Mr D Mackay
Mr J H Green
Mr G M Smith
Mr W Fernie
Mr W J Ross
Mr D W Briggs

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 G Watson, Community Development Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr C Phillips, Lifelong Learning Manager, Education, Culture and Sport
Ms F Hampton, Director, Highland 2007
Ms E Johnston, Policy Officer, Education, Culture and Sport
Mr M Gillespie, Capital Planning Manager, Property and Architectural Services
Mr R Campbell, Project Manager, Property and Architectural Services
Mr B Williams, Head of Corporate Finance, Finance Service
Mr J Allison Principal Administrator, Corporate Services
Mrs M Moffat, Committee Administrator, Corporate Services

APOLOgies for absence

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mr F R M Keith, Mrs J N Home and Rev A J MacDonald.

2.       

SUCCESSES

3.       

REVENUE BUDGET

Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Monitoring

There was circulated Report No ECS01/05 dated 11 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Revenue Expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 30 November, 2004.  The report showed a projected overspend at that time of £610,000.  The Director reported that the December statement, which had now been prepared, showed a reduction in this amount to £559,000.

After hearing the Director, the Committee AGREED to­:-

(a)        approve the ongoing policy of expenditure restraint; and

(b)        approve the policy of counteracting demand led expenditure by deliberately under-spending other budget headings.

Revenue Budget 2005/06

There was circulated Report No ECS02/05 dated 11 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the Education, Culture and Sport revenue budget for 2005/06.  The Service had been given a provisional budget target of £186.711m based on a £50 Council Tax increase.  The report showed how this target was derived and compared it with the actual movement in budget between the financial years 2004/05 and 2005/06.    There was a gap of £3.159m between the budget target agreed by the Council and the projected 2005/06 Education, Culture and Sport budget.  The report gave details of how GAE increases received were to be used, put forward proposals to close the budget gap and detailed the bids submitted to the Service Improvement Fund.  It was pointed out that any of these bids which were unsuccessful would not be implemented.

In discussion, points raised included the following:- 

·       Concern was expressed about the impact on schools of the proposed savings in devolved school budgets.  It was suggested that officers be asked to look at ways of reducing the amount of savings required. 

·       Members were also concerned about the effect of the proposed savings on the Community Learning and Leisure Service, particularly in Inverness, and about the proposed increases in school meals charges. 

·       It was suggested that, if savings were to be made in out of authority placements, the necessary support services had to be in place, and that additional funding received for government initiatives had to be properly targeted.   

·       Members should be aware that schools and other frontline services in Education and Culture and Sport would be affected by the efficiency savings but it was suggested that, unless they were able to identify alternative areas where savings might be made, the proposals would have to be accepted.   

·       Reservations were expressed about counting on declining school rolls as the projected reductions might not occur in some areas and the Council should be trying to check this trend in others.

·       It was suggested that more consideration should be given to establishing priorities during the course of the year and lobbying the Scottish Executive, or informing the electorate of the costs of services in terms of Council Tax, as appropriate.

·       It was pointed out that, if serious budget pressures could not be contained, the Budget Working Group would try to address the problem, and if funding was found corporately to meet some of the increased energy costs, the savings required would be reduced.

·       In relation to proposed savings, one suggestion made was that consideration be given to whether certain time- or grant-limited posts were necessary.  ~

·       The Director confirmed that the Scottish Executive had been asked to allow increased flexibility within the National Priorities Action Fund to give authorities more say in setting their own priorities.

·       It was pointed out that the settlement the Council received was likely to be worse in the next two years and that all Services of the Council were being asked to make efficiency savings. 

It was NOTED that the measures to balance the 2005/06 budget reflected progress to date in consultation with stake-holders and that a final set of proposals would be brought to the Committee on 17 March, 2005. 

4.        

