Children And Families Services Committee - 21/06/2021

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICE COMMITTEE held remotely on 21st June, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to V

Miss K MANDS, Church of Scotland Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mr M CHOHAN, 3rd Church Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th May, 2021 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

VALEDICTORY - CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT ANDREW TODD

Prior to commencement of business, Councillor Cordell, Convener, Community Safety and Public Protection Committee, paid tribute to Chief Superintendent Andrew Todd on his retiral and thanked him for services rendered as Local Police Commander. Other members of the Council also paid tribute and the Chief Superintendent replied in suitable terms.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 1980 - APPEAL COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN17-2021 advising that it had been necessary to seek nominations for additional Chairs of the Appeal Committee.

The Head of Democratic and Legal Services advised that the undernoted were recommended for appointment with immediate effect for the remainder of the lifetime of the present Council:-

Mrs Elaine Carolan

Ms Susan Walker

The Committee approved the above.

III CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024

There was submitted Report No 170-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting the Service Plan for the Children and Families Service for the period 2021/2024.

The Committee approved the Service Plan which was appended to the report at Appendix 1.

IV PRIMARY PROVISION OPTIONS FOR THE 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 they were thanked for their contribution and withdrew.

There was submitted Report No 171-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting various options for primary provision to serve the Western Gateway.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to delete the recommendations contained in the report;

(ii) approved, in principle, the construction of a new primary school in the Western Gateway and remitted to Officers to propose necessary amendments to the Capital Plan 2021/2026 for General Services and Housing HRA at its next update in February/March 2022 and also recommend necessary provision in the Council's Revenue Budget, when appropriate;

(iii) agreed, in the interim period, to continue to use existing catchment and local primary provision to manage the expansion resulting from the Western Gateway and concurrently seek to secure funding through the Scottish Government LEIP to allow the construction of a new school;

(iv) agreed to continue to work with the Western Gateway Community on all issues relating to education; and

(v) noted that further updates on progress and developments would be included in the annual School Estate Management Plan (SEMP) Committee Report in December 2021.

V LAUNCH OF EVERY DUNDEE LEARNER MATTERS STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 172-2021 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the implementation of the Every Dundee Learner Matters Strategy which was appended to the report as Appendix 1; and

(ii) instructed the Chief Education Officer to bring a progress report to the Children and Families Services Committee in one years time and a full report in two years time.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.