The Garioch Area Committee convened to discuss a range of issues, including proposed changes to speed limits, a performance report from the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, and an inspection report from Education Scotland on Strathburn School and Nursery Class. Some items, relating to Education and Children's Services and Business Services, were scheduled to be discussed in private.

Garioch Speed Limits Order

The committee was asked to consider a report on proposed changes to speed limits in the Garioch area. These suggestions were gathered during the 20mph implementation project, as well as from Community Councils, committee discussions, and the Roads Service.

The report pack divided the proposed speed limits into two categories: those that meet the criteria of the Aberdeenshire Council's Speed Limit Policy and associated Manual, and those that do not. The committee was asked to approve the commencement of statutory procedures for making The Aberdeenshire Council (Garioch) (Amendments) (Speed Limits) Order 2025 for the speed limits that meet the policy criteria, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

The report pack also asked the committee to note the speed limits that do not meet the council's Speed Limits Policy, as shown in Appendix 2 of the report, and to comment on any of these speed limits that the Area Committee would like to be considered at Infrastructure Services Committee, with appropriate reasoning.

The following locations were listed in Appendix 1 as meeting the criteria of the Speed Limit Policy:

• Old Skene Road, Westhill to Kirkton of Skene

The following locations were listed in Appendix 2 as not meeting the criteria of the Speed Limit Policy:

• B993 Keithhall
• B9119 Garlogie
• C116C Polinar Dam Road

An Integrated Impact Assessment¹ (IIA) was undertaken as part of the development of the proposals. The IIA identified several positive outcomes, including improved road safety for older and younger people, and people with disabilities. One negative impact was identified - that reduced speeds could lead to increased travel duration. However, the IIA stated that this could be mitigated by better controlled traffic.

Aberdeenshire HSCP Strategic Delivery Plan Performance Report and Draft Strategic Plan

The committee was asked to acknowledge a performance report on the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP)'s progress against its Strategic Delivery Plan, including a Garioch HSCP Team update on local health and social care issues and priorities. The committee was also asked to comment on the Aberdeenshire HSCP's draft Strategic Plan for 2025-2035, for inclusion in feedback to the Integration Joint Board² (IJB).

The report pack stated that the IJB had approved the circulation of the performance report and draft Strategic Plan to the Area Committees for noting and feedback.

The draft Strategic Plan identified two priorities:

1. Prevention & Early Intervention:

   We will do this by working with partners, third sector and communities in Aberdeenshire to enable and empower people to prevent ill health, experience better health and wellbeing, improved quality of life and to live independently, for as long as possible.

2. Health & Social Care Services – Supporting those with greatest need in our community:

   We will continue to redesign health and social care services to enable us to support and respond to people with the greatest need within our communities.

The report pack stated that the consultation period for the draft Strategic Plan runs until 26 October 2025, and that full information regarding the consultation is available via the Engage Aberdeenshire website.

Inspection Report - Strathburn School and Nursery Class

The committee was asked to consider and provide comment to the Education and Children's Service on an inspection report for Strathburn Primary School and Nursery Class.

The report detailed the strengths, areas for improvement and Education Scotland's evaluations for the school.

The inspection team found the following strengths:

• Children across the school, enhanced provision and nursery are kind, caring and welcoming. They are keen, motivated and enthusiastic to learn and are very proud of their school community.
• Staff and children, across the school and enhanced provision have positive relationships underpinned by the school values. Senior leaders work well with all staff to ensure children learn in highly inclusive and nurturing environments.
• Staff have placed a strong emphasis on promoting reading for pleasure, helping to improve children's reading skills.

The following areas for improvement were identified:

• Teachers should continue to develop quality feedback for children to support them to clearly identify their next steps in learning.
• Senior leaders, teachers and practitioners should consider how processes for planning learning, tracking and monitoring children's attainment and identifying children's individual targets could be simplified.
• Teachers should continue to develop learning and teaching with a focus on pace and challenge, and continue to develop high-quality learning through play to further enhance children's experiences.

Education Scotland's evaluations for Strathburn School and Nursery Class were:

• Learning, teaching and assessment: Good
• Raising attainment and achievement: Good
• Securing children's progress: Good