Education Committee - 16/12/2002

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th December, 2002.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Joe FITZPATRICK

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

George REGAN

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Bruce D MACKIE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Betty WARD

Roderick A J WALLACE

Fiona M GRANT

Jill SHIMI

Kenneth J N GUILD

David BOWES

Ian BORTHWICK

Derek J SCOTT

Mervyn J ROLFE

Robin PRESSWOOD

John CORRIGAN

Mr K ANDERSON

Richard BEATTIE

Fraser MACPHERSON

Monsignor J CREEGAN

Andrew DAWSON

Jim BARRIE

Mr E BAILLIE

Willie W SAWERS

Julia M STURROCK

Ms J SMITH

 

Neil GLEN

 

 

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th November, 2002 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 26TH NOVEMBER, 2002

 

The minute of the above meeting (Appendix 1) was submitted for information.

 

II MINUTE OF MEETING OF TEACHER'S JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF 19TH MARCH, 2002

 

The minute of the above meeting (Appendix 2) was submitted for information.

 

III HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - FOLLOW-UP TO THE INSPECTION OF BARNHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NURSERYCLASS

 

There was submitted and noted the follow-up report of HM Inspectorate of Education on Barnhill Primary School and Nursery Class.

 

IV PROVISION OF CHILLED DRINKING WATER IN PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOLS

 

There was submitted Report No 847-2002 by the Director of Education advising the Committee of the benefits of providing free access to chilled drinking water for children throughout the school day and describing arrangements for the implementation of a pilot scheme with a view to installing chiller units at all primary and nursery schools.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note and approve the contents of the report; and

 

(ii) to the provision of chilled drinking water in primary and nursery schools in principle.

 

V CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF DENOMINATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DUNDEE

 

Councillors Corrigan and Fordyce declared an interest.

 

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th September, 2002 there was submitted for information Report No 852-2002 that had been approved by the Director of Education as a matter of urgency in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation. The recommendations in the report were that:-

 

(i) the content of the questionnaire attached at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed;

 

(ii) the Director of Education be authorised to proceed to issue the questionnaire to all parents/carers and staff of all Dundee City Council denominational primary and secondary schools, receive and collate responses, and prepare a summary of findings for the Best Value Review Working Group's consideration; and

 

(iii) the Director of Education be authorised to report the summary of findings to the Education Committee in the first instance.

 

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Report No 887-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer requesting a decision thereon.

 

(i) PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND NURSERY SCHOOLS - PROVISION OF CHILLED DRINKING WATER

 

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for the installation of chiller units to 38 primary schools and 13 nursery schools together with necessary water, drainage and electrical supplies for 113,104.93, together with allowances of 49,966, giving a total of 163,070.93.

 

VII INSTALLATION OF CAFES DISCOVERY AT FOUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 

There was submitted Report No 890-2002 by the Director of Education seeking approval under the Reallocation of Scottish Budget Resources to establish 'Cafes Discovery' at a further four secondary schools.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to the installation of Cafes Discovery at Baldragon Academy, Grove Academy, Harris Academy and St Saviour's RC High School with associated cashless "swipe" systems; and

 

(ii) that Tayside Contracts procure the Cafe Discovery components (livery, furniture, signage and cashless system) and that the Education Department procure the decoration and necessary electrical works through existing contracts.

 

It was agreed to suspend Standing Order No 38(1) to hear the following items of business.

 

VIII CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF DENOMINATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN DUNDEE - SUMMARY OF RESULTS

 

Councillors Corrigan and Fordyce declared an interest.

 

Reference was made to Article V above.

 

It was reported that a request for a deputation had been received from the School Boards of St Saviour's RC High School, Lawside RC Academy and St John's RC High School.

 

The Committee acceded to the request and heard from Mrs Pauline Ballie of St Saviour's RC High School Board on behalf of all three School Boards in support of the merging of Lawside RC Academy with St Saviour's RC High School and the building of a new Roman Catholic High School and the refurbishment of St John's RC High School. In addition, Monsignor Creegan submitted a petition in support of this proposal.

 

After stating her case, Mrs Ballie was thanked for her attendance and withdrew.

 

There was submitted Report No 891-2002 by the Director of Education updating the Committee on the summary of results of the survey of parents/carers and staff of all Dundee City Council denominational primary and secondary schools regarding the future of denominational secondary school provision in Dundee.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) that, in line with the clearly expressed view of the majority of respondents to the survey, the Chief Executive was authorised to enter into discussions with Scottish Executive Officials forthwith in order to seek funding towards the provision of a new denominational secondary school to replace Lawside Academy and St Saviour's High School on the site at Kirkton Park and refurbish St John's High School in accordance with the undernoted supplementary outline business case. In the event of any alternative viable sites within the Council's ownership being identified then this alternative option would be included in the formal consultation process;

 

(ii) to instruct the Director of Education to submit to the Scottish Executive a supplementary Outline Business Case for the provision of a new denominational secondary school in Dundee and the refurbishment of St John's High School. The submission will be on the basis that it is seeking Level Playing Field Support of 2m per annum as a supplement to the 5.73m announced by the Scottish Executive in June 2002;

 

(iii) to further instruct the Director of Education that should the Scottish Executive not accept a supplementary bid for Level Playing Field Support she submits an Outline Business Case for the new denominational secondary school and the refurbishment of St John's High School as part of the round of PPP submissions requested from Councils by 31st December, 2002; and

 

(iv) to remit to the Policy and Resources Committee for their authorisation any financial implications arising from the above changes to the project.

 

IX DUNDEE SCHOOLS PPP PROJECT - REPORT ON THE OUTCOME OF THE FORMAL CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

Councillors Corrigan and Fordyce declared an interest.

 

There was submitted Report No 898-2002 by the Director of Education detailing the representations made during the formal publication and consultation exercise on the proposed Dundee Schools PPP Project and seeking instruction on how to proceed with the individual and inter-related projects therein.

 

The report recommended that the Committee:-

 

(i) note the representations made during the formal consultation exercise on the proposed Dundee Schools PPP Project;

 

(ii) instruct the Director of Education to implement the recommendations relating to the projects described in paragraphs 7.1 to 7.8 in the report;

 

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to undertake new formal consultation procedures associated with any recommendation that had not been consulted on as part of the current formal consultation exercise; and

 

(iv) remit to the Policy and Resources Committee for their authorisation any financial implications arising from changes to the project.

 

The Committee agreed to approve recommendations (i)-(iv) and further agreed to:-

 

(v) accept the result of the ballot regarding the site of the proposed new primary school in Douglas and instruct the Director of Education to proceed with the project for a new build on the site of Powrie Primary School; and

 

(vi) instruct the Director of Education to seek approval from the Scottish Executive for any revised PPP proposals arising from any recommendations not contained within the original proposals.

 

X DUNDEE SCHOOLS PPP PROJECT - FUTURE CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION MECHANISMS

 

Councillors Corrigan and Fordyce declared an interest.

 

There was submitted Report No 899-2002 by the Director of Education describing proposed future consultation and communication mechanisms relating to the Dundee Schools PPP Project.

 

The Committee agreed to note and approve the proposed consultation and communication mechanisms as described in paragraph 7.0 of the report.

 

 

 

 

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.

APPENDIX 1