Education Committee - 24/10/2005

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th October, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HM INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION - ST LUKE'S AND ST MATTHEWS RC PRIMARY SCHOOLINSPECTION

There was submitted and noted the HM Inspectorate report on St. Luke's and St Matthew's RC Primary School.

II PROVISION OF OFF-SITE EDUCATION

There was submitted Report No 648-2005 by the Director of Education proposing that offsite provision in Dundee be reviewed, and that a decision be taken, in principle, to establish one additional offsite centre.

The Committee agreed to:

(i) note the contents of the report;

(ii) approve the proposal to review offsite provision and establish one additional offsite centre; and

(iii) remit the Director of Education to bring a further report before the Education Committee, detailing the findings of the review and the nature of an additional centre, no later than January 2006.

III FORTHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL ALTERATION AND EXTENSION - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

Councillor Wallace declared a non-financial interest by virtue of having a grandchild who attended Forthill Primary School.

There was submitted Report no 605-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval to extend the existing contract.

The Committee approved the extension of the existing contract, incurring an estimated additional expenditure of 126,000.

IV WHITFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL - DEMONSTRATION HOUSE

There was submitted Report No 634-2005 by the Director of Education and City Architectural Services Officer requesting approval to proceed with the Demonstration House project.

The Committee agreed that:-

(i) the City Architectural Services Officer proceeds with the procurement and construction of the house and;

(ii) the Director of Education leases the house to SCARF for a period of three years.

V ST VINCENT'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL BOILER REPLACEMENT - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

There was submitted Report No 649-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval to extend the existing contract.

The Committee approved the extension of the existing contract incurring an estimated additional expenditure of 45,000.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 650-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) LOCHEE PRIMARY SCHOOL - REPLACEMENT ROOF COVERINGS PHASE 1

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for phase 1 replacement roof coverings at Lochee Primary School for 88,429.65 together with allowances of 891.00 for planning supervisor and 13,264.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 102,584.65.

The Committee noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted Sub-Contractor:-

A J Scaffolding Contractors, Dundee - Scaffold

VII PROGRESS ON THE NATIONAL PRIORITIES IN EDUCATION

There was submitted Report No 641-2005 by the Director of Education updating the Committee on progress in the National Priorities in Education.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the contents of the report;

(ii) instruct the Director of Education that good practice identified in the report be circulated to staff and key stakeholders through Dundee Education News; and

(iii) require the Director of Education to provide further reports on progress on National Priorities as appropriate.

VIII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2005-2008

There was submitted Report No 635-2005 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee the Education Department Development Plan for the period 2005-2008.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the contents of the Education Department Development Plan;

(ii) the implementation of the Plan subject to ongoing review and update;

(iii) instruct the Director of Education to provide a statement of Improvement Objectives based on the Development Plan;

(iv) require the Director of Education to provide an annual update on progress in implementing the Plan and meeting the Education Department's Improvement Objectives; and

(v) delete the undernoted paragraph from Page 5 of the Project Outline:-

"A target for a reduction in the level of exclusions is agreed and met".

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.