[IC1] EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY, 11 AUGUST 1998 - 3.00 pm

 

Present:- Provost Allan, Councillors Robertson (A), Morrison (D), Clocherty, Jackson, Roach, Robertson (Y), Mitchell, Welch, Hunter, and Campbell, Father T Boyle and Rev D McAdam, 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), Mr A McDonald, Miss J Monteith and Mr J Sutherland (for the Director of Education Services), the Director of Finance, Mr H McNeilly (for the Director of Legal Services) and Mr I K Taylor, Head of Technical Services.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of  Councillor Mulholland and Mr I F Milne.

 

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.

   782      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                    782

 

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Finance on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 24 June 1998.

DECIDED:

(a) That the current position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 be noted; and

(b) That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to consider providing a supplementary revenue estimate in respect of the projected contract cleaning overspend of £122,260.

 

   783      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                          783

 

              SUBMITTED: Report dated 16 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

              NOTED

 

   784      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                            784

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 July 1998 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

 

   785      SCHOOL SECURITY 1998/99 - USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE                            785

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for school security measures in fourteen primary schools, that by Clark Contracts Ltd in the corrected sum of £122,429.32.

NOTED

        

786 ST STEPHEN'S HIGH SCHOOL - REDUCED ACCOMMODATION -                                                      786

              USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 3 August 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services requesting the Committee to homologate changes in the proposed works to reduce accommodation at St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow following discussions with the school and the school board, and advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the revised works, that by G D Chalmers Ltd in the sum of £143,100.00.

Following discussion, Councillor Mitchell moved that the decision to alter the content of the works be not homologated.  As an amendment, Councillor Robertson (Y) moved that the decision be homologated and the use of the emergency powers procedure to accept the lowest tender be noted.

On a vote, 1 Member voted for the motion and 10 for the amendment which was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That the decision taken by the Officers not to proceed with the relocation of the dining facilities at St Stephen's High School and instead to rationalise and improve subject departments, at an additional cost be homologated; and

(b) That the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the revised works, that by G D Chalmers Ltd in the sum of £143,100.00 be noted.

 

        

787 PORT GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL - PHASE 5A (SECURITY FENCING) -                                              787

USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66 to authorise the issuing of tender documents for Phase 5A of the works at Port Glasgow High School, comprising the installation of security fencing.

NOTED

 

   788      PORT GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL - PHASE 5                                                                                    788

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on proposals for Phase 5 of the works at Port Glasgow High School.

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 5 of the works at Port Glasgow High 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 tenders received for both Phases 5 and 5A of the works provided that in each case the lowest tender is no more than 10% greater than the budget estimate.

 

 

 

   789      ST COLUMBA'S HIGH SCHOOL - DEMOLITION OF DINING BLOCK                                         789

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 27 July 1998 by the Director of Property and Technical Services on proposals for the demolition of one dining block at St Columba's High School, Gourock.

DECIDED:

(a) That subject to the Corporate Business Committee approving a financial contribution of £22,000 to the project, it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the demolition of one dining block at St Columba's High School, Gourock; 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.

 

   790      EDUCATION CAPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMME 1999/2000 AND BEYOND                              790

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 4 August 1998 by the Director of Education Services on the Education Capital Building Programme 1999/2000 and beyond.

DECIDED: That consideration of the report be continued.

 

   791      BOGLESTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL, PORT GLASGOW: PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT            791

OF SUPPORT UNIT FOR PUPILS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE - RESULTS OF CONSULTATION

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services on the results of the consultation exercise undertaken in respect of the proposed establishment of a support unit for pupils of primary school age within Boglestone Primary School, Port Glasgow.

DECIDED: That the proposal to establish a support unit for primary age children within Boglestone Primary School, Port Glasgow be adopted and implemented as early in session 1998/99 as is possible.

 

   792      CHARGES FOR PRE-FIVE GROUPS BASED IN COUNCIL ACCOMMODATION                        792

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services reviewing the scheme for charging pre-five groups who use Council accommodation, as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 9 September 1997 (Para 990).

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Property and Technical Services to review the market value rental and service charges in respect of the Gamble Children's Centre, Gourock Park Playgroup, Moorfoot Rising Fives and Larkfield Ladybird Pre-Five Centre;

(b) That no charge be levied on Wellington Playgroup in session 1998/99 as this group will not receive any pre-school year grant;

(c) That the appropriate lease arrangements be determined on the basis of the following formula:-

(i)  that where all places available are commissioned places by Inverclyde Council for children in their pre-school year, a charge of 90% of the market value be applied;

 

(ii)  that where fewer than 100% of places are commissioned places, the rental be reduced proportionately on the basis set out in the report;

(d) That it be remitted to the Director of Property & Technical Services to make the appropriate arrangements for implementation of the amended formula and that the matter be referred to the Corporate Business Committee in due course; and

(e) That the above arrangements be introduced for session 1998/99 and reviewed on an annual basis.

