Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 19 October 2004 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Forbes, McKenzie, Mitchell, Snoddy, Tucker and White, Rev W Armstrong, Church Representative and Mr A Sweeney, Parent Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Mr F Jarvie (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Financial Services and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe and Robertson, Father T Boyle and Mr T Tracey.

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

731

Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 5

731

There was submitted a report dated 11 October 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at Period 5 (31 August 2004), (2) advising of a projected underspend of £1.6M in the teaching budget, most of which was identified as an ongoing saving, and (3) requesting the Committee to approve a number of virements.  There was also submitted a letter received from Mr Tom Tracey, Teacher Representative on the Committee, relative to the projected underspend in the Budget.

Decided:

(1)      that the virement requests as detailed in paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the report be approved;

(2)      that it be noted that the Director of Education Services would submit a comprehensive update on the implementation of the McCrone Agreement to the next meeting of the Committee;  and

(3)      that pending the outcome of the report by the Director of Education Services as outlined in (2) above, £1.2M be transferred to the Policy and Strategy Committee.

732

Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 - Progress

732

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07.

(Mr Sweeney entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

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

(2)      that the Committee approve further work to the concrete mullions as part of the project to create a nursery class at Lady Alice Primary School at an additional cost of £2,913;

(3)      that it be noted that the overall cost of the construction of the new boat store at Battery Park had increased by £30,000 and that the Big Lottery Fund (formerly New Opportunities Fund) had approved the funding to meet this increase and had agreed to provide the additional funds required in the current financial year;  andF

(4)      that the report be otherwise noted.

733

Lady Alice Primary School

733

There was submitted a report dated October 2004 by the Director of Education Services on a remit from the Policy and Strategy Committee of 21 September 2004 to report on proposals for external painterwork and arboricultural works at Lady Alice Primary School.  The report advised that the minor works required to the trees would not have a significant cost and could be met from existing budgets.

Decided:  that external painterwork and replacement of the windows at Lady Alice Primary School be included in the Education Capital Programme at the earliest opportunity.

734

Scottish Executive Funding

734

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of (1) funding recently allocated by the Scottish Executive in connection with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 which was expected to come into force in Autumn 2005 and (2) funding to support the Assessment Development Programme.

Decided:  that the Committee note the allocation of the recent funding from the Scottish Executive as outlined in the report.

735

Developing Capability for Citizenship

735

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the policy and practice adopted by Education Services in relation to the development of capability for citizenship in Inverclyde schools.

Noted

736

The Development of Gaelic Education

736

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the development of Gaelic Medium education in Inverclyde and nationally and (2) seeking approval for the submission of a bid to the Scottish Executive in respect of the future development of Gaelic Medium Secondary education as part of the Council's future education provision.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;  and

(2)      that approval be given to the submission of a bid to the Scottish Executive for specific grant funding in respect of Gaelic Medium Secondary education provision as outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report.

737

Early Years Development to Support Children with Additional Support Needs

737

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval for developments in 2004/05 targeted to meet the needs of young children with additional support needs in Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1)      that agreement be given to the appointment of an Early Years Education and Child Care Officer to augment the Home Visiting Service for pre-school children with identified additional support needs and that this be remitted to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee for approval;

(2)      that agreement be given to an increase in the visual impairment teacher provision by 0.5 FTE;  and

(3)      that approval be given to an increase in the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher provision by 0.1 FTE.

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 for the following item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

738

Transport Contracts - Request by Inverclyde Voluntary Council for Social Services

738

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of a request received from Inverclyde Voluntary Council for Social Services (IVCSS), a voluntary organisation which currently operates transport facilities for children with special and/or medical needs, that its contracted price for transport services provided to Education Services be increased.

Councillor Mitchell declared an interest in this item as a member of the Management Committee of IVCSS, took no part in its consideration or decision and left the room.  Councillor Tucker took the Chair for this item.

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to the price increase as detailed in the report;  and

(2)      that the price increase be implemented from 26 October 2004 and continue for the whole period of the current contract and that it be noted that this could be met from within Education Services budget.