Education Committee - 18/04/2005

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th April, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st March, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 22ND MARCH, 2005

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

II HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - DENS ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL INSPECTION

There was submitted and noted the HM Inspectorate report on Dens Road Primary School.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 231-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requiring a decision thereon:-

(i) ST NINIANS PRIMARY SCHOOL INFANT BLOCK - RENEWAL OF ROOF COVERINGS

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for renewal of roof coverings at St Ninians Primary School Infant Block for 59,607.69 together with allowances of 637.00 for planning supervisor and 8,941.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 69,185.69.

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

A & J Maintenance Support Ltd, Dundee Scaffolding

(ii) ST MARY'S INFANT SCHOOL - ALTERATIONS TO REAR ENTRANCE

The Committee agreed that the work be carried out under the Property Maintenance and Small Works Partnership with Dundee Contract Services for alterations to the rear entrance of St Mary's Infant School for 20,000.00 together with allowances of 100.00 for Building Warrant, 300.00 for planning supervisor and 2,700.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 23,100.00.

(iii) BLACKNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL - WINDOW REPLACEMENT AND PAINTERWORK

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services for window replacement and painterwork at Blackness Primary School for an amount within the budget available of 53,000.00 inclusive of allowances of 500.00 for planning supervisor and 6,580.00 for professional services.

(iv) CRAIGIEBARNS PRIMARY SCHOOL - UPGRADE OF KITCHEN SERVERY

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to upgrade the kitchen servery at Craigiebarns Primary School for an amount within the budget available of 25,000.00 inclusive of allowances of 275.00 for planning supervisor and 3,225.00 for professional services.

(v) BRAEVIEW ACADEMY - KITCHEN IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for kitchen improvements at Braeview Academy for an amount within the budget available of 10,000.00 inclusive of an allowance of 1,300.00 for professional services.

IV DETERMINING SCHOOL CAPACITIES

There was submitted Report No 195-2005 by the Director of Education revising the overall capacities of Dundee secondary schools taking cognisance of the Scottish Executive Education Department's Circular "Guidance on Determining School Capacities".

The Committee agreed:-

(i) the revised definition of school capacity as described within the report; and

(ii) the effect that the revised definition would have upon the overall capacities of Dundee secondary schools.

V DUNDEE SCHOOLS CAPITAL PROJECT - STAFFING IMPLICATIONS

There was submitted Report No 270-2005 by the Director of Education addressing the staffing implications attached to the implementation of the Dundee Schools Capital Project.

The Committee agreed to the arrangements set out in the report and to their application to the deployment of the permanent staff of the schools subject to amalgamation arising from the Dundee Schools Capital Project.

VI RELOCATION OF AVROM HOUSE

Item withdrawn.

VII PROVISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS WITH AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER

There was submitted Report No 194-2005 by the Director of Education and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) highlighting the increase in the number of young children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and the steps taken by the Education Department to continue to make appropriate provision for these children.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the contents of the report;

(ii) note the decisions to extend the capacity of Clepington and Hillside Primary School Resourced Locations, and to establish a generic Resourced Location in Eastern Primary School; and

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to continue to monitor the level of provision for children and young people with ASD.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.

APPENDIX I