Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 14 January 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, McCabe, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D), O’Rourke, Robertson (A), Father T Boyle and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative, and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Director of Finance, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson and Robertson (Y).

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

7

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 9

7

There was submitted a report dated 13 December 2002 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at Period 9 (11 December 2002) which showed a projected overspend of £119,000.

Decided:

(1)      that the current position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 be noted;  and

(2)      that it be noted that Officers within Education and Finance Services were continuing to review the position to ensure that the potential overspend was contained within the budget.

8

Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04 - Progress

8

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04.

Noted

9

Provision of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Schools

9

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the current position in respect of the use of Information Communication Technology in schools and (2) highlighting the need to update provision to meet current and developing educational needs in line with the Government's key targets.

(Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that the report and the proposals for completion of the National Grid for Learning programme be noted;

(2)      that it be noted that an additional £1,160,000 would be required in the financial year 2003/04 to complete the programme;  and

(3)      that the additional costs set out in section 5 of the report be noted.

10

Length of School Week:  Pupils in Special Schools and Units

10

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the requirement placed on local authorities by the Scottish Executive to implement by August  2003 a parity in school hours between pupils in special schools and units and those of the same age who attend mainstream schools and (2) setting out the consequential resource implications of this policy.

(Councillor Mitchell entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;  and

(2)      that approval be given to utilise funding from the National Priorities Action Fund SEN Inclusion Programme to cover the additional staffing costs, estimated at £139,000 on a current year basis, associated with increasing the length of the school week for primary and secondary aged children who attend special schools in Inverclyde.

11

Education Provision for Pre-school and Primary Aged Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

11

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the increase in referrals of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and (2) outlining proposals for the additional services required to meet the statutory duties under the relevant special educational needs and disability legislation.

Decided:

(1)      that the increasing incidence of children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the requirement to develop additional services to meet the Council's statutory duties under the relevant special educational needs and disability legislation be noted;

(2)      that the revenue implications of the outline proposals as detailed in the report be noted;  and

(3)      that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will report to the Committee in due course on the detailed proposals and costings.

12

Child Poverty Package - Additional Resources for Out of School Care 2002/03

12

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2002 by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of the recommendations of Inverclyde Childcare Partnership on additional resources for out of school care services to help reduce child poverty and support parental employment in disadvantaged areas.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the recommendations for additional funding for out of school care as follows:

Gamble Children's Centre - £5,532

OSCAR -                               £7,097

Hammy's -                             £5,224

Enterprise Childcare -           £8,146;  and

(2)      that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will submit a further report for approval of this element of the Childcare Strategy Fund during 2003/04.

13

Implementation of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

13

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) appending the policy statement developed by Education Services relative to the promotion of racial equality in the Council's educational establishments and (2) setting out the proposals for implementation of that policy as required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Decided:  that the policy statement and action plan relative to the promotion of race equality in the Council's educational establishments as set out in the Appendices to the report be approved.

14

Additional Funding for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Teachers in Inverclyde Schools

14

There was submitted a report dated 28 November 2002 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of funding of £138,000 received from the Scottish Executive to support the continuous professional development of teachers employed by Inverclyde Council and (2) detailing the proposed uses of the grant.

Decided:  that the funding awarded by the Scottish Executive to support the continuous professional development of teachers employed by Inverclyde Council and the specific purposes for which the funding will be used be noted.

15

A Policy and Framework for Consultation

15

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2002 by the Director of Education Services on the policy and practice of Education Services in relation to consultation.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;

(2)      that the policy and framework for consultation set out in the Appendix be noted;  and

(3)      that the Director of Education Services report to the Committee on any proposed review of the consultation policy and framework in due course.

16

National Priorities Action Fund

16

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2002 by the Director of Education Services providing details of the National Priorities Action Fund which replaces the Excellence Fund.

Decided:

(1)      that the details of the National Priorities Action Fund and the resources provided under each of the National Priorities Action Areas be noted;  and

(2)      that the Corporate Business Committee be recommended to make permanent the 15 nursery nurse posts referred to in the report.

17

Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers (LNCT)

17

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval for the establishment of a Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers in accordance with the Recognition and Procedure Agreement contained in Appendix A to the report.

Decided:  that approval be given for the Director of Education Services formally to enter into an agreement to establish a Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers in accordance with the Local Recognition and Procedure Agreement.

18

St Stephen's High School:  Enterprise Centre - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

18

There was submitted a report dated December 2002 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the issuing of competitive tenders for the scheme to convert part of St Stephen's High School to an Enterprise Centre for the education of school pupils and adults participating in lifelong learning at an estimated cost of £320,000 inclusive of fees.

Decided:

(1)      that the use of the emergency powers procedure be noted;  and

(2)      that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received for the works provided that the overall cost of the project is within the available funding.