North Ayrshire Council

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1. Welcome and Introduction

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Educational Services Standing Sub Committee.

The Chair explained that the role of the Sub Committee is to scrutinise, in detail, proposed policy developments and performance reports and to make recommendations back to the Educational Services Committee. The purpose of this is: -

i. to allow members an opportunity to obtain a greater awareness and in-depth understanding of the specific issues affecting Educational Services;

ii. to allow more detailed discussion on proposed new developments so that members are fully engaged in contributing to and approving proposals, and to have a greater ownership of them; and

iii. to review in closer detail reports on existing performance and recommend possible service improvements.

The Chair expressed the view that in order to carry out that role there should be induction training for the Chairs of the Standing Sub Committees similar to that undertaken in relation to the role of the previous Scrutiny Panels.

The Sub Committee agreed that the appropriate officers explore the possibility of induction training for the Chairs of the Standing Sub Committees.


2. Terms of Reference

Submitted report by the Chief Executive on the Terms of Reference for Standing Sub Committees.

The Chief Executive explained the Sub Committee’s Terms of Reference as agreed by the Council at its Adjourned Statutory Meeting held on 19 May 2003. The Sub Committee will consider and scrutinise items under four headings as follows: -

Performance
Ÿ Internal Performance Reports; and
Ÿ Performance, Inspection and Best Value reports by external bodies and inspectorates.

Customer Care and Consultation
Ÿ Public/Partner Consultation;
Ÿ Customer Comments Scheme; and
Ÿ Public Services Ombudsman.

Policy
Ÿ Service Specific Policies;
Ÿ External Policy Development (UK and Scottish Parliament legislation; and
Ÿ External Influences (initiatives from the Scottish Executive and other bodies).

The Operation of Delegated Powers
Ÿ Reports on matters which have been dealt with by officers under delegated powers.

In addition the Sub Committee will consider other general matters referred by the Educational Services Committee or the Committee Chair.

Noted.

3. Public Performance Reporting: Educational Services: Statutory Performance Indicators 2002/03

Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Educational Services) on the Statutory Performance Indicators for Educational Services for the year ended 31 March 2003.

Audit Scotland requires Councils to collate and publish a range of performance information - known as Statutory Performance Indicators (SPIs) - each financial year to facilitate comparison between Councils and also within each Council over time. Certain Statutory Performance Indicators are regarded as inappropriate for target setting because the Council has only a limited ability to influence them through policy decisions.


The Head of Service (Educational Services) reported on each of the statutory indicators as detailed in the Appendices to the Report. Details of this and the question and answer session which followed are attached at Appendix 1 to this Minute.

The Sub Committee agreed (a) to note the content of the performance report; (b) to remit to the Head of Service (Educational Services) to: -

(i) provide a report for the next meeting on the uptake of nursery provision by geographical area which should include reasons for lower than 100% uptake;

(ii) provide a report for the next meeting detailing the primary and secondary schools which have a capacity of 41 - 60%;

(iii) provide a copy of North Ayrshire Leisure’s response to the Accounts Commission on the reasons for the swing in usage from leisure pools to traditional pools;

(iv) suggest to Educational Services to undertake a review of the opening hours/days for libraries;

(v) suggest to Educational Services that consideration be given to reducing the target for the average time taken to complete an assessment of special needs to twenty weeks;

(vi) suggest to Educational Services the need to encourage all age groups to use the Library and Information Service; and

(vii) provide a report to the next meeting of the Sub Committee on the response to (iv), (v) and (vi) above.

(c) to remit to the Principal Performance Review Officer to provide information on the publication of Care Commission Inspection reports for the next meeting; (d) that in future a representative of North Ayrshire Leisure Limited should be present when the Sub Committee is considering items relating to leisure services; and (e) that in future performance graphs should be submitted in colour for easier interpretation.

4. Work Programme and Future Meetings

Discussion took place on the future work programme for the Sub Committee.

The Chair highlighted that items of business will be referred by the Educational Services Committee and the Committee Chair. It was suggested that future items of business could include scrutiny of examination results and inspection reports produced by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education.


The next meeting of the Educational Services Standing Sub Committee will be held on Wednesday 22 October 2003 at 2.00 p.m.

The meeting ended at 4.05 p.m.