Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 8 March 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Snoddy and White, Rev W Armstrong, Church Representative, Mr A Sweeney, Parent Representative and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Head of Service (Pre-Five & Children’s Services), Head of Service (SEN & IT), Head of Service (Planning & Resources), Dr N Lawrie, Acting Head of Service, Head of Finance Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal Services), Head of Property Services and Property Services Manager.

Apologies:  Councillor Tucker.

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

222

Revenue Budget 2004/05 - Period 10

222

There was submitted a report dated 17 February 2005 by the Director of Corporate Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2004/05 as at Period 10 (31 January 2005) and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £712,000, an increased underspend of £63,000 since the last report to the Committee.

(Councillor Blair entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Following discussion, Mr Tracey moved that the £63,000 increase in the projected underspend be retained within the Education Services Budget.  As an amendment, Councillor Mitchell moved that the savings of £63,000 be not so retained.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the motion and 6 for the amendment which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1)      that the current position of the Education Services Revenue Budget be noted; 

(2)      that the £63,000 increase in the projected underspend be not retained within the Education Services Budget;  and

(3)      that agreement be given to a budget virement of £230,000 from Employee Costs to Supplies and Services.

223

Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07 - Progress

223

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07.  (Councillor Robertson entered the meeting and Councillor Blair left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that approval be given to increases in the cost of the Battery Park Boat Store project as follows:-

Item                                                                                                   Effect on Expenditure

Expenditure of provisional sum for working around

existing services                                                                               £   655 increase

Double galvanising steel work                                                          £   200 increase

Additional bat straps                                                                          £   100 increase

Roof eaves ventilation                                                                       £   265 increase

Decra barge covers                                                                          £   359 increase

C280 reinforcement to screed                                                          £   375 increase

Alteration to batter to sloping brick butts to accommodate

roof structure                                                                                     £   500 increase

Additional painter work to external timbers                                       £   400 increase

Additional electrical work to switchboard                                          £   550 increase

Additional foundation concrete to revised detail                                £1,704 increase

(2)      that it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to report to a special meeting of the Committee on options for cladding/rendering of St Stephen’s High School;  and

(3)      that the report be otherwise noted.

224

Support Staff in Schools

224

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing details of additional funding allocated to Inverclyde Council by the Scottish Executive for the employment of school support staff and (2) requesting that authority be granted to use the additional funds in accordance with the criteria set out by the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the funding of £128,542, £193,670 and £293,076 allocated by the Scottish Executive to Inverclyde Council over the three year period 2005/08 for the employment of school support staff;

(2)      that authority be granted to the Director of Education Services to use the additional funds in accordance with the criteria set out in the report;  and

(3)      that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report to the Committee in approximately 6-9 months time on the use of the first phase of funding for 2005/06.

225

Provision of Grant Funding to Inverclyde Out of School Care Network

225

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of an allocation of grant funding for 2004/05 and 2005/06 to Inverclyde Out of School Care Network.

Decided:  that grant funding of £2,000 per year be allocated to Inverclyde Out of School Care Network in 2004/05 and 2005/06.

226

Birth to Three:  Supporting our Youngest Children

226

There was submitted a report dated 21 February 2005 by the Director of Education Services advising of the launch by the Scottish Executive of the new national guidelines, “Birth to Three:  Supporting our Youngest Children”.

Decided:

(1)      that the publication of the new national guidelines, “Birth to Three:  Supporting our Youngest Children” be noted;  and

(2)      that the action taken by the Director of Education Services to raise awareness of the guidelines and support their implementation be noted.

227

Revision of Mileage Rate for School Board Members

227

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of a revision of the mileage rate paid to school board members who use their cars while undertaking school board activities.

Decided:  that the mileage rate paid to school board members be that approved by the Inland Revenue, currently 40p per mile, and that any future changes made by the Inland Revenue to this rate be applied to school board members who use their private cars while undertaking school board activities.

228

Consultation on the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act:  Response to the Draft Code of Practice

228

There was submitted a report dated 22 February 2004 by the Director of Education Services and Head of Social Work Services (1) on the consultation process in respect of the Draft Code of Practice relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act and (2) seeking approval of a proposed response by Education Services.

Decided:  that approval be given to the response to the consultation on the Draft Code of Practice relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act as set out in the appendix to the report.

229

Inverclyde School Leaver Destinations 2003/2004

229

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing information on the destination of young people leaving Inverclyde secondary schools in 2003/04.

(Councillor Gallacher left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted;  and

(2)      that the Director of Education Services be asked to consider approaches to providing Members with more detailed information on school leaver destinations and the range of resources being targeted across Inverclyde.

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.

230

Update on Tenders for School Refurbishments

230

There was submitted a report dated March 2005 by the Director of Education Services on tenders received for the refurbishment of Oakfield Primary School as part of the Schools Estate Strategy.  The report (1) advised that the lowest tender totalling £2,241,418.83 was substantially in excess of the budget allowance, (2) provided detailed reasons for the increase in costs and (3) provided information on the scope for possible savings in the project.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee agree to accept the lowest tender received, that by Clark Contracts Ltd in the sum of £2,241,418.83;

(2)      that professional fees for the project be reduced to 8.5%;

(3)      that the provision for loose furniture be considered further by the Head of Property Services and the Director of Education Services to ensure that the items purchased are of a suitable quality;  and

(4)      that a special meeting of the Committee be arranged on a date to be agreed in consultation with Councillors Tucker, Forbes and Robertson to consider reports on the tenders received for the refurbishment of St Joseph's and St Michael’s Primary Schools and options for the cladding/rendering of St Stephen’s High School as agreed earlier.