Children And Families Services Committee - 30/10/2017

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 30th October, 2017.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to V

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Mr S OSWALD, Pupil Representative

Councillor Gregor MURRAY, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th September, 2017 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to commencement of business, the Convener informed the Committee that two Dundee teachers had received national recognition for their work with technology in the classroom.

Kelly MacDonald from Harris Academy won the Secondary Teacher of the Year Category at the recent Scottish Women in Technology awards and Jill Sim from Rosebank Primary was awarded with a special commendation in the Primary Teacher of the Year Category.

The Committee noted accordingly.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II EDUCATION GOVERNANCE: FAIR FUNDING TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE AND EQUALITY IN EDUCATION A CONSULTATION RESPONSE

There was submitted Report No 313-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service outlining the response to the Scottish Governments future approach to school funding.

The Committee agreed the response to the consultation and instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a future report on the outcome of the review.

III TAYSIDE REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE

There was submitted Report No 372-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service updating the Committee on progress made in establishing a regional improvement collaborative comprising of Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross Councils, NHS Tayside and other local and national partners.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the background information, progress to date, recommendations from secondment report and ongoing work with Scottish Government;

(ii) approved the approach to establishing an education regional improvement collaborative; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to bring a progress report back to the Committee in October, 2018.

IV RAISING ATTAINMENT INCLUDEM PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 349-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service updating the work of the Dundee Includem Raising Attainment Project operable within all eight secondary schools in the city.

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report; and requested a further update on the project from the Executive Director of Children and Families Service in September, 2018.

V SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2019/2020 AND 2020/2021

There was submitted Report No 373-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval of the scheme for school terms and holidays for sessions 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

The Committee noted and approved the scheme of school terms and holidays for sessions 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 noted below:-

CLOSURE DAYS 2019/2021

CLOSURE DAYS 2020/2021

At this juncture external members of the Committee departed.

VI RESIDENTIAL AND CONTINUING CARE BUDGETARY PRESSURES

There was submitted Report No 374-2017 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an update on the position in relation to resourcing for Looked After and Accommodated Children including the provisions of new Continuing Care.

The Committee noted the:-

(i) updated position regarding actions proposed in the previous report;

(ii) proposed actions to address the issues;

(iii) the financial position would continue to be reported via the revenue monitoring reporting process to Policy and Resources Committee; and

(iv) approved the proposals in relation to Continuing Care payments.

Gregor MURRAY, Convener.