1295 ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM 1295

Mr Grant referred to a report by the Head of Technical Services on proposed changes to the funding arrangements for Phase 1 of the Window Replacement Works at St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow and Phase 1 of the Reroofing Works at Larkfield Primary School, Greenock and requesting the Committee to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the works at St Stephen's High School. The Convener indicated that consideration of the item was urgent to allow the Committee, if in agreement with the proposed method of dealing with the matter, to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender without delay and she moved that the item be added to the Agenda. This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

1296 REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT 1296

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 December 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 14 October 1998.

NOTED

1297 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS 1297

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

DECIDED:

(a) That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1998/99 be noted; and

(b) That the accumulated variations in Phase 4C of the works at Port Glasgow High School which are 21.63% (£25,820) greater than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

1298 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION 1298

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

1299 PROPOSED NEW GOUROCK PRIMARY SCHOOL: ADDITIONAL FUNDING 1299

SUBMITTED: Report dated 2 December 1998 by the Head of Property Services on the present position of the project to construct a replacement Gourock Primary School, setting out the reasons for the increased costs totalling £320,000, requesting the Committee to remit the matter to the Policy and Strategy Committee to approve the additional funding and to authorise the issue of tenders for the project subject to the additional funding being granted by the Policy and Strategy Committee.

Following discussion, Councillor Robertson (Y) moved:-

(a) That the report be approved and that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to provide additional funding in the sum of £320,000 from the current Capital Programme in respect of the additional costs identified;

(b) 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 the new Gourock Primary School project subject to the provision of additional funding of £320,000 by the Policy and Strategy Committee; and

(c) That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to make a presentation at an appropriate time on the detailed proposals for the project including information from the Director of Planning on the position of the application for planning permission.

As an amendment, Councillor Hunter moved:-

(b) That the issue of tender documents for the project be delayed until such time as planning permission has been granted.

On a vote, 3 Members voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:

(c) That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to make a presentation at an appropriate time on the detailed proposals for the project, including information from the Director of Planning on the position of the application for planning permission.

1300 INVERKIP PRIMARY SCHOOL, PHASE 2 - UPDATE FOLLOWING RECEIVERSHIP 1300

OF MAIN CONTRACTOR

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on the arrangements which are being made to complete Phase 2 of the works at Inverkip Primary School following the receivership of the main contractor. The report advised that due to the complex nature of the work to be undertaken, it had not been possible to produce a pre-tender estimate for the project and it was proposed that in order to minimise delays in recommencing the work on site, acceptance of the lowest tender be authorised by means of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66 and that, thereafter, a report be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

NOTED

1301 REVIEW OF THE SCOTTISH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL ON THE CURRICULUM AND 1301

THE SCOTTISH COUNCIL FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services on a proposed response to the Scottish Office Consultation Document, entitled "Review of the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum and the Scottish Council for Educational Technology, Recommendations for the Way Forward".

DECIDED: That the report and its Appendix be noted and that the Council's proposed response recommending Option 2 be approved for submission to the Scottish Office.

1302 CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR THE SECONDARY STAGES: GUIDELINES FOR 1302

SCHOOLS - CONSULTATIVE DRAFT

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum had issued for consultation a revision of the document entitled "Curriculum Design for the Secondary Stages: Guidelines for Schools" and appending the Council's response which it had been necessary to submit by 30 October 1998.

NOTED

1303 HMI STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT IN MODERN LANGUAGES 1994-1998 1303

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services on the content of the Standards and Quality Report in Modern Languages published by Her Majesty's Inspectors and outlining the current arrangements for teaching modern languages within Inverclyde schools.

NOTED

1304 SECTION 19 OF THE CHILDREN ACT 1989 - REVIEW OF CHILDMINDING, DAY-CARE 1304

AND EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN UNDER 8

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services appending the final report on the review of childminding, day-care and education services for children under 8 in terms of Section 19 of the Children Act 1989 which had been produced following the consultative exercise agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 2 June 1998 (para 606).

DECIDED:

(a) That the report set out in Appendix 1 be approved and adopted as the review of the level, pattern and range of day-care and related services for young people in Inverclyde in terms of Section 19 of the Children Act 1989; and

(b) That copies of the report be made available to all interested parties and members of the public.

1305 GUIDANCE ON THE PLANNING OF PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE 1305

AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILDCARE PARTNERSHIPS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the publication of the Government's Guidelines for Pre-School Education and Childcare and the Establishment of Childcare Partnerships, detailing the action required by the local authority to implement the Government's strategy and advising of the progress made in the setting up of a Childcare Partnership in Inverclyde.

NOTED

1306 CHILDREN IN SCOTLAND: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND CONFERENCE 1306

5 AND 6 NOVEMBER 1998

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the successful outcome of the Children in Scotland Annual General Meeting and Conference held in Gourock on 5 and 6 November 1998.

