Meeting Details

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors' Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member's interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

The minute of the meeting of the Children and Young People's Services Committee dated 21 November 2018 was submitted and approved.

The Committee noted that no written questions had been submitted.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the Education Operational Deliver Committee of the further development of the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan (Phase 2).

Following consideration, the Committee agreed to:

i)     note the progress of the Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Plan; and

ii)     note that a grant of up to £1,086,087 has been allocated to the Northern Alliance to enhance the Regional Improvement Collaborative's                        activities and capacity building.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) provided Committee with a summary of the data collected in June 2018 and provided to the Scottish Government at the end of August 2018 regarding Teacher Judgements on children and young people achieving Curriculum for Excellence levels which appear in the Scottish Government report published in December 2018.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the report.

Councillor Leadbitter (ex-officio) entered the meeting during the discussion of this item.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the work undertaken by the Moray Fostering and Adoption Panel during the period January to December 2018.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the work of the Moray Fostering and Adoption Panel in the period January to December 2018.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of projects and proposed expenditure for Capital Budgets within Education and Social Care for 2018/19.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

Councillor Alexander left the meeting during the discussion of this item on the agenda.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of projects and proposed expenditure for Capital Budgets within Education and Social Care for 2018/19.

Following consideration, the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

Councillor Alexander re-entered the meeting during the discussion of this item on the agenda.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) outlined the performance of services for the period from 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018.

Following consideration the Committee agreed:

i)     to note the performance against Education and Social Care Performance Indicators as at the end of September 2018;

ii)     to welcome good performance as indicated in the report; and

iii)     to note the actions being taken to seek improvements where required.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed the Committee of the content of singleton inspectin reports of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) centres by the Care Inspectorate which were published during November to December 2018.  These were:

• VIP Childcare, Elgin
• Ark Childcare, Mosstowie
• East Beach, Lossiemouth
• Liberty Kids, Elgin
• Millbank Primary Nursery, Buckie
• Miltonduff Pre-school Group, Miltonduff

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited the Committee to scrutinise and note the outcomes of the recently published report on a Moray Early Learning Centre (ELC) setting following inspection by Education Scotland.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited the Committee to scrutinise and note the outcomes of the recently published report on a Moray Early Learning Centre (ELC) setting following inspection by Education Scotland.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited the Committee to scrutinise and note the outcomes of the recently published report on a Moray school following an inspection revisit by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) invited the Committee to scrutinise and note the inspection of Moray's Supported Lodgings Project by the Care Inspectorate which was completed on 1 October 2018.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the content of the inspection report into the Moray Supported Lodgings Service.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) informed Committee of the recent external review by Education Scotland with regard to Career Information, Advice and Guidance Services.  The report was published on 9 November 2018.

Following consideration the Committee noted the contents of the report.

Under reference to paragraph 21 of the minute of the previous meeting of 21 November 2018, Councillor Ross sought clarification on why the Chair of Children and Young People’s Committee had not, as agreed at the previous meeting, circulated the letter from the Educational Institute of Scotland.

In response the Chief Executive clarified the situation with regards to the letter.  The addressing of the letter was not clear initially if it was a personal letter or was widely circulated to all Conveners.  The letter was confirmed to have been circulated to all Conveners.

He further added that the letter was in the process of being circulated to all members of the Committee along with a letter and a joint statement from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES) and the Scottish Government.  Members of the Committee will therefore have the EIS, ADES and Scottish Government positions.

The Chief Executive confirmed that Moray Council is following the advice from ADES and he hoped the issue that Councillor Ross raised will be wholly dealt with by the correspondence Members will receive.

The Chief Executive apologised for the confusion as to the status of the letter.

Under reference to paragraph 12 of the minute of the previous meeting of 21 November 2018, Councillor Alexander sought clarification on the on whether the decision taken at that meeting regarding the funding of the Active Schools and Sports Development programme and the decision taken at Moray Council on 23 January 2019 would require a suspension of standing order 82 as the decision was made within 6 months.

