Education Committee - 18/03/2002

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th March, 2002.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Willie W SAWERS

Neil GLEN

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

Dave BEATTIE

Helen WRIGHT

George REGAN

C D P FARQUHAR

Betty WARD

Bruce D MACKIE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Jill SHIMI

Roderick A J WALLACE

Fiona M GRANT

Neil I C POWRIE

Kenneth J N GUILD

David BOWES

Ian BORTHWICK

Derek J SCOTT

Mervyn J ROLFE

Robin PRESSWOOD

Fraser MACPHERSON

Mr K ANDERSON

Richard BEATTIE

Jim BARRIE

Monsignor J CREEGAN

Andrew DAWSON

Julia M STURROCK

Dr Ayyub Patel

Allan PETRIE

 

Mr E BAILLIE

 

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th February, 2002 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 26TH AND 27TH FEBRUARY, 2002

 

The minutes of the above meetings (Appendices I and II) were submitted for information.

 

II HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - FOLLOW UP TO THE INSPECTION OF WHITFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

There was submitted and noted the follow up report on Whitfield Primary School.

 

III HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - INSPECTION OF STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT FOR LONGHAUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

There was submitted and noted the report of HM Inspectorate of Education on Longhaugh Primary School.

 

IV SUPPLY OF I T EQUIPMENT - GCAT

 

There was submitted Report No 181-2002 by the Head of Information Technology seeking Committee approval for acceptance of the recommended GCAT procurement scheme for the supply of I T Products to Dundee City Council.

 

The Committee insofar as its interests were concerned agreed to:

 

(i)approve acceptance of the GCAT procurement scheme from 1st April, 2002 until 30th September, 2002;

 

(ii) approve ongoing engineering maintenance costs for all ongoing purchases; and

 

(iii) noted that purchases will require to be reported to Committee on a monthly basis.

 

V TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Report No 206-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

 

(i) Various Education Properties - Water Hygiene

 

The Committee agreed acceptance of the offer from Building Environmental Hygiene Limited for the sum of 104,000 together with allowances of 30,600 giving a total of 134,600.

 

VI FUNDING TO SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT SCIENCE STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND

 

There was submitted Report No 223-2002 by the Director of Education intimating that the Scottish Executive had allocated 126,800 to Science Year and the Science Strategy for Scotland.

 

In view of the timescales involved and to allow schools to proceed quickly to deploy the funding the recommendations in the Report were approved by the Director of Education in consultation with the Convener and Opposition spokespersons:-

 

(i) note the provision of 126,800 ring fenced for the development of science; and

 

(ii) the distribution of funds as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

 

The Committee noted accordingly.

 

VII SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE

 

It was reported that Mrs Irene Shearer had resigned as a School Board member of the School Attendance Sub-Committee. The Director of Support Services had sought nominations from School Boards in the City and Ms Jean Stott (St John's RC High School Board) had indicated her willingness to serve on the School Attendance Sub-Committee.

 

The Committee noted the appointment and that along with the other three School Board representatives, the Clerk would arrange for attendance on a rota basis.

 

CONFIDENTIAL ITEM

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press may be excluded during consideration of the undernoted item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of information which is exempt in terms of paragraph 5 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

 

VIII REQUESTS FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

 

(a)There was submitted Report No 186-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the provision of education at home for a Dundee pupil of primary school age.

 

The Committee agreed to:

 

(i)approve the proposal for education at home for the above child, and

 

(ii)instruct the Director of Education to monitor the child's progress at regular six-monthly intervals.

 

(b)There was submitted Report No 224-2002 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee an application for the provision of education at home for two Dundee pupils of secondary school age.

 

The Committee agreed to reject the application for education at home for the above children.

 

 

 

George de GERNIER, Convener.

 

APPENDIX I