Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 7 March 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Robertson, Snoddy and Tucker, Father M McMahon and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Director of Education Services, Head of Pre-5 and Children's Services, Head of SEN and IT, Head of Planning and Resources, Head of Support for Learning, Dr N Lawrie, Acting Head of Service, Mr F Jarvie (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr  J Aird (for Chief Financial Officer) and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Councillor White and Rev W Armstrong.

Prior to the commencement of business, the Convener welcomed to the Committee, Father Michael McMahon, the newly appointed Roman Catholic Church representative and Mr John Mundell, Chief Executive, who had taken up post on 6 March.

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.

180

Revenue Budget 2005/06 - Period 10

180

There was submitted a report dated 9 February 2006 by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the Revenue Budget 2005/06 as at Period 10 (31 January 2006) which showed a projected underspend of £856,000, an increase of £421,000 since the last meeting of the Committee.

Decided:

(1)      that the current budget projection for the 2005/06 Education Services Revenue Budget be noted;  and

(2)      that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee providing details of the budget in respect of education supplies.

181

Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08 - Progress

181

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08.  The report advised that due to the delay in completing a number of projects, the temporary modular accommodation was required for longer than anticipated, resulting in additional hire charges of £4,090.

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

Decided:

(1)      that the progress of the specific projects within the Education Services Capital Programme as detailed in the appendices to the report be noted;

(2)      that the additional hire charges of £4,090 in respect of the temporary modular accommodation be approved;  and

(3)      that a full update on the School Estate Management Plan be submitted to a special meeting of the Committee to be held in April 2006.

182

Managing Attendance - Absence Statistics 3 October 2005 to 31  December 2005 (Period 4)

182

There was submitted a report dated 13 February 2006 by the Solicitor to the Council on the absence statistics for employees within Education Services for the period 3 October 2005 to 31 December 2005.

Noted

183

Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland

183

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) explaining that the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 which came into force on 14 November 2005 had introduced Additional Support Needs Tribunals as one of three mechanisms for resolving disputes, (2) advising of the publication of operational guidelines for the Tribunals and (3) setting out possible implications for the Council.

Noted

184

Parental Involvement Bill:  Draft Consultation Response on Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher Appointment Procedures

184

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of the draft response to the Scottish Executive on Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher appointment procedures which had been submitted by the consultation deadline of 28 February 2006.

Decided:  that approval be given to the content of the draft response in respect of Head Teacher and Depute Head Teacher appointment procedures as set out in the appendix to the report.

185

Funding from Scottish Executive for Class Contact Reduction, Class Size Reduction and Additional Teachers

185

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of Scottish Executive funding of £353,000 and £863,000 made available to Inverclyde Council in 2006/07 and 2007/08 respectively for class contact reduction, class size reduction and additional teachers.

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

Decided:  that the funding from the Scottish Executive be allocated to meet the reduced class contact time, reduced class sizes and Inverclyde's share of the Scottish Executive's 53,000 target teacher posts.

186

School Holiday Arrangements 2007/08 and 2008/09

186

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of school holiday arrangements for sessions 2007/08 and 2008/09.

Decided:  that approval be given to the school holiday arrangements for 2007/08 and 2008/09 as set out in appendix 1 and amended appendix 2 as circulated to the Committee.

187

Devolved School Management (DSM)

187

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Executive of the "Devolved School Management (DSM):  Guidelines to Authorities" which set out the principles underlying the operation of Devolved School Management with effect from financial year 2006/07.

Decided:

(1)      that the Scottish Executive's new guidelines in respect of Devolved School Management be noted;  and

(2)      that a working group be established to examine the implications of these guidelines and that a further report be submitted to the Committee on the group's conclusions.

188

Standards and Quality Report 2004/2005

188

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services requesting the Committee to approve the Standards and Quality Report in respect of Education Services for the period 2004/2005.

Decided:  that the Education Services Standards and Quality Report 2004/2005 as detailed in the appendix to the report be approved.

189

Inverclyde School Leaver Destinations 2004/2005

189

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing information on the destinations of young people leaving Inverclyde secondary schools in 2004/2005.

Noted

190

Elizabeth Martin Nursery

190

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the outcome of the recent informal consultation carried out regarding the proposed closure of the Elizabeth Martin Nursery.

Councillor McCormick (P) was present as Ward Councillor and with consent spoke on the matter.

Following discussion, Councillor Mitchell moved (1) that the Elizabeth Martin Nursery be closed from July 2006 and (2) that the action which will be taken by the Director of Education Services to secure alternative provision for children in the area be noted.  As an amendment, Councillor Robertson moved that the Elizabeth Martin Nursery be not closed at the present time and that the position be reviewed when the new nursery to replace Aileymill Nursery is in place.  On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 7 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. 

Mr Tracey asked that his dissent at the decision of the Committee be recorded.

C

Decided:

(1)      that the Elizabeth Martin Nursery be closed from July 2006;  and

C

(2)      that the steps which will be taken by the Director of Education Services to secure alternative provision for children in the area be noted.

The Convener 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 at the earliest opportunity of the outcome of the process to appoint a parent representative to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

191

Appointment of a Parent Representative to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

191

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising that Mr Robert James Henderson was the sole nominee for the vacant position of parent representative on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee and that accordingly, in terms of the scheme of arrangements, Mr Henderson had been elected to the position.

During the course of the discussion, Councillor McCabe advised that it would be his intention to raise with the Chief Executive, the procedures in place in respect of such appointments to ensure that any proposed representative's political affiliations are made known during the process.

Decided:

(1)      that it be noted that Mr Robert James Henderson as sole nominee, had been elected as parent representative on the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee;  and

(2)      that Mr Henderson be invited to take up the position on the Committee.