Education Committee - 26/03/2001

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th March 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost Helen WRIGHT	Willie W SAWERS	Julia M STURROCK
George de GERNIER	Joe FITZPATRICK	Neil GLEN
John R LETFORD	George REGAN	Dave BEATTIE
Betty WARD	Bruce D MACKIE	C D P FARQUHAR
Jill SHIMI	Roderick A J WALLACE	Elizabeth F FORDYCE
Robin PRESSWOOD	Kenneth J N GUILD	Fiona M GRANT
Richard BEATTIE	Derek J SCOTT	David BOWES
Andrew DAWSON	John CORRIGAN	Monsignor J CREEGAN
Allan PETRIE	Iain M LUKE	Mr E BAILLIE
	Jim BARRIE

Councillor DE GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th March 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) PROJECT FOR SCHOOL BUILDINGS

There was submitted Report No 198-2001 by the Director of Finance advising members of additional financial support of 305,000 which has been awarded by the Scottish Executive to assist Dundee City Council to finance the development of a feasibility study for a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project involving school buildings. In addition, the report set out the demand for such a project within Dundee City and sought approval to establish various working groups within the Council to take forward the feasibility study.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the City Council undertakes a feasibility study and Outline Business Case for a PPP project for school buildings in Dundee;

(ii) that it be noted that the above decision would not commit the Council to proceed with a PPP project and that a further report would be brought back to Committee for approval;

(iii) that the following working groups be established to consider the officers' recommendations and the financial and educational implications:-

(a) a Project Board comprising Elected Members, Chief Executive, Directors, Trade Unions, Church representative and School Board member;

(b) a Management Board comprising the Chief Executive, Directors and external Advisers; and

(iv) that the Director of Support Services be instructed to advertise for and appoint external legal and financial advisers in order to conclude the feasibility study and Outline Business Case; and

(v) that the remit for the Director of Education to prepare a report on the condition of Dundee's schools be included as part of the PPP feasibility study and Outline Business Case.

II EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCES

It was reported that the Scottish Executive had established a pilot scheme for Education Maintenance Allowances in Dundee City Council Secondary Schools.

The Committee welcomed this new Pilot Scheme for secondary schools in Dundee which would enable pupils to remain at school beyond S4 to acquire skills and qualifications they would need to realise their full potential. It was noted payment of the grant would be linked to school attendance and the achievement of targets for attainment agreed between the school, the young person and the parents.

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.

Was This Useful?