In response the Chief Executive, confirmed that he was of the understanding that Standing Orders were suspended when it is in relation to budget decisions, however he would check with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services and confirm the position.

Under reference to paragraph 12 of the minute of the previous meeting of 21 November 2018, Councillor Brown sought clarification on the point he raised about the Council being able to afford their contribution to continue the funding of the Active Schools and Sports Development project.  He continued that assurances were given that the Council could afford the payment however several weeks later at a meeting of Moray Council when the budget was considered, the proposal was put forward as a saving.  He went on to ask, why the Administration Group had put forward the spend for approval knowing that they were then going to put the spend forward as a saving.

In response, Councillor Leadbitter confirmed that between the 2 meetings the Scottish Government had announced their budget which had resulted in  implications on decisions already made.  He further added that budget proposals are being made as a result of the changing information following potential budget changes from Westminster and Holyrood.

During discussion of this item, in order to conclude the business of the meeting, the Committee agreed to Suspend Standing Order 74 and continue the business of the meeting beyond 12.45pm.

Councillor Eagle sought clarification on the Wellbeing Surveys; Re-aligning Children’s Services, Transforming Children’s Futures which have recently been sent to all parents in the area.  Concern has been raised by some parents on the intrusiveness of the questions.  Councillor Eagle further questioned whether the Council had done any promotion of the questionnaire and that parents/children have the option to opt out of completing the questionnaires.

In response, the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development confirmed that there are currently 2 surveys being conducted.  The Wellbeing Survey is a national survey which the Council will be part of and undertake. 

The second survey is in connection with Moray’s Children’s Services and is being carried out to look at the alignment of Children’s Services and is being lead by Health.

The Head of Schools and Curriculum Development confirmed that parents have the option to opt out of completing the questionnaires.

The Acting Head of Integrated Children’s Services further added that Moray is part of the 3^rd cohort of the Re-aligning Children’s Services Programme across Scotland.  The survey is aimed at determining what children and families feel are their areas of need within Moray.  Letters have gone out to every parent and child within the area and champions have been identified in each school to have the dialogue with parents and children to pick up any issues that are being raised.

Councillor Eagle requested that Officers carry out some work to ensure that parents were aware of the option to opt out.

In response the Acting Head of Integrated Children’s Services agreed to take that forward.

Councillor Leadbitter further added that the same issue, regarding the intrusiveness of the questions had come up at West End Primary School, and he urged parents who were wishing to opt out could feedback to the Scottish Government on their reasons as the survey is always being reviewed and their feedback would be helpful.

Mrs Belcher, requested whether a review of the music tuition could be undertaken as it should not only be available for those families who can afford it.

In response, Councillor Warren confirmed that the Head of Schools and Curriculum Development has been asked to review the music tuition within Moray and to look at alternative proposals.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Sonya Warren.

The Chair asked the Committee to note that Item 18 on the agenda, Resolution, would be taken as item 2a on the agenda.

The meeting resolved in terms of Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded form the meeting during consideration of the items of business appearing at the relevant paragraphs of this minute as specified below, so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

A report by the Acting Corporate Director (Education and Social Care) sought Committee approval to establish a new fostering scheme in Moray having consulted on the proposed arrangements.

During discussion Councillor Alexander sought agreement to amend the wording of recommendation 2 to read 'payable to children in foster and kinship care' rather than 'payable for children to in foster and kinship care'.  The Acting Head of Integrated Children's Services was happy to make the amendment.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to:

i)     approve the establishment of a new fostering scheme in Moray described in Appendix I of the report; and

ii)     note the issues relating to allowances made payable to children in foster and kinship care.

A report by the Chief Executive provided Committee with a summary of the data collected in June 2018 at individual school level and provided to the Scottish Government at the end of August 2018 regarding Teacher Judgements on children and young people achieving Curriculum for Excellence levels which appear in the Scottish Government report published in December 2018 broken down per Associated Schools Group and per school.

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the report and Appendix I.