EDUCATION SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

TUESDAY 27 JULY 1999  - 3 pm

 

Present:-  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Robertson (A), Moody, McCabe, Mulholland, Mitchell, Campbell and Father T Boyle, Church Representative, Councillor Robertson (A), 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 and Support Services), the Director of Central Services and the Head of Property Services.

 

An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor Morrison (D).

 

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

 

   670      REVENUE BUDGET 1999/2000 - MONITORING REPORT                                                                670

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 July 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 1999/2000 as at 23 June 1999.

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to report to the next meeting of the Committee on proposals for achieving the £54,000 unallocated savings in libraries within the 1999/2000 Revenue Budget;  and

(b)  That the report be otherwise noted.

 

   671      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - TECHNICAL PROGRESS                                                      671

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 1 July 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 together with supplementary report dated 22 July 1999 requesting the Committee to approve an Architect’s Instruction in respect of Phase 5 of the works at Port Glasgow High School.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted;

(b)  That the accumulated variations in Phase 1 of the window replacement works at Larkfield/Sacred Heart Primary Schools, Greenock which are 18.27% (£39,370) less than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations;  and

(c)  That the Committee approve the following expenditure reduction and increase in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

 

Project                                                                                    Effect on Expenditure

 

Gourock Primary School

Provisional sum for work to connect an existing

burn to the drainage system not required                                   £5,000 reduction

Port Glasgow High School, Phase 5

Additional concrete repairwork required to PE Block               £12,600 increase

 

   672      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1999/2000 - FINANCIAL POSITION                                                        672

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 8 July 1999 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

NOTED

 

   673      CATCHMENT AREAS FOR INVERCLYDE SCHOOLS -                                                                   673

              REQUEST FROM COUNCILLOR REBECCHI                                                                                         

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 23 June 1999 by the Executive Director Legal, Information & Support Services on a request received from Councillor Rebecchi that the Committee consider a complete review of catchment areas within Inverclyde.

Councillor Rebecchi was present and spoke on the matter by reference to an illustrated diagram, copies of which were circulated to Members.

DECIDED:

(a)   That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to report in due course following a review of catchment areas, school rolls and class sizes within all Inverclyde schools;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to issue to all Members, plans detailing the existing catchment areas for all Roman Catholic and non-denominational primary and secondary schools within Inverclyde.

 

   674      TIME FOR TEACHING - IMPROVING ADMINISTRATION IN SCHOOLS                                     674

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 22 June 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on the contents of the report entitled “Time for Teaching” published by the Accounts Commission for Scotland and HM Inspectors of Schools into ways of improving administration in schools, setting out the implications for Education Services and the Council as a whole and advising of the follow-up action which would require to be undertaken in response to the Account Commission’s main recommendations.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report “Time for Teaching” published by the Accounts Commission for Scotland and HM Inspectors of Schools and its implications for Education Services and the Council as a whole be noted;

(b)  That the follow-up action which requires to be undertaken in response to the report’s main recommendations be noted;  and

(c)  That it be noted that the Executive Director Education Services will submit a further report to the Committee on proposals for addressing the issues identified in the report.

   675      INVERCLYDE EDUCATION SERVICES/IBM MODERN LANGUAGES PROJECT                         675

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising of a project established by Education Services and IBM to reinvigorate modern languages in Inverclyde and improve the employability of young people in the area.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the report be noted;  and

(b)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to report further as the project develops.

 

   676      EDUCATION SERVICES:  STAFFING IMPACT OF POLICY DEVELOPMENTS                            676

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 28 June 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services on the range of policy developments which have had an impact on the current staffing establishment within Education Services and seeking approval for a review of the structure of the service to be undertaken in consultation with the Director of Personnel Services.

During discussion of this item, reference was made to a report on the agenda for the next meeting of the Corporate Business Committee on the staffing implications of the early years and child care strategy and it was agreed that a request be made for this report to be remitted to the Education Services Committee for its consideration.

DECIDED:

(a)  That it be noted that the range of new developments within Education Services are creating pressures on existing structures for service delivery;

(b)  That a review of the staffing structure within Education Services be undertaken in consultation with the Director of Personnel Services and that the resulting recommendations be remitted in the first instance to the Education Services Committee for approval and thereafter to the Corporate Business Committee;

(c)  That it be noted that any costs arising as a result of the review will be contained within the existing Education Services Budget;  and

(d)  That a request be made to the Corporate Business Committee that the report on the staffing implications of the early years and child care strategy included in the agenda for its meeting on 5 August 1999 be remitted to the Education Services Committee for its consideration.

