Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 21 May 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D), Robertson (A), Father T Boyle, Church Representative, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Mr F Jarvie (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Financial Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors O'Rourke, Robertson (Y) and Rev J Miller.

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

447

Presentation on Crimebreaker Initiative (School Vehicle Checks)

447

The Committee heard a presentation firstly by Mr John Robin, Bus Agencies Manager, Strathclyde Passenger Transport on the procedures put in place by SPT to monitor the school transport contracts arranged and managed on behalf of local authorities, both prior to and following the award of the contracts, to ensure that the service was provided in accordance with the agreed specification, together with the sanctions available should the contract conditions not be met.

The Committee then heard Traffic Inspector John Malcolm, Strathclyde Police, on the Crimebreaker Initiative, a multi-agency initiative carried out in April/May 2002 on a Scotland-wide basis, targeting the link between criminal activity and transport under the auspices of the Safer Scotland Campaign which involved checks of school transport.  Inspector Malcolm also outlined proposals for future action in this regard.

Following the presentations Mr Robin and Inspector Malcolm answered questions from Members and then left the meeting.

448

Capital Programme 2002/2003 - Technical Progress

448

There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2002 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2002/2003.

Decided:

(1) that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2002/2003 be noted;  and

(2) that the Committee approve, in terms of the relevant financial regulations, accumulated variations in the Overton Primary School ground improvement works which are 12.61% (£15,000) greater than the accepted tender amount.

449

Capital Programme 2002/03 - 2003/04 - Financial Position

449

There was submitted a report dated 8 May 2002 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2002/03 - 2003/04.  The report advised that the estimated total cost of projects in the Committee's Capital Programme was £2,292,000, £24,000 more than the approved Budget of £2,268,000.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;  and

(2) that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on proposals for addressing the projected overspend.

450

Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000, Section 34 - Guidance on Pre-School Education

450

There was submitted a report dated 9 May 2002 by the Director of Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Executive of guidance to local authorities on the exercise of their functions in relation to pre-school education under Section 34 of the Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000.

Decided:  that the publication of the Scottish Executive guidance on pre-school education in terms of the Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000 be noted.

451

Gourock Primary School:  Temporary Accommodation

451

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the current and projected rolls of Gourock Primary School, (2) advising of a request received from the School Board that the temporary accommodation be retained until the end of school session 2002/03 and (3) detailing the financial implications thereof.

Decided:  that the Committee agree to the request from Gourock Primary School Board that the temporary accommodation at the school be retained until the end of school session 2002/03.

452

The McCrone Agreement:  Probationer Training Places

452

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing the background to the new scheme for probationer teachers in terms of the McCrone Agreement, "A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century," (2) advising of the progress made within Inverclyde in meeting the allocation of training places from the Scottish Executive and (3) providing details of the support programme planned for trainee probationers.

Decided:  that the Committee note:-

(1) the background to the scheme for probationer training places starting in August 2002;

(2) the progress made within Inverclyde in meeting the Council's allocation of training places;

(3) the financial implications of meeting the target for training places and that the costs could be met from additional funding made available for "Support for Schools Science Education" and Continuing Professional Development;  and

(4) the arrangements developed to support probationers during the training year.

453

"Review of Provision of Educational Psychology Services in Scotland":

Scottish Executive 2002

453

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the publication of the Scottish Executive document entitled "Review of Provision of Educational Psychology Services in Scotland" and (2) advising that Education Services had already implemented a number of the recommendations contained in the document and would review current practice in light of the remaining recommendations.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that the Director of Education Services would examine the implications of the review on current practice and report thereon to the Committee.

454

"Improving our Schools:  Assessing our Children's Educational Needs:

The Way Forward?":  Scottish Executive Response to Consultation (2002)

454

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the Scottish Executive proposal to make changes to the assessment and recording of children's educational needs following the Executive's response to the consultation, "Improving our Schools:  Assessing our Children's Educational Needs:  The Way Forward?"

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the report and the developments which had taken place to date within Education Services be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that the Director of Education Services would examine the implications of the proposed changes on current practice and report thereon to the Committee.

455

Allocation of Childcare Strategy and Sure Start Funding to Ladybird Pre-5 Centre and Tree Tops Community Nursery

455

There was submitted a report dated 10 May 2002 by the Director of Education Services seeking approval for a continued allocation of monies to Ladybird Pre-5 Centre and Tree Tops Community Nursery from the Childcare Strategy and Sure Start funding provided by the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1) that £27,000 Childcare Strategy and £16,000 Sure Start funding be provided to Ladybird Pre-5 Centre in 2002/2003;  and

(2) that £25,000 Childcare Strategy and £16,000 Sure Start funding be provided to Tree Tops Community Nursery in 2002/2003.

456

Distribution of Additional Funding for the Childcare Strategy 2001 - 2004:

Workforce Development

456

There was submitted a report dated 14 May 2002 by the Director of Education Services advising of the allocation of additional Childcare Strategy funding to Inverclyde Council for 2001 - 2004 for the purpose of Childcare Workforce Development.

Noted

457

Inverclyde School Leaver Destinations 2000/2001

457

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the destinations of school leavers in 2000/2001.  (Councillor McCabe left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Noted

458

Funding of Special Educational Needs Auxiliaries Employed by Education Services

458

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services requesting the Committee to authorise the allocation of funding from the National Priorities Action Fund 2002/03 for the provision of SEN auxiliaries to support pupils with special educational needs attending mainstream schools.

Decided:  that approval be given to allocate £276,000 from the National Priorities Action Fund 2002/03 for the provision of SEN auxiliaries to support pupils with special educational needs who attend mainstream schools.

459

Pre-School Education Funding Arrangements 2002/03:  Payment for Commissioned Places with Partner Providers

459

There was submitted a report dated 14 May 2002 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of correspondence received from the Scottish Executive on the use of pre-school education resources, re-integrated into the Local Government settlement for 2002/03, in respect of the advisory floor for payments to partners for commissioned pre-school places for academic year 2002/03 and (2) seeking approval for the rate of payment to partner providers in Inverclyde.

Decided:  that approval be given to the payment of £1,026 to partner providers for a commissioned "fully loaded" pre-school education place during school year 2002/03.

460

Overton Primary School - Ground Improvement Works:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

460

There was submitted a report dated May 2002 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the action taken following the discovery of asbestos cement during the execution of the ground improvement works at Overton Primary School and (2) advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to instruct further works.

Decided:

(1) that the current position with regard to the ground improvement works at Overton Primary School be noted together with the instructions already issued following the discovery of asbestos cement during the execution of the works;  and

(2) that the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to issue instructions for further works totalling approximately £20,000 be noted.