Education Committee - 20/05/2002

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th May, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd April, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 30TH APRIL AND 1ST MAY2002

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

II HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - INSPECTION OF STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT FOR STFERGUS RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted and noted the report of HM Inspectorate of Education on St Fergus RC Primary School.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 327-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon.

i) BALDRAGON ACADEMY - NEW WATER MAIN

The Committee agreed acceptance of the lowest offer from Taylor Mechanical Services Ltd, Dundee for a new water main at Baldragon Academy for the sum of 57,251.79, together with allowances of 9,208.00 giving a total of 66,459.79.

ii) BARNHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL - BOILER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed acceptance of the lowest offer from Jaydee Heating and Electrical, Dundee for boiler replacement at Barnhill Primary School for the sum of 61,886.79, together with allowances of 11,951.00 giving a total of 73,842.79.

iii) MILL O' MAINS PRIMARY SCHOOL - BOILER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed acceptance of the lowest offer from Jaydee Heating and Electrical, Dundee for boiler replacement at Mill O' Mains Primary School for the sum of 64,839.97 together with allowances of 12,421.00 giving a total of 77,260.97.

iv) CLEPINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL WINDOW REPAIRS AND REPAINT

The Committee agreed acceptance of the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for window repairs and re-paint at Clepington Primary School for the sum of 35,816.39 together with allowances of 5,786.00 giving a total of 41,602.39.

IV CLEPINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL - NEW RESOURCE BASE

There was submitted Report No 322-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain tenders for the formation of a new resource base, and for the Director of Support Services in conjunction with the Director of Education to accept the tender recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer.

The Committee agreed that

(i) the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain tenders for the formation of a new resource base at Clepington Primary School, and

(ii) the Director of Support Services, in conjunction with the Director of Education, be authorised to accept the tender as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for the work.

V CHILDCARE FUNDING TO SUPPORT BOOKSTART FOR BABIES IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 469-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the provision of funding for Bookstart (Books for Babies) Dundee.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the proposed provision of funding for Bookstart (Books for Babies) Dundee.

VI SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS WITHIN OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDCAREPROVISION

There was submitted Report No 468-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval to award funding to continue an initiative set up to enable children with special educational needs and their parents/carers to access Out of School Care provision within a number of Out of School Care Clubs in Dundee.

The Committee approved the proposals:

(i) to continue to develop the existing project to support the access of children with special educational needs to all Out of School Care Clubs in Dundee, and

(ii) to continue the partnership between Dundee City Council Early Years and Childcare Team, Dundee Out of School Care Network and The Inclusion Group to facilitate the operational management of the project.

VII SCHOOLS PPP - ROLE OF PROJECT BOARD

There was submitted Report No 464-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval of the remit of the Project Board following approval by the Scottish Executive of the Outline Business Case.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Shimi, moved that the Project Board, as previously constituted, continue to meet throughout the duration of the Schools PPP project as appropriate to consider officers' reports and recommendations.

As an amendment, Councillor Dave Beattie, seconded by Councillor Sawers, moved an additional recommendation that the Committee agree that the Project Board be given full access to all papers and information in consideration of the Schools PPP Project.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Wright, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Farquhar, Sturrock, Glen, Grant, Rolfe, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott, Macpherson and Borthwick and Mr Anderson, Monsignor Creegan, Mr Baillie and Mrs Smith (21); and for the amendment - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce and Bowes (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

VIII CONSTRUCTION PRE-APPRENTICESHIP INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 330-2002 by the Chief Executive seeking approval for a Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Initiative pilot programme.

The Committee agreed that the pilot programme be set up.

IX THE NATIONAL DEBATE ON EDUCATION

There was submitted Report No 455-2002 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee details of the arrangements for The National Debate on Education in Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:

i) approve the arrangements for the National Debate in Dundee;

ii) note the opportunity for members of the Education Committee to contribute to the National Debate, and

iii) require the Director of Education to provide a future report on the key points arising from the National Debate.

X SCOTXED PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 456-2002 by the Director of Education advising the Committee on the department's participation in the ScotXed project and seeking approval of the proposed utilisation of additional grant funding allocated by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the utilisation of the available grant funding as set out in the financial implications section of the report.

XI MORGAN ACADEMY REINSTATEMENT - APPOINTMENT OF CONTRACTOR

Mr Baillie declared an interest and took no part in the debate.

There was submitted Report No 472-2002 by the Director of Education and City Architectural Services Officer informing the Committee

(i) of the appointment of a Contractor to carry out the Morgan Academy Reinstatement Works

(ii) of the agreed Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for carrying out the reinstatement works, which had been agreed with the Council's insurers,

(iii) which additional items, if any, they may wish to be added into the Reinstatement Works. These additional items would require to be funded by Dundee City Council as the insurer has designated these as improvements and, consequently, they would not be funded from insurance monies, and

(iv) of the recommendations made by the Firemaster of Tayside Fire Brigade, regarding the installation of a Sprinkler System.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to the appointment of Mansell plc on the basis of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of 18,305,793. This sum is the amount agreed with the insurers, Norwich Union.

(ii) approved the additional items recommended by the Director of Education, totalling 220,000, which the insurance company have designated as improvements and which would require to be funded by Dundee City Council if approved. These are detailed at Appendix 'A' and at 2.2.1. Provision for these works will be included in future years Financial Plans, and

(iii) agreed the recommendation of the project team not to approve the installation of a Sprinkler System.

Councillor Borthwick requested that his dissent be recorded in respect of this item.

XII WARD ROAD GYM, WARD ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note No AN65-2002 by the Director of Education informing the Committee that the above property had been identified as being held on the Education Account and was surplus to Education requirements. It was recommended that this be remitted to the Director of Economic Development for consideration of future use or disposal.

The Committee agreed accordingly.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

XIII EARLY RETIREMENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN66-2002 by the Director of Education seeking Committee approval for the early retiral of three members of teaching staff.

The Committee agreed accordingly.

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.