Education Services Committee

Wednesday 13 September 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, McCabe, Mitchell,  Morrison (D), Robertson (A), Robertson (Y), Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representative and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Director of Education Services, Mr F Jarvie (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Mr J Aird (for Director of Resource Services) and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors Jackson, Moody and Father T Boyle.

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

809

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

809

There was submitted a report dated 15 August 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1) that the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001 be noted;  and

(2) that in respect of the Gourock Primary School project, it be noted that a total of £7,000 for services to the temporary classrooms and covered by Architect’s Instructions Nos 44-46, will be funded from the Education Services Revenue Budget.

810

Response to a National Consultation Paper on National Priorities for School Education in Scotland

810

There was submitted a report dated 10 August 2000 by the Director of Education Services on the response made by Education Services, Inverclyde Council, to the Scottish Executive’s Consultation Document on National Priorities for School Education in Scotland.

Decided:  that the response by Inverclyde Council to the Consultation Document on National Priorities for School Education in Scotland as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

811

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 4

811

There was submitted a report dated 16 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at Period 4 (26 July 2000) and (2) advising that the Budget showed a projected overall overspend of £278,000.  (Rev McGranaghan entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee on the projected overspend in the Revenue Budget 2000/2001;  and

(2) that the report be otherwise noted.

812

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

812

There was submitted a report dated 17 August 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.  The report advised that the latest estimated total cost of projects in the Capital Programme was £4,161,000 which was £109,000 more than the estimated total project costs of £3,710,000 approved by the Policy and Strategy Committee in March 2000 (as adjusted for the transfer of the New Deal IT Equipment project to the Corporate Business Committee) together with costs to be charged against the Education Revenue Budget.

Decided:

(1) that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee with proposals to address the projected overspend in the Capital Programme 2000/2001;  and

(2) that the report be otherwise noted.

813

Scottish Qualification for Headship

813

There was submitted a report dated 10 August 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the Scottish Qualification for Headship which had been introduced following a pilot project and (2) appending a policy paper produced by the Inverclyde Management Training Steering Group which incorporated the Scottish Qualification for Headship.

Decided:

(1) that the progress made in relation to the involvement of Inverclyde staff in the Scottish Qualification for Headship be noted;  and

(2) that the Inverclyde Policy on Management Training detailed in Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

814

New Community Schools

814

There was submitted a report dated 11 August 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the developments which had taken place in relation to the New Community School currently involving five primary schools in Greenock and (2) setting out proposals for a new bid for a second New Community School focusing on the two secondary schools in Port Glasgow and their associated primaries.

Decided:

(1) that the developments which had taken place in relation to the New Community School established within Inverclyde be noted;  and

(2) that approval be given to the preparation of a new bid for a second New Community School on the basis set out in the report.

815

The Quality of Pre-school Education:  A Report by HM Inspectors of Schools

815

There was submitted a report dated 16 August 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the publication by HM Inspectors of Schools of a report on the quality of pre-school education based on evidence from Registration Inspections of pre-school centres across all authorities in Scotland in 1998/99 and (2) detailing the action taken by the Director of Education Services to support providers to ensure continuous quality improvement in the provision of pre-school education in Inverclyde.

Noted

816

Sport and Physical Activity Developments

816

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the work being carried out by Education Services to create sporting opportunities and to educate children regarding the benefits of physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Noted

817

Scottish Qualifications Authority - Update

817

The Director of Education Services provided the Committee with an oral update in respect of the award of qualifications in 2000 by the Scottish Qualifications Authority and he advised that a detailed report on the position would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

Decided:

(1) that the oral update provided by the Director of Education Services be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that a detailed report on the position would be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

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 consider the naming of the pre-five establishment at the earliest opportunity.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

818

Naming of a Pre-five Establishment

818

There was submitted a report dated 8 September 2000 by the Director of Education Services requesting the Committee to consider and approve a new name for the Inverclyde Council pre-five establishment currently known as Kelly Street Nursery.

Following discussion, Provost Roach moved that the establishment be known as the Kelly Street Children’s Centre.  As an amendment, Councillor Robertson (A) moved that it be known as the Oakgreen Children’s Centre.  On a vote, 2 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried.6

Decided:  that the name Kelly Street Children’s Centre be adopted for the pre-five establishment currently known as Kelly Street Nursery.