Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 9 March 2004 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Tucker presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillors Mitchell and White and Rev Miller.

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

177

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05:  Progress

177

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress of the Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2004/05 and (2) advising of the action taken to ensure full utilisation of the School Funds allocation in the current financial year.

Decided:

(1)      that the action detailed in the report relating to the School Fund claim be noted;  and

(2)      that the progress of the specific projects detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

178

Revenue Budget 2003/04 - Period 10

178

There was submitted a report dated 3 March 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2003/04 as at Period 10 (31 January 2004) and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £186,000.

Decided:  that the projected saving of £186,000 in the Revenue Budget 2003/04 be noted.

179

Implementation of “Determined to Succeed” Report in Inverclyde

179

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of proposals for implementation of the recommendations contained in the report “Determined to Succeed” published by the Scottish Executive in 2002 and for use of the funding totalling £502,200 provided to Inverclyde Council over the two year period 2004/05 to 2005/06.

Decided:

(1)      that the proposals for implementing the recommendations of the report,  “Determined to Succeed”, within Inverclyde Schools be approved;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to carry out an evaluation exercise at the appropriate time and to report thereon to the Committee.

180

Implementation of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) in Inverclyde

180

There was submitted a report dated 24 February 2004 by the Director of Education Services on the progress made in the development of Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that the progress made in developing administrative arrangements for EMAs be noted; and

(2)      that the policy document as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be adopted as the basis for the provision of EMAs in Inverclyde.

181

Future Provision of Education:  Information on Consultation Issues

181

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing information on issues raised during the recent consultation process on the future provision of education in relation to (1) free school transport, (2) enhanced teaching and support staff, and (3) footwear and clothing grants.

The Committee was advised that the costs of £11,280, £21,560 and £32,840 included in paragraph 5.2 of the report should be £14,100, £26,950 and £41,050 respectively.

Decided:

(1)      that the current arrangements for free school transport as outlined in the report be noted and that approval be given to the recommendation made by the Corporate Management Team that the existing transport policy for all pupils be continued;

(2)      that the levels of enhanced staffing set out in section 4 of the report be approved and that the costs be met from staff savings resulting from school closures;

(3)      that approval be given to an increase in the level of footwear and clothing grants to £80 for a one year period for eligible pupils affected by school closures, the cost of the increase to be met from savings resulting from school closures;  and

(4)      that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report to a future meeting of the Committee on the provision of footwear and clothing grants to children who are required to move more than once as a result of school closures.

182

School Accommodation - Staffing Policy (Teaching Staff)

182

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the revised staffing policy for teaching staff affected by the Council’s decision to close schools and (2) advising of the policy and legislative framework within which the staffing policy required to be produced.

Decided:  that the Future Provision - School Accommodation Staffing Policy (Teaching Staff) set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

183

City Vision - A Vocational Initiative

183

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the involvement of Education Services in the Scottish Executive funded City Vision Initiative which was piloted by Glasgow City Council and rolled out to neighbouring authorities.

Decided:

(1)      that the involvement of Education Services in the City Vision Initiative be noted;  and

(2)      that a report on progress of the Initiative be submitted to the Committee in due course.

184

Provision of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Schools

184

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress made towards achievement of the Government’s National Grid for Learning targets which had been adversely commented on in the follow-up inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) and (2) advising of the current position relating to the use of ICT in schools and the need to extend the provision further to meet current and developing educational curricular needs. (Provost Rebecchi left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that it be noted that the basic National Grid for Learning targets will be met by the end of March 2004 and that a report will be submitted to HMIE at that time;  and

(2)      that it be noted that a project plan, including resource requirements, will be developed in partnership with ICT Services and will be submitted to a future Committee for consideration.

185

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill

185

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the provisions of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill and (2) detailing the implications for Education Authorities.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;

(2)      that it be noted that further reports will be submitted to the Committee on the impact of the new legislation on service delivery and resource requirements;  and

(3)      that it be agreed to arrange a follow-up session for Members on special educational needs.

186

Asbestos Surveys in Schools - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

186

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to accept the lowest tender received from a specialist consultant for asbestos surveys in schools, that by ACS Environmental in the sum of £100,875.

Noted

It was agreed to adjourn for 15 minutes from 5.40 pm to 5.55 pm to allow Members the opportunity to read the report entitled “The Provision of Primary Education:  Schedule for August 2004” which the Committee was asked to consider as an additional item.

Provost Rebecchi returned to the meeting at this juncture.

The Chairman being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Education Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to be advised of the schedule of works required to implement agreed changes in the future provision of primary education and to consider proposals in this regard at the earliest possible opportunity.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

187

The Future Provision of Primary Education:  Schedule for August  2004

187

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing an update on the schedule of works required to implement the Council’s decision in respect of the future provision of primary education and (2) requesting the Committee to approve the proposals contained within the report.

Decided:

(1)      that the schedule of works required to implement changes to primary school provision be noted;

(2)      that the Committee approve the recommendations and proposals contained within the report in relation to the decant arrangements for St Michael’s Primary School and the staffing resources set out in section 4;

(3)      that a report providing information on the costs involved be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee;  and

(4)      that a seminar on Public Private Partnerships be arranged for Members as soon as possible.