EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 26 JANUARY 1999 - 3 pm

 

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

 

In attendance:- The Executive Director Education Services, the Executive Director Resource Services, Mr H McNeilly (for the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services), Mr A S Grant (for the Director of Central Services), the Director of Information Technology  Services and the Head of Property Services.

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Jackson and Mitchell.

 

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

 

91          REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                      91

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 9 December 1998.  The report advised that there was now a projected overall underspend of £13,450, which represented an improvement of £101,600 in Education Services since the last report to the Committee.

DECIDED:  That the improved position of the Revenue Budget 1998/99 be noted.

 

92          CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                            92

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 January 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive 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 following accumulated variations which are outwith the accepted tender amount by more than 10% be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

 

St Columba's High School, Greenock - Internal Alterations

Anticipated final account 12.36% greater than accepted tender                          £11,786 increase

 

Port Glasgow High School, Phase 4C - Demolition

Anticipated final account 30.88% greater than accepted tender                          £11,038 increase

 

93          CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                              93

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 13 January 1999 by the Executive Director Resources Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1998/99.

NOTED

94          PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AT WORK                                                                                            94

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services seeking approval for the adoption of Bye-laws for the protection of children at work.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the model Bye-laws governing the employment of children within Inverclyde as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to seek the approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland for the implementation of the Bye-laws, following which the Bye-laws be submitted to the Council for formal adoption.

 

95          LIBRARY SAVINGS 1998/99                                                                                                                  95

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 November 1998 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that as part of the budget savings exercise for the financial year 1998/99, it had been agreed to implement savings of £54,000 from the Education Services Budget to be achieved through altering the opening hours of museums and libraries and the discontinuation of the existing shift system and setting out a number of options which would allow savings to be made.

The Convener advised that since the initial preparation of the report, an underspend and an over-recovery of income within the Education and Libraries Budget totalling £11,000 had been identified and it was anticipated that this figure, together with the projected savings in the Teachers' Employee Budget, would enable the savings of £54,000 to be achieved in the current financial year.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the underspend and over-recovery of income within the Education and Libraries Budget totalling £11,000 be noted;

(b)  That it be agreed that the savings of £54,000 be achieved in the current financial year;  and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to submit a further report on options to achieve savings of £54,000 in the 1999/2000 Budget and to report on recommendations for the restructuring of the Library Service in Inverclyde.

 

96          "OPPORTUNITY SCOTLAND" SCOTTISH OFFICE PAPER ON LIFE-LONG LEARNING              96

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on a proposed response to the Government Green Paper "Opportunity Scotland" on life-long learning.

DECIDED:  That the Committee welcome the contents of the Green Paper and  authorise the Executive Director Education Services to submit a response to the Scottish Office as set out in the report.

 

97          McLEAN MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY - MUSEUMS REGISTRATION SCHEME                        97

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 7 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the McLean Museum and Art Gallery were in the process of applying for re-registration with the Museums and Galleries Commission which was an essential prerequisite for consideration for grant aid from a number of agencies.  It was noted that a requirement of the scheme was that Inverclyde Council, as the governing body of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, should adopt and implement a policy relating to the acquisition and disposal of items in the collection as detailed in Appendix A of the report and also endorse both the Museum Statement of Purpose and Development Plan, set out in Appendices B and C of the report respectively.

DECIDED:  That the revised collecting and disposal policy, Statement of  Purpose and Development Plan for the McLean Museum and Art Gallery as detailed in Appendices A, B and C respectively be approved for adoption and implementation and for submission to the Museum and Galleries Commission as part of the Museum's application for re-registration.

 

98          PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT GRANT 1998/99                                                        98

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that an allocation of £60,171 had been made available by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department to Inverclyde Council for the remainder of the current financial year to support investment in pre-school education, and detailing proposals for utilisation of this funding.

DECIDED:  That the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department allocation of £60,171 to Inverclyde Council for the development of pre-school education be noted and the proposals set out in the report for utilisation of this funding be approved.

 

99          REVENUE IMPLICATIONS:  KELLY STREET AND OTHER PRE-SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS     99

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 19 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the provision of pre-school education places in partnership with the voluntary and private sectors at the level anticipated in 1999-2000 and the establishment of a new local authority facility for pre-five children at the Kelly Street Hall both had revenue implications for the 1999/2000 Budget and recommending that the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to make appropriate provision for these costs in the 1999/2000 and future Education Budgets.

DECIDED:  That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve the inclusion of the sums of £36,050 (to sustain commissioned pre-five places) and £39,760 (being part year costs to enable the opening of the Kelly Street pre-five establishment) within the Education Services Budget in 1999/2000 and beyond to secure the delivery of the pre-school education plan for Inverclyde.

 

100        THE EXCELLENCE FUND FOR SCHOOLS                                                                                        100

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 12 January 1999 by the Executive Director  Education Services advising that the Government had allocated £89.7m in 1999/2000 under the core programme of the Excellence Fund which is designed to support its key commitment to raising standards in schools and to promoting social inclusion, indicating that the Council's share of this additional funding, subject to approval of the Education Services Improvement Plan, amounted to £1,514,070, and accordingly requesting the Committee to agree priorities for utilisation of the funding.  It was noted that similar sums would be available in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 in line with the Government's three year budgeting programme.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the additional money for schools made available by the Government through the Excellence Fund in 1999/2000 and beyond and the total allocation of core funds in Inverclyde in 1999/2000 amounting to £1,514,070, subject to approval of the Education Services Improvement Plan, be noted;

(b)  That the priorities for allocation of the funding in 1999/2000 be as follows:-

 

Area                                                                                                                Funding Available

 

Alternatives to Exclusion                                                                                    £88,180

Study Support                                                                                                 £127,680

Early Intervention                                                                                             £273,258

Supporting Parents                                                                                           £  88,180

Classroom Assistants                                                                                       £204,338

Reducing Class Sizes                                                                                       £215,005

Support for Teachers                                                                                       £178,538

Higher Still                                                                                                       £  91,770

National Grid for Learning - Revenue                                                               £136,829

National Grid for Learning - CFCR                                                                  £270,057;  and

 

(c)  That it be noted that a further report will be submitted to the Committee at the appropriate time on the use of the additional resources in future years.

 

101        NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS                                                                                                          101

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the Government was introducing a national pilot programme of New Community Schools to support multi-disciplinary approaches which would address the issues and difficulties raised when children in schools face additional barriers to learning.  The report advised that funds for the pilot programme which will commence in April 1999 would be in the form of a specific grant from the Scottish Office Excellence Fund with resources being made available for the next three financial years subject to a maximum of £200,000 per year for each pilot project, and appended the proposed bid from Inverclyde Council which had been prepared following consultation and discussion with the main agencies involved including School Boards of the schools concerned.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the bid for the development of a New Community School based on the cluster of schools indicated in the report be approved and that the Executive Director Education Services be instructed to proceed with submission of the bid;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to report in due course on the Scottish Office response to the bid.

 

102        CONSULTATION PAPER:  SPECIALIST SCHOOLS                                                                         102

 

At the request of the Convener, it was agreed that this item be withdrawn from the Agenda.

103        SOEID CIRCULAR 7/98:  HIGHER STILL:  ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPHASING 1999/2000        103

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 26 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on a proposed rephasing programme for Higher Still which had been agreed following consultation with the Council's Joint Consultative Committee (Teaching Staff).

DECIDED:  That the content of the rephasing programme for Higher Still as detailed in the Higher Still rephasing return appended to the report be noted and submitted to the National Liaison Group.

 

104        GUIDANCE ON THE EXPANSION OF SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES                                                 104

              WITH VERY YOUNG CHILDREN                                                                                                            

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 January 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department of guidance to local authorities on the Government's aims and objectives in making funding available for an expansion of support for families with very young children.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the terms of the guidance issued on the expansion of support for families with very young children be noted;  and

(b)  That further reports be submitted to the Committee in due course detailing proposals to meet the objectives of the initiative in Inverclyde.

 

105        RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                    105

 

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 paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

106        ENERGY MANAGEMENT:  GREENOCK HIGH SCHOOL/ST COLUMBA'S HIGH                         106

              SCHOOL - UPGRADING OF SYSTEM                                                                                                     

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 January 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive on proposals for the upgrading of the energy management systems at Greenock High School and St Columba's High School, Gourock which formed part of the programme of energy management and energy conservation improvements funded by Scottish Office Specific Grant and recommending acceptance of an offer received.

DECIDED:  That it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to accept the offer from Trend Systems in the sum of £13,504.56.

 

107        SCHOOL TRANSPORT TENDERS:  USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE                    107

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66(a) to award permanent school transport contracts to Arriva Serving Scotland, following the withdrawal of Q Transport from the contracts held by that company.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the use of the emergency powers procedure be noted;  and

(b)  That it be noted that the total increase in costs in 1998/99 for the replacement of the contracts previously held by Q Transport amounted to £80,486.

 

108        INVERKIP PRIMARY SCHOOL - COMPLETION CONTRACT -                                                     108

              USE OF EMERGENCY POWERS PROCEDURE                                                                                      

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 12 January 1999 by the Depute Chief Executive advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure as set out in Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the completion contract in respect of Inverkip Primary School, that by Elim Construction Ltd in the corrected sum of £209,786.80.

NOTED