Children, Families & Communities Committee - 23/10/2023

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held remotely on 23rd October, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to III

Ms Jodi BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mrs Margaret McVEAN, Church of Scotland Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 4th September, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to commencement of business, Bailie Sawers referred to the recent sad passing of former Bailie John Corrigan, paid tribute to the distinguished public service rendered by him and expressed condolences to the family. Other members of the Committee associated themselves with the tribute.

Elected members and officers then observed a Minutes Silence for everyone affected, both at home and abroad, by the current events in Israel and in Palestine.

Councillor Alexander thanked staff across the Council, emergency services and partners for their efforts in response to Storm Babet in Dundee and across the region. Other members of the Committee associated themselves with the comments.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II EVERY DUNDEE LEARNER MATTERS (EDLM) STRATEGY

 

There was submitted Report No 296-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an overview of the Children and Families Services Every Dundee Learner Matters (EDLM) strategy; an update on the implementation of the strategy; and a summary of next steps.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the contents of the report; and

 

 

(ii) to instruct the Chief Education Officer to provide a further progress update in twelve months about the impact of the strategy during academic session 2023/2024.

 

III LEADING LEARNERS PROGRAMME

 

There was submitted Report No 297-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an overview of the Children and Families Services Leading Learners programme which took place during academic session 2022/2023 and gave an overview of the impact of the programme for the pupils involved.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the contents of the report; and

 

(ii) to instruct the Chief Education Officer to update Committee about the impact of the Leading Learners 2023/2024 programme.

 

IV OUR PROMISE 2021/2023 ANNUAL UPDATE AND 2023/2025 PLAN

 

There was submitted Report No 295-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Children, Families and Communities Committee with the third annual update on the implementation of Our Promise to Care Experienced Children, Young People and Care Leavers 2021/2023 (attached as Appendix 1 to the report). The report followed elected member approval of Our Promise on 8th March, 2021 (Report No 93-2021, Article IV of the minute referred) and the first and second annual updates on 25th October, 2021 (Report No 289-2021, Article VI of the minute referred) and 31st October, 2022 (Report No 276-2022, Article VI of the minute referred). It outlined key developments in the final year of the current plan and provided details of a further three year plan for the period 2023/2025 (attached as Appendix 2 to the report). It also included details of the Childrens Service Planning Partnership allocation of Scottish Government Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF).

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note progress made in the implementation of Our Promise and improved outcomes for care experienced children, young people and care leavers;

 

(ii) to approve Our Promise action plan for the period 2023/2025;

 

(iii) to note the allocation of Scottish Government Whole Family Wellbeing Funding by the Childrens Service Planning Partnership and Next Steps; and

 

(iv) to instruct the Executive Director to provide a further update on Our Promise in twelve months, including details of the WFWF allocation and activities.

 

V PROGRESS OF COMMUNITY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021/2024

 

There was submitted Report No 281-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services providing the Committee with the annual update on the Community Learning and Development Plan (CLD) 2021/2024. No update was provided to Committee last year due to the impact of Covid and the focus on service recovery.

 

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Community Learning and Development Plan Annual Report 2022/2023 attached as Appendix 1 to the report and the summary of key achievements contained in the report.

 

 

 

 

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.