1.

2.

The Committee NOTED the following and AGREED that congratulations be conveyed to those concerned:-

3.

The Committee considered reports on Revenue Expenditure, copies of which had been circulated, as follows:-

(a) Education Revenue Expenditure 2001/02 - Monitoring

There was circulated Report No ECS16/02 dated 13 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Revenue Expenditure on the Education Service for the period to 31 January 2002 .

After discussion, during which further information was given on the position with regard to charges for electricity and heating oil, teacher absence, the costs of maintenance and the Community Education Budget, the Committee NOTED the report and AGREED that a report be submitted to a future meeting on the steps being taken to resolve the current problems in relation to the charging for electricity and heating oil.

(b) Cultural and Leisure Services Revenue Expenditure 2001/02 - Monitoring

There was circulated and NOTED Report No ECS17/02 dated 22 February, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Revenue Expenditure on Cultural and Leisure Services for the period to 31 January 2002.

(c) Education, Culture and Sport - Revenue Budget 2002/03

There was circulated Report No ECS18/02 dated 13 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the draft Revenue Budget for the Education, Culture and Sport Service for 2002/03. The report set out the overall financial position of the Council and the basis of the budget calculations and sought approval for a proposed budget strategy which was outlined in an annex to the report.

After a presentation by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport, points raised in discussion included the following:-

? In light of the fact that the Scottish Executive appeared to be significantly underspent the Council should continue to press for full funding of the McCrone proposals.

? Considerable concern was expressed by Members, at the effect on schools of the proposal to hold back funding of 10% on primary books and equipment and 1% in the secondary devolved budget. It was pointed out that, once essential costs had been met from schools’ devolved budgets, these reductions represented a significant cut in their remaining funding.

? Some dissatisfaction was expressed with the consultation process with senior councillors during the compilation of the budget.

? Concern was expressed at the proposal to delay the allocation of funding for Integrated Early Years, it being pointed out that children’s services were one of the main priorities of the First Minister. Members were urged to protect in particular the childcare and Sure Start elements of the budget.

? It was requested that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Portfolio Holders giving a "better case scenario", setting out likely sources of funding and showing how the Committee might be able to meet their commitments over the year.

? It was suggested that the Committee should consider alternative sources of savings such as E-procurement and bulk buying.

? Some concern was expressed at the proposal to reduce Cultural and Leisure Services discretionary grants by 40% and the effect that this would have on organisations seeking matched funding.

? The Director gave further information on the effect on recruitment of teachers in the Highlands if the McCrone proposals were not fully funded and confirmed that the proposed review of the Community Education and Cultural and Leisure Services would include community learning, lifelong learning etc

The Director responded to the points raised in discussion and confirmed that, given that there was currently a shortfall of £4m, it was proposed to delay the allocation of funding to certain sections of the budget until all information was available, in order to produce an "honest" budget. He was aware that significant funding would be available from the Excellence Fund and, if councils were allowed more flexibility in allocating this funding, it might be used to reinstate some of the proposed reductions. He would report back to the Committee when further information was available.

The Chairman, seconded by Mr R W Durham, moved that the recommendations in the report be approved subject to the addition to the first recommendation that any additional funding be prioritised to the reinstatement of (a) the proposed 1% reduction in the secondary devolved budget and (b) the 10% reduction in primary books and equipment.

Mrs M C Davidson, seconded by Mrs S Slimon, moved as an Amendment that any additional funding also be prioritised to the reinstatement of the childcare and Sure Start elements of the 3% reduction in the Integrated Early Years budget.

On a division, the Amendment was CARRIED by 12 votes to 9.

The Committee, therefore, AGREED:

(i) to approve the budget strategy outlined in Annex 1 of the report with the addition that any additional funding be prioritised to the reinstatement of (a) the proposed 1% reduction in the secondary devolved budget, (b) the 10% reduction in primary books and equipment and (c) the childcare and Sure Start elements of the 3% reduction in the Integrated Early Years budget;

(ii) progress with the achievement of the strategy be monitored closely throughout the course of the financial year and a further report be submitted if modifications were required;

(iii) the implications of the budget strategy be communicated in detail to all stake-holders including head teachers and school boards;

(iv) to note that unless additional funding was forthcoming from the Executive the McCrone package would not be fully implemented in Highland schools and that the campaign to achieve this additional funding would continue;

(v) that an approach be made to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in relation to the significant differences between actual expenditure and the Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) allocations in respect of school transport and special educational needs; and

(vi) to note that the allocation of additional resources received on an intermittent basis during the course of a financial year was at odds with a three-year budgeting strategy and was not conducive to efficient financial planning.

4.

The Committee dealt with reports on Capital Expenditure, copies of which had been circulated, as follows:-

(a) Education Service Capital Programme 2001/02 – Monitoring

There was circulated and NOTED Report No ECS19/02 dated 13 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the financial position on the Education Service Capital Programme as at 31 January 2002.

