Agenda and minutes

Minute of the meeting of 18 August 2016 to be approved and signed by the Chairman. (Copy attached).

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of 18 August 2016.  With reference to paragraph 3.6 of the Minute of 18 August 2016, it was agreed that the following amendment be added to the Minute.

Paragraph 4.7, line 6 – change “non-competitive action” to “single tender action”.

It was noted, that the amendment had been incorporated in the final version of the Scrutiny Working Group’s report – ‘A Review of the Process in Respect of Decision-Making’.

DECISION

AGREED the Minute subject to the above amendment.

Presentation by Service Director Children and Young People.

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the Meeting of 18 August, the Chairman welcomed Ms Donna Manson, Service Director Children and Young People; Ms Michelle Strong, Chief Officer Education and Lifelong Learning; Mr Paul Fagan, Depute Headteacher, Peebles High School and Ms Anne Marie Bready, Headteacher, Edenside Primary School, Kelso.  The officers were in attendance to give a presentation on the implementation of the Asymmetric Week.

Mr Fagan began the presentation from a secondary school perspective.  He explained that previously there had been a 30 period week which had been inherently inefficient because of teachers’ class contract time, resulting in 25 – 45 minutes of teaching time lost each week.  The Asymmetric Week had introduced a 33 period week which had enabled efficient timetabling, facilitated the introduction of a greater number of courses for students and increased student support.  Mr Fagan referred to Selkirk High School where there had been a reduction in the number of teachers.   However, efficiencies in the Asymmetric Week had enabled the school to retain their existing timetable.  The 33 period week had also meant that there was less need for supply teachers as there was greater flexibility within schools. More efficient timetabling has also resulted in savings for supply budgets.

Mr Fagan advised that feedback from eight secondary schools had shown an overwhelmingly positive response that the Asymmetric Week had increased breadth and choice for students.  Mr Fagan gave an example of Eyemouth High School where, as a result of rurality, certain opportunities had not been taken up.  With the introduction of the Asymmetric Week the school had been able to utilise two additional periods, on a Wednesday afternoon, to enhance the learning experience for students, providing a leadership qualification, whilst protection class time.

Mr Fagan went on to advise that in respect of Peebles High School, all students  now had a personal support period, with one learning support teacher assigned to every 15 students.   The sessions had proved positive for students.  However, the sessions would not have been possible under the 30 period week, when there had been insufficient teacher capacity. 

Mr Fagan further advised that feedback received from four secondary schools showed that the Asymmetric Week had also had a positive impact on attainment. Jedburgh High School had used the additional time available to offer six periods of Higher education, previously this had been five.  Peebles High School had seen increased attainment in literacy and numeracy; every student now having five periods of mathematics and additional tuition in English.   Mr Fagan went on to advise that the Asymmetric Week afforded schools more flexibility and increased options.  There was now a greater alignment of timetables with best practice shared between schools.  Kelso High School and Jedburgh High School were working together as was Eyemouth High School and Berwickshire High School.  Borders College had also aligned their timetable to secondary schools making their courses more viable in terms of increased attendance.

Mr Fagan concluded by stating that the Asymmetric  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Cllr McAteer left the meeting following consideration of the above item. 

Report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services. (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the Meeting of 18 August 2016, there had been circulated a report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the re-use/remarketing of goods received at Community Recycling Centres.  Ms Jenni Craig, Service Director Neighbourhood Service and Mr Ross Sharp-Dent, Waste Manager were in attendance.  Mr Sharp-Dent advised that over the last 10 years the Council had made significant changes to the way it managed waste with a focus on improving recycling performance and reducing waste going to landfill.  As people moved towards a more circular economy, where they kept products and materials in use for as long as possible, this focus was likely to shift to waste prevention and re-use.  Progress had been made by the Council in relation to re-use in the following areas:

• Supporting local re-use organisation
• Bulky Waste
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
• Selkirk Re-Use Pilot
• Just Cycle – Bicycle re-use
• Wood and Furniture re-use
• Textiles.

The Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) had undertaken re-use case studies and developed a best practice guide for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s).  This confirmed that there were further opportunities to improve re-use at the Council’s Community Recycling Centres.  Mr Sharp-Dent highlighted that it was important to recognise that the Council faced  a number of key challenges in improving re-use at Community Recycling Centres including : A lack of space for providing re-use facilities; a disconnect between the number of customers who wished to deposit items for re-use versus those that wanted to purchase re-used items; impending financial and legislative drivers  which required a continued focus on recycling and diversion from landfill, at least in the short to medium term.   It was clear that re-use was going to play an ever important role as we moved towards a circular economy and this required the Council to continue to make progress and explore opportunities in this area.

Mr Sharp-Dent further advised that a number of re-use organisations, most of which had charitable status, operated across the Scottish Borders e.g. Homebasics, Berwickshire Furniture (BFR) and Just Cycle.  The Council provided financial support as part of Service Level Agreements currently with Homebasics, Scrap Store and Book Donors. In return those organisations provided information on re-use, which supported the Council’s recycling performance figures. 

The Council also accepted Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at Community Recycling Centres.  This equipment was uplifted free of charge under contract by a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS).   However, recent changes to WEEE’s Code of Practice could mean that providers might be less inclined to support this concept going forward.  Mr Sharp-Dent went on to discuss the Selkirk Re-Use Pilot whereby the Council provided a shipping container and a Service Level Agreement with Homebasics to provide them with large domestic appliances.  This pilot had been successful.  Unfortunately, not all recycling centres had the capacity to implement this scheme due to lack of space. 

Mr Sharp-Dent referred to Galashiels Men’s Shed where the Council provided bicycles for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Update on subjects included in the future Scrutiny Review Programme.  (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of 18 August 2016, there had been circulated copies of the updated list of subjects which Scrutiny Committee had been asked to review and which included the source of the request, the stage the process had reached and the date, if identified, of the Scrutiny meeting at which the information would be presented.  In addition, Members were also asked to consider further subjects for inclusion on this list for presentation at future meetings of the Committee.  When deciding whether subjects would be reviewed by the Scrutiny Committee, Members required a clear indication from the initiator of the request as to which aspects of the subject they wished to be reviewed.  This would enable the Committee to determine whether the subject was appropriate for consideration.

The Democratic Services Team Leader explained the current status of the reviews listed and Members discussed a number of the items on the timetable. It was agreed to progress the review of the Community Empowerment Act on 26 January 2016, together with the review on Timber Transportation.    Councillor Gillespie advised that he would liaise with the Service Director Children and Young People regarding a suitable date for the review on Home Schooling.   Councillor McAteer had requested the review on Policies and Procedures for Competitive Marketing and Management of Information be presented this year, and this was agreed.  Members were keen that all reviews were timetabled before the end of their current term of office.

DECISION

AGREED the list of subject for review by Scrutiny Committee as amended and appended to this Minute at Appendix 1.    

The next meeting is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 27 October 2016.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee would take place on Thursday, 27 October 2016.

            DECISION

            NOTED.