NOTED

1307 MILLENNIUM ARTS PROJECT: OUR TOWN'S STORY 1307

SUBMITTED: Report dated 18 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services on the progress made in developing proposals for the Millennium Arts Project known as "Our Town's Story" as reported to the Committee at its meeting on 15 September 1998 (para 595) and advising of the arrangements which had been made to seek finance for the project.

DECIDED: That the development of proposals for the Millennium Arts Project known as "Our Town's Story" as set out in the report be noted and approved, subject to the availability of appropriate finance for the project.

1308 PROPOSED NEW BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT UNIT FOR SECONDARY AGED CHILDREN 1308

AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 1 December 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services on proposals to provide a specialist unit within the Mearns Centre, Greenock for S1-S4 pupils with family, social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

DECIDED: That the proposals detailed in the report for the provision of a specialist unit within the Mearns Centre, Greenock for S1-S4 pupils with family, social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties be approved and implemented as soon as possible following the Christmas and New Year Holidays 1998/99.

1309 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 1309

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 as amended, 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 the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item:-

Item Paragraphs(s)

School Security Programme 1998/99 - Further Works 6 and 8

School Transport Tenders 6 and 8

Port Glasgow High School, Phase 4A -

Update Following Receivership of Main Contractor 6 and 8

Equal Pay Claim by Primary Head Teachers 12

Scottish Office New Deal Funding 1998/99 - Expenditure on

Larkfield Primary School Reroofing Works, Phase 1 and

St Stephen's High School Window Replacement Works,

Phase 1 6 and 8

1310 SCHOOL SECURITY PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FURTHER WORKS 1310

There was submitted a report by the Head of Property Services recommending that negotiations for additional works be entered into with the existing school security works contractor to ensure that the total budget allowance is expended in the current financial year and this was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1311 SCHOOL TRANSPORT TENDERS 1311

There were submitted reports by the Executive Director Education Services on the present position with regard to the arrangements which have been made to ensure the provision of school transport following the withdrawal of operators from a number of contracts, recommending action in this connection and advising of the position of the contracts held by another operator whose licence had been revoked by the Traffic Commissioners. The Committee agreed to note the current position and authorise action for the award of permanent contracts, all as detailed in the Appendix.

1312 PORT GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOL, PHASE 4A - UPDATE FOLLOWING RECEIVERSHIP 1312

OF MAIN CONTRACTOR

SUBMITTED: Report dated 23 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services advising that following the receivership of A C Moir Ltd, the main contractor appointed to undertake Phase 4A of the work at Port Glasgow High School which was currently in the defects liability period, a quotation had been received to make good the outstanding defects requiring attention.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Head of Technical Services to accept the quotation in the sum of £8,936.53 received from Elim Construction Ltd for the making good of defects in respect of Phase 4A of the works at Port Glasgow High School.

1313 EQUAL PAY CLAIMS BY PRIMARY HEAD TEACHERS 1313

SUBMITTED: Report dated 17 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services on equal pay claims submitted by primary head teachers, from all Councils in Scotland, advising that a case against a specific local authority would be used as a test case and detailing the possible implications of the test case.

NOTED

1314 SCOTTISH OFFICE NEW DEAL FUNDING 1998/99 1314

LARKFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL, REROOFING, PHASE 1 AND ST STEPHEN'S

HIGH SCHOOL WINDOW REPLACEMENT, PHASE 1

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on proposed changes to the funding arrangements for Phase 1 of the Window Replacement Works at St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow and Phase 1 of the Reroofing Works at Larkfield Primary School, Greenock to ensure that the Scottish Office New Deal Funding is fully expended this financial year and requesting the Committee to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender received for the works at St Stephen's High School at a total cost of £97,328 including fees.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be agreed:-

(i) That the £93,000 Scottish Office New Deal Funding 1998/99 previously allocated to Phase 1 of the reroofing works at Larkfield Primary School, Greenock be utilised instead for Phase 1 of the window replacement works at St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow for which tenders have been received, thus ensuring full expenditure of this sum in the current financial year;

(ii) That the remaining costs amounting to £4,328 be funded from the Education Capital Programme 1998/99 with no expenditure until after 1 April 1999;

(iii) That Phase 1 of the reroofing works at Larkfield Primary School be transferred to the Education Capital Programme 1998/99 in the amount of £93,000 with no expenditure, other than professional fees, being incurred until after 1 April 1999;

(b) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender received for Phase 1 of the window replacement works at St Stephen's High School, Port Glasgow, that by Century 21 Replacement Window Co Ltd in the corrected sum of £86,399.00; and

(c) That in respect of Phase 1 of the reroofing works at Larkfield Primary School, the Committee confirm the approval to proceed to tender and delegated authority to accept the lowest tender agreed at the meeting on 15 September 1998 (para 956) but with the works now forming part of the 1998/99 Education Capital Programme.