(b) Cultural and Leisure Services Capital Programme 2001/02 – Monitoring

There was circulated and NOTED Report No. ECS20/02 dated 5 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the financial position on the Cultural and Leisure Services Capital Programme as at 31 January 2002.

(c) Cultural and Leisure Services Capital Programme

There was circulated Report No. ECS21/02 dated 28 February, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which put forward adjustments to the Cultural and Leisure Services capital plan allowing for the inclusion of Helmsdale Community Centre and revised figures for the Badenoch Leisure Centre. The revised total cost for the Badenoch Leisure Centre was £1.731M but, as income for the project had also increased, the net cost to the Council remained at £283,000 as previously agreed by the Committee. Details were given of the funding package for the Helmsdale project which had been successful in a bid for ERDF funding and which would be managed through the Council’s Capital Programme. The contribution from Highland Council remained at £10,000.

5.

There was circulated Report No ECS22/02 dated 12 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the following applications for Pan Highland and Gaelic grants, which had been recommended for approval by the Portfolio Holders Group, or for homologation of decisions taken by the Director in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman or Depute Chairman (Gaelic):

6.

There was circulated Report No ECS23/02 dated 12 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on tenders received for the supply of library stock and services for Highland Libraries. The report gave details of the procedures followed, the evaluation carried out and recommendations made on the basis of service provision and best value.

7.

There was circulated Report No ECS24/02 dated 5 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport describing the achievements of the Early Intervention Programme in Highland primary schools. The report gave the background to the introduction of this national initiative aimed at improving the standards of literacy and numeracy in P1 and P2 and gave details of how the programme had been implemented in Highland schools. The Director highlighted the remarkable gains in reading, writing and mathematics which had been achieved by pupils and suggested that the success of the approach demanded that early intervention strategies be extended into the middle and upper primary school.

The Director and Mrs L McIntosh, the Early Intervention Co-ordinator, spoke to the report indicating that the Early Intervention Programme had been very well received in schools and commenting on the main factors which had led to its success.

After discussion, during which the Director confirmed that a number of pilot schemes were ongoing in primary and secondary schools which were looking into the reasons for boys not achieving as well as girls, the Committee AGREED:

(i) to congratulate the staff associated with the Early Intervention Project;

(ii) to note the significant improvements in literacy and numeracy; and

(iii) that a further report be submitted on the extension of early intervention approaches to the middle and upper stages of the primary school.

8.

There was circulated Report No ECS25/02 dated 26 February, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the proposed award to the Council of £432,000 over a two-year period by Sportscotland for Phase 2 of the School Sports Co-ordinators programme. The purpose of the Phase 2 award was to enhance levels of extended curricular sporting participation within the primary sector and opportunities for both primary and secondary pupils within community sports clubs. Details were given of Phase 1 of the scheme and the proposals for the implementation of Phase 2 which included the appointment of a Youth Sport Co-ordinator to provide Highland wide support.

In discussion of the proposals for the use of the funding, the Director confirmed that, while only one central co-ordinator would be employed, other staff would be seconded or appointed on a part-time basis to develop sports participation in primary schools. The Director also undertook to provide information on PE provision in Sutherland to Councillor D Allan.

9.

There was circulated Report No ECS26/02 dated 5th March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on a proposed policy for the development of the arts within new Education, Culture and Sport Service capital projects. It was pointed out that for some time the Education Service had attempted to include some art work within new build Education capital projects. Initially this had related to single pieces of artwork but had been expanded to include much wider concepts which had been incorporated into recent major secondary school projects. The proposed policy was aimed at extending the current network of provision and had six main objectives including partnerships with other organisations, overcoming geographical isolation, effective management of arts projects in new build, involvement of young people, extension of the provision of various art forms and developing a network of quality arts venues.

10.

There was circulated Report No ECS27/02 dated 12 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updating Members on progress and suggesting charges for the Highland-wide application of the High Life Smart Card Scheme. The Director reported that, following discussions with the management and Board, it was proposed that Caledonia Community Leisure Limited’s (CCLL) entry into the Scheme centre on the use of the leisure and competition pools and athletics track. As the scheme progressed it was intended to review its operation and extend the facilities and activities included. On this basis it was hoped that CCLL could be brought into the scheme as early as 1st May, 2002. The Director set out other developments in relation to the wider application and development of the Scheme, including partnership in Dialogue Youth Phase 2.

In discussion, some Members expressed concern at the proposal to rebrand the card to a "Wellbeing" card, it being felt that the name "High Life" was popular and more applicable. Reference was also made to the second pilot project in Lochaber and the suggestion previously made that any further development await the review of both pilot projects. The Chairman pointed out that the decision had already been taken to extend the scheme Highland-wide but any further development in Lochaber could be delayed until the Area Committee had had the opportunity to review the pilot.

