Education Services Committee

Tuesday 30 October 2001 at 2.00 pm

Present:  Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McCabe, Mitchell, Morrison (D), O’Rourke, Robertson (A), Father T Boyle and Rev C McGranaghan, Church Representatives, Mrs P Purdie, Parent Representative, and Mr D Anderson, Teacher Representative.

Chair:  Councillor Robertson (A) presided. 

In attendance:  Messrs A Henderson, A McDonald, J Sutherland and Miss E Henderson (for Director of Education Services), Mr F Jarvie (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Accountancy Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Rev J Miller.

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

928

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 6

928

There was submitted a report dated 11 October 2001 by the Director of Finance Services (1) on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 6 (19 September 2001) and (2) advising of a number of potential pressures on the Budget.  (Councillor Calvert entered the meeting during consideration of this item of business).

Decided:  that the current position of and potential pressures on the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 be noted.

929

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

929

There was submitted a report dated 5 October 2001 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

930

Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04 - Financial Position

930

There was submitted a report dated 9 October 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

931

New Deal Programme 2001/2002 - Revision to Programme

931

There was submitted a report dated October 2001 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that examination of the data from the education condition survey had shown that the roof repair works at Wellington Academy required to be carried out more urgently than the roofing works at Greenock Academy and (2) recommending that the New Deal Programme 2001/02 agreed by the Committee on 15 May 2001 (para 444) be altered b¬y inclusion of the works at Wellington Academy in place of those at Greenock Academy.  The report further advised that more detailed estimates had been prepared for the Wellington Academy roofing works and the replacement of the windows in St Joseph's Primary School gymnasium in the sums of £24,000 and £27,000 inclusive of fees respectively, requiring additional funding of £9,000 which it was proposed be met from the unallocated balance of £23,000 within the Scottish Executive School Building Improvement Programme funding.

Decided:

(1) that subject to the suspension of Standing Orders by the Council, it be agreed to alter the New Deal Programme 2001/2002 to enable the roof repair works at Wellington Academy to be carried out in place of those at Greenock Academy;  and

(2) that the revised estimated costs for the Wellington Academy roof repair works and the St Joseph's Primary School gymnasium window replacement in the sums of £24,000 and £27,000 respectively be approved.

932

Temporary Relocation - Highlanders' Academy

932

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of the options for the temporary relocation of Highlanders' Academy pupils during the course of the planned roofing works at the school and (2) seeking approval for the temporary relocation of the school to the vacant accommodation in St Columba's High School.

Decided:

(1) that the Director of Education Services be authorised to progress plans for the temporary relocation of Highlanders' Academy to St Columba's High School during the course of the planned roofing works at the school;  and

(2) that the estimated revenue costs of £61,000 in respect of the temporary relocation be noted.

933

Placing Requests:  Changes to Documentation

933

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on proposed changes to the Placing Request and Early Years documentation as a result of a recent review carried out by Education and Legal Services.

Decided:  that the changes to the Placing Request and Early Years documentation as detailed in the report and its appendices be noted and approved.

934

HM Inspectors of Schools - Social Work Services Report:  Learning with Care

934

There was submitted a report by the Directors of Education Services and Social Work and Housing Services providing an update on the progress made towards implementation of  the recommendations contained in the recent report "Learning with Care" prepared jointly by HM Inspectors of Schools and the  Social Work Inspectorate.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee note the successful progress made towards implementation of recommendations 1 to 4 of the "Learning with Care" report which had now been reported to the Minister of Education;  and

(2) that it be noted that further reports on progress would be submitted to the Education and Social Work and Housing Committees in the future.

935

The McCrone Agreement:  Support Staff in Schools

935

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that as part of the McCrone Agreement, the Scottish Executive had agreed to provide additional resources for support staff in schools over three years, Inverclyde Council's share of which was approximately £200,000 in 2001/02, £500,000 in 2002/03 and £900,000 in 2003/04, (2) seeking approval to remit it to the Head of Personnel Services to undertake a review of the clerical and administrative arrangements across the school sectors and to report thereon to the Corporate Business Committee, and (3) requesting the Committee to agree an interim measure to enhance the level of support staff in schools.

Decided:

(1) that the funding made available to Inverclyde Council under the McCrone Agreement for support staff in schools be noted;

(2) that it be remitted to the Head of Personnel Services to report to the Corporate Business Committee on the staffing implications of the additional resources for support staff in schools for 2001/02 and 2002/03;

(3) that no decision be taken at the present time on the use of the funding available for 2003/2004 and that this be the subject of a further report in due course;  and

(4) that pending the report by the Head of Personnel Services, all schools be allocated an interim level of funding to enhance the existing numbers of support staff,  the funding to be provided from the resources made available through the McCrone Agreement.

936

Progress on Early Years Developments

936

There was submitted a report dated 17 October 2001 by the Director of Education Services (1) on the progress being made across a range of Early Years developments for children and families within Inverclyde and (2) requesting the Committee to give further consideration to these developments.

Decided:

(1) that the good progress which had been made across a range of Early Years developments for children and families in Inverclyde be noted;  and

(2) that it be noted that the Director of Education Services would:-

(a) pursue the development of further pre-school education provision particularly in the West End of Greenock and Inverkip/Wemyss Bay to meet the pre-school education targets from August 2002 onwards;

(b) review the charging policy in respect of child care provision;

(c) identify additional Sure Start developments in the Inverclyde Children's Services Plan for which further funding would be required;  and

(d) report further to the Committee on the implications of the reintegration of pre-school grant into Grand Aided Expenditure.

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 during consideration of the following item of business 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.

937

Transport Facilities for Children with Special and/or Medical Needs

937

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that a company operating transport facilities for children with special and/or medical needs was in the process of winding down its activities and (2) seeking authority to invite tenders for the contracts awarded to that company which was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.