496 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION 496

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 May 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

497 EDUCATION CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - REPAIRS AND NEW DEAL PROJECTS 497

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising that within the Education Capital Programme for 1999/2000, was the sum of £302,000 for general repairs, listing five projects which had been identified as priority works and setting out the projects agreed by the Committee in October 1997 and subsequently approved by the Scottish Office for funding from the £529,000 "New Deal" monies provided under Circular 6/97.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee agree that the undernoted projects be identified as priority works to be funded from the £302,000 allocation for general repairs within the Capital Programme 1999/2000:-

(i) Wellington Academy - Repairs to Games Hall Roof and Cladding (£83,000);

(ii) Larkfield Primary School - Replacement Boiler Plant (£28,000, with remainder of cost to be funded from Major Maintenance Budget);

(iii) Larkfield Primary School - Replacement Windows, Phase 2 (£60,000);

(iv) General Internal and External Painterwork (£81,000);

(v) St Stephen's High School - Replacement of Roof Coverings, Phase 1 (£50,000); and

(b) That it be noted that the undernoted projects previously agreed by the Committee will be funded from the £529,000 Scottish Office "New Deal" monies:-

(i) St Michael's Primary School - Concrete Repairs (£35,000);

(ii) Ravenscraig Primary School - Replacement Windows (£81,000);

(iii) St Gabriel's Primary School - Replacement Roof Covering (£81,000);

(iv) Moorfoot Primary School - Staffroom Screen/Roof (£35,000);

(v) Information and Communications Technology (£297,000).

498 NEW DEAL PROJECTS 1999/2000 - PERMISSION TO INVITE TENDERS 498

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services requesting the Committee to agree to the invitation of competitive tenders for various projects to be funded from the £232,000 "New Deal" allocation from the Scottish Office for building projects in 1999/2000 and to remit it to the Policy and Strategy Committee to approve acceptance of the lowest tenders received for each project in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the Standing Orders relating to Contracts.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for (i) replacement of the windows at Ravenscraig Primary School, (ii) replacement of the roof covering at St Gabriel's Primary School and (iii) staff room screening/roofing works at Moorfoot Primary School;

(b) That, subject to the approval of the Policy and Strategy Committee, authority be granted to the Director of Central Services to accept the tenders for (i) replacement of the windows at Ravenscraig Primary School, (ii) replacement of the roof covering at St Gabriel's Primary School, (iii) staffroom screening/roofing works at Moorfoot Primary School, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the Standing Orders relating to Contracts; and

(c) That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve acceptance of the lowest tender received for the concrete repairs at St Michael's Primary School.

499 EDUCATION REPAIRS PROJECTS 1999/2000 - PERMISSION TO INVITE TENDERS 499

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services requesting the Committee to agree to the invitation of competitive tenders for various repairs projects to be funded from the £302,000 allocation in the Capital Programme 1999/2000 and to remit it to the Policy and Strategy Committee to approve acceptance of the lowest tenders received for each project in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the Standing Orders relating to Contracts.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for (i) repairs to the games hall roof and cladding at Wellington Academy, (ii) replacement of the windows at Larkfield Primary School, (iii) phase 1 of the replacement of the roof coverings at St Stephen's High School; and (iv) the school painterwork programme;

(b) That the action taken to issue tenders in respect of the boiler replacement works at Larkfield Primary School be homologated;

(c) That subject to the approval of the Policy and Strategy Committee, authority be granted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tenders received for (i) repairs to the games hall roof and cladding at Wellington Academy, (ii) replacement of the windows at Larkfield Primary School, (iii) phase 1 of the replacement of the roof coverings at St Stephen's High School, and (iv) the school painterwork programme, in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the Standing Orders relating to Contracts; and

(d) That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to approve acceptance of the lowest tender received for the replacement of the boiler plant at Larkfield Primary School.

500 KELLY STREET HALL - CONVERSION TO NURSERY - 500

PERMISSION TO INVITE TENDERS

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the proposed funding of the project to convert the Kelly Street Hall to a nursery, requesting the Committee to agree to the invitation of competitive tenders for the work and to remit it to the Policy and Strategy Committee to grant delegated authority for the acceptance of the lowest tender received.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the conversion of the Kelly Street Hall to form a nursery; and

(b) That the Policy and Strategy Committee be requested to grant delegated authority in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received for the works.

