Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 4 March 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Campbell, McCabe, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D) and Robertson (A), Father T Boyle, Rev J Miller 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:  Provost Roach, Councillors Jackson, O''Rourke and Robertson (Y).

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

215

Revenue Budget 2002/03 - Period 11

215

There was submitted a report dated 14 February 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2002/03 as at Period 11 (5 February 2003) which showed a projected overspend of £80,000.

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 in order to bring the budget back on target.

216

Capital Programme 2002/03 to 2003/04 - Progress

216

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

Noted

217

Draft Accessibility Strategy for Pupils with Disabilities

217

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 produce and implement an accessibility strategy for pupils with disabilities and (2) seeking approval of the strategy appended to the report for submission to the Scottish Executive.

Decided:  that the accessibility strategy detailed in the Appendix to the report be approved for submission to the Scottish Executive.

218

Gourock High School - Rewiring, Phase 1:  Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

218

There was submitted a report dated February 2003 by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to grant approval for the acceptance of the lowest tender received for phase 1 of the rewiring works at Gourock High School, that by William Lafferty & Co Ltd in the sum of £140,128.67.

Noted

219

Education Services Improvement Plan

219

There was submitted a report dated 25 February 2003 by the Director of Education Services advising of the development of a refined version of the Education Services Improvement Plan for wider publication and dissemination.

Decided:

(1)   that the abbreviated version of the Education Services Improvement Plan 2002/2003 as set out in the Appendix to the report including the additional targets for the period 2002-2005 be noted;  and

(2)   that it be agreed to publish and disseminate the Improvement Plan to the wider public on the basis set out in the report.