Minute
North Lanarkshire Council · 28 February 2023
Back to Education, Children and Families Committee — 28 February 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 101 28 February 2023 at 2 pm. A Meeting of the EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Campbell, Convener; Councillor Duffy-Lawson, Vice-Convener; Councillors Ashraf, Ballinger, Barclay, Baudo, Boyd, Brannan-McVey, Bustard, Carragher, Costello, M. Coyle, S. Coyle, Currie, Dunbar, Fotheringham, Hughes, D. Johnston, T. Johnston, Keltie, Khan, Larson, Lennon, Loughran, Magowan, Masterton, McCluskey, B. McCulloch, McKendrick, McManus, McPake, McVey, Mitchell, Stevenson, Toner, Wilson and Woods, and Mr. G. McCormack. ALSO PRESENT In accordance with Standing Order 64(A) Councillors Logue, M. McCulloch and McPhilemy attended as substitutes for Councillors Kelly, Jones and McKay respectively. CHAIR Councillor Campbell (Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE The Chief Officer (Education – North); Chief Officer (Education – South); Chief Social Work Officer (Education, Families, Justice and Integrated Practice); Senior Education and Families Manager (Social Work); Business Finance Manager; Education and Families Manager, and Democratic Services Manager. APOLOGIES Councillors Jones, Kelly, McKay, M. McCrossan, G. Paterson and I. Scott. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. Councillor Duffy-Lawson, by virtue of his employment, declared a connection with agenda item 9 – Annual Report of the Chief Social Work Officer 2021/22 and further declared that he believed the interest was so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in the consideration of the item. APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 2. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Legal and Democratic) providing notification of the nomination made by the Church of Scotland for Ms. Margaret Clarkson to be appointed as its statutory representative to the Committee following the resignation of Mr. D. Hannan. Decided: (1) that the nomination made by the Church of Scotland for Ms. M. Clarkson to be its representative on the Committee be noted, and
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 102 (2) that the report be remitted to the Council, with a recommendation that Ms. M. Clarkson be appointed as the representative of the Church of Scotland on the Education, Children and Families Committee. 1140 EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE EXPANSION PROGRAMME UPDATE 3. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) providing an update on the 1140 Hours Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Expansion Programme; (2) informing of the progress at Craigneuk Family Learning Centre and Heathery Park Family Learning Centre; (3) setting out the position of the ELC Procurement Framework, and (4) summarising the increase in rates for daycare providers in accordance with Scottish Government guidance. Decided: (1) that the 1140 project update be noted; (2) that the progress of Heathery Park ELC be noted; (3) that the position regarding the ELC Procurement Framework be noted, and (4) that the increase in rates for daycare providers be noted. STRATHCLYDE PARK OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMME 4. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) providing an update on the Strathclyde Park Outdoor Education Programme; (2) informing of the increased number of participants using the facility; (3) detailing the range of activities and opportunities available to the young people using the facility, and (4) highlighting within the report the assistance available to pupils and schools to ensure all young people may participate within the programme. Decided: (1) that the ongoing development of the programme, as detailed within the report, be approved; (2) that the development of Strathclyde Park Outdoor Education Programme, and the ongoing increase in schools participating, be noted, and (3) that the contents of the report be otherwise noted. GETTING IT RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD 5. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) providing an update on the progress of the implementation and development of The Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) process; (2) summarising new GIRFEC guidance published by the Scottish Government; (3) outlining recent developments linked to the Roadmap to Recovery, and the mental health and wellbeing plan for children in North Lanarkshire; (4) advising that the Council's approach to the GIRFEC pathway in North Lanarkshire would bring the Council closer to the local and national vision, and (5) highlighting that a previously reported online tool had been developed to allow frontline practitioners a simpler access to information. Decided: that the report be noted.
