Education Services Committee

Tuesday 20 February 2001 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, McGraw, Mitchell, O’Rourke and Robertson (A), Father T Boyle, Rev J Miller and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives and Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

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

Apologies:  Councillors Morrison (D), Robertson (Y) and Mr D Anderson.

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

162

Councillor Helen Calvert:  Welcome

162

Prior to the commencement of business, the Convener welcomed to the meeting, Councillor Helen Calvert, the newly elected Councillor for Ward 1, who had been appointed to serve on the Education Services Committee.

163

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 10

163

There was submitted a report dated 5 February 2001 by the Head of Accountancy Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 as at Period 10 (10 January 2001) and (2) advising that the Budget showed a projected overspend of £155,000, a decrease of £13,000 since the last report to the  Committee.  (Provost Roach entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:

(1) that the improved position of the Revenue Budget 2000/2001 be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that every effort will be made by the relevant Officers to reduce the overspend prior to the end of the current financial year.

164

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Technical Progress

164

There was submitted a report dated 30 January 2001 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2000/2001.

Noted

165

Capital Programme 2000/2001 - Financial Position

165

There was submitted a report dated 2 February 2001 by the Head of Accountancy 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 £4,197,000 which was £12,000 more than the estimated total project costs of £4,185,000 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 the costs to be charged against the Education Revenue Budget.

Decided:

(1) that it be noted that the projected overspend will be addressed in 2001/2002 by virement from the Corporate Business Capital Programme;  and

(2) that the report be otherwise noted.

166

St Stephen’s High School - Disabled Access - Use of Emergency Powers Procedure

166

There was submitted a report dated January 2001 by the Director of Education Services advising of the use of the emergency powers procedure under Standing Order 66(a) to (1) alter the scope of the disabled access works at St Stephen’s High School to include the provision of disabled toilets, (2) approve the issue of tender documents for the revised works and (3) approve the allocation of £44,000 of the 2001/2002 New Deal funding to the project.

Decided:

(1) that the use of the emergency powers procedure be noted;  and

(2) that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Legal and Support Services in the usual manner to accept the lowest tender received in accordance with the Financial Regulations and the Standing Orders relating to Contracts.

167

Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 - Placing Requests:  New Legislation

167

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising of changes to the placing request legislation contained in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 relating to (1) placing requests at primary 1, (2) maximum class sizes in primaries 1 to 3, (3) maximum capacity and (4) reserved places.

Decided:

(1) that the changes in placing request legislation resulting from the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 be noted;  and

(2) that the number of reserved places to be held in Inverclyde schools as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

168

National Review of the Careers Service

168

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the national review of the careers service within Scotland and (2) seeking approval of the response to the consultation as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;  and

(2) that the draft response outlined in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

169

Development of All-Age Careers Guidance Provision

169

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that the Scottish Executive, in addressing one of the recommendations from the careers service national review for the creation of an all-age careers guidance provision, had identified additional resources to help fund the implementation and development of an adult careers guidance service and (2) providing information on a proposal submitted by Renfrewshire Careers on 19 January 2001 for enhanced resources from the Scottish Executive totalling £1,171,000 for a three year period.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;

(2) that the proposal submitted by Renfrewshire Careers to enable an enhanced all-age careers guidance service to be delivered to the communities within Inverclyde be endorsed;  and

(3) that it be noted that the provision is subject to approval of the submission made to the Scottish Executive.

170

Development of Inclusiveness Service Delivery Model

170

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that following on from the Beattie Report, the Scottish Executive had requested careers service companies to co-ordinate proposals, with partner organisations, and to bid for enhanced resources which were being made available to support the delivery of more intensive assistance and service provision to appropriate young people, (2) indicating that additional funding had been made available for a three year period by the Executive which, in year 1 (2001/2002) would result in £325,000 being provided for enhanced support through Renfrewshire Careers should the bid proposal be successful and (3) providing an overview of the submission made to the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;

(2) that the proposal submitted by Renfrewshire Careers to enable an Inclusiveness Youth Gateway model to be delivered within Inverclyde be endorsed;  and

(3) that it be noted that the provision is subject to approval of the submission made to the Scottish Executive.

171

Supply Teachers

171

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services providing information on issues relating to supply teachers.

Decided:

(1) that the difficulties being experienced in recruiting temporary staff and the possible approaches which could be taken to assist in addressing the problem be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that further consideration will be given, in consultation with the teachers’ unions, to the development of approaches which improve the supply situation and that the Director of Education Services will report on progress on this subject to a future meeting of the Committee.

172

St Ninian’s Primary School Nursery Class - Proposal

172

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) on the current position with regard to the proposed nursery class development at St Ninian’s Primary School, Gourock and (2) setting out a number of possible approaches to resolve the current situation.

Decided:

(1) that the current position with regard to the development of the nursery unit at St Ninian’s Primary School be noted;

(2) that the matter be referred to the Working Group on Accommodation for further consideration;  and

(3) that a report be submitted on indicative costs for the project.