Approved Minutes of Meeting
West Dunbartonshire Council · 14 December 2022
Back to Educational Services Committee — 14 December 2022 and its agenda
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 14 December 2022 at 10.05 a.m. Present: Councillors Karen Conaghan, Gurpreet Singh Johal, Daniel Lennie, David McBride, Jonathan McColl, Michelle McGinty*, June McKay, John Millar, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Martin Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Hazel Sorrell and Clare Steel, and Mr Gavin Corrigan, Miss Ellen McBride and Ms Hannah Redford. *Arrived later in the meeting. Attending: Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer; Alan Douglas, Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration (Legal Officer); Andrew Brown, Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance & Resources; Claire Cusick, Senior Education Officer – Services for Children & Young People; Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning; Kathy Morrison, Senior Education Officer – Early Learning & Childcare; Michelle Lynn, Assets Co-ordinator; Joe Reilly, Business Unit Finance Partner (Education); and Scott Kelly, Committee Officer. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs Barbara Barnes, Ms Julia Strang and Miss Tian Qi Yu MSYP. Councillor Clare Steel in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor Steel, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda. RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be carried out by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record.
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held on 28 September 2022 were submitted and approved as a correct record. LOCAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR TEACHERS The Minutes of Meeting of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers held on 20 September 2022 were submitted and all decisions contained therein were approved. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. STRATEGY TO RAISE ATTAINMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT IN WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer:- (a) informing of the increased levels of local and national accountability to deliver improved attainment and a narrowing of the attainment gap by the setting of stretch aims and targets; and (b) providing an update on progress with implementing Educational Services’ improvement priorities for attainment and equity. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note that the Committee would be provided with regular updated reports advising of progress. Note: Councillor McGinty entered the meeting during consideration of this item. SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY (SQA) EXAMINATION RESULTS 2022 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the performance of West Dunbartonshire schools in the national Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) examinations of 2022. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance & Resources in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report and its appendices; and
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(2) to congratulate the pupils, parents and carers, and staff in our establishments and our partner providers for achievements in this year’s examinations EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE PROGRESS UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing:- (a) an update on progress made to provide high quality Early Learning and Childcare in West Dunbartonshire Council; and (b) a summary of the key points of ‘Best Start: Strategic Early Learning and School Age Childcare Plan for Scotland 2022-26’ (www.gov.scot). After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Early Learning & Childcare and the Assets Co-ordinator in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note:- (1) the progress to deliver the statutory entitlement of 1140 hours of high quality early learning and childcare; and (2) the key points of ‘Best Start: Strategic Early Learning and School Age Childcare Plan for Scotland 2022-26’, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES UPDATE REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of progress on supports to children, young people and families. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children & Young People in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note progress on plans to continue developing and improving supports. ADJOURNMENT Having heard Councillor Steel, Chair, the Committee agreed to adjourn for a short period of time. The meeting reconvened at 11.15 a.m. with all those Members shown on the sederunt in attendance with the exception of Ms Redford.
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WEST PARTNERSHIP IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVE EVALUATION REPORT 2021-2022 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of the evaluation of work undertaken by the West Partnership (Glasgow City Region Education Improvement Collaborative) in 2021-2022. To complement the report, the Chief Education Officer gave a presentation on the background to the Collaborative and its work. After discussion and having heard the Chief Education Officer, the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children & Young People, and the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/Improving Learning in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the contents of the report. WEST PARTNERSHIP IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVE IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2022-2023 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of the contents of the West Partnership’s Improvement Plan 2022-2023. The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report. EDUCATION DELIVERY PLAN 2022/23 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing the Education Delivery Plan 2022/23. Having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance & Resources in further explanation of the report and in answer to a Member’s question, the Committee agreed to note the contents of the Plan. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 31 OCTOBER 2022 (PERIOD 7) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer – Resources providing an update on the financial performance of Education Services to 31 October 2022 (Period 7). Having heard the Business Unit Finance Partner (Education) in further explanation of the report, the Committee agreed to note:- (1) that the revenue account currently showed a projected annual adverse revenue variance of £0.606m (0.55% of the total budget); and (2) that the capital account showed a projected in-year favourable variance of £1.940m which was budget being re-profiled to 2023/24; and
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(3) that acceleration of £0.241m had been approved for Renton Campus as a part retention and was due to be paid this financial year. The meeting closed at 11.40 a.m.