Education Committee - 18/08/2003

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th August 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor MACPHERSON, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th June 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETING OF TEACHER'S GRIEVANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 16TH JUNE 2003

The minutes of the above meeting (Appendix I) were submitted for information.

II MINUTES OF MEETING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 24TH JUNE 2003

The minutes of the above meeting (Appendix II) were submitted for information.

III TENDERS RECEIVED - CITY ENGINEER

There was submitted Report No 528-2003 by the City Engineer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) STRUCTURAL REPAIRS 2003-2004

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer received from Andrew Shepherd for structural repairs 2003-2004 for 29,610.62 together with allowances of 9,389.38 giving a total of 39,000.00.

IV FREE FRUIT INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 508-2003 by the Director of Education seeking approval for taking forward the Free Fruit in Schools Initiative for Primaries 1 and 2 during the period August 2003 - June 2006.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the initiative as outlined in the report and

(ii) approve the proposals for the expenditure of the Free Fruit in Schools Initiative funding.

V SCOTTISH SCHOOL TRAVEL ADVISORY REPORT AND FUNDING FOR SCHOOL TRAVEL CO-ORDINATORS

There was submitted Report No 523-2003 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the establishment of a local authority School Travel Co-ordinator's post.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the establishment of the post subject to approval by the Personnel and Management Services Committee; and

(ii) require the Director of Education to provide appropriate updates on progress in this area.

VI CHANGES TO THE PROCEDURES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS - REPORT ONFORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

There was submitted Report No 546-2003 by the Director of Education detailing representations made during the formal publication and consultation exercise on changes to the procedures for allocating places in secondary schools and seeking approval to implement the proposals set out in the report.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the representations made during the formal consultation exercise on proposed changes to the procedures for allocating secondary school places;

(ii) that, having had regard to the representations, that the proposals set out in the report be implemented; and

(iii) that from session 2003-2004 the criteria for admission to secondary schools be as set out in Appendix A of the report.

VII ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 549-2003 by the Director of Education seeking approval for the Education Department's Accessibility Strategy covering the period 2003-2006.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the Accessibility Strategy for implementation in all Dundee schools; and

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to monitor carefully the implementation of the strategy, ensuring that it remains compatible with other corporate and health plans.

VIII CHURCH OF SCOTLAND COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION RESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE 2003

There was submitted Agenda Note AN391-2003 reporting that the Church of Scotland were organising the above Conference for all Church representatives in Edinburgh on 11th/12th September 2003 at a cost of 175 per delegate, excluding travel and subsistence.

The Committee authorised the attendance at the Conference of any Church representative who was interested in attending.

IX THIRD CHURCH REPRESENTATIVE

Reference was made to Article IX of the Statutory Meeting of the Council of 15th May 2003 where it was remitted to the Director of Support Services to seek nominations for the Third Church Representative on the Education Committee.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN392-2003 detailing one nomination received of Mr Mohammed Bashir Chohan of the Dundee Islamic Society as the third church representative.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Shimi, moved that Mr Mohammed Bashir Chohan's appointment be approved in terms of the Agenda Note.

As an amendment, Councillor Corrigan, seconded by Councillor Fordyce, moved that the Committee:-

(i) agree the recommendation that Mr Mohammed Bashir Chohan be appointed as the third church representative on the Education Committee;

(ii) recognises however that this leaves a large number of religious organisations unrepresented on the Education Committee; and

(iii) acknowledges that all religious representatives cannot be individually represented on the Committee and therefore agrees that:-

(1) organisations may apply to receive copies of the agenda for Education Committee meetings; this shall be at the discretion of the Convener of Education;

(2) the Convener will advise the Education Committee of any organisation which have been refused and the applicant given the right to appeal to the Committee;

(3) the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) will arrange to send copies of the agenda for Education Committee meetings to those organisations who have successfully applied to receive them; and

(4) on receipt of such agendas, should any of the successful organisations wish to be heard as a deputation by the Education Committee, the Committee agrees to suspend Standing Orders to allow this.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Farquhar, Sturrock, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Wright, Dick, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott and Borthwick, Rev Wilson, Monsignor Creegan, Mr Baillie and Mrs Smith (21); and for the amendment - Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Corrigan, Barrie, Will Dawson and Fordyce (11); whereupon the motion was declared carried.

FRASER MACPHERSON, Convener

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