Children And Families Services Committee - 27/06/2022

At a MEETING of the CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 27th June, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

External members for Articles I to VI

Mr J ANDERSON-McGUINNESS, Parent Representative

Ms J BARCLAY, Teacher Representative

Mr D BAXTER, Teacher Representative

Ms M LECK, Roman Catholic Church Representative

Mrs M McVEAN, Church of Scotland Representative

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th March, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATION ON THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN32-2022 where reference was made to Article V of the minute of the Statutory Meeting of the City Council held on 23rd May, 2022, wherein it was agreed that the current religious representatives continued for a further period of six months to allow arrangements to be made for new representatives to be appointed to the Committee.

Nominations had been received on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland:

Mrs Moira Leck (Roman Catholic Church)

Mrs Margaret McVean (Church of Scotland)

The Third Religious representative would be notified in due course.

The nominees had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commissions Guidance.

The Committee approved the above appointments.

III PUPIL EQUITY FUND - UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 160-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an overview of the use of the Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) during session 2021/2022, as well as an update about PEF allocations from 2022/2023 until 2025/2026.

The Committee noted the content of the report.

IV PRIMARY PROVISION TO SERVE THE WESTERN GATEWAY

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2021, there was submitted Report No 161-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval to formally consult on the undernoted proposal under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

The Committee:-

(i) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to formally consult on the following proposal: establishment of a new Primary School with Nursery Class within the Western Gateway of Dundee and proposal to vary admission arrangements through the revision of Ardler Primary School catchment area to establish a catchment area for the new school; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to report the outcomes and recommendations resulting from the statutory consultation in due course.

V CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2021, wherein the Children and Families Service Plan 2021/2024 was approved, there was submitted Report No 162-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the first update on the implementation of the Service Plan. The report highlighted key developments and achievements over the last 12 months, along with areas for improvement and priorities going forward. A more detailed outline of activity carried out across the service was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the considerable progress made in the implementation of the Service Plan; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to provide a further update on progress in six months.

VI ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN STARTING PRIMARY 1

There was submitted Report No 163-2022 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing information about a consultation exercise and proposal to go to full-time provision from the beginning of Primary 1.

The Committee noted that, due to the timescales involved, the recommendations in the report had been approved by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service in consultation with the Convener of the Children and Families Services Committee, Labour Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.