The Committee NOTED the progress towards the Highland-wide application of the High Life Scheme and AGREED:-

(i) the charges as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report;

(ii) that the Education, Culture and Sport Service lead the development of the Dialogue Youth concept as a member of the Scottish Local Authorities consortia bid; and

(iii) the name "High Life" card be retained in relation to its wider application.

11.

There was circulated Report No ECS28/02 dated 12 March, 2002 by the Director of Corporate Services which outlined the background to the setting up of the Aquadome Refurbishment Fund and, in view of the Highland-wide significance of the facility, suggested that the sub-committee which had been set up to make recommendations on disbursement of the Fund be a sub-committee of the Education, Culture and Sport Committee. The report had appended to it Minutes of a Meeting of the sub-committee held on 26th February, 2002 when the sub-committee had considered a request for financial assistance towards the provision of an underwater camera system at Inverness Sports Centre and Aquadome.

In discussion, reference was made to concerns about the maintenance costs of the proposed underwater camera system and the question of privacy and the Director undertook to provide further information on these matters to the Member concerned.

The Committee AGREED:-

(i) that the Aquadome Refurbishment Sub-Committee report directly to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee;

(ii) to approve the Minutes of Meeting of the Aquadome Refurbishment Sub-Committee held on 26 February, 2002; and

(iii) that powers be delegated to the Sub-Committee to disburse the remaining funds when required.

12.

There was circulated Report No. ECS29/02 dated 12 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the bid made by the Education Service, through the Well-being Alliance, for Leader+ European funding on the theme "Improving the Quality of Life for Young People in Rural Highland". The bid had been submitted on behalf of Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Rural Inverness and Nairn as European legislation required that the total population in the area covered should not exceed 100,000. Total Leader+ finance for the project was approximately £230,000 per annum over five years. The bid had been successful. However, a second application from the Council submitted by the Planning and Development Service on behalf of the North and West Highlands Heritage Action Group had also been approved and the Scottish Executive had stipulated that both must be combined into one Business Plan to be resubmitted to the Executive by 31st May, 2002. To amalgamate the two projects it was proposed that a Highland Local Advisory Group be established by the Wellbeing Alliance and within it there be two thematic groups, one relating to youth and the other to heritage.

13.

There was circulated Report No ECS30/02 dated 4 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which provided detail of the current teacher staffing involvement in pre-school education and sought Members’ approval to progress a number of pilot proposals in relation to developing a teacher staffing model across all pre-school provision. The Director pointed out that the present staffing model led to significant variations in the number of sessions of teaching input to local authority pre-school centres and there was limited direct teaching support to partner centres. In January, 2002 the Scottish Executive had issued guidance on the involvement of teachers in pre-school education. The model of provision put forward for Highland proposed that local authority nurseries be staffed by nursery assistants and nursery auxiliaries under the guidance of a nursery co-ordinator teacher. The co-ordinator would be assigned to a cluster of local authority and partner centres. In partner centres the amount of teacher input would be determined through consultation with the management of individual centres.

After discussion, during which the Director confirmed that representatives of voluntary and private centres would be involved in the pilot projects, the Committee NOTED the current position in relation to teacher involvement in pre-school education and AGREED that:

i) consultation with stakeholders be progressed; and

ii) officers and stakeholders progress the development of pilot projects in relation to a revised pre-school staffing model during school session 2002/03.

14.

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

(i) Education Transport Appeals Committee held on 24th January 2002 and 6th March, 2002;

In reply to a question the Director of Education, Culture and Sport updated Members on the current position with regard to the transport of school children from the Staxigoe/Papigoe Area to Wick High School and confirmed that parents would be notified in the near future.

The position was NOTED.

(ii) Education, Culture and Sport Appointments Panel held on 12th February, 2002; and

15.

16.

There was circulated to Members only Report No. ECS31/02 dated 4 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on the award of the contract for the website design and hosting services for the Am Baile (Gaelic Village) Consortium as an integral element of the development of the Am Baile website and digitisation project funded by the New Opportunities Fund. The report gave details of the background to the project, the definition of the contract the procedures followed and the evaluation of the project. As the project was working to extremely tight deadlines, with a project completion date laid down by the New Opportunities Fund of 31st March, 2003, the Director in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, had approved the award of the contract.

17.

There was circulated to Members only Report No ECS32/02 dated 8 March, 2002 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on tenders received for the fitting out of Fortrose Academy Community Library. The Director gave details of the tendering exercise which had been conducted and of the outcome of the evaluation exercise. While not the lowest tender it was considered that the tender submission by Demco provided the Council with the best solution to delivering the standard of service expected from a Community Library and as such the extra cost was justified in terms of best value to the Council. Members were, therefore, asked, in terms of Standing Order 21(iii) of the Council’s Standing Orders relating to Contracts, to approve acceptance of the tender submitted by Demco .

The Committee APPROVED acceptance of the tender submitted by Demco.