Education Committee - 26/06/2006

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th June 2006.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

John CORRIGAN

Bruce D MACKIE

Helen WRIGHT

Neil I C POWRIE

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Helen DICK

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Kevin KEENAN

Nigel DON

Roderick A J WALLACE

George REGAN

Bob DUNCAN

Charles A WEBSTER

Julia M STURROCK

Joe FITZPATRICK

Derek J SCOTT

Fiona M GRANT

Jim BARRIE

Monsignor J CREEGAN

Joe MORROW

Will DAWSON

Mr M Chohan

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

Mr E BAILLIE

 

Councillor Keenan, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th May 2006 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

Prior to the commencement of business, the Convener on behalf of the Education Committee, intimated that Glen Taylor, Education Services Manager was retiring on 30th June 2006 and thanked him for services rendered by him at Dundee City Council.

 

I HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - MILL OF MAINS PRIMARY SCHOOL

 

There was submitted and noted the H M Inspectorate of Education Inspection Report on Mill of Mains Primary School.

 

II TENDERS RECEIVED

 

(a) CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

 

There was submitted Report No 410-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:

 

(i) Lochee Primary School - Replacement Roof Coverings Phase 2

 

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services for 69,699.57 together with allowances of 9,500.00 for contingencies, 728.00 for planning supervisor and 9,933.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 89,860.67.

 

(ii) Various Schools - Kitchen Fly Screens

 

The Committee agreed the work be carried out under the Property Maintenance and Small Works Partnership with Dundee Contract Services for 3,900.00 together with an allowance of 556.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 4,456.00.

 

(b) CITY ENGINEER

 

There was submitted Report No 345-2006 by the City Engineer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:

 

(i) Facade Repairs to Menzieshill High School - Phase 2

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Mackenzie Construction Limited for 41,906.68 together with allowances of 5,000.00 for contingencies, 5,600.00 for Professional Fees and 750.00 for Planning Supervisor making a total expenditure of 53,256.68.

 

III PUPIL ABSENCE MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS

 

There was submitted Report No 148-2006 by the Director of Education reviewing the strategy and arrangements for working with cases of sustained absence from school.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) note the review;

 

(ii) delegate to the Director of Education or nominee the functions of the Education Authority under Section 35-43 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (except the appointment of a person to institute proceedings in terms of Section 43(2)), being consideration of cases of School Attendance Default including the power to impose an Attendance Order or to decide that the parent/carer be prosecuted, for a pilot period of one year;

 

(iii) approve the temporary cessation of the work of the School Attendance Sub-Committee during the pilot period referred to in Paragraph (ii) above; and

 

(iv) remit the Director of Education to monitor the implementation of the proposals, evaluate their effectiveness and report back to Committee not later than June 2007.

 

IV EDUCATION BEST VALUE REVIEW - ATTAINMENT

 

Mr Baillie declared a non-financial interest by virtue of representing teachers in Dundee as negotiating secretary, Dundee EIS.

 

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st February 2005 where it was agreed to establish a Best Value Review Group to consider Attainment in Dundee schools.

 

There was submitted Report No 399-2006 by the Director of Education detailing the report of the Best Value Review Group.

 

The Committee agreed to:

 

(i) approve the report;

 

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to implement the recommendations of the Best Value Review Group on Attainment;

 

(iii) require the Director of Education to provide further reports on the progress of implementing the recommendations of the Best Value Review Group as indicated in the Action Plan (Appendix I);

 

(iv) require the Best Value Review Group on Attainment to continue to meet to monitor the progress of the action plan;

 

(v) require that at the next meeting of the Group there be a presentation from the Director of Education along with EIS and support staff trades unions on the Early Years Service; and

 

(vi) amendments to the report as noted below:-

 

Section 7: Next Step - replace "the possibility of" with "the feasibility of"

 

Page 16: first point - add "add teacher trade unions" to "Management Team in consultation with Head Teachers" to Implementation Path

 

Page 16: second last point - add "DNCT" to Implementation Path.

 

V PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEW REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS IN DUNDEE

 

There was submitted Report No 400-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue funding to support new registered childminders in Dundee.

 

The Committee approved the report and the award of 200 funding to childminders as set out in Appendix 1 of the Report noted below:

 

No

Detail of items requested

Amount

 

1

 

 

Double buggy, car seat, toys and equipment for babies

 

200

 

2

 

Radiator covers, fire blanker, toys, jigsaws, buggy

 

200

 

3

 

Car seat, toys, art supplies, dressing up clothes, puppets, games

 

200

 

4

 

Outdoor play equipment, buggy, highchair, promotion of business through advert

 

200

 

5

 

Double buggy, car seats, rain cover, outdoor toys

 

200

 

6

 

Garden toys, books, jigsaws, baby toys, business cards, table and chairs, art materials

 

200

 

7

 

Stair gates, car seat, travel cot, toys and equipment

 

200

 

 

 

Total

 

1,400

 

VI DUNDEE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STRATEGY FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO FIVE

 

There was submitted Report No 384-2006 by the Director of Education and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the strategy and remitted Council staff involved to continue to work with all existing partners and to develop additional partnership working to implement the action plan.