501 EDUCATION SERVICES (APPEALS) SUB-COMMITTEE 501

SUBMITTED: Report dated 14 May 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services requesting the Committee to appoint Members to the Education Services (Appeals) Sub-Committee which acts as the appeals body in terms of the appropriate sections of the Scheme of Salaries and Conditions of Service laid down by the Scottish Joint Negotiating Council for Teaching Staff in School Education.

DECIDED: That the following Members be appointed to the Education Services (Appeals) Sub-Committee:-

1. Councillor Calvert	5. Councillor McCabe (Convener)
2. Councillor Robertson (A) (Vice-Convener)	6. Councillor McGhee
3. Councillor Morrison (D)	7. Councillor Campbell
4. Councillor Moody

502 SCHEMES FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A PARENT REPRESENTATIVE AND A 502

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE TO THE EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 21 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services reviewing the schemes of arrangements for the appointment of a teacher representative and a parent representative to the Education Services Committee and making recommendations in this regard.

Following discussion, Councillor Campbell moved:-

(a) That the scheme of arrangements for the election of a parent representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be not approved and that it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to produce, for consideration by the Committee, a scheme which is more fairly representative of the parents of Inverclyde ; and

(b) That the current scheme of arrangements for the election of a teacher representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be retained and that this be used for all subsequent elections.

As an amendment, Councillor Robertson (A) moved:-

(a) That the scheme of arrangements for the election of a parent representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved and that this be used for all subsequent elections;

(b) That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to examine ways of providing support to the parent representative to maintain contact with parents' groups from all education sectors; and

(c) That the current scheme of arrangements for the election of a teacher representative to the Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be retained and that this be used for all subsequent elections.

On a vote, 4 Members voted for the motion and 7 for the amendment which was declared carried. Those Members who had voted in favour of the motion then requested in terms of the relevant Standing Order that the matter be referred to The Inverclyde Council for decision in terms of the motion.

DECIDED:

C (a) That the scheme of arrangements for the election of a parent representative to the

Education Services Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved and that this be used for all subsequent elections;

503 APPOINTMENT OF CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES TO 503

EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the requirement in terms of the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994 to appoint three church representatives to serve on the Education Services Committee.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the nominations of Rev David McAdam and Father Thomas Boyle by the Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic Church respectively; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to advertise in the local press for a third church representative to serve on the Committee.

504 INTER AUTHORITY PAYMENTS FOR PUPILS ATTENDING SPECIAL SCHOOLS 504

AND ESTABLISHMENTS

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising that a review of the payment arrangements for the provision of education to children attending special schools and establishments in other local authorities had recently been completed by a member-officer working group of COSLA and appending the findings of the working group which had been accepted by COSLA's Education and Cultural Services Forum.

DECIDED:

(a) That fees for special schools and establishments which reflect the estimated economic cost of the education provision be calculated and used as the basis for charging other Councils for places for pupils, the calculation, which will be undertaken by the Executive Director Eduction Services, to be based on the guidance notes detailed in Appendix 2 to the report with the cost of additional services or equipment being specifically charged to the other Councils in addition to the fees applied;

(b) That the fees be reviewed annually by the Executive Director Education Services to ensure that they continue to reflect the economic cost of the provision;

(d) That Inverclyde Council accept charges levied by another Council in respect of a pupil who is normally resident in Inverclyde or who is the responsibility of Inverclyde Council and who is provided with special education by that other local authority, these charges to be calculated in accordance with the guidance set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

505 DEVELOPMENT OF GAELIC MEDIUM EDUCATION 505

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on the development of Gaelic Medium Education in Inverclyde and advising that subsequent to the award of specific grant for the establishment of pre-five provision in Highlanders Academy, an offer of specific funding amounting to £34,000 had been made by the Scottish Office which will meet 75% of the cost of the establishment of a Gaelic Medium Primary Unit within the school.

