Children, Families & Communities Committee - 28/10/2024

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th October, 2024.

 

Present:-

 

Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL

 

BAILIES

 

Will DAWSON	Kevin KEENAN	Fraser MACPHERSON
Willie SAWERS	Helen WRIGHT	Derek SCOTT

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Heather ANDERSON	Steven ROME	George McIRVINE
Jimmy BLACK	Lynne SHORT	Wendy SCULLIN
Mark FLYNN	Roisin SMITH	Peter SHEARS
Stewart HUNTER	Siobhan TOLLAND	Daniel COLEMAN
Ken LYNN	Georgia CRUICKSHANK	Michael CRICHTON
Lee MILLS	Jax FINNEGAN	Craig DUNCAN
	Dorothy McHUGH

 

External members for Articles I to III

 

Ms Jodi BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr David GIBSON, Teacher Representative

Mrs Teresa LITTLE, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mrs Margaret MCVEAN, Church of Scotland Representative

 

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 2nd September, 2024 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

II CONSULTATION ON THE CLOSURE OF ST PIUS X ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY

 

There was submitted Report No 296-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval for the Executive Director of the Children and Families Service to formally consult on closure of St Pius X Roman Catholic Primary School and Nursery under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

 

Thereafter, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Smith, moved that approval is given for the Executive Director of the Children and Families Service:-

 

(i) to formally consult on the proposal for the permanent closure of St Pius X Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School and Nursery at the end of academic session 2025/2026 (2nd July 2026);

 

(ii) to formally consult on the expansion of the St Francis Roman Catholic Primary School catchment area to accommodate the existing St Pius X Roman Catholic Primary School catchment area; and

 

(iii) to report the outcomes and recommendations resulting from the statutory consultations.

 

As an amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Councillor Shears, moved that the report be deferred to allow further consultation with Catholic Church representatives.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson and Sawers and Councillors Anderson, Black, Flynn, Lynn, Mills, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (13): and for the amendment Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman, Crichton, Duncan and Mrs Little (14) Ms Barclay, Mr Gibson and Mrs McVean, declining to vote whereupon the amendment was carried and became the finding of the meeting.

 

III WHAT MATTERS TO YOU (WM2U) PROGRESS UPDATE

 

There was submitted Joint Report No 297-2024 by the Executive Directors of Children and Families Service and Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the progress and achievements of Dundee City Councils partnership with What Matters to You (WM2U) and inviting Committee to note the contents of the WM2U 2024/2026 Partnership Plan.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the progress and achievements to date of the partnership with WM2U detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

 

(ii) to remit officers to provide an annual update on progress of the 2024/2026 Plan; and

 

(iii) to request Dundees WM2Us Oversight Board to identify local, regional, and national opportunities to share their learning and achievements with WM2U and others, in securing voice-led system change and place-based solutions. 

 

At this juncture external members of the Committee departed.

 

IV OUR PROMISE 2023/2026 ANNUAL UPDATE

 

There was submitted Report No 298-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the first annual update on the implementation of Our Promise to Care Experienced Children, Young People and Care Leavers 2023/2026 (attached as Appendix 1 of the report). The report followed Elected Member approval of Our Promise (Article IV of the minute of meeting of 23rd October, 2023 and Report 295-2023 referred). It outlined key developments over the last 12 months and priorities going forwards.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note continued progress made in the implementation of Our Promise 2023/2026 and improved outcomes for care experienced children, young people, and care leavers; and

 

(ii) to request the Executive Director to provide a further update on Our Promise in 12 months, including details of Whole Family Wellbeing Funding (WFWF) activities and outcomes.

 

V COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT AND LOCALITY PLANNING

 

There was submitted Report No 281-2024 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the progress of Dundees community empowerment work and the achievements of Dundees locality approach to Community Planning.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the progress in the implementation of Local Community Planning;

 

(ii) to note Dundee City Councils award for Best Collaborative Working Initiative from the Association of Public Sector Excellence;

 

(iii) to note the successes of the Alcohol & Drugs Project Fund for 2023/2024; and

 

(iv) to note that Dundee City Council had exceeded the target set by COSLA for Participatory Budgeting for 2023/2024.

 

 

 

 

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.