STIRLING COUNCIL

MINUTES of MEETING of the CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE held in VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on THURSDAY 19 JUNE 2003 at 10.30 a.m.

Present:-

Councillor Tom HAZEL (in the Chair)

Councillor Alistair BERRILL Councillor Pat KELLY Councillor Margaret BRISLEY Councillor David LONSDALE Councillor Ann DICKSON Councillor Corrie MCCHORD Councillor Colin FINLAY Mr Hilary MORAES (Statutory Co-optee) Councillor John HENDRY Hon Alexander J YOUNGER (Statutory Councillor John HOLLIDAY Co-optee)

In Attendance:-

Mr Michael Boyle, Finance Manager, Corporate Services Ms Irene Cavanagh, Head of Community Care, Community Services Ms Margaret Doran, Head of Schools, Children’s Services Mr Peter Farquhar, Principal Solicitor, Corporate Services Mr Bob Gil, PPP Project Manager, Children’s Services Ms Sue Gutteridge, Service Manager (Play and Out of School Care), Children’s Services Mr Gordon Jeyes, Director of Children’s Services Ms Linda Kinney, Head of Early Childhood and Out of School Care, Children’s Services Ms Rebecca Maxwell, Head of Planning and Resources, Children’s Services Mr Don Monteith, Press and PR Manager, Corporate Services Ms Anita Smiley, Service Manager Access, Children’s Services Mr Willie Watson, Head of Accounting Service, Corporate Services Ms Joyce Wighton, Service Manager (Planning and Resources), Children’s Services Ms Joyce Allen, Acting Democratic Services Manager, Corporate Services Ms Anne Irvine, Trainee Committee Officer, Corporate Services (Clerk)

Also Present:

Allan Kerr, EIS Representative Headteachers of Stirling’s High Schools

Apologies:

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Mr George Benny, Statutory Co-opted Member.

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC Prior to the commencement of business the Chair and Vice Chair made the following announcements:-

1. St Modan’s High School had achieved the Gold Standard for Scotland’s Health at Work Scheme award. It was considered to be an outstanding achievement to receive the award. It was agreed that a letter of congratulations be sent to the Headteacher on behalf of the Committee.

2. The Chair congratulated St Mary’s Primary School, Cowie on an outstanding performance of Grease. It was agreed that a letter of congratulations be sent to the Headteacher.

3. Two bands from St Modan’s High School had reached the final three out of 250 entrants in a recent competition. The bands were Scruffy Kids and Organised Chaos.

CH1 WRITTEN QUESTIONS

The Chair confirmed that no written questions had been received.

CH2 QUESTION TIME

Members of the Committee had the opportunity to put questions to the Chair on relevant and competent matters within the remit of the Committee.

CH3 PROMOTED POST COMPLEMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

A report by the Director of Children’s Services sought approval for the Stirling Council framework for promoted post structures and the detailed proposals from each secondary school.

The report explained the extent and depth of current consultation regarding the complement of promoted posts in secondary schools. Extensive discussions to ensure a mutual understanding of the conditions of service and the evolution/transition arrangements required to achieve implementation of the national Agreement and improved conditions for teaching and learning in Stirling Council Secondary Schools had also taken place.

Over the past five months there had been detailed and thorough consideration of all the associated issues within the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers’ Conditions of Service (LNCT). Trade union representatives had full access to all secondary schools for regular meetings with their members. The Head of Schools held focus group meetings in each school and five of these were attended by the Director of Children’s Services. The proposals for each individual school had been subject to a full review with the co-chairs of the LNCT, the individual headteacher and the school trade union representative. There was also a final whole staff meeting in each secondary school.

During the consultation key points were raised regarding curriculum development and workload issues which were detailed in the submitted report. Agreement had been reached in a number of areas including transitional support for 2003 – 2004. The list of agreements reached to date were listed in Appendix 3 to the submitted report and a copy of the agreements were also made available to the Committee.

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC The consultation had now concluded with the proposed revised framework and revised proposals from each secondary school before the Committee for approval.

The Director of Children’s Services thanked all staff and Trade Unions for their support and co-operation during the consultation period.

The Chair invited Mr Alan Kerr, Local Secretary for the EIS to make a presentation to the Committee on behalf of the Teachers’ Side. Mr Kerr outlined the concerns of the Teachers’ Side advising that proposals had been put forward by them but had been rejected as not being radical enough. He was however pleased to see that the EIS’s suggestion that temporary Principal Teacher posts be created to allow a smooth transition in 2003/04 had been included in the framework. The Teachers’ Side were concerned that the subject groupings were inconsistent across the schools. It was explained that the proposed groupings within individual schools were the result of the Headteachers’ consultation exercise with staff and Union representatives within each school. Concern had been expressed by the Teachers’ Side that learning and teaching would be adversely affected by the proposals. The Head of Schools advised that a former Chief Inspector of Schools had been commissioned to evaluate the proposals. The findings of the evaluation would be submitted to a future meeting of the Children’s Committee.

