Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 18 October 2005 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Snoddy, Tucker and White, Father T Boyle and Rev W Armstrong, Church Representatives and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Head of Pre-5 and Children’s Services, Head of Support for Learning, Dr N Lawrie (Acting Head of Service),  Mr G Douglas (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr J Aird (for Chief Financial Officer) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillor Robertson and Rev McGranaghan.

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

784

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 5

784

There was submitted a report dated 29 September 2005 by the Chief Financial Officer (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2005/06 as at Period 5 (31 August 2005) and (2) advising of a projected underspend of £358,000.

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

Noted

785

Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08 - Progress

785

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.

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

Noted

786

Temporary Relocation of Bluebird Children’s Centre - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

786

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive to authorise the provision of free transport for nursery pupils of Bluebird Children’s Centre to and from the Gourock Pre-Five building during the temporary refurbishment of the Children’s Centre.

Noted

787

St Michael’s Primary School: Subsidised Transport Arrangements

787

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the subsidised transport arrangements for St Michael’s Primary School pupils agreed by the Director of Education Services in consultation with Councillors Hill, Tucker and Robertson in accordance with the decision of the Committee on 23 August 2005 (para 575).

Noted

788

Demolition of Surplus Houses within School Grounds

788

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising that the Environment and Regeneration Committee at its meeting on 6 September 2005 (para 641) had identified the properties (but not the sites) within the grounds of Gourock High School, Slaemuir Primary School, St Columba’s High School, St Kenneth’s Primary School, St Laurence’s Primary School and St Ninian’s Primary School as being surplus to requirements and had given approval to demolish the properties and return the vacant sites for use as part of the school grounds, subject to the proposed project being added to the Education Capital Programme.

Decided:

(1)      that no decision be taken regarding the future of the property within Gourock High School grounds pending a report by the Director of Education Services to the next meeting of the Committee on any possible educational uses of the property;

(2)      that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve the use of capital receipts for the demolitions in the amount of £128,000; and

(3)      that, subject to approval by the Policy and Strategy Committee, it be remitted to the Solicitor to the Council to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the demolition of the various properties, with the exception of the property at Gourock High School which is to be the subject of a further report as detailed above, and that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received in each case.

789

Progress Report on “Eco School” Programme and Environmental Activities in Inverclyde Schools

789

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress made in the "Eco Schools" Programme and (2) highlighting other good practice in environmental awareness across Inverclyde educational establishments.

Noted

790

Scottish Executive Consultation - “Getting it Right for Every Child”:

The Implications for Education Services

790

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the views expressed by teachers and officers within Education Services during the consultation exercise on “Getting it Right for Every Child” and (2) providing details of the possible implications for Education Services.

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

Decided:

(1)      that the views expressed in the response by Education Services as set out in the appendix to the report be noted; and

(2)      that the possible implications of the proposals for the work of Education Services be noted.

791

Active Schools Programme/The Big Lottery

(New Opportunities Fund) Sports Development

791

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing details of two linked initiatives: (1) the Active Schools Programme and (2) The Big Lottery  (NOF) funded Sports Development Officers whose aim is to provide sport specific opportunities and coaching programmes.

Decided:

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that a report be submitted to the Committee after January 2006 comparing performance against the agreed targets.

792

Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act (Scotland) 2004 -

Final Code of Practice

792

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing information on the principles contained within the Code of Practice relating to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act (Scotland) 2004 and (2) highlighting the changes made prior to the publication of the final Code of Practice.

Decided:

(1)      that the details of the final Code of Practice relative to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act (Scotland) 2004 be noted; and

(2)      that the changes made to the Code of Practice by the Scottish Executive in the light of national consultation be noted.

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 items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item.

Item                                                                                                                      Paragraph(s)

Prudential Schools Project - Update                                                       6

Prudential Schools Project - Sustainable Construction                       6

Schools Public Private Partnership - Cleaning Services                     1

793

Prudential Schools Project - Update

793

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing an update on progress in the Prudential Schools Project and (2) advising of proposed consultation arrangements to ensure that all stakeholders have an opportunity to contribute to the design process and be kept informed of progress.

Noted

794

Prudential Schools Project - Sustainable Construction

794

There was submitted a report dated September 2005 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of (a) the Council’s commitment to sustainable development as set out in its Corporate Strategy and (b) the obligation placed on the Council to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in terms of its duty of Best Value and (2) providing details of how this obligation will be taken forward in respect of the development of the Prudential Schools Project.

Decided: 

(1)      that the report be noted; and

(2)      that the strategy for sustainable construction to be implemented in the Prudential Schools Project be endorsed.

795

Schools Public Private Partnership - Cleaning Services

795

There was submitted a report by the Acting Chief Executive providing information on the transfer of Cleaning Services to the Schools Public Private Partnership Provider.

During the course of the discussions, it was confirmed that Catering Services for schools would continue to be controlled and managed by the Council.

Councillor Mitchell moved that the Outline Business Case for the Schools Public Private Partnership, which includes the transfer of Cleaning Services to the PPP Provider, remain as submitted.  As an amendment, Mr Tracey moved that the decision be deferred pending full discussions with the relevant Trades Unions.  On a vote, 1 Member voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried. 

Mr Tracey asked that his dissent at this decision be recorded.

Decided:  that the Outline Business Case for the Schools Public Private Partnership, which includes the transfer of Cleaning Services to the PPP Provider, remain as submitted.