Education Committee - 15/12/2003

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th December, 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor MACPHERSON, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th November, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to the start of the meeting, the Convener paid tribute to Mrs Sheila Jones, Principal Teacher, Biology at Harris Academy who died on 1st December, 2003.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 25TH NOVEMBER, 2003

The minute of the above meeting (Appendix I) was submitted for information.

II ASSESSMENT, TESTING AND REPORTING 3-14: RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION

There was submitted Report No 816-2003 by the Director of Education seeking approval for a response to the Scottish Executive on draft proposals to revise the arrangements for assessment, testing and reporting at ages 3 to 14.

After hearing from Mr Baillie, the Committee agreed subject to removing the word "Undue" from Page 2, paragraph 3 of the submission to the Scottish Office to:-

(i) approve the response set out in the report; and

(ii) instructed the Director of Education to monitor developments in this area and report to the Committee on any changes to procedures resulting from the outcomes of the national review.

III SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 787-2003 by the Director of Education seeking approval of the scheme for school terms and holidays for Session 2004/2005.

The Committee agreed to adopt the draft scheme as the Council's Scheme of School Terms and Holidays for Session 2004/2005.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 801-2003 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon.

(i) GOWRIEHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL - HEATING UPGRADING

The Committee agreed to accept the schedule of rates offer from Dundee Contract Services for heating upgrading in Gowriehill Primary School for 6.956 together with allowances of 1,044, giving a total of 8,000.

(ii) CARETAKER'S HOUSES - RENEWAL OF WATER SUPPLIES

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for renewal of water supplies to Caretaker's houses at Longhaugh and Powrie Primary Schools and Harris Academy for 4,947.81 together with allowances of 2,893, giving a total of 7,840.81.

V BLACKNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL BOILER REPLACEMENT - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

There was submitted Report No 802-2003 by the City Architectural Services Officer requesting Committee approval for extending the existing contract.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract incurring estimated additional expenditure of approximately 18,000.

VI VARIOUS EDUCATION PROPERTIES - INSPECTION AND TESTING OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS -EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

There was submitted Report No 803-2003 by the City Architectural Services Officer requesting Committee approval for extending the existing contract.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract incurring estimated additional expenditure of approximately 25,800.

VII SCHOOL ESTATE MANAGEMENT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 810-2003 by the Director of Education advising the Committee of the requirement from the Scottish Executive Education Department for Local Authorities to submit a School Estate Management Plan by the end of December 2003 and seeking approval of the Plan.

The Committee agreed to approve the School Estate Management Plan.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public 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 Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

VIII TEACHER - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN543-2003 regarding the early retiral of a Head Teacher.

The Committee agreed to the early retirement of a Head Teacher on the grounds of efficiency of the service with effect from 7th January, 2004 in accordance with the Teachers (Compensation for Premature Retirement and Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1996.

FRASER MACPHERSON, Convener.