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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 15 June 2006
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1
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The Minute of Meeting of 15 June 2006 was
approved.
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Declaration of Interest
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2
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There were no
declarations of interest.
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FINANCE
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General
Fund Revenue Monitoring 2006/07
PR110.05
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3
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A Report was
submitted by the Director of Finance informing Members of the Comhairle's
forecast revenue out-turn for 2006/07
The Report
stated that at the end of 2005/06 the Comhairle was showing uncommitted
balances of £4,067K, which were detailed in Appendix B. However, with
budgeted deficits in the current and next financial years, forecast free
balances at the end of 2007/08 would be reduced to £920K, which was
significantly below the Comhairle’s target of £1,800k. It was recommended
that the Directors of Social Work and Corporate Services reported back to the
next series of meetings on options to bring their budgets back into balance
within this financial year. Failure to achieve this would further reduce
balances to £529K. A seminar, to
consider the efficiency savings the Comhairle needed to make to address its
budget deficit, had been scheduled for 29 August.
The Director
of Social Work submitted a Report concerning the projected forecast outturn
expenditure for the Social Work Revenue Estimates for 2006/2007, based on an
assessment of expenditure incurred and income achieved during the period 1
April – 30 June 2006. It was indicated
in the Report that expenditure was estimated to exceed the provision made in
the revenue estimates for Social Work for 2006/07 in the sum of £374,000.
It was intimated
that budgetary demand was greatest in the following areas namely:
(1)
transport related costs;
(2)
homecare, especially in the
provision of complex areas of care; and
(3) mainland
placements for adults, where there were two additional residents jointly
funded with the NHS
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(1) It was agreed to recommend that, in
so far as the Committee’s interests were concerned, the Comhairle:
(a) note the Reports; and
(b) require the Director of Social Work
and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to
report to the October series of meetings on options to bring their budgets
back into balance during this financial year.
(2)
It was agreed to recommend that in so far as the Committee’s
interests were concerned the Comhairle note the Report concerning Social Work
Revenue Estimates 2006/07: First Quarter Monitoring.
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General
Fund Capital Monitoring 2006/07
PR100.03
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4
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A Report was
submitted by the Director of Finance to provide Members with an update on the
progress of the 2006/07 Capital Programme at 30 June 2006.
The Report
stated that Forecast Capital Expenditure in 2006/07 was expected to be
£31.6m. This would have been compared with £30m achieved in 2005/06. If this level of expenditure is achieved it
would require the acceleration of resources from 2007/08, as it is £3.8m
above available resources.
At 30 June
2006 19.46% of the forecast expenditure for the year had been achieved. The
summary of expenditure is shown in Appendix 2, and the detail per Committee
is available in the August Information Bulletin and on the Comhairle’s
intranet.
It was agreed to recommend that, in so far as the
Committee’s interests were concerned the Comhairle approve the Forecast
Out-turn as the Revised Approved Programme for 2006/07 and specifically approve:
(1) in the Education Capital Programme,
slippage of £837k, including:
£209k in the Boiler
Plant Replacement Programme
£50k in the Schools
Accessibility Programme
£100k in the Water
Services Improvement Programme
£53k in the Window
Replacement Programme
£83k in the Toilet
Improvement Programme
£67k for Energy
Improvements in Sir
E Scott
School
£100k for Structural
Improvements to Schools
£50k for Traffic
Management
£60k for HORSA
Replacement
£65k for Safer School
Playgrounds;
(2) in the Environmental Services Capital
Programme, acceleration of £22k in the ACE grant scheme;
(3) in the Transportation Capital
Programme, acceleration of £263k in the Spinal Route project and £3k for
Amenity lighting; slippage of £529k for work on the North Ford Causeway and
£110k on Alternative Energy Projects;
(4) in the Arts and Leisure Capital
Programme, slippage of £87k for work at Lews Castle
and £60k for work to play areas;
(5)
in the Policy and Resources Capital Programme, slippage of £61k in
work to the Comhairle Offices.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 5 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to any
particular application for, or recipient or former recipient of, any service
provided by the Comhairle and Information relating to the adoption, care,
fostering or education of any particular child or relating to the supervision
or residence of any particular child in accordance with a supervision
requirement made in respect of that child under the Social Work (Scotland)
Act 1968
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Social
Work – Specialist Mainland Placements 2006/07
SW01
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5
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A Report was
submitted by the Director of Social Work outlining details of the continuing
pressures placed on the Social Work revenue budget by the cost of specialist
mainland placements and advising of the current budgetary position relating
to the specialist mainland placements for adults and children.
The Report
stated that in 2006/07 the Social Work Department received additional funding
of £749k from the Comhairle for specialist placements due to the continual
budgetary pressures. The Appendix to
the Report detailed the current specialist placements within the Social Work
Department. There was a potential
overspend of £178.1k in 2006/07 based on current placement activity, bringing
social work forecasted expenditure in this area to £1,056.3k this financial
year.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note
the forecasted Social Work costs for specialist mainland placements, as
detailed in Appendix 1 to the Report as follows:
(1) £623.3k
for Adult Community Care; and
(2) £433k
for Child Care.
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BUILDINGS
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Capital
Works Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
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6
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With reference
to item 8 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2006 the Director of Technical
Services submitted a Report concerning programme and progress in respect of
properties held on the Social Work account.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note
the Report.
It was further agreed that Aird School
would be added to future Programme and Progress Reports.
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Repairs and Maintenance (Revenue)
Programme 2006/07 - Quarterly Expenditure to 30 June 2006
PR33.01.12
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7
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The Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report detailing expenditure on the repairs
and maintenance of properties held on the Education and Children’s Services
account during the period 1 April – 30 June 2006.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note
the Report and note that further Reports on the repairs and maintenance of
properties held on the Education Account would continue to be placed before
Committee at quarterly intervals.
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Schools
PPP Project – Update
E01.02.15
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8
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A Report was
submitted by Director of Education updating
Members in relation to the progress of the PPP Project.
The Report
stated that In
terms of the outlined programme attached as appendix 2 it was intended that
the competitive dialogue process would commence in September and conclude in
November. Members should be aware that the programme is ambitious given the
nature of the contract being negotiated during the dialogue and the dialogue
process would take longer than currently anticipated. It was hoped to tease
out innovative approaches to procurement as part of the process which would
assist in risk transfer. The outlined programme also indicated further key
dates in relation to the delivery of the schools.
It was further
stated that in
order to enable the programme to proceed as expeditiously as possible and
given that the relevant regulations lay down strict procedures for such
appointments it was suggested that the Chief Executive be given delegated
powers to make the appointment when the Comhairle had determined it’s
requirements. The project website was
now available on the Comhairle’s website.
It was anticipated that regular project updates would be published on
the site to provide stakeholders with easy access to relevant information. Investigations and discussions were ongoing
in relation to cash flow modelling of the hybrid model and an update would be
provided to the next meeting of the Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) it be delegated to the Chief Executive
to select an appropriate number of prospective partners to participate in
dialogue following the application of the evaluation criteria appended to the
Report; and
(2) progress
in relation to the project be noted.
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Schools
PPP Project – Schools Consultation with Communities
E01.02.15
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9
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With reference
to item 8 of the Minute of Meeting of 14 June 2006 the Director of Education
submitted a Report concerning the consultation strategy for the Schools
Public Private Partnership Project.
The Report referred to the establishment of a Member/Officer Working
Group for the proposed new school at Bayble in 2001 and referred to the
consultation with the community in Point which had taken place and at which
plans had been discussed. It was
intimated in the Report that towards the end of 2002 the means of provision
for a new school in Point had changed into a Public Private Partnership and
at which time the Member/Officer Working Group had lapsed.
The Report
acknowledged that at this stage sufficient communication with the community
had not taken place as the extent of the change of the project was not made
clear to the community at that time.
It was further intimated that information on the Public Private
Partnership had been made available to Members in Reports submitted to the
Committee albeit in general terms. It
was further stated in the Report that in late 2003 during discussions with
Members in the wards affected it had been recognised that community
facilities other than a small community room did not form part of the Public
Private Partnership Project and that discussions for the new Public Private
Partnership School had been based upon the “Lochs Model” plus a small
community room.
The Report
referred to the exemplar plans which had been drawn up on the basis of the
accommodation schedules “signed off” by officers of the Comhairle after
consultation with Head Teachers. It
was highlighted in the Report that these plans were simply intended to show
firstly that the accommodation could be fitted onto the site and secondly the
various room relationships and that detailed designs for the new schools
included in the Public Private Partnership Project were anticipated to be
available at some point in 2007 on the basis that the specific time for
detailed designs would be determined by the strategy agreed with the Private
Sector Delivery Partner, which the Comhairle was currently arranging to
appoint. The Report referred to a
meeting which had been arranged with the Point Community School Action Group
on 22 August 2006 to explain how the current proposals had been developed and
the arrangements for communication and consultation in relation to the
Project.