 

   677      NEW DEAL FOR SCHOOLS                                                                                                                677

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 June 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services seeking approval of proposed expenditure in 1999/2000 under the continuing New Deal Initiative for schools.

DECIDED:

(a)  That approval be given for the submission of a report on the success of the 1998/99 New Deal Programme in Inverclyde in meeting government priorities for education services;  and

(b)  That the allocation of expenditure in 1999/2000 under the New Deal Initiative be as follows:-

 

Classroom supplies                                                               £185,400

Equipment, furniture and fittings                                             £268,000

Curricular led adaptations                                                       £50,000

Curricular and staff development                                           £407,600

Raising achievement                                                              £457,000

Pre-five curriculum and staff development                                £95,000

 

   678      PROPOSALS FOR THE EXPANSION OF SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH                                  678

              VERY YOUNG CHILDREN                                                                                                                       

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 15 July 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services requesting the Committee to approve a range of development proposals to meet the Scottish Office Education & Industry Department’s aims and objectives for an expansion of support to families with very young children.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the proposals detailed in the report which aim to provide support to families with very young children be approved;

(b)  That it be noted that the proposals will be funded from the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department grant to Inverclyde for this initiative;  and

(c)  That it be noted that the Executive Director Education Services will report on the progress of the developments in 1999/2000 and on an expansion plan for future years funding.

 

   679      EXCELLENCE FUND FOR SCHOOLS:  SPECIAL PROGRAMME -                                                 679

              EDUCATION ACTION PLANS                                                                                                                 

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated June 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the Scottish Office Education and Industry Department had made available £200,000 in 1999/2000 under the Excellence Fund:  Special Programme - Education Action Plans in respect of Port Glasgow High School and Wellington Academy each of which will receive £100,000.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the Committee note the £200,000 allocation in 1999/2000 made available by the Government through the Excellence Fund:  Special Programme - Education Action Plans;  and

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

 

   680      INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN SCHOOLS                                   680

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Executive Director Education Services on the current position relative to the use of information communication technology in Inverclyde schools, advising of the need to update provision to meet current and developing educational needs in line with the Government’s key targets and setting out proposals for the current year.

DECIDED:       

(a)  That approval be given to the development and implementation of the information communication technology strategy for schools and librarians in line with National Grid for Learning guidelines, following consultation with the schools and in conjunction with Information Technology Services; and

(b)  That approval be given to the allocation of Scottish Office Education and Industry Department funds as available within the New Deal and Excellence Fund Initiatives.

 

   681      DEFERRED ENTRY INTO SCHOOLS                                                                                                 681

 

SUBMITTED: Report dated 15 July 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that the issue of deferred entry into Primary 1 had been brought to the attention of COSLA, which had contacted Local Authorities for their views on how best to address the matter, and seeking approval of an interim strategy for responding to parental requests for deferred entry.

DECIDED:

(a)  That for school session 1999/2000, parents electing to defer their child’s entry into school be offered, where available, a place in a local authority pre-5 establishment after all eligible children have been admitted; and

(b)  That a decision on whether to charge parents for a place be deferred in the meantime.

 

   682      REGULATION OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE : CONSULTATION PAPER            682

 

SUBMITTED:  Report by the Executive Director Education Services advising of the publication by the Scottish Office of the consultation paper “Regulation of Early Education and Child Care” and requesting the Committee to approve a response to the paper as set out in the Appendix to the report.

DECIDED:  That the response to the Scottish Office Consultation Paper “Regulation of Early Education and Child Care” as detailed in the Appendix to the report be approved.

 

   683      KELLY STREET HALL - CONVERSION TO NURSERY - UPDATE                                                 683

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 21 July 1999 by the Executive Director Education Services advising that following the carrying out of a pre-tender estimate, the anticipated cost of the project to convert the Kelly Street Hall to a nursery had increased from £135,000 to £170,000 and that in order to allow the project to proceed, tender savings had been identified, relating primarily to the external works, resulting in a revised tender estimate of £148,000.

NOTED