Education Committee - 27/08/2007

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th August, 2007.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Tom FERGUSON, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Prior to the commencement of business, the Committee thanked Monsignor Joseph Creegan for his twenty six years' service as the Roman Catholic Church representative on the Education Committee, on the occasion of his retirement.

The Committee also expressed their best wishes to Councillor Laurie Bidwell after his recent accident.

I HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - ROSEBANK PRIMARY SCHOOL FOLLOW THROUGH INSPECTIONREPORT

There was submitted and noted report relative to the above.

II GENERAL REPAIRS TO SCHOOLS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN213-2007 informing the Committee that various works were carried out at Baldragon Academy, Dens Road Primary School, Eastern Primary School, Harris Academy, St Pius RC Primary School and Whitfield Primary School whilst the schools were unoccupied during the summer holiday period. Due to the timescales involved to allow the contractor to order materials and sufficiently plan the works, the Director of Education in consultation with the Education Convener and Group Spokespersons accepted the most favourable tender for the works, as recommended by the City Engineer.

Valid tenders were returned by four contractors ranging from 37,993 to 124,922.18. The lowest tender of 37,993 from the CCL Group Ltd was accepted. Allowances of 6,600 for professional fees and contingencies were added, giving a total expenditure of 44,593.

The Committee noted the above.

III EDUCATION TRANSPORT CONTRACTS - CONVEYANCE OF SCHOLARS

Report withdrawn.

IV PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION 2007/08 - FUNDING UPLIFT

There was submitted Report No 440-2007 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of a funding uplift for pre-school education for 2007/08 from the Scottish Executive and seeking approval of an increase in the rate paid to partner providers for commissioned pre-school education places.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note that the Scottish Executive had agreed to increase the core local government finance settlement to reflect an increase in the level of entitlement to free pre-school education; and

(ii) approve an increase in the rate paid to partner providers for commissioned pre-school education places from 1,250 to 1,550 from August 2008.

V NEW EARLY YEARS CHILDCARE AND PLAY CAPITAL FUND 2007/08

There was submitted Report No 441-2007 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of additional capital allocation from The Early Years, Childcare and Play Fund which had been established by the Scottish Executive for 2007/08 and seeking approval of projects recommended for funding from this allocation.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the projects recommended by the Director of Education;

(ii) authorise the City Architectural Services Officer to negotiate offers, obtain tenders or partnership agreements for the capital works detailed in Appendix 1 of the report noted below;

(iii) authorise the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in conjunction with the Director of Education to accept negotiated offers, tenders or partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for the works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other contractors;

(iv) instruct the Director of Education to invite funding bids from the voluntary and community sectors in terms of the guidance issued by the Scottish Executive; and

(v) recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee that the projects detailed in Appendix 1 of the report totalling 177,000 be included in the Capital Plan 2007/08.

VI SCHOOLS FUND 2007/08 - ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION

There was submitted Report No 442-2007 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of additional capital allocation from the Scottish Executive to School Fund in 2007/08 seeking approval for projects identified and recommended to be funded from this additional allocation.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the projects recommended by the Director of Education as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report noted below;

(ii) authorise the City Architectural Services Officer to negotiate offers, obtain tenders or partnership agreements for the capital works;

(iii) authorise the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in conjunction with the Director of Education to accept negotiated offers, tenders or partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for the works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other contractors, and

(iv) recommend to the Policy and Resources Committee that the projects detailed in Appendix 1 of the report totalling 536,000 be included in the Capital Plan for 2007/08.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 449-2007 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) ST MARY'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL - WATER INGRESS TREATMENT

The Committee agreed that the work be carried out under the planned maintenance and small works partnership with Dundee Contract Services for 7,000, together with an allowance of 998 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 7,998.

Tom FERGUSON, Depute Convener.