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It was further
highlighted that a comprehensive stakeholder communications matrix had been
prepared for the Project and that the matrix had been reviewed by the Project
Board and that it was intended to review the matrix with Head Teachers in
late August/September 2006.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note:
(1)
the information regarding the provision of a new means of school
facilities in Point; and
(2)
the Communications Matrix and communication arrangements.
It was further agreed to recommend that the Director
of Technical Services be requested to submit a Report to the next meeting of
the Committee indicating the implications associated with retaining the
existing Games Hall and those parts of the Primary School, at Bayble School,
which have already been refurbished, within the Schools PPP Project.
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Berneray Former School and Schoolhouse
E02.39.01
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10
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The Director
of Education and Director of Corporate Services submitted a joint Report
concerning the disposal of the former School
and Schoolhouse at Berneray North Uist.
The Report referred to consultations which had taken place with the
community in relation to the future use of the School and Schoolhouse at
Berneray and that the community had indicated its support for use of the
property for housing. It was further
intimated that Tighean Innse Gall, on behalf of the Berneray Housing
Association, had undertaken a feasibility study on conversion and had
expressed an interest in acquiring the property. It was further stated that the Head of
Housing Services supported the proposed purchase of Berneray School
and Schoolhouse by the Local Registered Social Landlord to provide additional
housing for rent on the basis that four units could be created out of the
existing buildings. The Report further
stated that the District Valuer had undertaken a valuation on the property
and referred to the interest shown by private individuals in acquiring the
property.
The Report
concluded that it was not considered appropriate to sell the Berneray School and Schoolhouse at less than
market value.
It was agreed to recommend that the Director of
Corporate Services be authorised to offer Berneray School and Schoolhouse to
the Berneray Housing Association at District Valuer's valuation and on such
terms and conditions as the Director of Corporate Services in consultation
with the Director of Education should determine and that a Report on the
outcome associated with the implementation of the abovementioned decision be
submitted by the Director of Education and the Director of Corporate Services
to the next meeting of the Committee.
It was further agreed to recommend that a Report be
prepared for submission to a future meeting of the Policy and Resources
Committee, on the current policy relating to the disposal of surplus
properties, which would include options for the terms of disposal of such
properties for future housing proposed by Housing Associations, or similar
groups, be submitted
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Tong School, Isle of Lewis -
Request For Lease of Land by Friends of Tong School
E02
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11
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The Director
of Education and the Director of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning
a request from the Friends of Tong School for a 25 year lease from the
Comhairle for an area of ground at Tong
School in order to
develop an area for the school and the community to use. It was stated in the Report that it was
hoped to develop a court for basketball, tennis and volleyball and a grassed
area for multi sports at the site although at this stage the Friends of the
Tong School had not yet developed a business plan but intended to apply to
external bodies for the necessary funding for their project.
It was agreed to recommend that the Director of
Corporate Services be authorised to enter into a lease with the Friends of
Tong Primary School for an area of ground at Tong School for a period of 25
years at a nominal rent subject to the consent of the Scottish Ministers
being obtained and to the Director of Education being satisfied with the
business case for development of the site and on such other terms and
conditions as the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the
Director of Education, should determine.
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Aird School, Point,
Isle of Lewis - Condition Surveys and Remedial Works
E02
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12
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The Director
of Education submitted a Report giving information on recent condition
surveys at Aird
School together with
information on remedial works undertaken at the School. It was intimated in the Report that repairs
had been approved to the flat roof at the school and to the electrical
switching equipment in the estimated total sum of £42,000 in order to address
immediate health and safety issues. It
was further stated that in the opinion of the Director of Technical Services
the remaining building issues posed no immediate threat to pupils and staff
and that in light both of the very considerable expense and the disruption
which would be caused to rectify them and the fact that the school would be
closed and pupils and staff relocated in the context of the Public Private
Partnership Project it was intended to address only any immediate problems
which arose for example with regard to possible water ingress and that no
major further expenditure be incurred at the school.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle note
the recent condition surveys at Aird
School, Point, Isle of
Lewis and the remedial works undertaken in light of those surveys.
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EDUCATIONAL PROVISION
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 13 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 would be disclosed, namely, Information relating to the financial or
business affairs of any particular person (other than the Comhairle).
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Little
Teddies Nursery
E01.02.06
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13
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The Director
of Education submitted a Report giving information on work undertaken to
provide support to NHS Western Isles in relation to the “Little Teddies
Nursery”.
