Education Committee - 22/10/2007

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd October, 2007.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Laurie BIDWELL, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th September, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - CLEPINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted and noted report relative to the above.

II HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - CHARLESTON PRIMARY SCHOOL INTERIM FOLLOW-THROUGH REPORT

There was submitted and noted report relative to the above.

III HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - ANCRUM ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted and noted report relative to the above.

IV PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO VOLUNTARY SECTOR PARTNERS

There was submitted Report No 517-2007 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue to provide funding to voluntary sector partners for the delivery of Dundee's Early Years and Childcare Strategy.

The Committee approved the report and the award of funding of 72,000 as outlined in the Appendix to the report noted below:-

Childcare @ Home 2007-2008

Kids Unlimited 2007-2008

Total Cost 2007-2008

V PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEW REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 518-2007 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue to provide funding to registered childminders in Dundee.

The Committee approved the report and the award of 200 funding to each of the new childminders as outlined in the Appendix to the report noted below:-

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 544-2007 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) ST LUKE'S AND ST MATTHEW'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL - RENEWAL OF ROOF COVERINGS

The Committee agreed that the work be carried out by Dundee Contract Services under the planned maintenance and small works partnership for 21,100, together with an allowance of 3,007 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 24,107.

VII EDUCATION TRANSPORT CONTRACTS - CONVEYANCE OF SCHOLARS

There was submitted Report No 403-2007 by the Director of Education and Director of Planning and Transportation reporting tenders for the conveyance of scholars.

The Committee approved the tenders detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

VIII OFF-SITE EDUCATION SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 542-2007 by the Director of Education and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval for the expansion and re-designation of the Alternative Education Provision as the Off-site Education Service (OES).

The Committee agreed:-

(i) the contents of the report;

(ii) to rename the alternative education provision as Off-site Education Service;

(iii) to expand the number of places available to pupils in three off-site learning centres;

(iv) that the Director of Education would bring a report back to this Committee in January 2009 on the impact of the expanded Off-site Education Service (OES); and

(v) that the Director of Education and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) would process the establishment changes outlined in the report.

IX EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT PLAN IMPROVEMENT OBJECTIVES: 2007-2008

There was submitted Report No 512-2007 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the progress made with the improvement objectives set out by the Education Department for 2006-2007.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the progress the Education Department had made in meeting its improvement objectives set in session 2006-2007;

(ii) approve the revised improvement objectives for session 2007-2008;

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to bring forward a report in October 2008 on the progress made in meeting the revised improvement objectives; and

(iv) noted and acknowledged schools' achievements during last session.

X PROPOSED MERGER OF BELLFIELD NURSERY SCHOOL AND PARK PLACE NURSERY SCHOOL - REPORT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FORMALCONSULTATION PROCESS

The Committee acceded to requests for deputations to address the Committee in favour of discontinuing the "pilot drop-off and parking arrangements" and against the proposal to merge the two nurseries.

After the deputations had stated their cases and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, there was submitted Report No 540-2007 detailing representations made during the formal publication and consultation exercise relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the report;

(ii) note the key issues raised during the formal consultation exercise on the proposed merger of Bellfield Nursery School with Park Place Nursery School and concerns communicated by telephone;

(iii) note the findings from the evaluation of the "pilot drop off and parking arrangements" which was in place since the beginning of the new term and instructed the Director to discontinue the pilot;

(iv) instruct the Directors of Planning and Transportation and Education to identify a long-term solution to the drop off and pick up arrangements for Park Place Primary and Nursery Schools; and

(v) instruct the Director of Education to implement the merger of Bellfield Nursery School with Park Place Nursery School on the Park Place site with effect from June 2008, and to transfer the staff and any continuing children from Bellfield to Park Place Nursery School with effect from August 2008.

In addition, the Committee agreed the following proposals from the SNP Group:-

"This Committee reluctantly accepts that financial considerations make the closure of Bellfield Nursery inevitable.

However, the Committee deplores the manner in which the closure proceedings were handled by the Administration.

Further, this Committee instructs the Best Value Working Group on Attainment to draw up proposals for the future provision of nursery school places across Dundee in order to allow parents to make plans for pre-school education of their children, these proposals to be submitted to the Education Committee as soon as possible after the opening of the PPP Schools."

XI TENDERS RECEIVED - OFFICER APPROVALS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN262-2007 reporting for information that because of the timescales involved the Director of Education and City Architectural Services Officer in consultation with the Education Convener and Group Spokespersons agreed that the undernoted works be carried out during the school October holiday period.

(i) NEWFIELDS PRIMARY SCHOOL - UPGRADE TO TOILETS

Awarded to Dundee Contract Services under the planned maintenance and small works partnership for 15,200, together with an allowance of 2,166 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 17,366.

(ii) BELL STREET MUSIC CENTRE - FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION

Awarded to Dundee Contract Services under the planned maintenance and small works partnership for 20,300, together with an allowance of 2,893 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 23,193.

(iii) GOWRIEHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL - FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION

Awarded to Dundee Contract Services under the planned maintenance and small works partnership for 20,850, together with an allowance of 2,971 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 23,821.

Laurie BIDWELL, Convener.