions i.e. the Company would no longer require Council approval where the value of the contract was in excess of £5,000.

- that the Council, through the Director of Cultural and Leisure Services, would provide regular monitoring of the Company and its performance.

It was also NOTED that the Committee had previously AGREED to changes in opening hours (a 25% reduction in off-peak hours), at its meeting on 17 January 2001.

Following the meeting Members were given the opportunity to view the facilities of the Aquadome.