*

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Capital Expenditure 2004/05 - Monitoring

There was circulated Report No ECS03/05 dated 11 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on capital expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 30 November, 2004.  The report also provided information on costs of reinstatement and repair works at Portree High School Canteen following a fire on 14 November, 2004, costs of remedial works required at Muirtown Primary School following flooding on 9 December, 2004 and information on the cost of a proposed lift installation at Kingussie High School to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. 

The Committee (a) NOTED the content of the report and that officials would report back on the cause of the burst pipe at Muirtown Primary School and any associated financial implications for the Council; and (b) AGREED that works to provide a lift at Kingussie High School be progressed at an estimated cost of £425,000, with funding being allocated from the Education, Culture and Sport Capital Programme.

Education Service Public Private Partnership (PPP1) Project - Current
Financial Position on External Funding

There was circulated Joint Report No ECS04/05 dated 12 January, 2005 by the Directors of Finance and Education, Culture and Sport on the current financial position on the external funding received by the Council for the first Education Public Private Partnership project (PPP1).  The report detailed the Council’s agreed proposal for transferring these funds to the Consortium in order to reduce the Unitary Charge and alternative options for using the funds should the Council wish to review its original decision.  All of the external funding had now been received, part of which had already been used to fund certain items of expenditure, leaving a balance now available to the Council of approximately £776,000.   Details were given of issues to be taken into account in reaching a decision on the use of this sum, which included the costs of breaking the original agreement and creating a new agreement and the risk of an increased interest rate being used in any new agreement.

BIG LOTTERY  PE AND SPORT FACILITIES PROGRAMME

In terms of Standing Order 13.2 the following member had applied for and been granted a local member vote: Mr W Fernie.

There was circulated Report No ECS05/05 dated 7 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on progress to date with the Big Lottery PE and Sport Facilities Programme.  The report confirmed those projects where funding packages were complete, or near complete, and proposed a way forward for those projects where funding had been refused or where the packages remained uncertain.  It was pointed out that the Council had set aside approximately £525,000 in its capital programme towards the costs of projects to provide artificial sports pitches at Wick and Plockton.   Sportscotland and the Big Lottery had refused an application for funding towards the Wick project and sportscotland had also refused an application for Plockton.  The Big Lottery had not yet confirmed its position in relation to Plockton.  Details were given of factors to be taken into account in considering whether to pursue the Wick or Plockton projects.  The total estimated cost of either project would be £950,000, with £80,000 being allocated by the Local Enterprise Company. 

In discussion, Mrs I Campbell, the Local Member for Plockton, indicated that she would accept the recommendation that the Wick project proceed now with funding from the capital programme if she was given an assurance that the Plockton all-weather pitch would go ahead at the time when the school was being refurbished.  The Chairman gave an assurance that the Plockton project would be dealt with during the refurbishment of the school, which he anticipated, would be within the next two years.   

The Caithness members asked the Committee to support the Wick project, pointing out that this had been a community aspiration for 10 years or more.  Mrs I McCallum expressed the view, however, that in light of pressures on the revenue and capital budgets, the significant sum involved and the poor condition of many schools, the Committee should not pursue the all-weather pitch at Wick but should return the resources to the capital plan.  In response, the Caithness members set out some of the reasons why the all weather pitch at Wick was regarded as one of the highest priorities in Caithness.  They also pointed out that no funding was currently allocated to schools in Caithness in the capital plan and Caithness had received less than its share of spending on sports and leisure facilities in recent years.  Other members of the Committee also supported the project suggesting that, while the condition of schools was important, sports facilities were also important to communities. 

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee AGREED:- 

(i)         to note the progress and successful completion, or near completion, of the funding packages for the Grantown, Nairn and Tain projects; 

(ii)        to delegate to officers to finalise lease arrangements for Outdoor Education facilities at the Badaguish Outdoor Centre; 

(iii)       that the Wick project be advanced, with the additional unbudgeted cost of £345,000 being accommodated within the Service’s Capital Programme;  

(iv)       that the Plockton project be submitted for Big Lottery Funding, with works being targeted to lead in to or coincide with proposed refurbishment works at Plockton High School (within the secondary school section of the capital programme, once the PPP2 contract had been signed); and 

(v)        that an invitation be extended to the First Minister to visit some of the poorer schools in Ross and Cromarty at the time of his forthcoming visit to Glen Urquhart High School, failing which the Minister for Education and Young People be invited to make a formal visit to the schools.  

