Education Services Committee

Tuesday 21 November 2000 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Campbell, McGraw, Mitchell, Moody, Morrison (D), O’Rourke, Robertson (Y), Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representative, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative, and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor O’Rourke presided. 

In attendance:  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 Jackson, McCabe and Robertson (A) and Father T Boyle.

999

Councillor Alex Calvert

999

Prior to the commencement of business, the Chairman referred to the recent death of Councillor Alex Calvert who had been a member of the Education Services Committee.  Councillor O’Rourke paid tribute to Councillor Calvert’s years of service as a Councillor and on behalf of the Members and Officers present expressed condolences to Councillor Calvert’s family.

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

1000

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 7

1000

There was submitted a report dated 31 October 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at period 7 (18 October 2000) and (2) advising that the Budget showed a projected overspend of £336,000, a decrease of £63,000 since the period 6 report, which was due to savings in employee costs as a result of delays in filling vacant posts and funding of a mainline post via the Excellence Fund.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1)  that the position of the Revenue Budget as at period 7 and the projected overspend be noted;  and

(2)  that the Director of Education Services report to the next meeting of the Committee on the projected overspend in respect of special needs transport.

1001

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

1001

There was submitted a report dated 30 October 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;

(2) the footnotes in respect of the Gourock Primary School detailed in the Technical Progress Report be noted;  and

(3)  that the accumulated variations in the Gourock Primary School project which are 14.07% (£241,044) greater than the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations.

1002

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

1002

There was submitted a report dated 3 November 2000 by the Director of Resource Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Decided:

(1) that it be noted that the Corporate Management Team is considering the £217,000 projected overspend in the Capital Programme 2000/2001;  and

(2)  that the report be otherwise noted.

1003

Revenue and Staffing Implications of Wellpark Nursery Redevelopment

1003

There was submitted a report dated 8 November 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the revenue implications of the redevelopment of Wellpark Nursery and (2) seeking approval for the establishment of the necessary posts to operate the establishment.

Decided:

(1)  that it be noted that the additional revenue cost of £99,182 resulting from the redevelopment of Wellpark Nursery will be met from 2001/2002 onwards from Pre-school Education Section 23 Grant, Child Care Strategy funding, Sure Start funding and income from charges to users for child care;

(2)  that it be noted that an amount of £5,820 will be allocated from Pre-school Education Development Grant in 2000/2001;

(3)  that it be noted that an amount of £25,000 will be allocated from Sure Start funding in 2000/2001 for start up for under 3 places;  and

(4)  that it be remitted to the Corporate Business Committee to consider the staffing requirements of the Wellpark Nursery redevelopment.

1004

Proposed Delineation of Notre Dame High School

1004

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) requesting the Committee to consider a proposal to create a delineated area for Notre Dame High School by combining the catchment areas of the primary schools currently associated with Notre Dame High School and (2) seeking approval to issue the report as a consultation document to all interested parties including relevant school boards.

Councillor Rebecchi was present and with consent spoke on the matter.

Decided:

(1)  that the report be issued as a consultative document and be made available to all interested parties including relevant school boards and that these parties be asked to make written representations on the proposals to the Director of Education Services by Friday 22 December 2000;  and$

(2)  that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to report on the results of the consultative process to a future meeting of the Committee.

1005

Post Graduate Diploma in Early Education Certificate B (Nursery)

1005

There was submitted a report dated 2 November 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising that, in response to the specific identified needs of the early years teachers, Education Services had negotiated with the University of Strathclyde’s Faculty of Education for the delivery of a post graduate course tailored specifically for the needs of pre-five teachers which would lead to a Certificate B (Nursery) which is a component of the post graduate diploma in early education.

Decided:  that it be noted that the Director of Education Services has arranged with the University of Strathclyde for the delivery of a Certificate B Course in early education for pre-five teachers in Inverclyde from January 2001.

1006

G.O.A.L.S. Project

1006

There was submitted a report dated 8 November 2000 by the Director of Education Services advising of the involvement of Wellington Academy and St Stephen’s High School together with their associated primaries, in the Greater Opportunity of Access and Learning with Schools (G.O.A.L.S.) Project, a partnership project to tackle poor participation rates in higher education in the West of Scotland.

Decided:  that agreement be given to support the G.O.A.L.S. project within Inverclyde Schools on the basis detailed in the report.

1007

Provisions in Respect of School Boards made by the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc (Scotland) Act 2000

1007

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on the further provisions in respect of school boards as set out in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc (Scotland) Act 2000.

Noted

1008

Child Care Strategy and Sure Start Developments

1008

There was submitted a report dated 8 November 2000 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress of child care developments and (2) seeking approval for allocation of funding to support pre-school education and child care initiatives.

Decided:

(1)  that approval be given to the following allocations of funding to support child care and under 3 developments;

(a)        Child Care Strategy 2000/201

            £7000 to OSCAR to sustain out of school places

            £20,000 to Blairmore Nursery to sustain wrap-round places

(b)        Sure Start 2000/2001

            £25,000 to the redevelopment of Wellpark Nursery for start up costs for under 3 places

            Sure Start 2001/2002 Onwards

            £47,000 to the redevelopment of Wellpark Nursery to provide places for under 3s and family support opportunities

(2)  that it be noted that the proposals for further allocations of Child Care Strategy and Sure Start funding will be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman being of the opinion that the undernoted report by the Director of Legal and Support Services was relevant, competent and urgent moved  its consideration to allow the Committee to consider without delay the filling of the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Church of Scotland representative on the Committee.  This was unanimously agreed in terms of the relevant Standing Order.

1009

Education Services Committee:  Church of Scotland Representative

1009

There was submitted a report dated 17 November 2000 by the Director of Legal and Support Services requesting the Committee to consider filling the vacancy on the membership of the Committee caused by the resignation of Rev David McAdam, the Church of Scotland representative.

Decided:  that approval be given to the appointment of Rev John Miller to the Education Services Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rev David McAdam.

1010

Bad Debts

1010

There was submitted a report dated 1 November 2000 by the Director of Resource Services (1) on the current position regarding unpaid debts which are now thought to be irrecoverable and (2) seeking authority to write these off against the bad debt provision.

Decided:  that the debts totalling £43,214.79 be written off, without prejudice to any future recovery of the debt should that prove possible.

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 4 and 6 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

1011

Bad Debts

1011

There was submitted an Appendix providing detailed information in respect of outstanding debts.

Noted