Education Services Committee

Tuesday 25 July 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, Mitchell, Moody, Robertson (A), Robertson (Y) and Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Miss E Henderson and Mr A Henderson (for Director of Education Services), Miss L Brabender (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Provost Roach and Rev C McGranaghan.

Prior to the commencement of business, the Committee conveyed their appreciation for the contribution made by Reverend McAdam to the Education Services Committee and extended their best wishes for the future.

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

606

Revenue Budget 2000/2001 - Monitoring Report

606

There was submitted a report dated 10 July 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/01 as at 28 June 2000.

Noted

607

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

607

There was submitted a report dated 4 July 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/01. 

Decided:

(1)  that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/01 be noted; and

(2)  that the accummulated variation for the staff room extension works to Moorfoot Primary School which is 12.6% (£3,567) more than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

608

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

608

There was submitted a report dated 12 July 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/01.

Decided:

(1)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)  that the projected overspend on the Capital Programme be deferred until a future meeting of the Committee.  

609

Financial Resources for Schools

609

There was submitted a report dated June 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising the Committee of (1) additional financial resources for schools as specified in the Scottish Executive, Education Department Circular 1/2000, (2) the continued allocation of resources made available through the Excellence Fund Core Programme and particularly the new category of Inclusion and (3) the continuation of the New Deal for Schools Initiative as set out in the SOEID Circular 6/97.  

Decided: that the Committee note:-

(i)  the additional financial resources for schools as specified in the Scottish Executive Education Department Circular 1/2000;

(ii) the continuing resources made available through the Excellence Fund Core Programme and in particular the new category of Inclusion; and

(iii) the continuing New Deal for Schools Initiative as set out in the SOEID Circular 6/97 and the categories against which this funding will continue to be used.

610

Port Glasgow High School Entrance  - Permission to Proceed to Tender - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

610

There was submitted a report dated June 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the Emergency Powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) for the issuing of tender documents for the Port Glasgow High School Entrance Porch works. 

Noted

611

Modular Building for Primary Education - Gourock Primary School - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

611

There was submitted a report dated 30 May 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the Emergency Powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender received for the provision of a modular building to provide additional accommodation at Gourock Primary School during the transitional period necessary to adjust the roll of the existing school to the capacity of the new school, that by SIBCAS Ltd in the sum of £46,437.

Noted

612

School Holiday Arrangements 2001/02

612

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that a number of neighbouring Councils have set holidays for 2001/02 which do not fully align with the Inverclyde Council pattern approved by the Education Services Committee in April 2000 (Para 304) and (2) requesting that the Committee consider changing the timing of the Easter holidays and the start date of the summer holidays 2002 to align with Glasgow, Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire Councils.  

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that some neighbouring Councils have set school holiday arrangements for 2001/02 which do not align with the approved Inverclyde Council pattern; and

(2)  that subject to suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, the timing of the Easter holidays and the start date of the Summer holidays 2002 be altered to align Inverclyde Schools with those in Glasgow, Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire Councils.

613

Schools (Scotland) Code : Consultation Response

613

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the response made to the Scottish Executive on the consultation paper on the “Schools (Scotland) Code”.

Decided: that the Committee note the response made to the Scottish Executive consultation paper on the Schools (Scotland) Code.

614

Regulation of Early Education and Childcare : The Way Ahead

614

There was submitted a report dated 3 July 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the publication by the Scottish Executive of the consultation paper on the “Regulation of Early Education and Childcare : The Way Ahead” and (2) requesting approval of a response.

Decided: that the Committee approve the response to the Scottish Executive consultation paper on Regulation of Early Education and Childcare : The Way Ahead.

615

The Way Forward for Care - A Policy Position Paper by the Scottish Executive

615

There was submitted a report dated 11 July 2000 by the Directors of Social Work & Housing Services and Education Services advising of the Scottish Executive’s publication “The Way Forward for Care - A Policy Position Paper”, setting out proposals for modernising the regulation of care services and early education and the registration of key groups of staff within the social services workforce. 

Decided:

(1)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)  that a further report on the potential budgetary and staffing implications be submitted to the Committee once further information has been received. 

616

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

616

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising that at the Education Services Committee in May 2000 (Para 450) changes were made to eligibility criteria for clothing grants and higher school bursaries and highlighting that further information on the way in which access to other benefits is provided to certain persons in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit is now available to the Council.

Decided: 

(1)  that it be noted that Certificate HC2 or HC3 is no longer required by the Department of Health to determine eligibility for remission of health charges for those persons in receipt of WFTC; and

(2)  that the method used to determine automatic remission of health charges for those persons in receipt of WFTC by the Department of Health be used to determine eligibility for clothing grants and higher school bursaries. 

617

Inverclyde Child Care and Pre-School Education Plan

617

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services seeking approval to publish Inverclyde Childcare Partnership’s Plan for Childcare and Pre-school Education for 2000/01.

Decided:  that approval be given to the publication of Inverclyde Childcare and Pre-school Education Plan for Education for Inverclyde 2000/01.

618

Early Education and Child Care - Additional Support and Funding 2000/02

618

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of the distribution of additional funding for the Child Care Strategy 2000/02 to support a package of measures aimed at improving the volume, quality and accessibility of childcare services.

Decided:  that the Committee note the Scottish Executive’s announcement of additional funding for the Child Care Strategy 2000/02 and the actions of the Director of Education Services to develop proposals to meet the specific aims of this further investment.

619

Development of Pre-Five Provision

619

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the progress of Pre-Five developments in respect of the provision of pre-school education places in Gourock and Central/West Greenock, (2) seeking approval for the Director of Education Services to report to a future meeting on the proposed development of additional provision at St Ninian’s Primary School in Gourock and (3) requesting approval for the Director of Education Services to relocate Wellpark Nursery to a new build at Mearns Street at an estimated cost of £335,000 to be funded from SEED Pre-school Education Development Grant.

Decided: 

(1)  that it be noted that further consideration has been given to the required development of additional Pre School Education Places for areas in Inverclyde to meet Government targets;

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report to a future meeting of the Committee on the proposed provision at St Ninian’s Primary School to meet targets in Gourock for pre-school education;  and

(3) that approval be given to the Director of Education Services to proceed with the relocation of Wellpark Nursery to a new build in Mearns Street, Greenock and that it be remitted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of tenders for the project and that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal & Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender for the project in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Orders relating to Contracts and the Financial Regulations.L

620

School Pupil Records (Scotland) Regulations 1990 : Establishment of Sub-Committee

620

There was submitted a report dated 19 July 2000 by the Director of Legal & Support Services requesting that a Sub-Committee be established under Regulation 11 of the School Pupil Records (Scotland) Regulations 1990 and requesting that Members be appointed to the Sub-Committee.

Decided: 

(1) that the School Pupil Records (Scotland) Regulations 1990 Sub-Committee be established with a membership of 7 as follows:-

(i)       Councillor Robertson (A) (Convener,

(ii)      Councillor McCabe (Vice-Convener),

(iii)      Councillor Jackson,

(iv)     Councillor Calvert,

(v)      Councillor Campbell,

(vi)     Mrs Purdie, Parent Representative, and

(vii)     a member of the Clergy to be notified; and

(2) that it be remitted to the Convener in consultation with the Director of Legal &  Support Services to fix a date for the meeting of the Sub-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 item on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 & 8 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

621

Education Properties - Condition Survey - Permission to Accept Tender other than the Lowest - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

621

There was submitted a report dated July 2000 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 a tender other than the lowest for a Condition Survey of Education Properties that by A P Denton Associates in the sum of £99,160.50. 

Noted