DECIDED:

(a) That the funding of £34,000 received from the Scottish Office to support the establishment of Gaelic Medium Primary provision in Inverclyde be noted;

(b) That the establishment of a Gaelic Medium Primary Unit within Highlanders Academy be approved in accordance with the proposals outlined above and the report submitted to and approved by the Education Services Committee on 21 April 1998 (para 435); and

(c) That it be noted that the Executive Director Education Services will report to a future meeting of the Committee on the progress of the new development.

506 NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 506

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on the outcome of the bid submitted to the Scottish Office for the establishment of a new Community School (or cluster of schools). The report advised that the Scottish Office had made available a grant of up to £200,000 to support the development of a new Community School or school cluster and that while the grant may be used to support some parts of this development in their entirety, other developments required matched support from the Council which would be achieved by the realignment of existing services to the schools concerned and through new spending on these schools available through sources such as the Excellence Fund.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted; and

(b) That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to report on the progress of the the proposals in due course.

507 BURSARY POLICY FOR SCHOOL SESSION 1999/2000 507

SUBMITTED: Report dated 25 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services appending the Inverclyde Council Guide to Higher School Bursaries Policy Document which it was recommended be adopted as the Council's policy on bursaries for school session 1999/2000.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Inverclyde Council Guide to Higher School Bursaries Policy Document as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted as the Council's policy on bursaries for school session 1999/2000; and

(b) That a report on dance and drama award-funded further education places and the resultant effect on discretionary bursary payments be submitted to the Committee for consideration when further information is available.

508 THE EXCELLENCE FUND FOR SCHOOLS 508

SUBMITTED: Report dated 20 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that confirmation had now been received from the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department that the Council's education services improvement plans for the core programme of the Excellence Fund had been approved and that grant totalling £1,619,968 had now been made available to the Authority.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Committee note the additional money made available by the government through the Excellence Fund in 1999/2000 and that the total provision of core funding to Inverclyde of £1,619,968 will be allocated as follows:-

Alternatives to Exclusion £ 88,180

Study Support £ 127,680

Early Intervention £ 280,571

Supporting Parents £ 27,000

Classroom Assistants £ 204,338

Reducing Class Sizes £ 215,005

Support for Teachers £ 178,538

Higher Still £ 91,770

National Grid for Learning Current £ 136,829

Capital £ 270,057

TOTAL £1,619,968; and

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

509 SCHOOL HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS 2000/2001 509

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services requesting the Committee to approve arrangements for school holidays for session 2000/2001.

DECIDED: That the school holiday arrangements for 2000/2001 be as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

510 INVERCLYDE PRE-FIVE EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE PLAN: 510

IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 26 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising of progress made in the implementation of the Council's Childcare and Education Strategy as outlined in the Inverclyde Childcare and Pre-School Education Plan and seeking approval for a number of specific developments.

DECIDED:

(a) That the number of pre-school education places in Greenock's East End be reduced by 90 (45 FTE) for Session 1999/2000 by the closing of the Sinclair Street Nursery and reduction in capacity at Blairmore Nursery School, all as detailed in the report;

(b) That in Session 1999/2000 the rate of pre-school education grant be set at £928 (from August 1999) per "fully loaded" place as defined in the report; and

(c) That a revised scheme of charging for "wrapround" provision as defined in the report based on a charge of £1.70 per hour be implemented from July 1999.

511 RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS 511

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 Paragraph(s)

Post-Graduate Professional Training for Educational Psychologists 1

School Transport Tenders for Session 1999/2000 6 and 8

512 POST-GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS 512

SUBMITTED: Report dated 19 May 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on arrangements for funding of post-graduate training for Educational Psychologists.

DECIDED: That the arrangements for funding of post-graduate training for Educational Psychologists as detailed in the report be approved.

513 SCHOOL TRANSPORT TENDERS FOR SESSION 1999/2000 513

SUBMITTED: Report by the Executive Director Education Services providing details of the tenders for school transport contracts due for renewal from session 1999/2000 which had been received by Strathclyde Passenger Transport and requesting the Committee to approve the acceptance of Strathclyde Passenger Transport's recommendations.

DECIDED:

(a) That the details of tenders received by Strathclyde Passenger Transport for school transport contracts for session 1999/2000 be noted; and

(b) That approval be granted to the Executive Director Education Services to accept the recommendations of Strathclyde Passenger Transport for contracts as detailed in Appendix A to the report.