 

   793      EXPANSION OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE                                                  793

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 29 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising of the Government's decision to fund a further expansion of pre-school education services to three year olds over the period 1999-2002, setting out the key tasks to be undertaken by the local authority in this regard and seeking approval for exploratory work to be undertaken on models of childcare delivery.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Government's decision to fund a further expansion of pre-school education services to three year olds over the period 1999-2002 and the key tasks to be undertaken by the local authority be noted;

(b) That the Director of Education Services report to the Committee in due course on the phased development of this new provision;

4(c) That the Director of Education Services report to the Committee in due course on childcare service development in accordance with government requirements;  and

(d) That authority be granted to the Director of Education Services to carry out exploratory work on possible childcare structures for Inverclyde Council and that the outcome of this work be the subject of a report to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

794 RESPONSE TO GOVERNMENT GREEN PAPER - MEETING THE 794

CHILDCARE CHALLENGE - A CHILDCARE STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND

 

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Education Services appending a proposed response to the Green Paper "Meeting the Childcare Challenge: A Childcare Strategy for Scotland".

DECIDED: That the proposed response to the Green Paper set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved for submission to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department.

 

795 SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS: CONSULTATION RESPONSE 795

 

SUBMITTED: Report by the Director of Education Services appending a proposed response to the Government's consultation paper "Special Educational Needs in Scotland".

DECIDED: That the proposed response to the discussion paper set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved for submission to the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department.

 

796 SOEID BUDGET 1998: MONEY FOR SCHOOLS 796

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 28 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services advising of further additional money for schools made available by the Government in 1998/99 and beyond, the total allocation to Inverclyde being £356,523, advising of the Minister of Education's priorities for distribution of these resources and setting out a proposed allocation of the funding.

 

DECIDED:

(a) That the additional funding made available to Inverclyde Council of £356,523 be noted;

(b) That it be agreed to adopt the Minister's stated priorities for distribution of these resources by allocating the finance as detailed in the report, viz:-

 

Reduction in Class Sizes (Subject to approval by the SOEID)	-   £86,523
Support for Standards	- £120,000
Investment in the National Grid for Learning	- £120,000
Classroom Assistants - Pilot Project	- £  30,000                            ; and

(c) That a further report be submitted to the Committee on the use of these additional resources in future years.

 

797 COMMUNITY EDUCATION SERVICE - SESSIONAL STAFF RATES OF PAY 797

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services on proposals to increase community education service sessional rates of pay.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed to implement the revised pay structure set out in the report from

1 September 1998.

 

798 SCHEMES FOR APPOINTMENT OF TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE AND 798

PARENT REPRESENTATIVE TO EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 22 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services on proposed schemes for the appointment of a teacher representative and a parent representative to the Education Services Committee as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report respectively.

Following discussion, Councillor Robertson (Y) moved:-

(a) That the scheme for the appointment of a teacher representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and the scheme for the appointment of a parent representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

(b) That approval be given to the holding of elections for both a teacher representative and a parent representative to the Education Services Committee, such elections to be held under the schemes for appointment detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report respectively, the successful candidates to remain Members of the Committee provided that they meet the criteria of the appropriate scheme; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to review this procedure including the electoral and representation arrangements and to submit a further report to the Committee on the operation of the schemes prior to the next scheduled election in May 1999.

As an amendment, Councillor Campbell moved:-

(a) That the scheme for the election of a teacher representative to the Education Services Committee be approved and that the election of a teacher representative proceed on the basis detailed in the scheme; and

(b) That the scheme for the election of a parent representative to the Education Services Committee be not approved and that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to produce a new democratically accountable scheme for consideration by the Committee.

On a vote, 4 Members voted for the amendment and 8 for the motion which was declared carried.  Those Members who 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.

DECIDED:

C (a) That the scheme for the appointment of a teacher representative to the Education Services

Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and the scheme for the appointment of a parent representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

(b) That approval be given to the holding of elections for both a teacher representative and a parent representative to the Education Services Committee, such elections to be held under the schemes for appointment detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report respectively, the successful candidates to remain Members of the Committee provided that they meet the criteria of the appropriate scheme; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to review this procedure including the electoral and representation arrangements and to submit a further report to the Committee on the operation of the schemes prior to the next scheduled election in May 1999.

 

799 THE ETHOS AWARD, INVERCLYDE 799

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services requesting the Committee to approve a proposal to develop and implement an award which is designed to develop practice and encourage innovative approaches to building an ethos of achievement within Inverclyde.  It was proposed that all educational establishments and staff within the Department of Education Services would be eligible to apply for the award.

DECIDED: That the proposals for an ethos award within Inverclyde as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

 

800 PROPOSED NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GOUROCK 800

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 28 July 1998 by the Director of Education Services recommending that The Inverclyde Council be requested to suspend the relevant Standing Order to allow amendment of Paragraph 529 of the Council minute of 14 May 1998 relative to the proposed new primary school in Gourock.

DECIDED: That it be recommended to The Inverclyde Council that the relevant Standing Order be suspended to allow amendment of Paragraph 529 of The Inverclyde Council minute of 14 May 1998 relative to the proposed new primary school in Gourock by substituting for the existing Paragraph 448(d) of the minute of the Education Services Committee of 21 April 1998, the following:-

"(d) No further placing requests be accepted for Gourock Primary School other than where it is necessary to comply with the relevant legislation in respect of the planned intake of 33 pupils at each stage, to ensure that the roll of the school will match the long-term projection of its new delineated area and the proposed planning capacity of the school but that special consideration be made to allow siblings of children currently in attendance at Gourock Primary School to be supported in their applications for placing requests to Gourock Primary School for a period of up to 6 years".