Education Committee - 20/09/2004

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th September 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd August 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to the commencement of business the Committee congratulated the production team and participants in the recent Dundee School's Music Theatre production of Barnum.

I BRACKENS PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOW-THROUGH INSPECTION REPORT

There was submitted and noted the follow-through inspection report on Brackens Primary School.

II ST FERGUS R C PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOW-THROUGH INSPECTION REPORT

There was submitted and noted the follow-through inspection report on St Fergus R C Primary School.

III HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - ARDLER PRIMARY SCHOOL INSPECTION

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

IV HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - ST PIUS R C PRIMARY SCHOOL INSPECTION

There was submitted and noted the report by HM Inspectorate of Education on St Pius R C Primary School.

V DUNDEE SCHOOLS PPP PROJECT - STATUTORY CONSULTATION ON DECANT ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Report No 628-2004 by the Director of Education seeking approval to prepare and proceed to publish and consult on proposals to implement decant arrangements for pupils from Powrie Primary School and Brackens Primary School with effect from the start of session 2005/06.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) remit the Director of Education to prepare and carry out the statutory consultation procedures in terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981; and

(ii) note that a further report would be brought forward detailing the findings of the consultations undertaken.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 650-2004 by the City Architectural Services Officer listing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) BLACKNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL - EXTERNAL REPAINT TO SOUTH ELEVATION

The Committee agreed to accept the schedule of rates offer from Dundee Contract Services for external repaint to the south elevation of Blackness Primary School for 4,100 together with allowances of 615 giving a total of 4,715.

(ii) ST JOHN'S R C HIGH SCHOOL - REMOVAL TO ROCKWELL

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer received from Dundee Removal Services for removal of furniture and equipment from St John's R C High School to Rockwell during the October Holiday 2004 for 46,002.38 together with allowances of 10,600 giving a total of 56,602.38.

VII SUPPLY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 629-2004 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 for the supply of physical education equipment for the period 1st October 2004 to 30th September 2005 to:-

Alpha Leisure (Scotland) Limited

Craigshaw Road

West Tullos

Aberdeen

AB12 3AR.

VIII PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO VOLUNTARY SECTOR PARTNER PROVIDERS OF EARLY YEARS AND CHILDCARESERVICES

There was submitted Report No 638-2004 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue to provide funding to voluntary sector partners in the delivery of Dundee's Early Years and Childcare Strategy.

The Committee approved the award of grants as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

IX PROVISION OF FUNDING SUPPORT TO DUNDEE OUT OF SCHOOL CARE NETWORK

Councillor Wallace declared a non-financial interest by virtue of having a grandchild who attended Forthill Primary School.

There was submitted Report No 639-2004 by the Director of Education seeking approval to award funding to Dundee Out of School Care Network to support the sustainability of nineteen Out of School Care Clubs.

The Committee approved proposals to continue and expand the provision of business support and development advice to Out of School Care Clubs and their Management Committees.

X EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REVISED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 648-2004 by the Director of Education outlining the revised Quality Improvement Strategy.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the revised Quality Improvement Strategy;

(ii) require the Director of Education to continue to consult with Head Teachers and Teacher Trade Unions to develop and refine individual quality improvement processes; and

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to implement the Quality Improvement Strategy in Dundee schools and to provide updates to the Committee as appropriate.

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

XI TEACHER EARLY RETIREMENT

Item Withdrawn.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.