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EDUCATION & LIFELONG LEARNING COMMITTEE - 13 JANUARY 2004

 

 

Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

 

Tuesday 13 January 2004 at 3.00 pm

 

 

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

 

 

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided. 

 

 

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

 

 

Apologies:  Rev Miller.

 

 

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

 

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Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 9

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There was submitted a report dated 8 January 2004 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 9 (10 December 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.

 

 

Councillor Blair entered the meeting at this juncture.

 

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Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 - Progress

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

Noted

 

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National Roll-out of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs)

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There was submitted a report dated 17 December 2003 by the Director of Education Services advising (1) of the National Roll-out of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) and (2) the action required by the Director of Education Services to ensure the implementation of a policy and procedures for the administration of EMAs for Inverclyde pupils from August 2004.

 

 

Decided: that it be noted:-

(1)   that Education Maintenance Allowances will be introduced in Inverclyde for implementation during school session 2004-2005;

(2)   that the Director of Education Services will report to a future meeting of the Committee advising of the staffing and resource implications of the programme;

(3)   that the Director of Education Services will arrange for the development and implementation of the appropriate administrative systems for EMAs in Inverclyde;  and

(4)   that the Director of Education Services will develop policy documents in line with national guidance which recognise the particular needs of Inverclyde and will report on these to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

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Child Poverty Package - Additional Resources for Out of School Care 2003-04

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There was submitted a report dated 1 December 2003 by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of recommendations made by the Inverclyde Childcare Partnership regarding additional resources for out of school care services to help reduce child poverty and support parental employment in disadvantaged areas.

 

 

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

 

 

Gamble Children’s Centre -                          £  6,700

OSCAR -                                                       £  9,767

Hammy’s -                                                     £  3,893

Enterprise Childcare -                                   £  5,640

TOTAL                                                           £26,000

 

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Request for Childcare Strategy Funding in Support of New Opportunities Fund Application

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There was submitted a report dated 17 December 2003 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the scope of a bid made by Capability Scotland in partnership with Inverclyde Council for monies from the New Opportunities Fund for an out of school provision for children with additional support needs and (2) seeking approval for a contribution to the project from Childcare Strategy Funding.

 

 

Decided:

(1)   that the Committee note the application made by Capability Scotland which is currently under consideration by the New Opportunities Fund;

(2)   that approval be given to an allocation of Childcare Strategy Funding of £15,000 per year over 2004/05, 2005/06 and 2006/07 as a contribution to the funding package in the event of the Capability Scotland application being approved by the New Opportunities Fund;  and

(3)   that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will report to a future meeting of the Committee on the outcome of the New Opportunities Fund bid.

 

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Records of Needs Provision

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the current position in Inverclyde in relation to Records of Needs.  The report advised of the provisions of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill currently laid before Parliament which is intended to update the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and introduce new protocols and procedures to support the learning needs of young people in place of the Records of Needs which will be phased out.

 

 

Decided

(1)   that the report be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that further reports will be submitted to the Committee on the impact of the new legislation.

 

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Sport and Leisure Activities within Inverclyde Council Education Services

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There was submitted a report dated 6 January 2004 by the Director of Education Services on the current position in respect of the sport and leisure activities undertaken through Education Services.

 

 

Decided:

(1)   that it be noted that it is proposed to extend the Sportscotland Active Schools projects to involve all secondary schools and all clusters of primary and pre-5 establishments and that in furtherance of this, a Council group led by Education Services staff has been established as required by Sportscotland prior to any approach being made for funding to support any sport related project in Inverclyde;  and

(2)   that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will submit a detailed report to the Committee with proposals for further initiatives in this area.

 

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“Building Our Future - Scotland’s School Estate”:  The School Estate Management Plan

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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 a School Estate Management Plan and (2) seeking approval (a) to submit formally the current draft plan set out in Appendix 1 to the report to the Scottish Executive and (b) to develop this plan in the light of the decisions to be made as a result of the current consultation process regarding school closures, amalgamations and the provision of new schools and taking account of the outcomes of the Cross-Party Working Group on Secondary School Provision.

 

 

Decided:

(1)   that the information contained in the School Estate Management Plan be noted;

(2)   that the Committee note the submission of the plan to the Scottish Executive Education Department and that the document may change as a result of the current consultation exercise;  and

(3)   that approval be given to the preparation of a final School Estate Management Plan taking account of the outcome of the current consultation process regarding school closures, amalgamations and the provision of new schools and also the outcomes of the Cross-Party Working Group on Secondary School Provision.

 

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Inspection of the Education Functions of Inverclyde Council:  Follow-Up Inspection Report

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There was submitted a report dated 12 January 2004 by the Director of Education Services informing the Committee of (1) the publication of the Follow-Up Inspection Report on the Education Functions of Inverclyde Council, (2) the conclusions contained in the report and (3) the further action to be taken in respect of specific recommendations.

 

 

Decided:

(1)   that the publication of the Follow-Up Report on the Education Functions of Inverclyde Council and the further actions required by the Council in respect of the recommendations made by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) be noted;

(2)   that it be noted that HMIE will make a further visit within a year of the publication of the follow-up report to consider progress in connection with the rationalisation and improvement of school buildings and related actions;

(3)   that it be noted that the Council is required to produce a report in April 2004 showing progress in implementing the National Grid for Learning targets and related actions;

(4)   that the recommendations contained in the HMIE report be adopted;  and

(5)   that the Committee convey its appreciation to the Director of Education Services and his staff for the work undertaken to achieve the progress and improvements referred to in the report.

 

 

Councillor Blair left the meeting at this juncture.

 

 

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

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Allocation of “Hungry for Success” Budget to Engage Consultants to Review Catering Services in Schools

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of emergency powers to allocate funds from the “Hungry for Success” budget to engage external consultants to undertake a full review of the catering provision in Inverclyde Schools and to provide options on the most effective way to deliver a future service.

 

 

Decided:

(1)   that the use of the emergency powers procedure to authorise the use of “Hungry for Success” funding to undertake a full strategic review of the catering provision in Inverclyde Schools be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that the Corporate Business Committee approved the issue of tenders for the review of catering provision in Inverclyde schools to the three external consultants set out in the report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        

ED-13JAN04/11