Mr Kerr acknowledged that the Trade Unions and teaching staff had fully participated in the consultation on the authority framework and the individual schools framework. In conclusion he thanked the Committee for the opportunity to address the meeting.

Decision

The Committee agreed:

1. to approve the revised Stirling Council framework contained in appendix 1 to the submitted report;

2. to approve the complement of promoted posts in each secondary school contained in appendix 2 to the submitted report;

3. to note the range of agreements reached within the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers’ Conditions of Service (LNCT) listed in appendix 3 to the submitted report;

4. to note the key issues identified from the consultation and the response to these key issues contained in appendix 4 to the submitted report;

5. to request that negotiations within the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers’ Conditions of Service (LNCT) regarding implementation continue and be reported to the next Children’s Committee.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, 19 June 2003, submitted).

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC CH4 STIRLING SCHOOLS PPP - REVISED BUSINESS CASE

In September 2002, the Resources Committee approved submission of an Outline Business Case (OBC) for a Stirling Schools PPP Project to the Scottish Executive. The proposed project involved the refurbishment of 6 high schools plus the construction of the Raploch Community Campus as part of the Raploch Regeneration. The OBC identified a Council affordability gap of £1.6M and sought annual Revenue Support Grant (RSG) of £5.645M per annum.

In March 2003 the Scottish Executive provided the Council with indicative Revenue Support Grant support of £4.29M per annum, or 76% of that requested. The Scottish Executive had also requested submission of a Revised Business Case summarising the Council’s revised proposals in the light of the indicative level of Revenue Support Grant available.

A report by the Director of Children’s Services sought approval for the submission of a Revised Business Case to the Scottish Executive seeking support to deliver a project based on the major refurbishment, improvement and, where required, extension of 5 Secondary Schools, plus the construction of the Raploch Community Campus.

Bannockburn High School had not been included within the proposed PPP Project as it was in significantly better physical condition than the other High Schools and did not require a major refurbishment of the nature normally associated with such a project. Although an extension to Bannockburn High School would be required as a result of the development of the Major Growth Area, the need for such an extension was still some way off. In the short term it was proposed that the Children’s Services element of the traditional capital programme would be re-profiled to address maintenance and organisational issues of immediate concern at the School.

Financial modelling of the Revised Business Case indicated that the Council would face a first year affordability gap for the revised project of £2.2M per annum based on 2003/04 prices. The affordability gap would rise slowly over time in real terms. This reflected the norm for PPP Projects.

As part of the PPP contract the Council would need to consider how it wished to deliver its Soft Facilities Management (catering and cleaning) services in the PPP schools, and in particular, the impact the chosen form of delivery would have on existing staff. The Scottish Executive had issued a Staffing Protocol for PPP projects and would be issuing a Technical Guidance Note in the near future. It was proposed that Resources Committee approval be sought in September of the approach to be taken to these services, once full consideration of the options had been given.

Approval of the Revised Business Case at the June meeting of the Resources Committee would allow the Scottish Executive to consider it over the summer, and approval would allow the PPP Procurement process to commence in the autumn. On this basis, it was envisaged that the Raploch Campus would open in August 2006, with the refurbished High Schools coming on-stream over the following 12 months. If submission of the Revised Business Case to the Scottish Executive was delayed beyond June/July, then it was unlikely that such a timetable would be met.

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. that the PPP funding made available by the Scottish Executive be used to build the Raploch Campus and to undertake significant refurbishment and upgrade to 5 secondary schools, namely St Modan’s High, Wallace High, Dunblane High, Stirling High and McLaren High;

2. to note that the Resources Committee had been asked to approve the submission of the Revised Business Case, as detailed in the submitted report, to the Scottish Executive with the aim of securing annual Revenue Support Grant to the project of £4.29M;

3. to note that improvement works required at Bannockburn High School would now be funded through the traditional means of the capital programme and that a report would be submitted to the next Children’s Committee outlining changes required to the Committee’s element of the capital programme.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, 5 June 2003 submitted).

CH5 INTEGRATION OF CHARLES BROWN SCHOOL INTO FALLIN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Stirling Council was committed to providing a spectrum of provision to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. The following documents outlined Stirling Council’s commitment to provision for children with special needs:-

• Section 15 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2002 outlined in law the right of every child to be included in mainstream schooling;

• Service to Children with, and/or affected by, Disability as agreed at Children’s Committee held on 14 September 2000, and

• The 6 monthly progress report on the recommendations from the Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Panel on Educational Inclusion submitted to Children’s Committee held on 13 February 2003.

