Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 21 October 2003 at 3.00 pm

Present: Councillors Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Robertson, Snoddy, Tucker and White, Father T Boyle and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives and Mr A Sweeney, Parent Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillor Blair.

Prior to the commencement of business the Convener welcomed to the Committee, Mr Anthony Sweeney, the newly elected parent representative.

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

734

Presentation by Careers Scotland

734

The Committee heard a presentation by Mr Danny Logue, Regional Manager, on the work of Careers Scotland and in particular the main points raised in the proposed Strategic Partnership Agreement with Inverclyde Council.

Mr Logue answered a number of questions from Members and thereafter left the meeting.

735

Strategic Partnership Agreement with Careers Scotland

735

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services recommending approval of the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Careers Scotland as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Decided:

(1)   that the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Careers Scotland be approved as the basis of the service to be made available to young people in schools;  and

(2)   that approval be given to the use of the Agreement to develop and implement Partnership Agreements in all schools.

736

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 6

736

There was submitted a report dated 10 October 2003 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 6 (17 September 2003).

Decided:

(1)   that the current position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that Officers within Education and Finance Services are continuing to review the position in order to keep the budget on target.

737

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress

737

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05.

It was noted that page 24 of the agenda had been included in error and should be disregarded.

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the progress of the specific projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2)   that the Policy & Strategy Committee be requested to provide additional funding relative to the overspend of £21,000 on the Glenburn Bridge project;

(3)   that the use of Schools Fund monies as detailed in paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 of the report be noted;  and

(4)   that the use of NGfL funds for further hardware purchases, network connections and other related developments required to meet the NGfL targets be noted.

738

Care and Learning for Children Birth to Three - Consultation

738

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2003 by the Director of Education Services advising (1) of the publication of the Scottish Executive Consultation Document "Care and Learning for Children Birth to Three" and (2) the action being taken to provide an informed response.

Decided:

(1)   that the publication of the consultative document "Care and Learning for Children Birth to Three" be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will report to a future meeting of the Committee on the outcome of the consultation process in Inverclyde.

739

Early Learning, Forward Thinking:  The Policy Framework for ICT in  Early Years

739

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2003 by the Director of Education Services on the national launch of "Early Learning, Forward Thinking:  The Policy Framework for ICT in Early Years" which forms part of the overall national ICT strategy for the Early Years sector.

Decided:  that the Committee note the publication of "Early Learning, Forward Thinking: The Policy Framework for ICT in Early Years" and the action to be taken to disseminate the information and support its implementation in Early Years settings in Inverclyde.

740

Inverclyde School Grounds Project

740

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2003 by the Director of Education Services advising that the bid by Inverclyde Council Education Services to Scottish Natural Heritage for grant funding to enhance and improve school grounds has been successful in that Scottish Natural Heritage has offered a grant of £11,750 over the period September 2003 to September 2006 with the grant being paid in two yearly amounts of £3,917 and £3,916 in the third year of the project.

Decided:

(1)      that it be noted that an offer of grant to improve school grounds has been made to Inverclyde Council by Scottish Natural Heritage;  and

(2)      that approval be given to accept the offer on the basis of the arrangements outlined in the report and its appendices.

741

Youth Music Initiative

741

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on proposals for the use of resources amounting to £27,190, £54,380 and £108,760 in 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 respectively which have been allocated by the Scottish Executive Education Department to develop youth music in Inverclyde primary schools.

Decided:

(1)      that the proposals detailed in the report be approved;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report to a future meeting of the Committee on the progress of the piping project within Inverclyde.