Minute of meeting of 2 November 2022
Perth and Kinross Council · 15 March 2023
Back to Learning and Families Committee — 15 March 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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LEARNING AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE Minute of hybrid meeting of the Learning and Families Committee held in the Council Chambers, 2 High Street, Perth on Wednesday 2 November 2022 at 2.00pm. Present: Councillors J Rebbeck, S Carr, Bailie C Ahern, Councillors L Barrett, S Donaldson (substituting for M Frampton), N Freshwater, N Khogali, B Leishman, I MacPherson, I Massie, Provost X McDade, Councillors C Reid, C Shiers, C Stewart and J Welch; Mrs M Conroy and Mrs C Weston. In attendance: S Devlin, Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services); G Boland, G Doogan, S Johnston, D Macluskey, H Robertson, B Martin-Scott, F MacKay, B Reid and K Robertson (all Education and Children’s Services); D Williams, A Brown and M Pasternak (all Corporate and Democratic Services). Apologies for absence: Councillor M Frampton; Mr A Charlton, Mr A Ferguson, Mr M Gowrie, Mrs A McAuley and Professor T Moran. Councillor J Rebbeck, Convener, Presiding. 1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES The Convener welcomed all those present to the meeting. Apologies for absence were noted as above. 2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest made in terms of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct. 3. MINUTES (i) Learning and Families Committee The minute of meeting of the Learning and Families Committee of 24 August 2022 was submitted, approved as a correct record and authorised for signature. (ii) Executive Sub-Committee of Lifelong Learning Committee The minute of meeting of the Executive Sub-Committee of the Lifelong Learning Committee of 21 March 2022 was submitted and noted. (ii) Children, Young People and Families Partnership The minute of meeting of the meeting of the Children, Young People and Families Partnership was of 17 June 2022 was submitted and noted.
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4. OUTSTANDING BUSINESS STATEMENT The Outstanding Business Statement (22/269) was noted. 5. STATUTORY CONSULTATION – ABERNYTE PRIMARY SCHOOL There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/264) informing members of the outcome and findings of the statutory consultation exercise undertaken in respect of the formal proposal to amend the catchment area for Abernyte Primary School. Resolved: (i) The contents of the Consultation Report (Appendix A to Report 22/265) be noted. (ii) The amendment of the catchment area for Abernyte Primary School to include the area north of the A90, currently within Inchture Primary School catchment area, with effect from August 2023, be approved. 6. STATUTORY CONSULTATION – NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AT BERTHA PARK There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/265) informing members of the outcome and findings of the statutory consultation exercise undertaken in respect of the formal proposal to establish a new primary school at Bertha Park and establish a catchment area for the new primary school. Resolved: (i) The contents of the Consultation Report (Appendix A to Report 22/265) be noted. (ii) The establishment of a new primary school on a preferred site at Bertha Park, Perth with effect from August 2026, be approved. (iii) The established catchment area for the new primary school, as proposed, be approved. (iv) The amendment of the catchment areas of Ruthvenfield Primary School, Pitcairn Primary School, Luncarty Primary School and Tulloch Primary School, as proposed, be approved. (v) The transfer arrangements for directly affected primary pupils to attend secondary school, as proposed, be approved. (vI) The interim admission arrangements for Ruthvenfield Primary School until the new primary school opens in August 2026, as proposed, be approved. 7. SCHOOL ESTATE TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME - UPDATE There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/263) (1) providing an update on the progress made to date, and the work which remains in progress, in relation to Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the current School Estate Transformation Programme; and (2) seeking direction on the future transformation programme.
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Motion (Councillors J Rebbeck and S Carr) (i) The update and completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the School Estate Transformation Programme be noted. (ii) It be approved that the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) plan a review of the school estate in line with the principles of the approved Investment Blueprint and Financial Strategy; and bring an update on that work back to the Committee in August 2023. Amendment (Provost X McDade and Councillor C Stewart) Replace the second bullet point with: (ii) The Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) plan a review of the school estate in line with the principles of the approved Investment Blueprint and Financial Strategy to include; the feasibility of introducing ELC provision in all rural primary schools currently without one; and a Perth & Kinross wide catchment analysis that considers the projected population expansion as a consequence of current and projected new housebuilding and seeks to utilise available capacity to ensure all current schools have a sustainable future roll. A report on the findings to be brought to Committee by Summer 2023. The mover and seconder of the Motion agreed to incorporate the Amendment into the Motion. Resolved: (i) The update and completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the School Estate Transformation Programme be noted. (ii) The Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) plan a review of the school estate in line with the principles of the approved Investment Blueprint and Financial Strategy to include; the feasibility of introducing ELC provision in all rural primary schools currently without one; and a Perth & Kinross wide catchment analysis that considers the projected population expansion as a consequence of current and projected new housebuilding and seeks to utilise available capacity to ensure all current schools have a sustainable future roll. A report on the findings to be brought to Committee by Summer 2023. B REID AND K ROBERTSON LEFT THE MEETING AT THIS POINT. THE COMMITTEE TOOK A 10 MINUTE RECESS AND RECONVENED AT 3.20PM. 8. THE TAYSIDE PLAN FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/266) (1) providing an update on the continued commitment to join working with the Tayside Regional Improvement Collaborative to deliver on shared objectives in a single children’s Services Plan for 2021-2023; and (2) highlighting progress against headline actions within Perth and Kinross. Resolved: (i) The progress on the agreed actions within the annual update report be noted.
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(ii) The Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) be requested to provide an annual progress report and revised Tayside Plan (2023-2026) to committee in August 2023. 9. PUPIL EQUITY FUNDING UPDATE 2022 There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/268) (1) providing an update on progress made in Perth and Kinross to close the poverty-related attainment gap through the use of Pupil Equity Funding (PEF); and (2) outlines the range of PEF funded measures implemented to improve performance and monitor progress of improvement. Resolved: (i) The contents of Report 22/268 be noted. (ii) It be noted that Report 22/268 will be scrutinised at the Scrutiny and Performance Committee on 30 November 2022. 10. RAISING ATTAINMENT UPDATE There was submitted a report by the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (22/267) providing an update to progress on the Education and Children’s Services Raising Attainment Strategy 2020-23. Resolved: (i) The contents of Report 22/267 be noted. (ii) It be noted that Report 22/267 will be scrutinised at the Scrutiny and Performance Committee on 30 November 2022.