At the meeting of the Children’s Committee held on 13 February 2003, approval was given to the preparation of a consultation paper on the designation of Charles Brown School.

A report by the Director of Children’s Services proposed the integration of Charles Brown School into Fallin Primary School in line with current modern practice to promote inclusion and to maximise opportunities for pupils with special educational needs to participate in a full range of events and activities. A technicality arising from this proposal was the need for Children’s Services to consult on the closure of Charles Brown School in order to withdraw the school from the scheme of provision and facilitate the integration.

Charles Brown School was opened in 1985 to provide education for primary aged children with cerebral palsy. The increase in capacity of mainstream schools to include a wider range of children with additional support needs and the wishes of parents for inclusive education had led to a smaller population of children with cerebral palsy who required separate specialist provision. The capacity of Charles Brown School was 20 and the school roll would be four in August 2003, three of whom were from the Falkirk Council area.

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC Although Charles Brown School shared a building with Fallin Primary School it was constituted as a separate school and therefore had the same administrative systems as any other school. In terms of best value, the administration required to meet the education and welfare needs of the small group of children could be more effectively met from within the existing systems in Fallin Primary School. The re-designation of the Charles Brown School would enable the establishment of extended learning support facilities for the Eastern Villages as was currently available in other Schools.

The consultation process and the regulations dictating the process to be followed were outlined in the submitted report. Discussions would also be held with the widow of Charles Brown to ensure that his contribution to the development of specialist services within the Council area was commemorated.

Councillor Hazel advised that Polmaise Community Council had discussed the matter at a recent meeting and were in agreement with the proposal to integrate Charles Brown School into Fallin Primary School.

Decision

The Committee agreed to:-

1. consult on the status of Charles Brown School by issuing a consultation paper attached as Appendix A to the submitted report;

2. note that the consultation was based on a proposal to integrate and enhance the facilities at Charles Brown School within Fallin Primary School and take it forward as part of the refurbishment of that school;

3. note that the proposed date of closure of the Charles Brown School would be 31 October 2003;

4. note that public meetings would be arranged by the Director of Children’s Services to explain the proposal and hear the views of communities;

5. note that all interested parties including all relevant parents’ groups would be invited to make written comments on the proposals to Gordon Jeyes, Director of Children’s Services, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET no later than 15 September 2003;

6. request that the Director of Children’s Services prepare a report on the result of the consultation meeting for consideration at Children’s Committee meeting in September.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, dated 29 May 2003, submitted).

CH6 GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET UPDATE

A report by the Director of Children’s Services provided an assessment of the final outturn for Children’s Services revenue budget for 2002/03.

The final budget position for Children’s Services for 2002/03 showed an underspend of £130,000 (0.22% of the overall budget) which was £138,000 less than was projected in the last report to Children’s Committee in February 2003.

An insurance settlement had been received as a result of the fire at McLaren High School in the summer of 2000 and this accounted for £100,000 of the underspend. The remainder of the underspend related to funds received late in 2002/3 from the

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC Scottish Executive for Continuing Professional Development for teachers and drugs education that were spent during the summer term of 2003. The key issues regarding budget performance were detailed in the submitted report.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to note that the Service had an underspend of £130,000 on its Revenue Budget for 2002/3;

2. to note that a report would be presented to the September meeting of Children’s Committee detailing the level of underspend that was required to be carried forward to 2003/4 and the policy implications of this carry forward.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, 23 May 2003, submitted).

CH7 GENERAL FUND CAPITAL PROGRAMME - PROGRESS REPORT

A report by the Director of Children’s Services provided details of the final outturn for Children’s Services capital programme for financial year 2002/03

Children’s Services capital programme for financial year 2002/3 was £1.58M. The Service's 2002/03-investment programme of £1.58M, provided a range of new or enhanced range of services, facilities and equipment.

The programme was underspent by £225,000 mainly due to the delay in setting up a project team to take forward the proposed PPP project for secondary schools. Details of the final outturn were summarised in the submitted report.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to note the final outturn on the capital investment programme;

2. to note the underspend on the capital programme would be fully used in 2003/4.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, 23 May 2003, submitted).

CH8 PLAY SERVICES QUALITY REPORT 2002 - 2003

A report by the Director of Children’s Services provided the Committee with the first standards and quality report on the work of Play Services in 2002/2003. The work had included a wide range of staffed play provision; management and development of public play areas; significant input into the use and development of school and nursery grounds, and involvement with the development of the home zone concept as part of the regeneration of Raploch.

