Minute 20260401
Perth and Kinross Council · 16 September 2026
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 16 September 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Perth and Kinross Council Finance and Resources Committee Employees Joint Consultative Committee Minute of hybrid meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee held Meeting Room 410, 2 High Street, Perth on Wednesday 1 April 2026 at 1.30pm. Present: Representing Perth and Kinross Council: Councillors K Allan, J Rebbeck and K Harvey. Present: Representing Trade Unions: C Weston (EIS) V Leonard (GMB) S Hope (UNISON) S Robertson (Unite the Union) N Ferry (UNISON) from item 7 In Attendance: L Hamilton, P Johnstone, E Bayne, L McGeorge, S Stephen, K Robertson, N Taylor, C Shepherd, K Matiwaza, A McConnachie. Apologies: Councillor S McCole with Councillor K Harvey substituting, J McColl with C Shepherd substituting, G Boland, F Mackay, M Mackie and S Topen-Cooper S Hope in the Chair. 1. Welcome and Apologies S Hope welcomed all present to the meeting and apologies were noted as above. 2. Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. Minute of Meeting of Employees Joint Consultative Committee of 3 December 2025 The minute of meeting of the Employees Joint Consultative Committee of 3 December 2025 was submitted and approved as a correct record. 4. Matters Arising (i) Industrial Injuries Guidance In response to S Hope asking for an update, E Bayne said this is ongoing.
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5. Health and Safety Performance Report Quarter 3 2025/26 – October – December 2025 There was a report submitted by the Health and Safety Team Leader (G/26/33) informing and assisting the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring health and safety compliance and performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of health and safety activities undertaken. Resolved: The Committee noted the contents of the report. 6. Fire Safety Performance Report – Quarter 3 2025/26 – October – December 2025 There was a report submitted by the Health and Safety Team Leader (G/26/34) informing and assisting the Employees Joint Consultative Committee in monitoring fire safety performance across Perth and Kinross Council and providing an overview of fire safety activities undertaken. In addition to the report L McGeorge said they are addressing outstanding actions with property. Resolved: The Committee noted the contents of the report. 7. Staff Reporting: Incidents of Violence/Aggression and incidents of Distressed/Challenging Behaviour in Education Settings – Term 2 2025/26 There was a report submitted by the Quality Improvement Manager, Inclusion and Additional Support, and Inclusion Quality Improvement Officer (G/26/35) on Education and Learning’s performance in managing and reducing staff reports of incidents of distressed, challenging, violent, or aggressive behaviour that have impacted staff in the workplace. It also provides a summary of the information gathered in Term 2 of academic year 2025/26 in relation to staff reports of incidents in schools and other educational settings which had an emotional or physical impact on them and information on the activity of an established Working Group to prevent and reduce the number of incidents. C Weston said she had submitted written questions in advance of the meeting and was meeting with S Stephen out with the meeting to go through them then feedback to members. Councillor Rebbeck said how important he thinks the Joint Statement by Education and Learning and Trade Unions is, that collegiate working is crucial and thanked all involved.
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S Stephen said they have linked in with Education Scotland who have been complimentary about our collegiate working. In response to C Weston and S Hope asking if the statement is finalised and if it has been fully agreed with the unions, S Stephen said she would need to check. S Topen-Cooper submitted questions via the meeting’s Teams chat and in response to asking how far are all management staff in school and those who line manager staff in school are up to date in their 12hr Calm Theory Training, S Stephen said they did not have that data to hand, the Reducing Challenging Behaviour Working Group are working with Calm to provide a mandatory level of training for all school staff. In response to Councillor Allan asking what is being done for staff involved in multiple incidents, S Stephen said they recognise recurring incidents are not ok and are looking at changes in how they are monitored. There is an expectation their line manager supports them, that there is a debrief and they would look at the quality of the debrief, what happens after it and if there is further support or training required. In response to Councillor Allan asking what is being done about P1-P3 accounting for the largest proportion of reported incidents, S Stephen said in P1 and P2 we do not always have an understanding of children’s needs with transition being worked through and they are working developing on a strong understanding of children’s needs at that age, professional learning and staff supports. In response to Councillor Allan asking if a more intervention-based approach is needed, S Stephen said if incidents have reduced in the next term, it would show the interventions being put in place are effective. In response to Councillor Allan asking what is being done to capture and address the mental wellbeing of teachers, E Bayne said there is a range of things such as the staff survey, Education Wellbeing Group and Health and Safety Team. Councillor Rebbeck said there is not a day where this is not discussed or debated, it is a societal change, the solutions are difficult and are beyond this meeting and PKC. Resolved: The Committee noted the content of the report and ongoing activity by a multi- agency group to reduce and prevent future incidents of distressed challenging, violent or aggressive behaviour and improve staff experience in Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings and schools
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8. Health and Wellbeing Update There was a report submitted by the People and Culture Manager (G/26/36) providing an update on current Health and Wellbeing data and current Health and Wellbeing activities. E Bayne apologised as the wrong table had been included in the report. Hard copies of the correct table were circulated at the meeting and as an attachment in the meeting’s Teams chat. In response to S Topen-Cooper asking what the turnaround time from referral to Occupational Health being submitted and staff being seen by an Occupational Health professional, E Bayne said there is a 14-day turnaround for an appointment after a referral and that is being met, will link in with S Topen-Cooper if there are instances where it is not. In response to C Weston saying the menopause adjustments are not suitable for schools, P Johnstone said they are just examples and can be reviewed, before it becomes mandatory in 2027. In response to S Hope asking when the Health and Wellbeing E Learning for managers was last updated and that it should be mandatory, E Bayne said it was updated last Summer and P Johnstone said the team deliver training, attend meetings with inexperienced managers when requested and are available for appointments via Erica with managers to discuss issues. P Johnstone advised that a new leadership strategy was agreed by ELT in February 2026 and the team are currently designing new programme of learning for leaders including aspiring leaders, experienced leaders and leadership essentials (core learning), they have also refreshed manager induction training. Councillor Rebbeck said he thinks the low absence rate among school staff shows their commitment despite challenges. Resolved: The Committee noted the position regarding Health and Wellbeing 9. Summer Placement Programme – Priority Recruitment There was submitted a report by the People and Culture Manager (G/26/37) seeking approval for young people undertaking the summer placement programme with Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) to apply for modern apprenticeship vacancies advertised internally during, and for a period of six months following their placement. Resolved: The Committee approved the request.
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10. Any Other Competent Business - 11. Date of Next Meeting 1 July 2026