With a packed agenda of more than 20 items, the committee firstly agreed to adopt a new warmth and wellbeing contingency plan, which was trialled during the recent storm Amy, which hit the region earlier in the year. This new plan, in conjunction with key partners Scottish Power Energy Network and local communities, will work to ensure communities have ‘warm hubs’ that they can visit during power outages.
Members also signed off on the annual report on the council’s Volunteer Strategy and received an update on the Regional Tennis Centre, which is due to be handed over to the council and community partner Queen of the South FC, before the end of the calendar year.
Schools took centre stage next, where three separate reports were received on the school estate strategy, school capacities and school modelling. Councillors were largely positive around the ‘right school, right place’ approach mentioned within the estate strategy report, noting that the rural nature of the region plays a key part in how we manage our education provision right across Dumfries and Galloway.
Youth Work was next to come under member scrutiny, with the Quality Standards report discussed and agreed by members, as well as a discussion on Youth Beatz, centred on the evaluation report that was tabled. Members agreed that Youth Beatz should continue in its current guise, therefore remaining a free music event for the young people of our region.
Councillor Tracey Little, Chair of Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee said after the meeting:
“I was delighted with the breadth of items that came before the committee. To focus on resilience, school estates, events and a tennis centre really does focus the mind as to just how large of a directorate we oversee as members of this committee. I would like to also thank my fellow members who attended the meeting for dealing with a substantial number of reports in an effective, efficient manner. I look forward to 2026 and seeing the continued diversity of the directorate brought to committee for us councillors to discuss.”
Vice Chair, Cllr George Jamieson continued:
“I was really complimentary to officers on the quality of reports received today. This is not as easy task, to oversee such a wide range of services, many of which are frontline and critical to our residents, be it children and young people, adults or older adults. Over the last few months since taking the Vice-Chair seat I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the services a bit better that make up the directorate, and I am proud to hold such a position. We approved a lot of important business at this meeting and it allows officers to progress this work in a timely manner.”
The full agenda for the meeting can be viewed at Agenda for Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee on Tuesday, 11th November, 2025, 10.30 am | Dumfries and Galloway Council