9
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the Scottish Government’s response to the consultation undertaken in respect of educational governance and the publication launched thereafter outlining plans for reform.
The report advised that the proposals outlined in the publication would result potentially in significant changes to the way in which education services were organised in Scotland and that it was anticipated that these changes would have wide-ranging consequences for the role of local authorities in the delivery of education to children and young people in their communities. The Scottish Government’s commitment to these changes had been reiterated in the First Minister’s statement to Parliament on 4 September 2017 in relation to the programme for government over the next year.
The report advised that the main principle of the review was to seek to devolve power from a national level to a regional level and from a local government level to a school level. The stated aim was to empower schools and teachers to drive improvement at a local level with others in the system sharing responsibility for collaborating to support the improvement. Reference was made to the report, considered at the meeting of the Council held on 29 June 2017, on the planned changes. It was highlighted that legislation would be required in order to enact many of the proposals and that it was anticipated that a new education bill would be placed before parliament during June 2018, imposing revised duties on local authorities, head teachers and the newly-formed regional improvement collaboratives. In addition many areas of the proposals would require further clarification and it was anticipated that this would emerge over the coming months as the Scottish Government engaged with local authorities and professional organisations through further consultation exercises. The Council’s response to each of these consultations would be reported to the appropriate Policy Board, in due course, for consideration, the first of which relating to the funding of schools, had been considered and agreed at the meeting of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board held on 24 August 2017.
The Council was one of the partners in the Glasgow City Region, a group of eight local authorities working together to deliver a shared vision of “a strong, inclusive, competitive and outward-looking economy, sustaining growth and prosperity with every person and business reaching their full potential”. One of the objectives for the group was to create a skills and employment system that met the current and future needs of Glasgow City Region businesses and supported residents to access jobs and progression opportunities. The Glasgow City Region Cabinet had recently considered a proposal to create a ‘Glasgow City Region Education Improvement Collaborative’ and to appoint a ‘Regional Lead Officer’ to lead the work of the collaborative. The Group proposed that new governance arrangements, involving the conveners of Education and Children’s Services from the eight constituent local authorities be established to oversee the work of the collaborative. It was highlighted that Renfrewshire Council’s involvement in the Glasgow City Region Education Improvement Collaborative, if agreed, was subject to approvals being in place in respect of the participation of the other constituent authorities in the City Region.
Councillor Paterson, seconded by Councillor Nicolson moved:-
(a)
That the Scottish Government’s renewed commitment to support a regional improvement collaborative model be noted;
(b)
That the report be noted and that it also be noted that responses to consultation documents related to it would be submitted to elected members for consideration and approval;
(c)
That Renfrewshire Council’s membership of a Glasgow City Region Education Improvement Collaborative, be approved, in principle;
(d)
That the formation of a Glasgow City Region Education Joint Committee of conveners of education (or equivalent) with authority to oversee the work of the Regional Improvement Collaborative be approved;
(e)
That the appointment of the Convener of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board to the oversight group be approved;
(f)
That it be noted that it was the intention of any regional collaborative to appoint a ‘Regional Lead Officer’; and
(g)
That it be noted that further reports would be submitted to future meetings of the Council providing updates on the progress of the establishment of the committee.
Councillor McCartin, seconded by Councillor Andy Doig, moved as an amendment that this Council rejects moves by the Scottish Government to remove local and democratic control of education from councils. We further reject any suggestion of the development of “City Region” education governance, on the basis that governance of Renfrewshire’s schools should not be, effectively, handed to Glasgow City Council. We demand that John Swinney retracts all notion of this scheme, and uses the funding for this re-organisation to enhance education funding in all local councils.
On the roll being called the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Andy Doig, Graham, Mack, J MacLaren, McCartin, McIntyre and Strang.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors Adam-McGregor, Begg, Bibby, Binks, Brown, Burns, J Cameron, Provost L Cameron, Councillors Campbell, Davidson, Devine, Audrey Doig, Don, Dowling, Grady, Harte, Hood, Hughes, Kennedy, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McCulloch, McEwan, McGurk, McNaughtan, Montgomery, Mylet, Nicolson,Paterson, Rodden, Shaw and Steel.
Councillor Mackay abstained.
Seven members having voted for the amendment, 32 members having voted for the motion, and one member having abstained, the motion was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED:
(a)
That the Scottish Government’s renewed commitment to support a regional improvement collaborative model be noted;
(b)
That the report be noted and that it also be noted that responses to consultation documents related to it would be submitted to elected members for consideration and approval;
(c)
That Renfrewshire Council’s membership of a Glasgow City Region Education Improvement Collaborative, be approved, in principle;
(d)
That the formation of a Glasgow City Region Education Joint Committee of conveners of education (or equivalent) with authority to oversee the work of the Regional Improvement Collaborative be approved;
(e)
That the appointment of the Convener of the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board to the oversight group be approved;
(f)
That it be noted that it was the intention of any regional collaborative to appoint a ‘Regional Lead Officer’; and
(g)
That it be noted that further reports would be submitted to future meetings of the Council providing updates on the progress of the establishment of the committee.