EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Robertson (A), Morrison (D), Clocherty, Jackson, Roach, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Mitchell, Welch, Hunter and Campbell, Father T Boyle, Rev D McAdam and Mr I F Milne, Church Representatives, Councillor Robertson (Y), Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:- The Assistant Chief Executive (Social and Community Development), the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) with Mr G MacGillivray, Head of Operations (Indoor Services), Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), the Director of Education Services, the Director of Finance, Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services) and the Director of Property and Technical Services.

 

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

 

   228      ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM                                                                                                             228

 

Mr Grant referred to a report by the Director of Property and Technical Services seeking approval to purchase equipment and materials to provide improved security within schools.     The Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the Scottish Office grant for this purpose to be fully utilised before the end of the current financial year and she moved that the item be added to the Agenda.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

 

   229      REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98                                                                                                                229

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 March 1998 by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1997/98 as at 7 January 1998.

NOTED

 

   230      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                          230

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   231      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1997/98 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            231

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 February 1998 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1997/98.  The report advised that since the last report, rephasing of expenditure had resulted in slippage of approximately £319,000 from the 1997/98 to the 1998/99 Capital Programme and that actual expenditure as at 18 February 1998 (89% through the financial year) stood at only 59% of that projected for 1997/98.

NOTED

 

   232      SOEID DISCUSSION PAPER - PARENTS AS PARTNERS:                                                               232

              ENHANCING THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN SCHOOL EDUCATION                                                    

 

SUBMITTED:   Report dated 18 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department of a discussion paper "Parents as Partners:  Enhancing the Role of Parents in School Education".  The report advised of the arrangements which would be made to consult on the proposals prior to a draft response being submitted to a future meeting of the Education Services Committee for consideration and approval.

DECIDED:  That the Committee note the publication of the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department discussion paper "Parents as Partners: Enhancing the Role of Parents in School Education" and the arrangements which will be made to ensure that a considered and detailed response is submitted to the Scottish Office by 1 May 1998.

 

   233      WEST OF SCOTLAND SCHOOLS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CONCERT BAND              233

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising that he had given his agreement as a trustee to the proposal to end the existing trust associated with the West of Scotland Schools Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band and to create new trusts for the same purpose but with charitable status.

NOTED

 

   234      CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND - ANNUAL CONFERENCE                                                                   234

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising of the intention of Children in Scotland to hold its Annual General Meeting and Conference in Inverclyde on 5 and 6 November 1998.

DECIDED:  That it be noted that Children in Scotland will hold its Annual General Meeting and Conference in Inverclyde on 5 and 6 November 1998 and that Officers of the Council will liaise with the organisation in the planning of the Conference and related activities.

 

   235      EARLY INTERVENTION:  PAIRED READING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN SCOTLAND             235

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising that Inverclyde Council had been invited to become involved as a partner in an innovative pilot project in Scotland based on Paired Reading in Primary Schools and that the Department of Education Services would be represented on the National Steering Group which will meet to determine the final content of the pilot project and prepare an action plan for 1998/99 consistent with the resources available.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the involvement of Inverclyde Council as a partner in the Paired Reading in Primary Schools pilot project for Scotland be noted and endorsed;  and

(b)  That the Director of Education Services report to a future meeting of the Committee on the progress made.

   236      ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN S1/S2                                                                                                         236

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services on the contents of the report "Achieving Success in S1/S2" prepared by HM Inspectors of Schools which makes a considerable number of recommendations for change and development within the existing structures of S1/S2 and outlining the action taken by the Department of Education Services and Inverclyde schools to date in response to the report's recommendations.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and the developments made to date be approved.

 

   237      EDUCATION FOR WORK:  WORK EXPERIENCE IN SCOTLAND - A CONSULTATION           237

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department of a discussion paper inviting views on the benefits of work experience for secondary school pupils and setting out the arrangements which will be made to respond to the consultation document by 1 May 1998.