NATIONAL PRIORITIES PROGRESS REPORT - JANUARY 2005

There was circulated Report No ECS08/05 dated 4 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided the Committee and school boards with an overview of the progress which Highland schools were making in improving the Standards and Quality of Education provision during school session 2003/04 in relation to the National Priorities for Education and identified points for future action.  The Annual Progress Report was circulated separately.  The report detailed both qualitative and quantitative information of the work of the service during school session 2003/04.  Individual school performance data, which the Council was statutorily required to publish on an annual basis, was also included as an appendix to the report.

The Head of Education Services made a presentation on the report highlighting areas where good progress had been made and issues, which required further development. 

In discussion information was requested on what the Council as a whole was doing for the bottom 20% of pupils.  Reference was also made to attitudes towards study leave and it was confirmed that the policy on study leave had been tightened up in recent years. 

The Committee NOTED the National Priorities Progress Report and AGREED:-

(i)                  the action proposed by the Director to seek further improvement in key identified areas of the report;   

(ii)        that copies of the Annual Report be distributed to school boards, schools and libraries and placed on the Council’s website for information; and

LYRECO COVER COMPETITION

The Chairman joined Andrew O’Sullivan and Steve Christie of Lyreco and Jayne Turner of BIC in presenting prizes to the following winners of the Lyreco Cover Competition:-

Overall winning entry – Duncan Hanson, aged 9, Sleat Primary School, Isle of Skye, Primary Class 5 – 7

Category 1 winner – Siobhan Keegan, aged 7, Alvie Primary School, Badenoch and Strathspey, Primary Class 1 – 4

Category 2 winner – Lewis Deacon, aged 11, Teanassie Primary School, by Beauly, Primary Class 5 – 7

Category 3 winner – Rebecca Skeoch, aged 12, Kilchuimen Academy, Fort Augustus, Secondary Class 1 – 2

Category 4 winner – Jemima Kirkwood, aged 17, Grantown Grammar School, Grantown-on-Spey, Secondary Class 3 – 6

Category 5 winner – Greig Henderson, aged 10, Pulteneytown Academy, Caithness, Special Needs

The Chairman concluded by congratulating the pupils, teachers and schools who had participated in the competition and thanking Lyreco and their associates for continuing to sponsor the competition.

HIGHLAND 2007 PROPOSED CAPITAL PROGRAMME

Mrs A L Magee, Mr A Anderson and Dr M E M Foxley declared a non-financial interest in this item as Board Members of Highland 2007 but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraph 5.18 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interest did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

There was circulated Report No ECS06/05 dated 6 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which referred to the budget of £5m allocated by the Council for capital projects for 2007 and sought approval of a list of projects to be completed by 2007 and projects that might begin in 2007 and be taken forward as part of the legacy of the Year of Culture.  The list for 2007 was a mix of projects seen as essential to deliver Highland 2007, projects which already formed part of the Capital Programme, and grants to community organisations.  It was pointed out that project costs were estimates only and that, given the complexity of the programme, a sum of £100,000 had been allowed for project management costs over the three years of the programme.

The Committee AGREED:-

(i)         to note the 2007 capital projects package approved by the Budget Working Group;

(ii)        to approve the list of capital projects for Highland 2007 to be funded from the £5m allocation agreed by the Council;

(ii)        to recommend a commitment towards the legacy projects which would be considered by the Budget Working Group as part of capital considerations in 2005; and

(iv)       that further detailed reports be submitted on 2007 capital projects as they progressed.