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 103 PROPOSALS FOR STATUTORY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS AND THE PROPOSED NEW BUILD FOR GARTCOSH PRIMARY 6. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) outlining proposals for a statutory public consultation on the proposed new build for Gartcosh Primary School; (2) informing of the key reasons and benefits for the proposal that offer a wide range of learning opportunities for the children; (3) setting out in Appendix 1 to the report the proposed statutory consultation document, and (4) seeking approval for the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 of the report. Decided: (1) that the formal consultation on the new build proposal for Gartcosh Primary be approved; (2) that the statutory consultation document, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (3) that the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report, be approved. PROPOSALS FOR STATUTORY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED RELOCATION OF MAVISBANK SCHOOL TO THE EXISTING CARNBROE PRIMARY SCHOOL 7. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) outlining proposals for a statutory public consultation on the proposed relocation of Mavisbank School to the existing Carnbroe Primary School; (2) informing of the key reasons and benefits for the proposal including the reconfiguration of the intensive Additional Support Needs (ASN) systems and services to support children and young people with intensive social and emotional needs, and (3) seeking approval (a) to undertake a statutory consultation on the proposed school relocation, and (b) of the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report. Decided: (1) that the undertaking of a statutory consultation on the proposed relocation of Mavisbank School to the existing Carnbroe Primary School be approved, and (2) that the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report, be approved. PROPOSALS FOR STATUTORY PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED REZONING OF THE DUNLOP ESTATE 8. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) (1) outlining proposals for a statutory public consultation on the proposed rezoning of the Dunlop Estate within North Lanarkshire; (2) informing that, following a request from residents, the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland agreed to conduct a review of the boundary between Glasgow City and the Council areas at Cardowan, Stepps, and (3) seeking approval (a) to undertake a statutory consultation on the proposed relocation, and (b) of the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report. Decided: (1) that the undertaking of a statutory consultation on the proposed rezoning of the Dunlop Estate within North Lanarkshire be approved, and (2) that the timeline for consultation, as detailed within Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 104 Councillor Duffy-Lawson, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of his employment, further declared that he considered the connection so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in consideration of the matter. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER 2021/22 9. There was submitted a report by the Chief Social Work Officer (Education, Families, Justice and Integrated Practice) (1) advising that the Chief Social Work Officer of each local authority is required to provide an annual report; (2) attaching, as an Appendix to the report, the North Lanarkshire Chief Social Work Officer report for 2021/22, providing information on the delivery of statutory functions and performance in improvement activity across the range of Social Work services over that year; (3) explaining that the report also provides information on the wider governance and planning of social work provision within North Lanarkshire, include its key role in local partnerships, on both the national and local challenges impacting on the delivery of Social Work service delivery and demand, and (4) highlighting that the report reflects Social Work's contribution to the Programme of Work, underpinning the "Plan for North Lanarkshire" and "Delivering for Communities" framework. Decided: (1) that the Annual Report for 2021/22 be approved, and (2) that it be noted that approval of the report would also be sought through the Adult Care and Social Work Committee. KEEPING THE PROMISE - CARE EXPERIENCED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 10. There was submitted a report by the Chief Social Work Officer (1) providing an update on the key developments to deliver The Promise: Care Foundation to support care experienced children and young people; (2) detailing a number of key areas on how the Children's Champions Board and Promise Development Team ensure lived experience is central to the change process; (3) advising of planned activity on the critical role of support offered within the Council's Children's Houses to further enhance the Children's Carer Service and the wide ranging work of the virtual school in improving educational opportunities, attainment and wider outcomes, and (4) setting out the next steps and planned actions in delivering the Promise and the Promise Plan 2021-24. Decided: (1) that the next steps and planned actions, as detailed within the report, be approved, and (2) that the contents of the report be otherwise noted. KEEPING THE PROMISE - SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE 11. There was submitted a report by the Chief Social Work Officer (1) outlining that a recent report by the former Director of the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice