Education Services Committee

Tuesday 16 May 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, McGhee, Mitchell, Moody, Morrison (D), Robertson (A), Father T Boyle, Rev D McAdam and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative, and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Present Also:  Councillor Robertson (Y).

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Mr H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Mulholland and O’Rourke.

The Convener welcomed to the meeting Rev C McGranaghan and congratulated him on his appointment to the Committee.

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

444

Presentation by Renfrewshire Careers Partnership

444

Prior to the commencement of business, the Committee heard a presentation by Mr D Logue, Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Careers Partnership and Mr J Dalziel, Area Careers Officer for Inverclyde.  There were also circulated to Members, careers information packs which were referred to in the presentation.  Mr Logue answered a number of questions raised by Members after which the representatives were thanked for their attendance and departed from the meeting.

445

Capital Programme 1999/2000 - Technical Progress

445

There was submitted a report dated 27 April 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 1999/2000.

Noted

446

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

446

There was submitted a report dated 28 April 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

447

Education Capital Programme 2000/2003

447

There was submitted a report dated April 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) on proposals for the Education Capital Programme for 2000/01 and (2) advising of the progress of projects during 1999/2000.

Decided:

(1)  that the position of the Education Capital Programme be noted;

(2)  that the progress of projects during 1999/2000 be noted;

(3)  that approval be given to proceed with the new projects as set out in section 4 of the report but that in respect of the Development and Improvement Programme (Public and Private Partnerships), it be agreed to set aside the sum of £100,000 should a decision be taken at a later date to proceed with such an initiative;

(4)  that it be remitted to the Director of Legal and Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of tenders for (a) the St Stephen’s High School disabled access works, (b) the window replacement programme at Gourock and St Stephen’s High Schools and (c) the proposed nursery at St Ninian’s Primary School should this project be recommended as viable;

(5)  that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tenders for the projects detailed at (4) above, in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders Relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations, with the exception of the St Ninian’s Nursery Project which is to be the subject of a further report to the Committee;  and

(6)  that it be noted that a report will be submitted to a future meeting on the progress of the Information Communications Technology programme together with the revenue implications thereof.

448

Religious and Moral Education

448

There was submitted a report dated 4 May 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the current position in relation to the teaching of religious and moral education within schools.

Noted

449

Gender Issues in Raising Attainment

449

There was submitted a report dated 4 May 2000 by the Director of Education Services on (1) gender issues arising in the context of raising attainment of pupils both nationally and within Inverclyde and (2) the action being taken by the Council and schools to address these issues.

Decided:

(1)  that the report be noted;  and

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to monitor developments in this regard and to submit reports on an annual basis to the Committee.

450

The Treatment of Working Families Tax Credit in the Determination of Entitlement to Clothing Grant and Higher School Bursaries

450

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that Family Credit had been replaced by Working Families Tax Credit which had an effect on the eligibility for receipt of clothing grants to certain pupils under the Council’s duty as detailed in the Education Act 1980 and (2) making recommendations in this regard.

Decided:

(1)  that the government’s interpretation of low income (ie those persons entitled to additional assistance with  health charges) be included in the determination of clothing grant and higher school bursary entitlement;

(2)  that Inverclyde Council pay a clothing grant to parents in receipt of one of the following benefits:-

Income Support;  Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based); Housing Benefit; Council Tax Benefit

and that those parents who are in possession of Certificate HC2 or HC3 from the Department of Health be also eligible to receive a clothing grant;

(3)  that the following non-taxable benefits be not included in assessing parental income for the calculation of  a higher school bursary:-

Attendance Allowance; Child Benefit; Constant Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance; Guardians Allowance; Income Support; Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based);   Maternity Allowance; Reduced Earnings Allowance; Retirement Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance; War Disablement Pension

and that Working Families Tax Credit for those parents who are in possession of Certificate HC2 or HC3 from the Department of Health be not included in the calculation of parental income where assessing eligibility for a higher school bursary.

451

Pre-school Education 2000/01 - Funding Arrangements

451

There was submitted a report dated 3 May 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising of (1) the allocation of grant per place for the pre-school year and for three year old children for the purposes of pre-school education and (2) development grant made available by the SEED to support the creation of new places for the school year 2001/02.

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that the level of grant payment per pre-school place has been set at £1,200 for each “fully loaded” place from August 2000;

(2)  that approval be given to make payment of £946 to partner providers for each commissioned pre-school education place;

(3)  that it be noted that a development grant of £426,676 had been allocated to Inverclyde under the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 for the development of pre-school education places and that a sum of £22,457 had been allocated to existing partner providers or to centres which may in the future provide pre-school education places;  and

(4)  that it be noted that the Director of Education Services will report to a future meeting on the proposed use of the pre-school education grant.

452

Revenue Implications of Pre-school Development

452

There was submitted amended report dated 11 May 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the revenue implications of current pre-school developments and (2) requesting the Committee to approve for its interest the establishment of the necessary posts for referral to the Corporate Business Committee.

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that the development of pre-school education places from August 2000 will require 2.5 teaching posts and 10 (9 FTE) nursery posts;

(2)  that it be noted that the increased revenue costs amounting to £252,300 for the full year (£168,000 for the part year from August 2000) will be met from additional Pre-School Education Grant under Section 23 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996;  and

(3)  that the Committee agree for its interest the establishment of the required posts and that these be recommended for approval to the Corporate Business Committee.

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.

453

School Transport - Renewal of Contracts 2000/2001

453

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) providing details of tenders received by Strathclyde Passenger Transport for school transport contracts which are due for renewal in session 2000/2001 and (2) requesting the Committee’s approval to accept the recommendations made by Strathclyde Passenger Transport in this regard.

Decided:

(1)  that the details of the tenders received for school transport contracts for session 2000/2001 as set out in the report be noted;  and

(2)  that authority be granted to the Director of Education Services to accept the recommendations of Strathclyde Passenger Transport for contracts to be carried out in 2000/2001 as set out in Appendix A to the report and for contracts 7010E and 7034E once recommendations have been made.

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 contracts, if agreed, to be awarded without delay.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

454

Transport Facilities for School Sessions 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03 for Children with Special and/or Medical Needs

454

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the results of the open tendering procedure carried out in respect of the provision of transport facilities for school sessions 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2002/03 for children with s¾pecial and/or medical needs and (2) making recommendations in this respect.

Decided:

(1)  that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to accept the tenders on the basis of the recommendations set out in the report including the award of four contracts to firms whose offers were not the lowest;  and

(2)  that authority be granted to the Director of Education Services in consultation with the Convener, Leader of the Council (in the absence of the Vice-Convener) and a Member of the Minority Groups to consider a report on the four outstanding contracts and to accept tenders on the basis of the recommendations made.