HIGHLAND 2007 - COMMUNITY PROGRAMME GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION FORM

There was circulated Report No ECS07/05 dated 6 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which presented draft guidelines and application form for both the revenue and capital elements of the Community Programme strand of Highland 2007 for consideration.  Members’ comments on the criteria for revenue funding would be passed to the Highland 2007 Board for their consideration prior to their approval and issue in February 2005.  To concur with Members’ wishes for a simplified application process, it was recommended that the criteria be combined into a single application form, which would be directed to each local Highland 2007 Management Group for consideration if it was a revenue application and to the relevant Area Committee if it was a capital project.

In discussion, it was confirmed that a short-leet had now been drawn up of suggestions for a logo for 2007 to be used for 2007 events.  Gaelic was included in the brief for the logo.  Members suggested that there should be flexibility in considering projects, that ideas be shared, that the form should include a mention of the Gaelic or Norse background of the area and that key words on signs for 2007 events should be translated into Gaelic.  The Director of 2007 gave details of communication she had had with other local authorities and confirmed that existing festivals could become part of 2007.  Some concern was expressed at the proposed formula for distributing the discretionary budget to Area Committees and it was suggested that this should be reviewed to give more flexibility for cross-Area projects and greater weighting for population.  It would also be desirable to review expenditure as the programme developed.  It was further suggested that it might be difficult for some groups to achieve the match funding proposed.

The Committee AGREED:-

(i)         that there should be a single application process for revenue and capital grants for the Community Programme strand of Highland 2007;

(ii)        that officials report back to the March meeting of the Committee on the formula to be used for the distribution of discretionary budgets to Area Committees for capital grants, bearing in mind the points raised, and that the expenditure devolved be reviewed regularly during the three year period 2005/06 to 2007/08;

(iii)       that the maximum award of a single capital grant be set at £30,000 and the general policy be that all projects have match funding of at least 25% in place, subject to Area Committees having discretion to vary this percentage in special circumstances; and

(iv)       to approve the guidance notes and application form for use for applying to the Council for capital grants from the Highland 2007 Community Programme, subject to the inclusion of a reference to the need to include a Gaelic or Norse element as appropriate.

ASSESSMENT, TESTING AND REPORTING 3 TO 14

There was circulated Report No ECS09/05 dated 7 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which advised Members of the outcome of the consultation process on Assessment, Testing and Reporting 3-14 undertaken by the Scottish Executive in Autumn 2003 and clarified the proposed action to be taken in relation to Assessment, Testing and Reporting in Highland.

The Committee AGREED that:-

(i)         from January, 2005, all Highland schools should continue to use National Assessments to confirm judgement of coursework in 5-14 English and Mathematics;

(ii)        from June 2005, all Highland schools should report annual 5-14 attainment to the Performance Management Unit in Dingwall;

(iii)       Highland schools should continue to enhance formative assessment practice in all courses;

(iv)       all schools should continue meantime to use current Council reporting formats to report each pupil’s 5-14 attainment; and

(v)        further consideration be given to the management of assessment as part of the curriculum review announced in “Ambitious, Excellent Schools”.

AMBITIOUS, EXCELLENT SCHOOLS

There was circulated Report No ECS10/05 dated 10 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which outlined key aspects of the Scottish Executive’s policy document “Ambitious, Excellent Schools”.  This set out their agenda for the next few years of school policy development in Scotland, identifying a number of key areas for modernisation.  It was suggested that Highland was well placed to deliver on the national agenda and many of the policy documents that would be brought to Members for consideration over the next few years would relate to this document.

After some discussion, during which it was suggested that the Council should consider ways of attracting new recruits to teaching from the business sector, the Committee AGREED to:-

(i)         note the “Ambitious, Excellent Schools” programme of the Scottish Executive;

(ii)        note that further, detailed reports would be prepared on aspects of the programme;

(iii)       support Highland’s involvement in the Leadership Development initiative and the Schools of Ambition programme; and

(iv)       give consideration to ways of encouraging people in industry to make a career change to take up teaching.

NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON SCHOOLS CODE

There was circulated Report No ECS11/05 dated 10 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which proposed a response to the Scottish Executive’s national consultation on the 1956 Schools Code which required to be updated to take into account the ongoing changes in how schools were organised, managed and staffed.  The Committee was asked to be supportive of the repeal which would introduce more flexibility into the system, while urging the Executive to ensure that safeguards were in place to ensure high standards of teacher qualification.  The report also suggested that, as the part of the Code requiring that there be one Headteacher for every school had been repealed in July, proposals be brought forward on a policy for Primary School Cluster Headteachers.

The Committee AGREED:-

(i)         the response to the Consultation on the Schools Code; and

(ii)        that a policy paper on Primary School Cluster Headteachers be prepared for a future meeting.

PROPOSED REVIEW OF PROVISION - CONON AND MARYBURGH PRIMARY SCHOOLS

There was circulated Report No ECS12/05 dated 11 January, 2005 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 educational provision in the  Conon /Maryburgh area.  The report pointed out that the two schools were a little over a mile apart, both had declining school rolls and had far from ideal school buildings.  Given the constraints on the Education, Culture and Sport Capital Plan, the criteria established by the Committee for inclusion in the Plan and the local circumstances, it was proposed that the two schools be amalgamated to form a new 21st Century school.

The Local Member, Ms A MacLean, pointed out that a replacement for Maryburgh Primary School had been promised for almost thirty years and that the community had some concerns about the effects of any amalgamation.  The proposal, however, presented an opportunity of achieving a 21st Century school.  She asked, therefore, that if the recommendation was agreed and after consultation a decision was reached to amalgamate the schools, the project be placed in the Capital Plan as the next priority after Aviemore Primary School.  She also asked that officers of the Education, Culture and Sport Service attend meetings which were likely to be held within the community.  The Chairman pointed out that the Committee would be reviewing their Capital Plan in May and suggested that, if the consultations could be carried out before then, the project could be considered for inclusion in the Plan at that time.

After discussion, during which the community were urged to consider the needs of the children  above all and the Council to help the community plan what could be provided within the former school building in Maryburgh, the Committee AGREED that:-

(i)         a consultation be undertaken on the formal closure of Conon and Maryburgh Primary Schools, to be amalgamated into a new school to serve the two present catchment areas;

(ii)        a consultation paper be drawn up for the consideration of the Ross and Cromarty Area Committee, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee; and 

(iii)       officers be authorised to attend informal meetings with the community as appropriate.

HIGHLAND LIBRARIES ON-LINE

 There was circulated Report No ECS13/05 dated 11 January, 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which informed Members that, following a ten year programme to automate customer services and backroom operations in community libraries and its extension to school libraries, a new web-based interactive service was now ready to be launched, through which Highland Library Services would be available on-line to customers 24 hours a day.  The report also provided details of future directions and developments in automation.

 After discussion, during which Members expressed their appreciation of the work undertaken by the library team and officers answered points raised in relation to access to the different parts of the system, the Committee AGREED to:- 

(i)        note the sustained progress in library automation; 

(ii)        launch, at the meeting, Talis Prism, the 24/7 interactive web access to Highland Library and Information Services; and

DRAFT EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORT SERVICE GUIDANCE ON MANAGING AND VETTING VOLUNTEERS

There was circulated Report No ECS14/05 dated 17 December, 2004 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on draft Education, Culture and Sport Service Guidance on Managing and Vetting Volunteers.  This consolidated into one document current recruitment and vetting policy and procedure and also outlined best practice in the managing of volunteers across the Service.  The document drew on the Council’s Volunteering Policy and linked it to the Service’s approach to Child Protection.  It was designed to apply to all aspects of the Education, Culture and Sport Service including all schools, youth clubs, libraries, leisure and community centres.

In discussion, it was confirmed that councillors visiting schools would not normally require to be Disclosure Scotland checked unless they were spending time with children on their own.  The Director undertook to seek further advice on the position of councillors, however, and on whether checks could be carried out at a councillor’s request.

The Committee APPROVED the Guidance for immediate implementation.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS