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Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration
22/05/2008
Minister for Children and Early Years, Adam Ingram today announced the appointment of Councillor Andrew Miller as a member of the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration SCRA Board.
Former Shadow Education Convenor of West Lothian Council, Councillor Andrew Miller was elected Executive Councillor for Education in June 2007. His current council position involves the development and scrutiny of policy with a focus on Children's Services. As such, he is an active member of the CoSLA Education, Children & Young People Executive, West Lothian's Head Teacher Appointment Panel and the Placing in Schools Appeals. Councillor Andrew Miller has been involved for most of his council career in education on a wide range of child and youth related initiatives and action projects. One that he is particularly enthusiastic about is the Vennie Project, which was set up in an area of high deprivation and has successfully engaged with young people primarily through street work.
Councillor Andrew Miller's appointment, which is part-time, will run for a period of four years commencing on May 26, 2008 and ending on May 25, 2012. It carries with it a time commitment of one and a half days per month and presently attracts remuneration of £4,500 per annum.
Scottish Ministers attach considerable importance to the continuing development of the Children's Hearings system. The development of a national single agency to oversee the Children's Hearings system, as announced earlier this year, will provide a more integrated child-focussed approach to the delivery of services to children and young people within communities right across the country. SCRA plays a vital role within the system. Councillor Andrew Miller's appointment will help maintain a direct link between SCRA and local authorities across Scotland.
SCRA is the executive non-departmental public body (NDBP) responsible for taking decisions on children and young people referred to the Reporter and for administering Children's Hearings. It was established on 1 April 1995 under section 128 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and became operational on 1 April 1996.
Based in Stirling, it manages over 500 staff located in 42 offices across Scotland. The SCRA operates within a framework agreed with Scottish Ministers to facilitate the work of Children's Reporters; to deploy and manage staff to carry out that work; and to provide suitable accommodation for Children's hearings. It plays a vital role in assisting Children's reporters to contribute towards providing the best possible outcomes for children and young people who are referred on care and protection and/or offence grounds.
This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice (CoP).
All appointments and re-appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity - if there is any to be declared - to be made public. Councillor Andrew Miller is a member of the SNP.
He holds no other public appointments.