174

THE INVERCLYDE COUNCIL

EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

THURSDAY 10 APRIL 1997 - 3.00pm

Present:- Councillors Morrison (D), Clocherty, Roach, Nimmo, Robertson (Y), Welch, Hunter and Campbell, Father T Boyle and Mr I F Mime, Church Representatives, Councillor Robertson (Y), Convener, in the Chair.

In attendance:- The Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), Mr A S

Grant (for the Director of Central Services), Miss E Henderson, Mr A McDonald and Miss I J

Monteith (for the Director of Education Services), Mr A Puckrin (for the Director of Finance),

Miss L Brabender (for the Director of Legal Services) and the Director of Property and

Technical Services.

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Mr G Hart.

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

440 REVENUE BUDGET 1996/97 440

Submitted: Report dated 4 April 1997 by the Director of Finance on the position of the

Revenue Budget 1996/97 as at 28 February 1997.

NOTED

441 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL POSITION 441

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 March 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial

position of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the financial position of the Capital Programme 1996/97 be noted; and

(b) That it be noted that any increases in costs in respect of projects forming part of the

1996/97 Capital Programme will require to be funded from the 1997/98 Capital Programme.

442 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 442

As no representative from the Department of Property and Technical Services was in attendance to speak to this item, it was agreed to continue consideration of the item until later in the Agenda. The Convener expressed displeasure that such action was required.

443 THE EDUCATION ADVISORY SERVICE - STAFF DEVELOPMENT 1996/97 443

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 March 1997 by the Director of Education Services on the work undertaken by the Education Advisory Service in the area of staff development during session 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

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Education Services Committee - 10/4/97

(b) That the Director of Education Services submit a further report to the Committee in due course.

444 RENFREWSHIRE CAREERS PARTNERSHIP COMPANY 444

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 March 1997 by the Director of Education Services advising that following resolution of the outstanding issues reported to the Committee at its meeting on 10 October 1996 (Para 935), a full company model had been established for the Renfrewshire Careers Partnership Company which would assume responsibility for the employment of careers service staff and the delivery of careers guidance services across the areas of Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire from 1 April 1997.

NOTED

445 THE CHILDREN (SCOTLAND ACT 1995 445

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Education Services advising that on 1 April 1997, the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 will be fully implemented and outlining the key areas of the new legislation together with the implications for the Council in general and for the Department of Education Services in particular.

During consideration of this item the Convener left the meeting and the Vice-Convener took the Chair.

NOTED

446 SCHOOL SECURITY - UPDATE 446

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 March 1997 by the Director of Education Services on progress made in introducing security measures within schools and in particular referring to a feasibility study undertaken by the Director of Property and Technical Services into a range of security measures which control access to schools and to a pilot security system established in Slaemuir Primary School which will provide the basis for the introduction of security measures in all other educational establishments. The report also gave details of the specific grant to be made available by the Government for the improvement of schools security and it was noted that it was proposed that the existing Departmental Security Group be continued with the remit of developing an overall strategy taking account of the conditions applicable to the provision of the specific grant.

NOTED

The Convener returned to the meeting and took the Chair.

447 ST MUNGO’S PRIMARY SCHOOL. GREENOCK - PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF 447 UNIT FOR PRIMARY AGED PUPILS WITH COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 6 March 1997 by the Director of Education Services on the result of the consultative process undertaken in respect of the proposed establishment of a unit for primary aged pupils with communication difficulties, including autistic spectrum disorders, within St Mungo’s Primary School, Greenock.

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DECIDED: That agreement be given to the establishment of a unit for primary aged pupils with communication difficulties, including autistic spectrum disorders, within St Mungo's Primary School, Greenock from August 1997.

448 WEMYSS BAY PRIMARY SCHOOL - PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A NURSERY CLASS 448 FOR A TEMPORARY PERIOD

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 March 1997 by the Director of Education Services advising that a review of the current level of pre-5 provision and an assessment of the likely demand for places for children in their pre-school year had revealed a need for such facilities for children living in the Wemyss Bay area and recommending that one class within Wemyss Bay Primary School be utilised for a temporary period to provide a 20 place full-time education nursery class under the management of the Head Teacher of the school.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be noted that the Director of Education Services is in the process of establishing a 20 place full-time education nursery class within Wemyss Bay Primary School on a temporary basis;

(b) That the situation be reviewed annually in the light of enrolment figures to ensure that should the projected roll of the school increase, the accommodation utilised by the nursery can be returned to formal primary school education use;

(c) That in the event of there being a requirement to return the nursery to primary school use, consideration be given to relocating the nursery in other suitable accommodation and that this be the subject of a formal consultation exercise; and

(d) That the Director of Education Services submit a report to the Committee identifying the current extent of nursery education throughout Inverclyde.

449 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 449

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 March 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical

Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1996/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current position of contracts on site, financed from the 1996/97 Capital

Programme, be noted; and

(b) That the Committee approve the following expenditure increases in terms of the relevant

Financial Regulations:

Project Expenditure Increase

Gourock High School - PE Block Extension

Demolition of boys’ changing accommodation, not originally anticipated, and provision of changing accommodation within a temporary building £6,250

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Project Expenditure Increase

Port Glasgow High School - Phase 3

Work to relocate Art Department more extensive than originally anticipated resulting in greater expenditure than allowed for in the provisional sum £16,000

450 INVERKIP PRIMARY SCHOOL. PHASE 1 450

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 April 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on proposals for Phase 1 of the works at Inverkip Primary School comprising the construction of a new hall and new kitchen, alterations to the services within the existing buildings and the provision of a new access road at an estimated cost of £450,000.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for Phase 1 of the works at Inverkip Primary School; and

(b) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received for the works provided that this is no more than 10% greater than the budget estimate.