Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 17 October 2006 at 3.00 pm

Present: Councillors Blair, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Snoddy and White, Father M McMahon and Rev W Armstrong, Church Representatives and Mr R Henderson, Parent Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Head of Schools, Head of Lifelong Learning and Educational Support, Acting Head of Service - Educational Development, Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal and Administration), Mr J Aird (for Head of Finance) and Mr A Gerrard (for Head of Property Services).

Apologies:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Forbes, Robertson and Tucker, Rev C McGranaghan and Mr T Tracey.

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

  713

Mr Jim Sutherland

713

The Convener referred to the forthcoming retiral of Mr Jim Sutherland. On behalf of the Committee, he thanked Mr Sutherland for his many years of service with both Strathclyde Regional Council and Inverclyde Council, referring in particular to his period as Director of Education Services. He conveyed his best wishes to Mr Sutherland for a long and happy retirement.

  714

Revenue Budget 2006/07 - Period 5

714

There was submitted a report by the Chief Financial Officer on the position of the 2006/07 Revenue Budget as at period 5 (31 August 2006). The report advised that as a result of full allocation of additional funding received from the Scottish Executive, expenditure would now be contained within budget.

Decided: that the current position of the Revenue Budget 2006/07 as at 31 August 2006 be noted.

  715

Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08 - Progress

715

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the progress of the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08.

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

Decided:

(1)        that the progress of the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08 be noted;

(2)        that approval be given to the cost increase totalling £18,990 in the contract for the provision of the temporary modular accommodation, as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report;

(3)        that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to compile a list of suitable additional projects to utilize the additional Schools Fund allocation;

(4)        that in respect of projects under £100,000, it be remitted to the Director of Education Services in conjunction with the Head of Property Services to prepare the necessary tender documentation and authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Administration to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the various projects and acceptance of the lowest tender received in each case; and

(5)      that in respect of projects over £100,000, it be remitted to the Director of Education Services in conjunction with the Head of Property Services to prepare the necessary tender documentation and authority be granted to the Head of Legal and Administration to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the various projects.

  716

PPP Project: Conditional Revenue Funding Approval

716

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising the Committee of the details of the Conditional Revenue Funding Approval by the Scottish Executive for the Council’s PPP Project and (2) detailing the development timeline for the School Estate Management Plan.

Decided:

(1)      that the Committee note the award of Conditional Revenue Funding Approval of £5.73m per annum over 30 years and the conditions against which the award is based; and

(2)        that the timetable for the Prudential and PPP projects be noted, including the arrangements for special meetings of the Committee as required.

  717

Implementation of Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006

717

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on proposals for implementation by Education Services of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006.

Decided:  that the Committee note the action taken to ensure effective implementation of the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006.

  718

Report on the National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce

718

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Executive of a report on the National Review of the Early Years and Childcare Workforce.

Decided:  that the contents of the report and the further actions of the Director of Education Services in responding to the consultation process be noted.

  719

Pre-School Education - Advisory Floor 2006-07

719

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services requesting approval to increase payments to partner providers for pre-school education in line with the increase announced by the Scottish Executive.

Decided: 

(1)        that agreement be given to an increased payment to partner providers at a level of £1,275 per full school education place; and

(2)        that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will submit a further report on sustainability issues for partner providers, specifically in relation to management capacity and quality improvement issues and that this will determine an appropriate level of funding to partners to reflect any special circumstances.

  720

Consultation on the Demerger of Careers Scotland from Scottish Enterprise

720

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing information on the response by Education Services to the consultation on the demerger of Careers Scotland from Scottish Enterprise.

Decided:  that agreement be given to the response on the demerger of Careers Scotland from Scottish Enterprise as set out in the report, in particular the preferred option of becoming a self-standing, non-departmental public body.

  721

St Kenneth’s Primary School, Greenock

721

There was submitted a report by the Head of Legal and Administration on a request received from Councillor McCabe that the Committee consider letters of representation received by him from the parents of pupils at St Kenneth’s Primary School concerning vandalism at the school which also requested that the decision to include pupils of the school within the catchment area for St Stephen’s High School be overturned.

Decided:

(1)        that it be remitted to the appropriate Officers to examine the security issues at St Kenneth’s Primary School and that a report thereon be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee including information on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the school remaining open until June 2008 or an earlier decant of the pupils, the report to be prepared following consultation with affected parents; and

(2)        that it be noted that it was not the intention of the Administration to overturn the decision to include St Kenneth’s Primary School within the catchment area for St Stephen’s High School.