Education Committee - 19/08/2002

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th August 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th June 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 11TH AND 25TH JUNE 2002

The minutes of the above meetings (Appendices 1 and 2) were submitted for information.

II HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - FOLLOW-UP TO THE INSPECTION OF NEWFIELDS PRIMARYSCHOOL AND NURSERY CLASS

There was submitted and noted the follow-up report of HM Inspectorate of Education on Newfields Primary School and Nursery Class.

III HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - FOLLOW-UP TO THE INSPECTION OF DOWNFIELD PRIMARYSCHOOL

There was submitted and noted the follow-up report of HM Inspectorate of Education on Downfield Primary School.

IV SUPPLY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 571-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval to accept a tender for the supply of physical education equipment for schools in Dundee and Perth and Kinross Councils.

The Committee agreed to award the contract of the supply of physical education equipment for the period 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2004 to Alphas Leisure (Scotland) Limited, Craigshaw Road, West Tullos, Aberdeen, AB12 3AR.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 586-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) BALDRAGON ACADEMY - INSTALLATION OF NEW POOL AIR HANDLING UNIT

The Committee agreed to accept the offer received from Taylor Mechanical Services Limited, Dundee for the installation of a new pool air handling unit at Baldragon Academy for 45,454.31 together with allowances of 6,818.00 giving a total of 52,272.31.

The Committee noted that Taylor Mechanical Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

Johnson Insulation Scotland Ltd, Dundee - Insulation

Bruce Jamieson, Dundee - Electrical

Tayside Sheet Metal, Dundee - Ventilation

(ii) BALERNO CENTRE - FLAT ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer for Dundee Contract Services for flat roof replacement at the Balerno Centre for 36,172.60 together with allowances of 5,840.00 giving a total of 42,012.60.

The Committee noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractor:-

A & J Maintenance Support Ltd, Dundee - Scaffolding

VI NATIONAL PRIORITIES ACTION FUND - TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS 2002/2003

Mrs J Smith declared an interest and took no part in the debate.

There was submitted Report No 627-2002 by the Director of Education advising the Committee of the Scottish Executive's proposed allocation of resources to the Council for the year of transition (2002/2003) for the replacement of Excellence Funding by National Priorities Action Funding. The report identified initiatives which are currently being delivered under the Excellence Fund and which the department would wish to continue under the terms of the National Priorities Action Plan Fund. Approval was also sought to make permanent a number of posts which are key to the continued delivery of these initiatives.

The Committee agreed that:-

(i) the following initiatives launched under the Excellence Fund as outlined in Section 7 of the report be continued under the terms of the report and conditions of the National Priorities Action Fund -

(a) New Community Schools (Pilot)

(b) New Community Schools (Roll-Out)

(c) Inclusion

(d) Support for Teachers

(e) Study Support

(f) Alternatives to Exclusion

(g) Support for Parents

(h) National Grid for Learning

(i) New National Qualifications

(j) Early Intervention

(k) Classroom Assistants

(l) Class Sizes;

(ii) the Director of Education be instructed to bring forward a further report on the detail of the National Priorities Action Plan when the final operational arrangements for future years are issued by the Scottish Executive;

(iii) the Director of Education and the Director of Finance be remitted to arrange to make the appropriate adjustment to the 2002/2003 Final Education Revenue Budget to reflect the transitional year funding allocations; and

(iv) the Director of Education and the Director of Personnel and Management Services be remitted to take the necessary action to establish the posts detailed in Section 8 of the report on a permanent basis.

VII citizen account - smart card

Reference was made to Article I of the Policy and Resources Committee of 14th January 2002, where approval was given to Report No 822-2001 "Citizen Account - Smart Card". The recommendations included inter alia "make the first applications a school, the taxicard and the bus travel concessions".

There was submitted Agenda Note AN150-2002 informing the Committee that the Dundee Discovery Smart Card was scheduled to be launched at St John's RC High School on Monday, 16th September 2002. As one of the principal applications of the card will be for "cashless cafeteria-style" school meals, it was proposed to roll out the Cafe Discovery dining centre development to St John's RC High School to coincide with the launch of the Smart Card to assist in ensuring a high profile event. Cafe Discovery has its own livery and aims to replicate the atmosphere of shopping mall dining. It was proposed that Tayside Contracts procure the Cafe Discovery components (livery, signage, cashless system, furniture) through existing contracts. The cost to the Education Department of these works amounts to 45,000. It was anticipated that this sum could be contained within the Education Department's 2002/03 Revenue Budget for property repairs.

As it was necessary to undertake these works over the summer holiday period when the dining area could be taken out of service and in view of the tightness of timescales, this was approved by the Director of Education in consultation with the Convener and Opposition spokespersons.

The Committee noted accordingly.

VIII CHURCH OF SCOTLAND COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION: RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE 2002

There was submitted Agenda Note AN151-2002 reporting that the Church of Scotland were organising the above conference in Edinburgh on 12th/13th September 2002 at a cost of 125 per delegate, excluding travel and subsistence.

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Church of Scotland representative.

IX REDESIGNATION OF POST - INFORMATION OFFICER

There was submitted Agenda Note AN160-2002 informing the Committee that in order to address concerns about communication identified by the Education Committee Morale Working Group a seconded post of Information Officer had been created within the Education Department in September 1999. The post was graded as an Adviser on 37,902 per annum and had produced significant benefits for the Department and received particularly favourable mention in the recent Report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education into the functions of the education authority. The original remit of the post had also been expanded to include management of the collection of statistical information as required by the authority, The Scottish Executive and other agencies.

In light of this it was proposed to redesignate the post Education Officer (Communication and Information) graded as an Adviser on 37,902 and to establish the post on a permanent basis, with the current postholder confirmed in post.

Financial provision for the cost of this post could be met within the Education Revenue Budget for Education Management and Support Provision.

The Committee approved the redesignation of the above post.

X REDESIGNATION/REGRADING OF POST - PRINCIPAL OFFICER EARLY YEARS AND CHILDCARE

Reference was made to Article I of the Personnel and Management Services Committee of 11th March 2002 which approved the extension of posts to continue the work of the Early Years and Childcare Partnership until 31st March 2004.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN161-2002 informing the Committee that the Principal Officer Early Years and Childcare, is a seconded officer, currently paid as an Adviser on 37,902 per annum. The duties and responsibilities of the post had increased since it was originally established and it was proposed to further increase the responsibilities to include the line management of Nursery Schools, including Head Teacher Reviews and School Reviews. This remit is currently undertaken by Education Service Managers.

In light of this, it was proposed to redesignate the post Manager Early Years and Childcare Partnership and regrade the post to Senior Adviser, currently 44,874 per annum and to establish this post on a permanent basis, with the current postholder confirmed in post.

The cost would be 4,940 in this financial year and 8,090 in a full financial year and would be met from the Education Revenue Budget provision to support the Early Years and Childcare infrastructure.

The Committee approved the redesignation/regrading of the above post.

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener

APPENDIX I