found children in conflict with the law in Scotland experienced stigmatisation, trauma and poor outcomes; (2) intimating that the Scottish Government had published a revised framework "Justice for Children and Young People – A Rights Respecting Approach" for the benefit of upholding the rights of children; (3) detailing that a Youth Justice Steering Group had been established in 2021 to review the approach to supporting young people in conflict with the law in North Lanarkshire to ensure services meet the outcomes and priorities outlined within the Framework; (4) informing that the Council aim is to deliver the specific call to action in the Promise Plan 2021-24 to end the disproportionate criminalisation of care experienced young people; (5) summarising the principal findings from the review and the plans to proceed with a rights respecting approach; (6) setting out plans to integrate Early and Effective Intervention (EEI),
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 105 currently provided externally, with the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) pathway and empowering clusters approach; (7) proposing not to retender or recommission the externally provided EEI service in line with the options appraisal, subject to the appropriate requirements, and (8) seeking approval to develop an in-house youth work response to EEI that would align with the support and services developed through the Empowering Clusters approach. Councillor Logue, seconded by Councillor Duffy-Lawson proposed that the recommendation contained within the report be approved. Councillor Larson, seconded by Councillor Ballinger, proposed as an amendment:- "Council recognises the impact of the Covid pandemic and declines to make decisions over performance using figures obtained during lockdown periods. Council further agrees to work with Bellshill and Mossend YMCA using an ethos of continuous improvement to produce an agreed framework for enhanced reporting." Thereon, in Standing Order 39, the vote was taken by calling the roll. On the roll being called:- 21 Members voted for the motion as follows:- Councillors Boyd, Brannan-McVey, Bustard, Campbell, Costello, S. Coyle, Currie, Duffy-Lawson, Dunbar, Khan, Logue, Loughran, B. McCulloch, M. McCulloch, McKendrick, McPake, McPhilemy, McVey, Stevenson, Wilson and Woods. 17 Members voted for the amendment as follows:- Councillors Ashraf, Ballinger, Barclay, Baudo, Carragher, Fotheringham, Hughes, D. Johnston, T. Johnston, Keltie, Larson, Magowan, Masterton, McCluskey, McManus, Mitchell and Toner. Councillor Lennon abstained. 21 Members having voted for the motion and 17 Members having voted for the amendment and 1 Member having abstained, the motion was accordingly declared carried. Decided: (1) that the piloting of Early and Effective Intervention (EEI) through the GIRFEC pathway, as part of the empowering clusters approach, be noted; (2) that it be agreed not to retender or recommission an externally provided EEI service, in line with the options appraisal, subject to completion of due diligence and production of a business plan to include consideration of financial, legal and HR implications, and (3) that the proposal to develop an in-house youth work response to EEI, aligned with the support and services being developed through the empowering clusters model, be approved. STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK - LATEST PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR EDUCATION 12. There was submitted a joint report by the Chief Officer (Education – North) and the Chief Officer (Education – South) (1) setting out the process in the Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) indicators; (2) reminding Committee that the performance information, normally collated through routine HMIE scrutiny processes, had been paused from March 2020 until August 2022, due to the Coronavirus pandemic; (3) highlighting the impact the pandemic had on the exam process across Scotland and therefore the data had been impacted in this context; (4) setting out a summary
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EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES - 28 FEBRUARY 2023 106 of analysis to identify which indicators and service areas had improved performance and those that required improvement, and (5) enclosing within the Appendix to the report a high level performance overview. Decided: that the high level performance overview, as detailed within Appendix 1 to the report, and the supporting data as outlined within the report be approved. REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING REPORT 13. There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) providing a summary of the financial performance of the Education, Children and Families Services for the period 1 April 2022 to 6 January 2023 (Period 10), and (2) illustrating the projected outturn as at 31 March 2023, with major outturn variances highlighted and explained as per the Council's approved Financial Regulations. Decided: (1) that the financial position of the Education, Children and Families Revenue Budget be noted, and (2) that the contents of the report be noted. CONTRACTS AWARDED BELOW COMMITTEE APPROVAL THRESHOLD 14. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Assets and Procurement) notifying the Committee of contracts awarded between 1 October and 31 December 2022 with a value below the financial threshold requiring Committee approval. Decided: that the contracts awarded below Committee approval threshold between 1 October and 31 December 2022, as per the process within the Council's General Contract Standing Orders, be noted.