Education Committee - 20/03/2006

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th March 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th February 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - BLACKNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL - INSPECTION

There was submitted and noted the HM Inspectorate of Education Inspection Report on Blackness Primary School.

II UPLIFT AND REMOVAL TO DERL OF CLINICAL WASTE FROM SCHOOLS AND OTHER SITES IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 174-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to accept a tender relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to award the contract for the uplift and removal to DERL of clinical waste from schools and other sites in Dundee for the period 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2009 to:-

Co-An, Railway Road, Welton Industrial Estate, Blairgowrie, PGH10 3EP.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 188-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) EASTERN PRIMARY SCHOOL - REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Limited, East Kilbride, for 23,850.16 together with allowances of 700 for contingencies and 3,499 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 28,049.16.

(ii) EDUCATION PROPERTIES (VARIOUS) - WATER HYGIENE PHASE 6

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Building Environmental Hygiene Limited, Dundee, for 45,450 together with an allowance of 4,550 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 50,000.

IV REVIEW OF SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREAS IN EAST OF DUNDEE  REPORT ON FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

There was submitted Report No 185-2006 by the Director of Education detailing representations made during the formal publication and consultation exercise on the review of school catchment areas in the east of Dundee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the representations made during the formal consultation exercise; and

(ii) that from Session 2006/2007 alterations to the catchment areas would be as set out in Appendix A of the report noted below:-

(a) "the catchment area of Forthill Primary School should be varied to include (2-10) and (1-5) Arbuthnott Loan, (1-19) Carnbane Drive, (12-24) Wemyss Gardens and land north of the Arbroath Road to the City boundary presently in the catchment area of Barnhill Primary School with effect from Session 2006/2007;

(b) the catchment area of Forthill Primary School should be varied to include Bennan Gardens, Broadford Terrace and Portree Avenue presently in the catchment area of Eastern Primary School with effect from Session 2006/2007; and

(c) the combined catchment areas of Barnhill, Eastern and Forthill Primary Schools continue to be designated as associated primary schools for Grove Academy."

V REVISED GUIDANCE ON RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE

There was submitted Report No 192-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee a revised Policy on Religious Observance in Dundee Schools.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) the revised policy endorsing Circular 1/2005 and noted the definition and aims of Religious Observance described in the circular,

(ii) the implementation plan; and

(iii) that the Director of Education reports on its implementation by February 2008.

VI PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEW REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS

There was submitted Report No 201-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue funding to newly registered childminders in Dundee.

The Committee approved the award of 200 funding to childminders.

VII PROVISION OF CHILDCARE STRATEGY FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF OUT OF SCHOOL CARE IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 202-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue funding and support for Out of School Care in Dundee.

The Committee approved:-

(i) continued funding for the Business Management Consultant and support to the Dundee Out of School Care Network for six months (April to end of October 2006);

(ii) provision of funding for the continuation of the Out of School Care Business Development Programme;

(iii) funding to the Dundee Out of School Care Network for the Payroll Service for Clubs;

(iv) funding to support a Big Event for children attending Out of School Clubs in the Summer of 2006; and

(v) funding to assist with the start-up costs involved in setting up new clubs at St Clements Primary School and Clepington Primary School.

VIII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STANDARDS AND QUALITY REPORT 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 204-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the Standards and Quality Report on the Education Department for 2004/2005.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the report;

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to distribute copies of the report to staff and key stakeholders in the Education Department; and

(iii) require the Director of Education to provide further Standards and Quality Reports on an annual basis.

IX NATIONAL PRIORITIES IN EDUCATION - IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES 2005/2006

There was submitted Report No 212-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the National Priorities Improvement Objectives set out by the Education Department for 2005/2006.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the Education Department Improvement Objectives for 2005/2006; and

(ii) require the Director of Education to bring forward annually an update of the Improvement Objectives and progress towards them.

X RETAINING RESERVED PLACES IN SCHOOLS 2006/2007

There was submitted Agenda Note AN111-2006 wherein reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th February 2006.

The Committee approved proposals to reserve places in schools as set out in Appendix I of Report No 66-2006 - Retaining Reserved Places in Schools 2006-2007 with the exception of Barnhill Primary School which was remitted back to the Director of Education for further consideration.

As a result of further consultation the number of reserved places at Barnhill Primary School for Session 2006-2007 had been revised to two places at P1 and one per stage thereafter.

The allocation of reserved places for Dundee schools in Session 2006-2007 would now read as follows;

The Committee agreed the above.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 5 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI REQUEST FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

There was submitted Report No 203-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee an application for the provision of education at home.

The Committee agreed to the application for education at home.

XII EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN112-2006 recommending the early retirement of ER57/06.

The Committee agreed the early retirement as detailed in the report with effect from 12th August 2007 in accordance with the Teachers (Compensation for Premature Retirement and Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and having noted the financial implications.

XIII EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN113-2006 wherein it was reported for information that, as a matter of urgency, due to timescales involved, the Director of Education, in consultation with the Convener and Group Spokespersons, agreed to the premature retirement of ER56/06 with effect from 30th January 2006 in accordance with the Teachers (Compensation for Premature Retirement and Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1996.

The Committee noted the above.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.