Education & Lifelong Learning Committee

Friday 15 December 2006 at 1 pm

Present:  Councillors Blair, Gallacher, Hill, McCabe, McKenzie, Mitchell, Robertson, Snoddy, Tucker and White, Father M McMahon, Church Representative, Mr R Henderson, Parent Representative and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Mitchell presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Corporate Director Education & Social Care, Corporate Director Regeneration & Resources, Head of Schools, Acting Head of Service – Educational Development, Head of Planning & Resources, Head of Support & Development, School Estate Manager and Managing Solicitor (Litigation/Advice).

Apologies:  Rev W Armstrong.

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.

909

Schools PPP – Approval of Issue of Invitation to Participate in Dialogue

909

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education & Social Care (1) advising of the bidders selected to enter into the Competitive Dialogue Process and (2) seeking approval for the issue of the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue (ITPD) to the selected participants, viz (a) Hochtief; (b) E4i (Education for Inverclyde); and (c) Inverclyde Community Partnership.

During the course of the discussions 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 to allow the Committee the opportunity to discuss any issues relative to the report which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.  The public and press were thereafter re-admitted to the meeting.

Councillor Mitchell moved (1) that the selection of participants for the Competitive Dialogue process be noted and (2) that approval be given to the issue of documentation to the selected participants to enable proposals for the Schools PPP project to be developed through the Competitive Dialogue process and for bids to be submitted at the end of the process.

As an amendment, Councillor Robertson moved that the principle of entering into a Schools Public Private Partnership be endorsed but that the issue of the Invitation to Participate in Dialogue be deferred until after the local government elections in May 2007 in order to allow the new Administration the opportunity to reconsider the specific proposals and take a decision at that time as to whether they should proceed as currently proposed or whether revisions should be made.  On a vote 5 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.

C

Decided:

(1) that the selection of participants for the Competitive Dialogue process be noted; and

C

(2) that approval be given to the issue of documentation to the selected participants to enable proposals for the Schools PPP project to be developed through the Competitive Dialogue process and for bids to be submitted at the end of the process.

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

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)

Appendix to Item 1 Comprising PQQ Final Evaluation Report for the Schools PPP Project

6

Prudential Schools Project – Acceptance of Tender

6, 8 & 9

910

Appendix to Item 1 Comprising PQQ Final Evaluation Report for the Schools PPP Project

910

There was submitted report by the PQQ Evaluation Team analysing the submissions received from the bidders in accordance with the PQQ questionnaire issued and approved by the Inverclyde Schools PPP Project Team.

Noted

911

Prudential  Schools Project – Acceptance of Tender

911

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education & Social Care (1) on the tender returns for the Prudential Schools Project and (2) seeking approval to accept the lowest tender received.  

The meeting was adjourned at 3 pm to allow The Inverclyde Council to be convened and adjourned and the Committee thereafter re-convened at 3.10 pm.

The Committee agreed to the acceptance of the most economically advantageous tender subject to a number of conditions, all as detailed in the appendix.