It was stated
in the Report that it had not been possible to complete the work required and
that it was therefore proposed that the support currently being provided be continued
in order to enable a further Report to be considered by the Comhairle in
October 2006.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle agree
to continue to provide contingency support at the expense of NHS Western
Isles and note that a further Report in relation to this matter would be
submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.
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Direct
Management of Voluntary
Pre-School Providers
E01.02.06
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14
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report seeking approval for the Scheme of
Delegation to be amended on the basis that it would be delegated to the
Director of Education to take over the direct management of voluntary sector
pre-school education providers as and when required when certain criteria
were satisfied. The Report stated that
the Comhairle had a statutory duty to provide pre-school education for three
and four year olds as part of the Integrated Early Years Strategy approved in
June 2005. The Comhairle had the
authority to investigate the feasibility of taking over the direct management
of individual voluntary pre-school services as requested.
It was agreed to recommend, insofar as
the Committee’s interests were concerned, that:
(1) the Comhairle
agree that the Director of Education be given delegated powers to take over
the direct management of voluntary sector pre-school education providers
which met the criteria detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the Report; and
(2) subject to the
approval of the above recommendation, it be delegated to the Director of
Corporate Services in consultation with the Director of Education to
negotiate the terms on which the Comhairle will take over the management of
such providers.
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Integrated
Early Years Strategy Progress
E01.02.06
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15
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The Director
of Education submitted a Report concerning the implementation of the
Comhairle's Integrated Early Years Strategy approved by the Comhairle in June
2005.
It was stated
in the Report that the Scottish Executive had made significant funding
available to ensure implementation of the Strategy and that a detailed
financial statement in connection with the Strategy would be submitted to the
Committee at its meeting in October 2006.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note progress in relation to the Integrated Early Years Strategy.
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Inclusion: A
Policy for all - Progress Report
E01
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16
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report concerning the implementation of the
policy approved by the Comhairle entitled “Inclusion: A Policy for All” approved in June 2005.
It was
intimated in the Report that significant progress had been made in relation
to the implementation of the policy and that it would continue to be
monitored by a Member/Officer Working Group
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note progress in relation to the Inclusion Policy.
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Report by
HM Inspectorate of Education: Breasclete
Primary School,
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - 13 June 2006
E01.01.11
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17
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The Director
of Education submitted a Report concerning the result of the inspection of Breasclete Primary School by Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). The
Report by HMIE on Breasclete
Primary School dated 13
June 2006 was appended to the Report.
The Report
stated that the School and the Education Authority had been asked to prepare
an action plan indicating how they would address the main findings of the
Report and to share the plan with parents.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the main points for action as listed in the Report.
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Report by
HM Inspectorate of Education: Leverhulme
Memorial School,
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar - 13 June 2006
E01.01.11
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18
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report concerning the result of a follow
through inspection of Leverhulme
Memorial School
by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). The Report by HMIE on Leverhulme Memorial
School dated 13 June
2006 was appended to the Report.
It was
further intimated in the Report that the School and the Education Authority
had made good progress overall in meeting the main points for action in the
Report of 2004 and it was stated that as a result of this HMIE would make no
further visits to the school in connection with the inspection.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the progress in relation to the main points for action as
listed in the Report.
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Report by
HM Inspectorate of Education: Sgoil Lionacleit, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar -
20 June 2006
E01.01.11
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report concerning the result of an
inspection of Sgoil Lionacleit by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education
(HMIE). The Report by HMIE on Sgoil
Lionacleit dated 20 June 2006 was appended to the Report.
The School and
the Education authority had been asked to prepare an action plan indicating
how they would address the main finding of the Report and to share the plan
with parents.
It was agreed to recommend that the Comhairle the
progress in relation to the main points for action as listed in the Report.
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It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of item 20 below on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraph 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act
1973 would be disclosed, namely, information relating to a particular
employee, former employee or applicant to become an employee of, or a
particular office holder or former office holder, or applicant to become an
office holder under, the Comhairle
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Specific
Grants for Gaelic 2007/08 - Submission of Bid
E01.05.04
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20
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report seeking approval for the bid under
the Scheme of Specific Grants for Gaelic Education to the Scottish Executive,
Education Department for the financial year 2007/08.
