Education Committee - 26/11/2012

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th November, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II TEACHER REPRESENTATION ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN196-2012.

Reference was made to Article IV of the Statutory Meeting of the City Council held on 21st May, 2012, wherein it was agreed that the current teacher representatives continued for a further period of six months to allow arrangements to be made for new representatives to be appointed to the Committee.

Reference was also made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th September, 2012, wherein one teacher representative was appointed and arrangements were to be made to seek nomination for the remaining vacancy.

Having sought nominations for the vacancy, one nomination was received from Mr Craig Douris, with his appointment to be effective from the December meeting of this Committee and for the lifetime of the Council.

The nominee had agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct in accordance with the Standards Commission Guidance.

The Committee noted the appointment.

III COLDSIDE - NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE INCORPORATING COMMUNITY FACILITIES

There was submitted Report No 443-2012 by the Director of Education and Director, Leisure and Culture advising the Committee of the outcome of the informal consultation undertaken during the period August to October, 2012, and to seek approval to formally consult on the preferred option under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2012.

The Committee:-

(i) approved, in principle, the proposals to build 2 x 1 stream primary schools, with additional classrooms which can be allocated to either school as individual school rolls dictate to replace Our Ladys RC Primary School and Rosebank Primary School. Community facilities will also be incorporated within the new build programme. A new replacement facility for Frances Wright Pre-School Centre would also be included on this site which is that of the former Alexander Street multis (precise location to be determined); and

(ii) instructed the Director of Education to formally consult on the proposals contained in recommendation (i) above in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and report back to Committee in due course on the outcome of the consultations so that a final decision on the proposals can be made.

IV MENZIESHILL - NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERY SCHOOL AND OPTIONS FOR MENZIESHILL COMMUNITYCENTRE

There was submitted Report No 445-2012 by the Director of Education and Director, Leisure and Communities advising the Committee of the outcome of the informal consultation undertaken during the period August to October, 2012 and to seek approval to formally consult on the preferred option under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

The Committee:-

(i) approved, in principle, the proposals to merge Hillside and Gowriehill Primary Schools and build a new three stream primary school on the site of the former Menzieshill multis (precise location to be determined), incorporating a nursery provision to replace Menzieshill Nursery School;

(ii) instructed the Director of Education to formally consult on the proposals contained in recommendation (i) above in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and report back to Committee in due course on the outcome of the consultation so that a final decision on the proposals can be made; and

(iii) remitted to the Policy and Resources Committee to instruct the Director, Leisure and Communities to report back on the option appraisal on Menzieshill Community Centre.

V NEW SCHOOL BUILD PROGRAMME IN THE STRATHMARTINE AREA TO INCLUDE BALDRAGON ACADEMY,SIDLAW VIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL AND JESSIE PORTER NURSERY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 446-2012 by the Director of Education advising the Committee of the outcome of the informal consultation undertaken in the Strathmartine area during the period August to October, 2012, and to seek approval to formally consult on the preferred new build option for Sidlaw View Primary and Jessie Porter Nursery School under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the outcome of the Scottish Futures Trust bid as detailed at the Education Committee meeting on 29th October, 2012;

(ii) approved, in principle, the proposals to build a community campus on the site of the existing Baldragon Academy on a phased basis to include Baldragon Academy, Sidlaw View Primary School and Jessie Porter Nursery School; and

(iii) instructed the Director of Education to formally consult on the proposals contained in recommendation (ii) above in terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 and report back to Committee in due course on the outcome of the consultations so that a final decision on the proposals can be made.

The Committee further agreed that the Director of Education be instructed to report back to Committee with proposals on realising the ambition of a community campus in terms of the design of the campus that maximised community access and benefit and a vision for teaching and learning in the first half of the 21st century that should underpin the design of these three schools.

VI SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2014/2015

There was submitted Report No 444-2012 by the Director of Education seeking approval of the scheme for school terms and holidays for session 2014/2015.

The Committee approved the scheme of school terms and holidays for session 2014/2015 as contained in Appendix 1 of the report noted below:-

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.