Children And Families Services Committee - 27/01/2020

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th January, 2020.

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

Mr J ANDERSON-McGUINNESS, Parent Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th December, 2019 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II REVIEW OF THE SERVICE ESTATE

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 12th December, 2011, there was submitted Report No 45-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an annual update on the school estate and Children's Houses.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the current, planned and ongoing improvements to the estate;

(ii) noted the capacity levels across schools; and

(iii) noted the building safety update.

III LEARNING ESTATE OPTIONS FOR BRAEVIEW ACADEMY AND CRAIGIE HIGH SCHOOL

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th September, 2019, there was submitted Report No 42-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service setting out the current and future proposed position regarding the school estate strategy. The report also sought approval for the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to formally consult on certain proposals under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and to advise the Committee of the outcomes in due course.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the areas set out in the current ten year school estate Capital Investment Strategy and agree to reflect these within the forthcoming Capital Plan; and

(ii) instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to formally consult on the following proposal and report the outcomes in due course:

the closure of Braeview Academy and Craigie High School and the redelineation of existing school catchments to form a new single catchment area for a new joint secondary school/community learning campus from August, 2024; and the expansion of the catchment area for Grove Academy from August, 2024 to embrace the current Craigiebarns Primary School catchment area.

As an amendment, Councillor Marra, seconded by Councillor Malone, moved that the Committee:-

Agrees to defer consideration of the report pending a further report from the Executive Director of Children and Families Service in which the Learning Estate Options for Braeview Academy and Craigie High School are considered as part of an overall strategic review of school provision in Dundee.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers and Macpherson, and Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith, Duncan and Murray and Mrs Leck and Mr Chohan (19); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright and Scott, and Councillors McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay and Scott and Miss Mands (11) - Mr Baxter declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IV REALIGNMENT OF FEEDER PRIMARIES AND PRIMARY CATCHMENT AREAS OF CLUSTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATED TO HARRIS ACADEMY

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation relative to this item of business. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th September, 2019, there was submitted Report No 43-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval for the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to formally consult on certain proposals under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and to advise the Committee of the outcomes in due course.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved that the Committee instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to formally consult on the undernoted proposals and report the outcomes in due course:-

(i) the removal of Invergowrie Primary Schools status as an associated primary to Harris Academy from August, 2021; and

(ii) the revision of catchment areas for Ancrum Road Primary School, Blackness Primary School, Camperdown Primary School, Tayview Primary School and Victoria Park Primary School from August, 2021.

As an amendment, Councillor Marra, seconded by Bailie Keenan, moved that the Committee:-

Agrees to defer consideration of the report pending a further report from the Executive Director of Children and Families Service in which the Feeder Primaries and Primary Catchment Areas of Cluster Schools Associated to Harris Academy are considered as part of an overall strategic review of school provision in Dundee.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers and Macpherson, Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith, Duncan and Murray and Mr Chohan (18); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright and Scott, and Councillors McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay, Scott and Miss Mands and Mrs Leck (12) - Mr Baxter declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

V OPTIONS FOR PRIMARY PROVISION TO SERVE WESTERN GATEWAY

The Committee acceded to requests for deputations to address the Committee relative to this item of business. After the deputations had stated their cases and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2019, there was submitted Report No 41-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval of recommendations related to options for primary provision for the Western Gateway.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the current position regarding primary provision in the west of the city/Western Gateway;

(ii) instruct officers to continue to liaise with communities in the area regarding future learning opportunities for children and young people;

(iii) note that active dialogue will continue with developers in the Western Gateway regarding current and future house building and infrastructure plans;

(iv) note that officers will continue to work together with neighbouring Councils to ensure that best value is achieved in the delivery of education provision for local communities; and

(v) instruct officers to provide regular updates to members on the issue through the annual service estate report.

As an amendment, Councillor Marra, seconded by Councillor Malone, moved that the Committee:-

Agrees to defer consideration of the report pending a further report from the Executive Director of Children and Families Service in which the Options for Primary Provision to Serve the Western Gateway are further considered.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts and Sawers, Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith and Murray (15); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Scott and Macpherson, Councillors McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay, Scott and Duncan and Miss Mands, Mrs Leck, Mr Chohan and Mr Baxter (16) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

VI TAYSIDE PLAN FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ANNUAL UPDATE 2019

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October, 2018, there was submitted Report No 48-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service summarising key areas of progress over the past year and priorities for the next 12 months, which were provided in detail in Appendix A of the report.

In addition, the report explained the process for the development of the next regional plan for the period 2020/2023, which was due to be submitted to the Scottish Government in May, 2020.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the continued progress made in the past year in the implementation of the Tayside Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2017/2020;

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to submit for approval the next Tayside Plan covering the period 2020/2023 in May 2020; and

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to bring a further progress report back to the Children and Families Services Committee in January 2021.

At this juncture, external members of the Committee departed.

VII DUNDEE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2019

There was submitted Report No 49-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting the Committee with the Dundee Child Protection Committee Annual Report 2019.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the annual report, including key achievements and challenges over the past year attached as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) noted the progress that had been made in developing an effective partnership response to Child Protection issues in the city as outlined in Section 4.4 of the report; and

(iii) noted the development of the Child Protection Delivery Plan for the current year (2019/2020) as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

VIII PROGRESS REPORT ON PAUSE DUNDEE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GENDERED SERVICES APPROACH TO SERVICE PROVISION

On a reference to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2019, there was submitted Report No 44-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service describing the progress made in establishing the new Pause Dundee service over the last 12 months. The report also noted the ongoing development of a Gendered Services approach to services for women with multiple and complex needs in the city.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress made to establish Pause Dundee and welcomed its work with vulnerable women in Dundee to date;

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a further 12 month update in January, 2021; and

(iii) supported the continued development of a Gendered Services approach for all women with multiple and complex needs in Dundee.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.