Children And Families Services Committee - 28/01/2019

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2019.

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

Ms K RADTKE, Parent 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 10th December, 2018 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Marra declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article III by virtue of being the Secretary of Optimistic Sound who were one of the funders of Big Noise, Douglas.

Councillor Malone declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article V by virtue of being employed by the University of Abertay.

II TEACHER REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN3-2019 whereby reference was made to Article V of the Statutory Meeting of the City Council of 22nd May, 2017, wherein it was agreed to appoint two teaching staff representatives to this Committee.

It was reported that Ms Corrine Deuchars had intimated her resignation from the Children and Families Services Committee.

The Committee approved the filling of resultant vacancy and instructed the Head of Democratic and Legal Services to make the necessary arrangements to seek nominations.

III SISTEMA SCOTLAND - THE BIG NOISE IN DOUGLAS

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd May, 2016, there was submitted Report No 41-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Committee with a further update on the progress being made to introduce the SISTEMA Scotland Big Noise programme in Dundee following the signing of the formal Partnership Agreement. This report set out the revised operational timeline between the City Council, Optimistic Sound and Sistema Scotland, the organisation responsible for the Big Noise Programme.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the content of the report;

(ii) note the revised timeline for implementation at school level; and

(iii) instruct the Executive Director to produce an annual report on the implementation of the programme.

IV ASPIRE DUNDEE - PROGRESS UPDATE JANUARY 2019

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th June, 2013, there was submitted Report No 42-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Committee with an update of the ASPIRE Dundee Programme.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the content of the report; and

(ii) instruct the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to include updates on the ASPIRE programme through Scottish Attainment Challenge Updates.

V YEAR OF YOUNG PEOPLE 2018

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th March, 2018, there was submitted Report No 45-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Committee with a summary of key events that had taken place over the course of the year across the City.

The Committee agreed to note the range of activities that had taken place as described in the report.

VI COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO LEARNING ESTATE TRANSFORMATION ACROSS TAYSIDE

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 12th December, 2016, there was submitted Report No 47-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service detailing opportunities for Perth and Kinross Council, Dundee City Council and Angus Council to work in collaboration in the development of the combined learning/school estate. The report also detailed opportunities for Dundee City Council and Angus Council to collaborate in relation to learning/school estate matters pertaining to the West Broughty Ferry/Monifieth area. The report further detailed options for the future of Braeview Academy in light of the recent fire and possible options for Craigie High School.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve that Dundee City Council explore in more detail, working in collaboration with Perth and Kinross Council and Angus Council on the practicalities of developing a new joint community learning campus;

(ii) approve that Dundee City and Angus Councils work in collaboration regarding school estate matters in the West Broughty Ferry/Monifieth areas;

(iii) approve that Dundee City Council consider options for secondary education in the east of the City;

(iv) approve that an informal consultation proceed with the relevant communities in the potentially affected areas across Tayside;

(v) note that a full multi-option community consultation would include a range of options including:-

- the provision of a separate primary school in the Western Gateway;

- significant investment in Craigie High School and Braeview High School as already committed to in the existing capital plan, with additional resource requested from the Scottish Government;

- the option of community learning campuses in the tri-council Western proposal and any new Eastern provision with extensive all-day community facilities that would include fitness, swimming and broader community learning assets as well as comprehensive options for birth to 18 education provision; and

(vi) instruct the respective Executive/Strategic Directors to prepare a report on the results of the informal consultation and report back to their Committees on the outcome of the consultation at a future meeting. Depending on the outcome of this informal consultation, the respective Committees might be asked to instruct the relevant Executive/Strategic Directors to consult formally under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

At this juncture, external members of the Committee departed.

VII SCOTTISH CARE LEAVERS COVENANT AND CONTINUING CARE PAYMENT PROPOSALS

There was submitted Report No 44-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval for Dundee City Council to become a signatory to the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant. The report also seeked approval for the outlined proposals in relation to funding for Continuing Care for those in kinship and foster care placements.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) adopt and become signatories to the Scottish Care Leavers Covenant and the priorities, actions and intended outcomes proposed within it;

(ii) instruct the Executive Director to incorporate the principles of the Covenant in Dundees Corporate Parenting Plan and ensure that the Covenants priorities had equal status with the Charter for Looked After Children; and

(iii) approve proposals in relation to the funding requirements of Continuing Care.

VIII DUNDEE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 52-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting the Committee with the Independent Chair of the Child Protection Committees annual report for the period April, 2017-March, 2018.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the content of the annual report which was attached as Appendix I; and

(ii) note the Recommendations and Future Plans identified for 2018-2019 as outlined in Paragraph 4.6 of the report.

IX PROPOSED NEW PAUSE SERVICE FOR DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 43-2019 by the Chief Social Work Officer seeking approval to introduce a new service, Pause, for women who have had multiple children removed from their care.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the establishment of a pilot Pause Practice in Dundee, subject to confirmation of funding, which would be informed by a steering group involving relevant partner agencies; and

(ii) instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to report back to the Committee, no later than October, 2021, regarding the evaluation and longer-term sustainability of a Pause Service for Dundee.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.