Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

Tuesday 29 May 2007 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost McCormick, Councillors Blair, Brooks, Clocherty, Dorrian, Grieve, Loughran, McCabe, Osborne, White and Wilson, Rev D Hamilton, Rev C McGranaghan and Father M McMahon, Church Representatives, Mr R Henderson, Parent Representative and Mr T Tracey, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor McCabe presided.

In attendance:  Corporate Director Education and Social Care, Head of Schools, Head of Lifelong Learning and Educational Support, Head of Estate Project, Head of Support and Development, School Estate Manager, Mr I Cameron (for Head of Finance), Head of Property Resources and Facilities Management, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs and Mr H McNeilly (for Head of Legal and Administration).

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

384

HMIe Report on Notre Dame High School

384

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

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising the Committee of the results of an HMIe external evaluation of Notre Dame High School.  The report advised that the external evaluation included within the indicators of quality, three indicators which were judged to be excellent, those being Climate and Relationships, Partnerships with Parents, School Boards and the Community and Personal and Social Development.

Ms Frances Gilpin, Head Teacher of Notre Dame High School, was present and spoke to this item.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee endorse the comments made in the HMIe external evaluation of Notre Dame High School;  and

(2) that the Committee’s appreciation be conveyed to the Head Teacher, staff and pupils of the school as well as staff within Education Services Headquarters for the work undertaken to achieve this excellent report.

385

Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08 - Progress

385

There was submitted a report dated 11 May 2007 by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on the progress of the Capital Programme 2006/07 to 2007/08.

Decided:

(1)   that the progress of the specific projects detailed in the appendices to the report be noted;

(2)   that approval be given to the cost increases in respect of the Gourock High School modular accommodation and the Inverkip Primary School extension contracts totalling £21,360 and £73,440 respectively;

(3)   that approval be given to the increases in the budgets for the projects to replace the heating boilers, associated pumps and controls at St Mary’s Primary School and Lady Alice Primary School as detailed in paragraph 6.2 of the report;

(4)   that approval be given to the inclusion within the Capital Programme of St John’s Primary School electrical rewiring in place of the window replacement project and that delegated authority be granted in the usual manner to accept the lowest acceptable tender received; and

(5)   that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Education and Social Care to report to the next meeting of the Committee on the feasibility of also including within the Capital Programme the replacement of the windows at St John’s Primary School.

386

Education Service - Performance Report - January to February 2007

386

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of the progress made by Education Services during January and February 2007 in relation to achieving the service objectives and how this contributes to the achievement of key corporate priorities.

Decided:

(1)   that the contents of the report and the system of performance management reporting be approved;  and

(2)   that a report be submitted to the next meeting on the contents of the action plan and bid in relation to the Schools of Ambition Programme.

387

Education Service - Performance Report - March to April 2007

387

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of the progress made by Education Services during March and April 2007 in relation to achieving the service objectives and how this contributes to the achievement of key corporate priorities.

Decided:

(1) that the contents of the report be approved;  and

(2) that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee on sports development within Inverclyde schools.

388

Education Service Plan Priorities 2007/2010

388

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care (1) seeking approval of the key priorities to be taken forward in the Education Service Plan for 2007/2008 and (2) recording the key priorities for 2007/2010.

Decided:

(1) that the key priorities set out in the report be approved and it be noted that these will be incorporated in the Service Improvement Plan to be presented to the next meeting of the Committee;  and

(2) that it be noted that a training day for Elected Members will be held on 22 June 2007 and that this will include information on the role of Elected Members in the setting of priorities.

389

Church of Scotland Representation on Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

389

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources advising that the Church of Scotland’s Standing Committee on Education had nominated Rev William Douglas Hamilton to serve as its representative on the Committee in place of Rev William Armstrong.

Rev Hamilton was present and was welcomed to the meeting.

Decided:  that the nomination of Rev William Douglas Hamilton as the Church of Scotland representative on the Committee be noted.

390

Revised Schemes of Arrangement for the Election of a Parent Representative and a Teacher Representative to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee

390

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval for revised Schemes of Arrangement for the Election of a Parent Representative and a Teacher Representative to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee.

Decided:

(1) that approval be given to the revised Schemes for the Election of a Parent Representative and a Teacher Representative to the Education and Lifelong Learning Committee as set out in appendices 1 and 2 respectively;  and

(2) that the current Parent Representative and Teacher Representative remain as temporary members of the Committee until the election processes for the new representatives have been concluded.

391

The Naming of the Amalgamated Slaemuir and Highholm Primary Schools

391

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care requesting the Committee to decide upon a name for the amalgamated Slaemuir and Highholm Primary Schools.

Decided:  that Newark Primary School be the name of the amalgamated Slaemuir and Highholm Primary Schools.

392

The Naming of the Amalgamated St Kenneth’s and St Laurence’s Primary Schools

392

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care requesting the Committee to decide upon a name for the amalgamated St Kenneth’s and St Laurence’s Primary Schools.

Decided:  that All Saints’ Primary School be the name of the amalgamated St Kenneth’s and St Laurence’s Primary Schools.

393

Use of Powers Delegated to the Chief Executive

393

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Regeneration and Resources advising of the use of the powers delegated to the Chief Executive since the last ordinary meeting of the Committee (1) to approve acceptance of a negotiated tender for repairs to the assembly hall roof at Greenock High School, (2) to approve acceptance of a tender for Rainbow Family Centre, (3) to approve acceptance of a tender for Wemyss Bay Primary School extension and refurbishment and (4) to approve acceptance of a tender for re-roofing works at St Stephen’s High School.

Noted

394

St Francis Primary School Folding Partitions - Negotiated Tender

394

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care requesting the Committee to homologate the action taken by Officers to accept a negotiated tender for the supply and erection of two folding partitions and associated works at St Francis Primary School, that submitted by Laidlaw Scott Ltd in the amount of £14,487.31.

Decided:  that the Committee homologate the action taken by Officers in accordance with Section 26.3 of the Financial Regulations.

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)

Early Years Initiatives

1 & 6

School Transport Contracts (Mainstream) - Report on Tendering Exercise

6 & 8

A Centre for Day Placements: Working with an External Provider

6 & 8

Greenock Academy - PE Department Refurbishment - Acceptance of Tender

6 & 8

395

Early Years Initiatives

395

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care seeking approval of a range of initiatives in the Early Years Service resulting from the Early Years Efficiency Review.

Decided:

(1) that agreement be given to the development of an extension to the Kelly Street Children’s Centre within St Mary’s Primary School;

(2) that agreement be given to the relocation of the Paton Street  Family Centre within the Bluebird Family Centre;

(3) that agreement be given to a review of the Moorfoot Rising 5’s provision in March 2008 and that a report on proposals in this connection be submitted to the Committee before the end of 2007;

(4) that the Committee note that the savings in 2007/08 and in future years will be removed from the Education Services Budget as part of the efficiency review;  and

(5) that agreement be given to virement of £100,000 as detailed in the report to develop the new provision.

396

School Transport Contracts (Mainstream) - Report on Tendering Exercise

396

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care advising of the tenders received for mainstream school transport contracts due for renewal from the start of school session 2007 - 2008.  The Committee approved acceptance of the contracts in line with SPT’s recommendations, all as detailed in the Appendix.

397

A Centre for Day Placements: Working with an External Provider

397

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care on options relating to a partnership with an external care provider in order to create a centre for pupils with social, behavioural or emotional difficulties within Inverclyde.

There were circulated to Members, additional papers providing comparative financial information on the tender submissions.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the benefits of creating a day placement centre in Inverclyde and agree to Education Services working with an external provider on a contractual basis to ensure best value;

(2) that it be agreed that the most beneficial package in terms of best value is that offered by MPS Construction & Training and that it be remitted to the Corporate Director Education and Social Care in consultation with other relevant Officers to conclude the contractual arrangements;

(3) that the savings generated be used to relieve the pressure currently placed on the external day placement budget;  and

(4) that a report on the operation of the partnership arrangements be submitted to the Committee on an annual basis.

398

Greenock Academy - PE Department Refurbishment - Acceptance of Tender

398

There was submitted a report by the Corporate Director Education and Social Care requesting approval to accept the lowest acceptable tender received for Greenock Academy PE Department refurbishment.

Decided:  that it be remitted to the Head of Legal & Administration to accept the lowest tender received, that by WH Kirkwood Ltd in the sum of £192,232.61.