It was
intimated that the bid met the criteria specified by the Scottish Executive
Education Department for eligibility under the scheme and details of the bid
were given in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle:
(1) approve the
submission as detailed in Appendix A to the Report to the Sport, the Arts and
Culture Division, Scottish Executive Education Department, within the
Regulations governing the Scheme of Specific Grants for Gaelic Education, in
respect of financial year 2007/08; and
(2) note the
requirement for an additional sum of £27,990 in the Education budget 2007/08,
to be dealt with in the context of budget considerations later in the year.
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Establishment
of Post of Creative Links Officer - Scottish Arts Council Creative Links
Initiative.
M02.03
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21
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A Report was
submitted by the Director of Education seeking approval to establish the post
of Creative Links Officer to oversee the Creative Links Programme in line
with the Scottish Arts Council Education Department initiative. The Report stated that the Creative Links
Programme was a key initiative of the Scottish Arts Council (SAC) Education
Department and that Creative Links Officers worked at a strategic level to
develop high quality arts and creativity practice in Education across Scotland. The Report further stated that the Scottish
Arts Council had awarded the Comhairle ‘seed’ funding of £60,000 over the
next three years as a contribution towards a full time post. The cost of the post would be in the region
of £35,000 per annum, with the match funding each year being made up of
£5,000 from the Arts Development budget of the Arts and Leisure Committee and
£10,000 from the Education Department (Inclusion Section/Youth Music
Initiative).
It was agreed, in so far as the Committee’s
interests were concerned, to recommend that the Comhairle approve the appointment
of a Creative Links Officer AP5/PO2 for a three year fixed term period to
create and implement an Arts Education Strategy for the Western Isles and
make a contribution of £5k towards the costs of the post.
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CHILDREN’S SERVICES
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Western Isles
Youth Justice Strategy 2006 - 2008
SW02
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22
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With reference
to item 23 of the Minute of Meeting of the Education and Children’s Services
Committee of 22 March 2006 the Director of Social Work submitted a Report
seeking approval of the Western Isles Youth Justice Strategy 2006 –
2008. A summary of the background to
the strategy was outlined in the Report, key strategic issues highlighted and
a draft Western Isles Youth Justice Strategy included as an appendix to the
Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle:
(1) approve
the Western Isles Youth Justice Strategy 2006 - 2008; and
(2) note that a
Youth Crime Audit report 2005/06 would come before the October 2006 series of
meetings for information and consideration.
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RELATED MATTERS
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Scottish
Schools Digital Network (SSDN)
E01
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23
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The
Director of Education submitted a Report concerning developments associated
with the Scottish Schools Digital Network.
It was
stated in the Report that the Scottish Schools Digital Network (SSDN) would
be a national schools intranet linking Scotland’s 850,000 educators and
pupils and provided fast links to the global internet. It was indicated that as part of the
planning for the SSDN all education authorities and other user organisations
had been requested to prepare an SSDN plan and to enter into a customer
agreement with the Scottish Executive and Research Machines (RM) who ran key
aspects of the network in liaison with Learning and Teaching Scotland. It was stated in the Report that no
additional funding from the Scottish Executive had been given to Local
Authorities to fund the costs involved with ensuring that schools were
prepared to meet the costs involved in preparing for SSDN participation and
that it was estimated that an additional £100,000 would be required annually
to allow schools within the Western Isles to prepare for and take full
advantage of the SSDN from 2007/08 onwards.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle:
(1)
note the significance of the
national SSDN initiative and the associated financial challenges for the
Comhairle; and
(2)
recommend that the Comhairle
enter into the SSDN Customer Agreement between local authorities, Research
Machines (RM) and the Scottish Executive.
It was further noted that a
demonstration on ‘White Boards’ would be given at the next meeting of the
Committee.
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Bus Contracts
- Tendering Programme
T05.01
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24
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The Director of Technical Services
submitted a Report detailing the proposed programme for the re-tendering of
bus service contracts throughout the Western Isles. The Report highlighted the proposed
consultation and tendering programme that would be required in order ensure
that new contracts were in place for April 2007.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle approve the programme for the re-tendering of all bus contracts
shown in Appendix 1 to the Report, insofar as the Committee’s interests were
concerned.
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Road Safety –
20 mph Speed Limited at Schools
T05.14
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25
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The Director of Technical Services
submitted a Report detailing progress with the implementation of 20 mph speed
limits at schools.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Comhairle note the Report, insofar as the Committee’s interests were
concerned.
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PERFORMANCE REVIEW
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Reports
Outstanding: Progress
PR33.01.12
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26
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The Director
of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning Reports outstanding
arising from decisions of the Education and Children’s Services Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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