Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 11 January 2005 at 3.00 pm

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

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

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

Apologies:  Councillor Gallacher.

With the exception of the decision marked ‘C’ which is open for confirmation or otherwise, the following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

    8

Mr A McDonald

8

The Convener referred to the imminent departure of Mr A McDonald, Head of Service (Support for Learning), who was leaving the employment of the Council to take up a post as CDP Adviser to COSLA.  On behalf of the Committee, he thanked Mr McDonald for his years of service and conveyed his best wishes for the future.

    9

Special Meeting of the Committee

9

The Convener advised that a special meeting of the Committee would be held at 3 pm on Wednesday 19 January 2005 to consider the results of the consultation process on the future provision of secondary education in Inverclyde.

It was noted that with the agreement of the Provost, a special meeting of the Council would take place at 4 pm on Thursday 20 January 2005.

10

Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 8

10

There was submitted a report dated 15 December 2004 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at Period 8 (30 November 2004) and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £649,000, an increased underspend of £288,000 since the last report to the Committee.

Following discussion, Councillor Blair moved that the current projected underspend in the Education Services Budget be noted.  As an amendment, Mr Tracey moved that subject to the suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, the identified savings be retained within the Education Services Budget, that where possible, these be utilised in the current financial year with any balance being rolled over into the following financial year and that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to submit proposals for use of these monies as soon as possible.  On a vote, 6 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.  Those Members who had voted in favour of the amendment then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the amendment.a

C

Decided:  that the current projected underspend in the Education Services Budget be noted.

C

11

Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 - Progress

11

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

Noted

12

Scottish Executive Funding

12

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of (1) funding received from the Scottish Executive over a two year period to assist local authorities to fulfil a co-ordination role in relation to student teacher placements and (2) a grant of £42,000 from the Future Learning and Teaching Programme to support the roll out of the pilot e-mail system to all primary and special schools.

Noted

13

Annual Statement of Improvement Objectives:  Service Improvement Plan 2004/05

13

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the Education Service Improvement Plan 2004/05 incorporating the Statement of Education Improvement Objectives.

Decided: 

(1)      that the Service Improvement Plan 2004/05 be endorsed;  and

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to arrange a seminar for Elected Members on the Service Improvement Plan and Statement of Objectives.

14

Implementation Update - A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century

14

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing an update on the implementation of the National Teachers Agreement, “A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century”.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;  and

(2)      that it be noted that further progress reports on the implementation of the Agreement will be submitted to the Committee in due course.

15

Ambitious, Excellent Schools

15

There was submitted a report dated 14 December 2004 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the publication by the Scottish Executive of the document “Ambitious, Excellent Schools”, which sets out the Executive's proposals to achieve a  transformation in ambition and achievement within Scottish schools and (2) outlining the implications for Education Services.

Noted

16

Inspection of Services to Protect Children

16

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the establishment of a multi-disciplinary Inspection Team in the Services for Children Unit of the Scottish Executive, (2) outlining the purposes and principles of the forthcoming inspection of children's services and (3) highlighting the implications for the authority and its partner agencies.

Noted

17

Curriculum Flexibility in Secondary Schools

17

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of a new set of authority guidelines (Standard Circular No. 76) on curriculum flexibility in secondary schools.

(Councillor Blair and Rev McGranaghan left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the report and curriculum flexibility guidelines set out in Appendix 1 be noted.

18

Support Staff in Schools:  Teacher Agreement for the 21st Century

18

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) giving details of financial support made available to Inverclyde Council by the Scottish Executive for the provision of support staff in schools as part of the Teacher Agreement for the 21st Century and (2) seeking approval for the revised administrative support staff structure and permission to refer the establishment of the posts to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee.

Decided:

(1)      that the proposed structure as set out in the report be approved and that the use of the Scottish Executive funding to implement the structure be agreed;

(2)      that it be remitted to the Director of Corporate Services to submit a report on the revised structure to the Best Value and Corporate Services Committee;  and

(3)      that it be noted that a further report will be submitted to the Committee reviewing support staff in other areas.