Children, Families & Communities Committee - 23/06/2025
At a MEETING of the CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd June, 2025.
Present:-
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Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL
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Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL |
BAILIES
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Will DAWSON |
Willie SAWERS |
Fraser MACPHERSON |
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Christina ROBERTS |
Kevin KEENAN |
Derek SCOTT |
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Helen WRIGHT |
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COUNCILLORS
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Heather ANDERSON |
Steven ROME |
Dorothy McHUGH |
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Jimmy BLACK |
Lynne SHORT |
George McIRVINE |
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Nadia EL-NAKLA |
Roisin SMITH |
Wendy SCULLIN |
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Mark FLYNN |
Siobhan TOLLAND |
Pete SHEARS |
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Stewart HUNTER |
Georgia CRUICKSHANK |
Daniel COLEMAN |
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Ken LYNN |
Jax FINNEGAN |
Michael CRICHTON |
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Lee MILLS |
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Craig DUNCAN |
External Members for Articles I to V.
Ms Jodi BARCLAY, Teacher Representative
Mr David GIBSON, Teacher Representative
Mrs Tara JAVED, Parent 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 12th May, 2025 was held as read.
Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.
I DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
II PARENT AND PUPIL REPRESENTATION ON CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE
(a) PARENT REPRESENTATION
It was reported that the current parent representatives were Tara Javed (primary representative) and John Anderson-McGuinness (secondary representative) and there was no need for them to be replaced at this time.
The representatives had agreed to continue to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commissions Guidance.
The Committee approved the re-appointments.
(b) PUPIL REPRESENTATION
It was reported that the pupil representative for 2024/2025 session had now left school and the City Wide Pupil Voice had nominated a replacement pupil representative. Arrangements were being made for the pupil to become a member of the Committee and further details would be reported in due course.
III INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SERVICE UPDATE AND OVERVIEW
There was submitted Report No 199-2025 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing the Children, Families and Communities Committee with an overview of the Instrumental Music Service (IMS) provision across all school sectors.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.
IV SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAY DATES 2027/2028 AND 2028/2029 AND AMENDMENT TO SCHOOLTERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2025/2026
There was submitted Report No 198-2025 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval of the scheme for school terms and holidays for sessions 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 and an amendment to the school terms and holidays for 2025/2026.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note and approve the scheme (Appendix 1 of the report referred) of school terms and holidays for sessions 2027/2028 and 2028/2029; and
(ii) to note and approve the amendment to the school terms and holidays for session 2025/2026, a change to the last day of session.
V CLOSURE OF ST PIUS X RC PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY OUTCOME OF FORMALCONSULTATION
The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation to address the Committee relative to this item of business by Alison Watson and Marion Swan on behalf of the Parent Voice Group at St Pius X RC Primary School. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.
On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 2nd December, 2024, there was submitted Report No 200-2025 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting the Consultation Report, in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010, in respect of the proposal to permanently close St Pius X Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School and Nursery and rezone the school catchment to St Francis RC Primary School, for full consideration by Committee. The report also sought approval to proceed with the recommendations contained within the Consultation Report.
Thereafter, the Convener seconded by Councillor Smith moved that the Committee:-
(i) notes the feedback from the statutory consultation and the Children and Families Service response to each key theme;
(ii) approves the proposal to:
(a) close St Pius X RC Primary School and Nursery at the end of academic session 2025/2026;
(b) rezone the catchment area of St Francis RC Primary School to include the existing St Pius X RC Primary School catchment area;
(iii) approves the recommendations that:
(a) free transport will be provided for all children who reside in the St Pius catchment areas who choose to attend St Francis RC Primary School. From the 2032/2033 academic session this will be reviewed annually and Committee approval will be required if the free transport is to be stopped;
(b) the Children and Families Service commits to working in partnership with Diocese of Dunkeld representatives to ensure that Religious Education provision (by a Church approved teacher) and support for sacramental preparation is available in Claypotts Castle Primary, with the approach to be agreed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld and Executive Director of Children and Families; and
(c) the Children and Families Service commits to continuing to collaborate with representatives from the Diocese of Dunkeld to jointly develop a strategic plan for the future of Catholic education in Dundee. This plan will be completed by the end of the 2025/2026 academic year.
As an amendment, Bailie Macpherson seconded by Councillor McHugh recommended that the Committee notes the feedback from the statutory consultation and the Children and Families Service response to each key theme, but determines to take no further action as the case for closure of St Pius X RC Primary School has not been made and closure is not in the school communitys and wider communitys interest.
On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Campbell, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts and Sawers and Councillors Anderson, Black, El-Nakla, Flynn, Lynn, Mills, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (16); and for the amendment Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman, Crichton and Duncan and Mrs Little (14); Ms Barclay, Mr Gibson and Mrs McVean declining to vote whereupon the motion was carried and became the finding of the meeting.
Stewart HUNTER, Convener.