Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 2 May 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Forbes, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Robertson, Snoddy and Tucker, Father M McMahon, Rev W Armstrong and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mr R Henderson, Parent Representative 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 SEN and IT, Head of Planning and Resources, Head of Support for Learning, Dr N Lawrie, Acting Head of Service, Mr H McNeilly (for Solicitor to the Council), Mr I Cameron (for Chief Financial Officer) and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Councillor White.

Prior to the commencement of business, the Convener welcomed to the Committee, Mr Robert Henderson, the newly elected parent representative.

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

328

Capital Programme 2005/06 to  2007/08 - Progress

328

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

Decided:

(1)   that the report be noted;  and

(2)   that it be noted that a full update on the School Estate Management Plan will be submitted to a special meeting of the Committee in May 2006 and that the decisions made at the special meeting will be detailed in the next Capital Programme Progress Report.

329

Education Supplies Budget

329

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing details of the Education Supplies Budget for 2004-2007.

Noted

330

Revised Enterprise Policy

330

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of “Enterprise in Education”, a revised enterprise policy for educational establishments to replace the “Education for Work and Enterprise” policy adopted following the meeting of the Committee on 31 August 1999.

Decided:  that approval be given to the “Enterprise in Education” policy detailed in Appendix 3 to the report and for its implementation in all educational establishments within Inverclyde.

331

Education Service Plan Key Priorities 2006/07

331

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of the key priorities to be taken forward in the Education Services Plan for 2006/07.

Decided:

(1)   that agreement be given to the key priorities set out in Appendix 1 to the report;  and

(2)   that it be noted that these will be incorporated within the Service Improvement Plan to be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

332

Revised Staffing Standard for Primary and Secondary Schools

332

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval for the revision of the primary and secondary schools staffing standard in light of the implementation of the Teaching Profession for the 21st Century agreement.  There was also circulated to the Committee, additional information in respect of the revised staffing model.

Decided:  that approval be given to the revised staffing standard for primary and secondary schools as set out in Appendix A to the report.

333

Additional Support Needs in Early Years

333

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the increase in referrals of children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) and (2) outlining proposals in relation to additional services required to meet the statutory duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Decided:

(1)   that the increasing incidence of children identified as having Additional Support Needs and the requirement to develop additional services to meet the Council’s statutory duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 be noted;

(2)   that approval be given to the establishment of the Early Years Support Worker posts as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report and that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services and Head of Personnel Services to take all necessary action in connection therewith;  and

(3)   that the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Pilot Project referred to in paragraph 4 of the report be continued until June 2007.

334

HMIe Report:  Improving Scottish Education

334

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the key features of the recently published HMIe Report “Improving Scottish Education”.

Noted

335

St Stephen’s High School - Reception/Staff Area Proposals

335

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on proposals for the refurbishment and upgrading of the reception/staff area at St Stephen’s High School and (2) seeking authority to invite tenders for the work and for delegated authority to be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest acceptable tender.

Decided:

(1)   that the scope of the project for the refurbishment and upgrading of the reception/staff area at St Stephen’s High School, at an estimated cost of £350,000 including professional fees and other direct payments, be approved;

(2)   that it be remitted to the Solicitor to the Council to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the work;  and

(3)   that delegated authority be granted to the Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Group to accept the lowest acceptable tender received.

336

Schools Projects - Permission to Proceed to Tender - Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

336

There was submitted a report dated April 2006 by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive (1) to authorise the issuing of tenders in respect of (a) St Stephen’s High School - Replacement Windows, Final Phase, (b) St Ninian’s Primary School - Replacement Boiler and (c) Earnhill Primary School - Sports Pitch and (2) to add St Ninian’s Primary School Boiler Replacement Project to the Education Capital Programme.  The report also requested that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest acceptable tender for the sports pitch at Earnhill Primary School, subject to the total budget allocation not being exceeded.

Decided:

(1)   that the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive be noted;  and

(2)   that delegated authority be granted to the Solicitor to the Council in consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Group to accept the lowest acceptable tender for the Earnhill Primary School Sports Pitch Project, subject to the total budget allocation not being exceeded.