Children And Families Services Committee - 10/09/2018

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th September, 2018.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VI

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr M CHOHAN, 3rd Church Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Mrs L RICHIARDI, Parent Representative

Mr R HUTTON, Pupil Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2018 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN52-2018, wherein 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.

Scott Oswald, the pupil representative for 2017/2018, had now left school and the City Wide Pupil Council had nominated Mr Ross Hutton, a pupil at Grove Academy, to be the pupil representative on the Children and Families Services Committee for session 2018/2019.

With regard to parent representation, Liz Richiardi had been re-nominated as the secondary representative. The primary representative would be nominated in due course.

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

The Committee noted the appointments.

III PUPIL EQUITY FUND

There was submitted Report No 284-2018 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service updating the Committee as to the use of the Pupil Equity Fund.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report and asked the Executive Director to report back to Committee in six months; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Education to request that Pupil Equity Fund resource be continued in order that schools may plan and invest strategically.

IV ANNUAL EDUCATION PLAN 2017/2018 PROGRESS REPORT AND OUTLINE OF 2018/2019 ANNUALEDUCATION PLAN

With reference to Article ll of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 27th November, 2017, Report No 400-2017, there was submitted Report No 285-2018 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reviewing the performance of the Children and Families Service in relation to the Annual Education Plan 2017/2018 and presenting the Chief Education Officer's Annual Education Plan for 2018/2019.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report and approved the Annual Education Plan 2018/2019 appended thereto; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to monitor the progress and impact of the new Plan and report back at the time of submitting the following year's Plan in September, 2019.

V CARERS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2016 AND YOUNG CARERS

There was submitted Report No 286-2018 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing details of the Council's response to young carers as outlined in the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the duties and powers placed on local authorities in relation to young carers by the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016;

(ii) approved 'A Caring Dundee' which was attached as Appendix A to the report and the 'Support for Young Carers and the Young Carers Statement Guidance' which was attached as Appendix B to the report; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide an update report on the implementation of the Act in 12 months.

VI EDUCATION SCOTLAND INSPECTION OF ATTAINMENT CHALLENGE LOCAL AUTHORITIES - DUNDEE CITYCOUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 220-2018 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service advising of the outcome of the Inspection of the Local Authority on the Attainment Challenge undertaken by Education Scotland in February, 2018.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summary of the inspection outlined in the report and the inspection report appended; and

(ii) remitted the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a regular update on the Attainment Challenge in Dundee, including how the aspects for development had been taken forward.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.