 

VII STANDARD SCHOOL HOURS (PRIMARY)

 

There was submitted Report No 402-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the results of parental consultation on standard school hours for pupils in all mainstream primary school classes.

 

The Committee agreed:

 

(i) to note the results of the consultation; and

 

(ii) that from 15 August 2006 school hours for a standard school day would be five hours for all primary pupils beginning at 9.00 am and finishing at 3.15 pm with a lunch break of 1 hour.

 

VIII TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN239-2006. The Committee were asked to note that due to timescales involved to ensure that works would be carried out during the school summer holiday period the undernoted tenders were approved by the Director of Education and City Architectural Services Officer in consultation with the Convener and Group spokespersons.

 

Project

Contractor

Tender

Amount

Total Amount (inc allowances)

 

Craigiebarns Primary School -

Replacement Windows and Fascia

 

 

Dundee Contract Services

 

 

26,165.00

 

 

30,249.00

 

St Ninian's Primary School -

Kitchen Servery Upgrade

 

 

Dundee Contract Services

 

 

35,266.00

 

 

39,864.00

 

Baldragon Academy -

Resurfacing/Safety Improvements

 

 

Dundee Contract Services

 

 

26,000.00

 

 

29,705.00

 

St Luke's and St Mathew's Primary School -

Concrete Repairs

 

 

Torith Ltd, Drumoig

 

 

19,200.00

 

 

22,730.00

 

The Committee noted 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 item of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6, 9 and 10 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

IX DUNDEE SCHOOLS PPP PROJECT - FINAL BUSINESS CASE AND CONCLUSION OF PROJECT AGREEMENT

 

There was submitted Report No 369-2006 by the Chief Executive and Director of Education outlining the main provisions of the Dundee Schools PPP Project Agreement negotiated with the company involved, describing the procedure for reaching financial close and seeking approval of the Final Business Case.

 

The Committee agreed:

 

(i) to approve the contents of the draft Final Business Case;

 

(ii) the proposed programme of events leading to financial close of the Project as detailed in the report;

 

(iii) that the Chief Executive be authorised to negotiate and agree the final terms of the documents to be entered into by the Council in respect of the Project (the "Project Documents"), approve any necessary amendments to the Project Documents and carry out all such other steps necessary to bring the Project to financial close;

 

(iv) the Proper Officers in terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 in accordance with Standing Orders and the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 (the "Authorised Signatories") be authorised to sign on behalf of the Council the Project Documents and any other documents, certificates, notifications or other communications which the Authorised Signatories may consider (without limitation) necessary in terms of the Project.

 

(v) the Proper Officers be authorised, in relation to those Project Documents required to be certified for the purposes of the Local Government (Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 1997, to issue certificates for the purposes of the Local Government (Contracts) Regulations 1997 with regard to such Project Documents, such certificates to be executed in accordance with recommendation (iv) above;

 

(vi) the Council's financial undertaking as outlined in the report;

 

(vii) an advanced works agreement be entered into with the company involved, whereby works would be carried out on the existing Brackens, Powrie and St Columba's sites prior to financial close; and

 

(viii) a further report be made to Committee following financial close detailing any material changes in the final financial or commercial position for information.

 

 

 

 

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener

 

APPENDIX I

 

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

 

BEST VALUE REVIEW ON ATTAINMENT

 

ACTION PLAN

 

 

 

Tasks

 

 

Implementation Path

 

Proposed Timescale

to support schools in implementing planned LTiD strategies through a team of school-based staff led by a LTiD Co‑ordinator

Department Development Plan

Progress report to Education Committee

2006 - 2008

 

report - June 2007

to establish a working group, with representatives from a range of pre-school and early primary school settings, to support the development and delivery of new guidance on implementing LTiD within early years settings, and to support effective transition from nursery to primary

Department Development Plan

Progress report to Education Committee

2006 - 2008

 

report - June 2007

to continue to work with the University of Dundee, and other Further and Higher Education institutions, to develop the research base to support and evaluate improvement strategies

Improving Pupil Achievement groups

October 2006

to review budget allocations and report to Committee on the possibility of allocating additional resources to schools which operate in areas of greatest multiple deprivation

Education Revenue Budget submission

November 2006 - February 2007

to continue to identify opportunities to bring practitioners with a national and international reputation to Dundee to inform the practice in its schools

Develop and extend existing CPD programme for staff and senior managers

ongoing work

to further develop benchmarking strategies to ensure that an ongoing process of benchmarking is in place with comparator councils such as Inverclyde; and to establish links between Dundee schools and similar, but better performing, schools in other Education Authorities to identify good practice

City benchmarking strategy

Progress report to Education Committee

2006 - 2008

report - June 2007

to research national strategies and initiatives on parental involvement

Department Development Plan

Childrens Services Plan: