Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor Maurice Corry, Councillor Audrey Forrest, Councillor Julie McKenzie, Councillor Yvonne McNeilly and Daniel Semple.  

There were no declarations of interest intimated. 

Community Services Committee held on 7 March 2024

The Minute of the Community Services Committee held on 7 March 2024 was approved as a correct record.

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update on the appointment of a new Church of Scotland representative to sit on the Community Services Committee. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee noted the content of the report and endorsed the appointment of the Rev. Dorothy Wallace as the representative nominated by the Presbyterian of the Highlands and Hebrides as a voting member of the Community Services Committee. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 19 March 2024, submitted)

Report by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute, West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland

Chief Superintendent Gary l’Anson presented the Argyll and Bute Performance Summary Report of Police Scotland’s Policing Priorities for Q4 December 2023 to February 2024 and responded to questions asked.

Decision

The Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference:  Report for Quarter 4 2023-2024 by Divisional Commander for Argyll and Bute West Dunbartonshire Division, Police Scotland, submitted)

Margaret Anderson joined the meeting during discussions of agenda item 5 (Police Scotland Argyll & Bute Performance Summary Report – Reporting Period: Q4 April 2023 – February 2024).

Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

With the aid of power point slides, Local Senior Officer Joe McKay presented a report highlighting Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s review of local performance within Argyll and Bute for Q4 (1 January to 31 March 2024) and responded to a number of questions asked.

Decision

The Community Services Committee reviewed and noted the contents of the report.

(Reference:  Q4 2023/24 Report by Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)

Report by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership

The Committee gave consideration to reports detailing performance for financial quarters 3 and 4 of 2023/24 for the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee considered and noted the quarterly reports for both financial quarters 3 and 4 of 2023/24. 

(Reference:  Reports by Head of Strategic Planning, Performance and Technology, Argyll and Bute HSCP, dated 6 June 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report which advised on the programme of engagement that officers undertook during the consultation exercise on the Education Vision and Strategy document ‘Our Children, Their Future’.  The report also outlined the main themes of stakeholder views gathered through engagement and the next steps. 

Having noted that Thomas Edwards and Evie Wood both Primary 7 pupils from Port Ellen Primary School and Finlay Brown, Head boy at Oban High School had joined the teams call to participate in discussions, the Chair, Councillor McFadzean took the opportunity to welcome them to the meeting and invited them to provide their perspective on the consultation and what changes they hoped to see as a result.   

Decision

The Community Services Committee:-

1.    Considered the synopsis of stakeholder responses from the Education Vision and Strategy consultation.

2.    Agreed the next steps as set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 29 April 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Having noted that Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) is dedicated to supporting young people into employment and developing their skills to ensure that they will be successful and flourish in the world of work, the Committee gave consideration to a report which provided a summary of ongoing work and progress across the Council relating to associated initiatives and activities across Argyll and Bute. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee:-

1.    Considered the scope, variety and impact of DYW initiatives and activities across Argyll and Bute.

2.    Acknowledged the importance of the Scottish Government’s continued policy commitment to DYW and associated funding for Regional DYW Groups.

3.    Noted the contribution of the DYW team and its work towards securing and sustaining Argyll and Bute a position in the leading 10 Scottish Local Authorities with regards to the Annual Participation Measure, in which we place 9^th out of 32 in the period April 2022 to March 2023.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 10 May 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update on the performance of Live Argyll’s Community Learning and Development (CLD), specifically the provision of Adult Learning and Youth Services.  The report outlined the progress being made by the multi-agency CLD Strategic Partnership in delivering key priorities within the 2021-2024 CLD Partnership Plan.

Decision

The Community Services Committee:-

1.    Considered the contents of the report.

2.    Recognised the significant improvements and strengths achieved by CLD since the transfer of CLD to liveArgyll in 2021, and specifically those outlined by HMIe in its February 2024 report on the January 2024 HMIe Progress Visit.

3.    Recognised the positive outcomes for young people in Argyll and Bute as a result of increased partnership between Community Learning and secondary schools.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated 6 June 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Refugee Resettlement

Having noted that the Council’s Resettlement team had invited researchers from the University of Glasgow to undertake a review of our resettlement support and to hear firsthand experiences of people from Ukraine who have resettled in Argyll and Bute, the Committee gave consideration to a report which presented the main findings of this research. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee:-

1.    Endorsed the terms of the report, which sets out a positive picture in respect of the resettlement of people from Ukraine in Argyll and Bute.

2.    Commended the work of the Council’s Resettlement team and the wider multi agency partnership, including the NHS and the third sector, in supporting displaced persons from Ukraine living within our communities.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Refugee Resettlement, dated 9 May 2024, submitted)

Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education

Consideration was given to a report which provided details of all external education establishment inspection reports received across Argyll and Bute Education Service during the period January to April 2024. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee:-

1.    Noted the contents of the report.

2.    Noted that this quarterly report would be presented on an ongoing basis to the Community Services Committee detailing all establishment inspections conducted and published by Education Scotland within that period.

3.    Noted that Ward members would receive copies of school inspection reports for schools within their area as published by Education Scotland. 

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director with responsibility for Education, dated March 2024, submitted)

The Community Services Committee work plan for 2024-2025 was before the Committee for information. 

Decision

The Community Services Committee noted the contents of the work plan.

(Reference:  Community Services Committee Work Plan 2024-2025, submitted)