DECIDED:  That the Committee note the publication by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department of the consultation paper on work experience and the arrangements which will be made by the Director of Education Services to address and respond to the specific issues and questions raised.

 

   238      ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATION ON EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE                            238

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 25 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services on a recommendation made by the Joint Consultative Committee (Teaching Staff) at its meeting on 23 February 1998 that the membership of the Education Services Committee be increased by the appointment of one teacher representative and one parental representative and that both appointees have full voting rights at meetings of the Committee.

DECIDED:  That it be recommended to The Inverclyde Council that the membership of the Education Services Committee be increased by the appointment of one teacher representative and one parental representative with full voting rights.

 

   239      PROPOSED RELOCATION OF KING'S GLEN PRIMARY SCHOOL WITHIN                                239

              REFURBISHED AND EXTENDED ACCOMMODATION AT THE BLAIRMORE                                  

              CENTRE AND ST KENNETH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, GREENOCK                                                      

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 27 February 1998 by the Director of Education Services on proposals for further consultation relative to the proposed relocation of King's Glen Primary School within refurbished and extended accommodation at the Blairmore Centre and St Kenneth's Primary School building following the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 27 January 1998 (para 77).

Following a brief adjournment, the Committee agreed unanimously to continue consideration of this item to the next meeting.

DECIDED:  That consideration be continued to the next meeting of the Committee.

 

 

   240      NATIONAL SCHOOL MEALS WEEK 1998                                                                                        240

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) requesting the Committee's approval for Inverclyde schools to participate in National School Meals Week 1998 which will run from April 27 to May 1 1998.

DECIDED:  That approval be granted for Inverclyde schools to participate in National School Meals Week 1998.

 

   241      BREAKFAST CAFE SERVICE IN SCHOOLS                                                                                     241

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 February 1998 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Contract Services) on a pilot project to provide a breakfast cafe service in selected schools and requesting the Committee to agree to the continuation of the pilot project at various locations until a full assessment of its impact can be undertaken.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the pilot project to provide a breakfast cafe service in selected schools be noted; and

(b)  That the Committee agree to the continuation of the pilot project until a full assessment of its impact can be undertaken.

 

   242      SCHOOL SECURITY PROJECT                                                                                                           242

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Director of Property and Technical Services requesting the Committee to approve the purchase of equipment and materials up to a maximum value of £62,000 for use in providing improved school security.  The report advised that it would be necessary to purchase the equipment and materials prior to 31 March 1998 to ensure that the  Scottish Office grant is fully utilised although the equipment and materials would be held and used during the next phase of school security works to be undertaken in 1998/99.

DECIDED:  That approval be granted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to purchase equipment and materials up to a maximum value of £62,000 for use in providing improved school security.

 

   243      RESOLUTION : EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    243

 

On the motion of the Convener it was agreed unanimously that in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

   244      INVERKIP PRIMARY SCHOOL - ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION, PHASE 2 - USE                244

OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE                                                                                

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 18 February 1998 by the Director of Central Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the carrying out of negotiations in respect of Phase 2 of the works at Inverkip Primary School with the Phase 1 contractor.                                                                                                                          NOTED

 

   245      INVERKIP PRIMARY SCHOOL - ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION, PHASE 2                           245

NEGOTIATIONS

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 February 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the current position of negotiations in respect of Phase 2 of the works at Inverkip Primary School.

DECIDED:  

(a)  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 a negotiated tender submitted by the Phase 1 contractor subject to the tender being deemed to be fair and reasonable by the Director of Property and Technical Services, it being no more than 10% greater than the budget allocation of £439,000 and subject to the sums being contained within the overall Education Capital Programme; and

(b)  That if the Director of Property and Technical Services is unable to agree a negotiated tender amount which he considers to be fair and reasonable, it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to invite competitive tenders for the works and delegated authority be granted to him 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 in accordance with the decision of the Committee at its meeting on 2 December 1997 (Para 1327).