Education Services Committee

Tuesday 8 January 2002 at 3.00 pm

Present:  Provost Roach, Councillors Calvert, Campbell, Jackson, McGraw, Mitchell, Morrison (D), O’Rourke and Robertson (A), 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 H McNeilly (for Director of Legal & Support Services), Head of Financial Services and Head of Property Services.

Apologies:  Councillors McCabe and Robertson (Y).

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

1

Revenue Monitoring Report - Period 8

1

There was submitted a report dated 21 December 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 as at Period 8 (14 November 2001) which showed a projected overspend of £55,000, a movement of  £56,000 since the last report to the Committee.  The report advised that there was a potential increase in the cost of special educational needs placements which could lead to an increase in expenditure in 2002/2003 and that, in addition, Education and Finance Services were currently in the process of allocating out and accounting for all ring-fenced monies prior to reporting to the Scottish Executive, the impact of which would be reported to the next meeting of the Committee.

Decided:

(1) that the current position of the Revenue Budget 2001/2002 be noted;  and

(2) that the ongoing expenditure pressures in respect of special educational needs costs and the review of the allocation of ring-fenced monies be noted.

2

Capital Programme 2001/2002 - Technical Progress

2

There was submitted a report dated 4 December 2001 by the Director of Education Services on the technical progress of the Capital Programme 2001/2002.

Noted

3

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

3

There was submitted a report dated 13 December 2001 by the Director of Finance Services on the financial position of the Capital Programme 2001/02 - 2003/04.

Noted

4

Draft Education (Disability Strategies and Pupil Records) (Scotland) Bill

4

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services on (1) the contents of the draft Education (Disability Strategies and Pupil Records) (Scotland) Bill which would require the preparation and implementation of strategies to provide access for disabled school pupils to school education and empower the Scottish Ministers to make regulations governing access to school pupils' records and (2) seeking approval of a response to the consultation paper issued by the Scottish Executive.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;  and

(2) that the draft response to the consultation document set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

5

Discipline Task Group Recommendations:  Resources for 2001/02

5

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that additional resources had been made available to Inverclyde Council in the current financial year by the Scottish Executive to support implementation of the recommendations of the Discipline Task Group and (2) seeking permission to allocate the funding in accordance with the recommendations set out in the report.

Decided:

(1) that the additional resources from the Scottish Executive to progress certain recommendations contained in the report "Better Behaviour, Better Learning" be noted;

(2) that the Director of Education Services be authorised to adopt a flexible approach to spending these resources within the requirements of the grant; and

(3) that a progress report be submitted to the Committee in due course.

6

Child Poverty Package - Additional Resources for Out of School Care

6

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2001 by the Director of Education Services seeking approval of the recommendations made by Inverclyde Childcare Partnership for the allocation of additional resources for out of school care services to help reduce child poverty and support parental employment in disadvantaged areas.

Decided:

(1) that the additional funding for out of school care be allocated as follows:-

       Hammy's (Hamilton Bardrainney Parish Church                               £4932.15

       Out of School Care Project)

       OSCAR (Out of School Care Association Resource)                      £6333.92

       Gamble Children's Centre                                                               £6333.92;  and

(2) that it be noted that the Director of Education Services would submit further reports to the Committee for approval of this element of childcare strategy funding during 2002/03 and 2003/04 to meet local needs, in accordance with the criteria set out by the Scottish Executive.

7

Revision of Pre-five Admissions Policy

7

There was submitted a report dated 12 December 2001 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising of a number of new government initiatives which would have an impact on Inverclyde's Pre-five Admissions Policy and (2) seeking approval of proposed amendments to the current Admissions Policy for all pre-five establishments within Inverclyde as set out in the report.

Decided:

(1) that the report be noted;

(2) that the revised Pre-five Admissions Policy detailed in the report be approved;  and

(3) that it be remitted to the Director of Education Services to produce guidelines to support the implementation of the revised policy and also to produce appropriate information for parents.

8

Improving the Educational Attainment of Looked After Children:  Additional Resources 2001/2002

8

There was submitted a report by the Directors of Social Work and Housing Services and Education Services (1) advising of the intention of the Scottish Executive to provide additional financial resources aimed at improving the educational attainment of those children and young people who were looked after and accommodated by the Council and (2) providing information on an outline proposal for use of the funds within Inverclyde.

Decided:

(1) that the Committee agree to support the initiative and that the additional resources to be made available by the Scottish Executive for this purpose be noted;  and

(2) that a report on progress be submitted to the Committee following implementation of the outline proposal.

9

Scottish Qualifications Authority Bill Consultation:  Draft Response

9

There was submitted a report dated 14 December 2001 by the Director of Education Services (1) advising that the Scottish Executive had published a document entitled "Scottish Qualifications - Delivering Success" which contained the Executive's detailed proposals for the future of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and (2) seeking approval of the draft response to these proposals prepared by Education Services.

Decided:

(1) that the development of proposals for the future of the Scottish Qualifications Authority be noted;  and

(2) that approval be given to the draft response set out in Appendix 3 to the report subject to the terms of paragraph 5 which related to the role of the proposed Advisory Group being strengthened in accordance with the comments made by the Committee.

10

Standards and Quality Report 2000/2001

10

There was submitted a report dated 20 December 2001 by the Director of Education Services on the Education Services Standards and Quality Report for 2000/2001.

Decided:  that the Standards and Quality Report set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

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, 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

11

Transport Facilities for Children with Special and/or Medical Needs

11

There was submitted a report by the Director of Education Services advising that a company which currently operated transport facilities for children with special and/or medical needs had notified the Council that it wished to withdraw from its contractual arrangements, together with supplementary report advising of the proposed withdrawal of a further company from its contractual arrangements.  The Committee agreed (1) to invite tenders for the contracts currently operated by the two firms from all persons whose names appear on the Council's standing restricted list of taxi operators, (2) to remit it to the Director of Education Services to accept the lowest tender submitted in each case following consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups and to advise the Committee of the results in due course and (3) to examine the implications of this action and consider any alternatives to the current system of transport provision and to report thereon to the Committee, all as detailed in the Appendix.