Education Services Committee

Tuesday 22 February 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, McCabe, Mitchell, Moody, Robertson (A), Robertson (Y), Father T Boyle, Church Representative, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative, and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Miss E Henderson, Mr A McDonald, Miss I J Monteith and Mr J Sutherland (for Director of Education Services), Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr A Puckrin (for Director of Resource Services) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors McGhee, Morrison (D) and Mulholland.

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

150

Retirement of Miss I J Monteith

150

The Convener intimated that this would be the last meeting of the Education Services Committee at which Miss I J Monteith, Head of Service, Education Services, would be present and he took the opportunity of extending the Committee’s best wishes for a long and happy retirement.

151

Venue of Education Services Committee - 4 April 2000

151

There was submitted a report dated 4 February 2000 by the Director of Legal and Support Services on a request received from Councillor Robertson (A) that the Committee consider holding its meeting of Tuesday 4 April 2000 at Wellington Academy, Greenock.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  That agreement be given to the holding of the Education Services Committee of 4 April 2000 within Wellington Academy, Greenock.

152

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

152

There was submitted a report dated 31 January 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Decided:

(1)  that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000 be noted;  and

(2)  that the Committee approve the following expenditure reductions in terms of the relevant financial regulations:-

Project                                                                       Effect on Expenditure

Larkfield Primary School, Greenock -

Window Replacement, Phase 2

Amount of concrete repairs included in                        £5,830 reduction

tender document greater than required

Port Glasgow High School, Phase 5

Deletion of decoration to Ferguson stairwell                 £7,000 reduction

area, gym hall and games hall, the work to

be funded from a separate budget

153

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Financial Position

153

There was submitted a report dated 4 February 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the financial position of the Capital Programme 1999/2000, (2) requesting the Committee to agree to utilise £83,000 of pre-five development grant to finance the 1999/2000 expenditure on the Kelly Street pre-five facility refurbishment/extension and (3) requesting the Committee to consider whether to remit the projected overspend in the Committee’s Capital Programme to the Policy and Strategy Committee.

Decided:

(1)  that it be agreed to utilise £83,000 of pre-five development grant to finance the 1999/2000 expenditure on the Kelly Street pre-five facility refurbishment/extension, thus reducing the projected overspend in the Committee’s Capital Programme to £9,000;

(2)  that the resultant overspend of £9,000 be contained within the Capital Programme 1999/2000;  and

(3)  that the report be otherwise noted.

154

Excellence Fund - Minor Works

St Columba’s High School and Gourock High School - Erection of External Porches -

Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

154

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise the acceptance of the lowest tender received for the erection of external porches at St Columba’s High School and Gourock High School, that by W H Kirkwood Ltd in the sum of £28,910.01, the work to be funded by Excellence Funding provided by the Scottish Executive.

Noted

155

Secondary One Intake to Greenock Academy, Gourock High and Notre Dame High Schools

155

There was submitted a report dated December 1999 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the need to set limits to the Secondary One intakes into Greenock Academy, Gourock High and Notre  Dame  High Schools and (2) highlighting the implications of setting these limits on the future rolls of the schools and also on placing requests.

Decided:

(1)  that approval be given to  limit the Secondary One intakes for August 2000 to Greenock Academy, Gourock High and Notre Dame High Schools at the levels of 160, 120 and 180 respectively;

(2)  that the rolls in each school be examined annually and adjusted if necessary  to match each school’s accommodation availability;  and

(3)  that the implications in respect of placing requests to the schools be noted.

156

Primary One Intake to Ardgowan Primary School, Greenock

156

There was submitted a report dated February 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) proposing a set intake to the Primary One stage of Ardgowan Primary School to enable the phasing out of the hutted accommodation and (2)  outlining the implications of the proposal on placing requests to the school.

Decided: 

(1)  that the Primary One intake to Ardgowan Primary School in 2000/2001 be set at 75 to take account of the anticipated number of pupils from the school’s catchment area and to 70 in years 2001/2002 and beyond;

(2)  that should more pupils than anticipated seek entry from the school’s catchment area, it be agreed that the increased intake be permitted;

(3)  that it be noted that this should allow the hutted accommodation to be vacated by 2004/2005 or sooner and that a decision be made at an appropriate date on the use of the vacated temporary accommodation;

(4)  that the implications in respect of placing requests to the school be noted;  and

(5)  that it be noted that a limit will require to be placed on primary stages P2 to P4 at the current levels and that this decision may also require the refusal of placing requests and the possible re-direction of pupils who move into the catchment area.

157

A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century:  Submission of Evidence to the McCrone Committee of Inquiry into Professional Conditions of Service for Teachers

157

There was submitted a report dated February 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising the Committee of the terms of reference of the McCrone Committee of Inquiry into professional conditions of service for teachers and (2) seeking approval of the submission made by the Director of Education Services to the Committee of Inquiry which required to be received by 11 February 2000.

Decided:

(1)  that the terms of reference of the McCrone Committee of Inquiry be noted;  and

(2)  that the response of the Director of Education Services as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved subject to (a) deletion of the reference to the anticipated reaction by teachers to changes in the working year and the statement in respect of the affordability of reducing class sizes (both Section 5) and (b) insertion of an introductory paragraph/ appendix emphasising the Council’s support for the teaching profession and the fact that any changes which are implemented as a result of the Committee of Inquiry’s recommendations would require to be funded in full by central government.

158

Pre-school Education Developments

158

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on specific proposals for the expansion of pre-school education to achieve the Council’s targets for provision for four and three year olds by session 2001/2002.

Decided:

(1)  that the report be noted;

(2)  that approval be given to the following proposals:-

(a) Slaemuir Primary School - increase nursery class capacity to achieve up to 40 additional places

(b) Kelly Street Nursery - create outreach provision to achieve up to 40 additional places

(c) Holy Cross Primary School - create new nursery class to achieve up to 40 places

(d) St Ninian's Primary School - build new modular construction to form a nursery class and create 80 places

(e) Gourock Park Playgroup - increase number of commissioned places to create up to 20 additional places

(f)   Wemyss Bay Primary School - extend nursery class provision by using Wemyss Bay Community Centre to achieve up to 20 additional places

(g) Aileymill Nursery School - increase capacity if required to create additional places

(h) Overton Primary School - increase nursery class capacity to achieve up to 20 additional places; and

(3) that it be noted that a report on the detailed revenue implications of the proposals will be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

159

Charges for Pre-five Groups Based in Council Accommodation

159

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services reviewing the scheme for charging pre-five groups who use Council ‡accommodation.

Decided:

(1)  that the rental and service charges applied to Gamble Children’s Centre, Moorfoot Rising Fives, Ladybird Pre-five Centre and Wellington Playgroup be based on the formula detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report;

(2)  that the rental and service charges applied to Gourock Park Playgroup be also based on this formula and that the amount paid to Gourock Park Community Association by Gourock Park Playgroup be subtracted from the payment to the Council;

(3)  that these arrangements be put in place for the current school session and all future sessions and be applied to all groups which use Council owned premises and are in receipt of pre-school education grant where no other rental or lease arrangements have been put in place;  and

(4)  that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to make the appropriate arrangements for the implementation of the new formula and that the matter be referred to the Corporate Business Committee in due course.

160

Pre-five Admissions Policy

160

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the impact of the government’s pre-school education initiative on Inverclyde’s admissions policy and (2) seeking approval of proposed amendments to the current admissions policy for all pre-five establishments within Inverclyde as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Decided:

(1)  that the report be noted;

(2)  that the revised priority bandings as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;  and

(3)  that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to produce appropriate guidelines to assist in the implementation of the revised admissions policy.

161

Request for Child Care Strategy Funding

161

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on a request for child care strategy funding from OSCAR, a project based in Springfield Primary School which currently provides out of school care for up to 24 children daily and which is managed by a voluntary management committee.  The report advised that the project met the government’s aims for flexible child care provision and was the sole provider of out of school care in the area.

Decided:  that approval be given to the allocation of £3,000 to OSCAR.

162

National Review of the Careers  Service

162

There was submitted a report dated 8 February 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of a national review of the Careers Service and (2) seeking approval for the submission of a response to the Careers Service Review Committee.  (Councillor Robertson (Y) left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the comments set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved as the Council’s submission to the Careers Service Review Committee.

163

Request for Loans of Items from Permanent Collections

163

There was submitted a report dated 8 February 2000 by the Director of Information Services on a request received from the Scottish Football Association Museum Trust for the loan of a number of items and copies of photographs from the collections of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery relating to local football history, the items and photographs to form part of a long-term display at the Football Museum at Hampden Park, due to open during 2000.

Decided:  that approval be given to the loan to the Scottish Football Association Museum Trust of the items and photographs from the collections of the McLean Museum and Art Gallery detailed in the report to form part of a long-term display at the Football Museum at Hampden Park.

164

Wellington Academy - Roof Collapse

164

There was submitted a report dated February 2000 by the Depute Chief Executive (1) advising that during the repair and refurbishment works being carried out to the changing room accommodation block at Wellington Academy, there had been a partial collapse of the roof into the showers area, and (2) advising of the likely causes of the collapse, and the temporary measures undertaken to contain the damage and keep further deterioration due to water penetration to a minimum.  The report also set out a proposal for the reinstatement of the roof and walling of the shower room along with structural strengthening of the remainder of the roof in the changing room accommodation block which will require a change to the specification of the roof covering elements.

Decided:

(1)  that the current position with regard to the contract at Wellington Academy be noted;

(2)  that approval be given to a change to the scope of the works in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations;

(3)  that it be remitted to the Head of Property Services to enter into negotiations with Elim Property Services Ltd, the contractor currently on site, for the additional works in accordance with the Standing Orders Relating to Contracts;

(4)  that it be noted that the proposed works totalling £68,000 inclusive of fees will be funded from an underspend in Excellence Funding as agreed with the Scottish Executive;  and

(5)  that delegated authority be granted to instruct the works following the outcome of the negotiations, subject to the agreement of the Directors of Education Services, and Resource Services and the Head of Property Services.

It was agreed in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

165

St Mary’s Primary School - Amendments to Emergency Arrangements for School Transport

165

There was submitted a report dated February 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising the Committee that Arriva, the operator contracted to provide transport of St Mary’s Primary School pupils to the temporary accommodation in St Columba’s High School, were to withdraw in part from the contract entered into and approved by the Committee and (2) requesting the Committee to homologate Strathclyde Passenger Transport’s recommendations to ensure continuity of transport provision.  (Councillor Moody left the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)  that the decision to accept Strathclyde Passenger Transport’s recommendations as outlined at paragraph 5.1 of the report be homologated;  and

(2)  that the additional costs resulting from this action be noted.

The Convener being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Education Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved its consideration to allow the Committee to comply with the timescales set out in the report.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

166

DMR Hardware Refresh Proposal

166

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the need to upgrade the legacy hardware in school offices used to host DMR-related software, (2) advising of a proposal to bring the administrative network into line with the Council’s Information Communications Technology infrastructure and (3) proposing a “spend to save” approach to funding the proposal.

Decided:

(1)  that the Committee agree the requirement to upgrade the legacy hardware in school offices used to host DMR-related software;

(2)  that agreement be given to the proposal to incorporate the school administrative network within the Council’s ICT Campus;

(3)  that agreement be given to the termination of the existing DMR Phase 4 Contract 7/95 HQD with Syntegra within the necessary timescale;

(4)  that agreement be given to enter into a new three year leasing arrangement with IBM FSL as detailed in the report;  and

(5)  that the proposal be recommended as a “spend to save” opportunity for consideration by the Policy and Strategy Committee.