The report outlined the areas of particular significance which had been:-

! New Opportunities Funding for Summer Schools in specific council areas;

! Changing Children’s Services funding enabling increased opportunities for disabled children and young people and their carers;

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC ! Development of a new approach to public play areas resulting in the establishing of a pilot scheme combining the ground maintenance and play equipment management.

Stirling Council’s Play Services attracted national recognition for its work, with numerous visits and requests for information and advice from national organisations and other local authorities. The Service had also been selected as an example of good practice as part of a UK wide Play Review conducted by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

An annual report detailing the work of Play Services had been compiled and provided information on the range and quality of provision, including statistical and funding details. The key areas outlined in the annual review were highlighted in the submitted report.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve the report on quality and standards in Play Services over 2002/03.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, dated 28 May 2003, submitted).

CH9 PRIMARY SCHOOL REFURBISHMENT PROGRAMME - PROGRESS REPORT

In October 1998, Children’s Committee approved a rolling programme of primary school refurbishments. Since then full refurbishments and extensions had been completed at East Plean Primary School, Cornton Primary School and Killearn Primary School.

At its meeting on 13 September 2001, Children’s Committee endorsed the proposal to adopt a thematic approach for the following phase of the primary school refurbishment programme. Nine priority primary schools were identified, having been assessed on the basis of fabric and structural condition, health and safety issues and quality of learning and teaching environment.

A report by the Director of Children’s Services provided the Committee with an update on the progress being made with the primary school refurbishment programme and brought forward proposals to add two schools to the priority list.

A process of continual review of the condition of all primary schools, fabric inspections, health and safety audits and HMI inspections had highlighted a rapid and significant deterioration in the mobile accommodation at Buchlyvie Primary School and the ‘horsa’ hut at Aberfoyle Primary School. In view of this it was proposed to add Buchlyvie Primary School and Aberfoyle Primary School to the priority list in that order.

The Director of Children’s Services advised that should the Revised Business Case for the PPP project proceed a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee bringing forward proposals for a programme of essential maintenance work at Bannockburn High School.

N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\CHILDREN\MINUTES\CH20030619.DOC Decision

The Committee agreed:

1. to note the progress made to date with the primary school refurbishment programme;

2. to endorse the proposal to add Buchlyvie Primary School and Aberfoyle Primary School to the priority list, in that order.

3. to note that should the Revised Business Case for the PPP Project proceed a report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Children’s Committee to propose a programme of essential maintenance work at Bannockburn High School.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, dated 27 May 2003, submitted).

CH10 STRATEGIC PLANNING: SERVICE PLAN FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES 2003- 2004

A report by the Director of Children’s Services sought approval of the Service Plan for the period 2003/04 and beyond.

The Service Plan covered the period from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 which was the first year in the three-year service planning period. It described how Children’s Services intended to meet the needs of children, young people and families for education and care services.

The Service Plan prioritised achievement for all, social inclusion and an approach based on children’s rights and citizenship. Improved integrated working within Children’s Services and with other partners and agencies such as Community Services, Health Services and the voluntary, private and other agencies was evident to assist the delivery of quality services to children, young people and families. The objectives contained in the Service Plan were arrived at following analysis of school development plans, team plans, consultation with managers and staff throughout Children’s Services and a review of the service involving questionnaires to all service employees. Planning objectives reflected the national and local agenda and were consistent with targets and outcomes in complementary plans and strategies.

Decision

The Committee agreed to approve the aims and objectives for 2003/04 described in the service plan.

(Reference – Report by Director of Children’s Services, dated 29 May 2003, submitted).

The Panel resolved that under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph1, 5 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

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CH11 PROGRESS MADE ON CHILD PROTECTION AND RELATED CHILDCARE SERVICES IN STIRLING

In November 1998 the outgoing Director of Housing and Social Services commissioned two reports by an external Consultant to consider issues relating to Child Protection and Related Child Care Services and to the conduct of the Service with regard to a specific foster carer. The findings were reported to Children’s Committee on 22 June 1999.

On 26 August 1999 a further report was brought to Children’s Committee which detailed the proposals to address resourcing issues within Children, Young People and Families Service as identified by the independent inspection.

A report by the Director of Children’s Services advised Committee of the ongoing correspondence between the Council and the former foster carer and gave an update of the progress made on Child Protection and related childcare services in Stirling since the publication of the reports by the external Consultant. It was noted that the former foster carer had instigated legal action.

Decision

The Committee agreed:-

1. to note the action being pursued by the former foster carer;

2. to note the response made to the personnel issues raised in the individual childcare cases;

3. to note the progress made in terms of the wider organisational and management context.

(Reference – Joint Report by Directors of Children’s and Corporate Services, dated 28 May 2003, submitted).

The Chair declared the meeting closed at 11.55 am.

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