Children And Families Services Committee - 21/08/2017

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st August, 2017.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

Depute Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Kevin KEENAN

Derek J SCOTT

Christina ROBERTS

Helen WRIGHT

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

COUNCILLORS

 

John ALEXANDER

Anne RENDALL

Charlie MALONE

Kevin CORDELL

Alan ROSS

Michael MARRA

Will DAWSON

Lynne SHORT

George McIRVINE

Mark FLYNN

Roisin SMITH

Richard McCREADY

Stewart HUNTER

Georgia CRUICKSHANK

Margaret RICHARDSON

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

Philip SCOTT

Gregor MURRAY

 

Craig DUNCAN

 

External members for Articles I to IV

 

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Ms C DEUCHARS, Teacher Representative

Mrs S ROBERTS, Parent Representative

Mrs L RICHIARDI, Parent Representative

Mr S OSWALD, Pupil Representative

 

Councillor Gregor MURRAY, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th June, 2017 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

II CHURCH AND TEACHER REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN65-2017 where reference was made to Article V of the Statutory Meeting of the City Council held on 22nd May, 2017 where it was agreed that the current Church and Teacher representatives continue for a further period of six months to allow arrangements to be made for new representatives to be appointed to the Committee.

 

Reference was also made to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Committee on 26th June, 2017, whereby appointments were approved for religious representatives on this Committee.

 

The following nominations had been received in respect of Teacher representation:-

 

Mr David Baxter

Ms Corrine Deuchars

The nominees had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standard Commission's Guidance.

 

The Committee agreed to approve the above appointments.

 

III PARENT AND PUPIL REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN66-2017 where reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the City Council held on 20th August, 2012, wherein it was agreed to seek nominations for parent and pupil representatives on the Children and Families Services Committee.

 

Jack Brady, the pupil representative for 2016/2017, had now left school and the City Wide Pupil Council had nominated Scott Oswald, a pupil at Baldragon Academy, to be the pupil representative on the Children and Families Services Committee for Session 2017/2018.

 

With regard to parent representation, the following had been nominated:-

 

Sian Roberts (Primary Representative)

Liz Richiardi (Secondary Representative)

 

The nominees had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commission's Guidance.

 

The Committee agreed the above appointments.

 

IV CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE - TEACHER JUDGEMENTS

 

There was submitted Report No 278-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service informing the Committee of the interim results of the Curriculum for Excellence Teacher Judgements Collection carried out in June, 2017.

 

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved to note the contents of the report. As an amendment, Councillor Malone, seconded by Councillor Cruickshank, moved that the Committee instructs the Executive Director of Children and Families Services to compile an urgent action plan for the teaching of numeracy in Dundee schools that will bring Dundee attainment to, at least, the level of the Scottish average by June, 2018. This action plan should include a full statement of required resources and the Chief Executive should seek urgent meetings with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Education in order to lobby for the appropriate support.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers, Scott and Macpherson, Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rendall, Ross, Short, Smith, Scott and Duncan and Mrs Leck (20); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan and Wright, Councillors Cruickshank, Gordon, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra and Richardson and Miss Mands (10) - with Mr Baxter and Ms Deuchars declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

 

 

 

Gregor MURRAY, Convener.