Education Committee - 16/01/2006

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th January, 2006.

Present:-

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

BAILIES

C D P FARQUHAR	John CORRIGAN	Bruce D MACKIE
Helen WRIGHT	Neil I C POWRIE	Ian BORTHWICK

COUNCILLORS

Jill SHIMI	Nigel DON	Elizabeth F FORDYCE
Kevin KEENAN	Bob DUNCAN	Roderick A J WALLACE
George REGAN	Richard BEATTIE	Charles A WEBSTER
Julia M STURROCK	Andrew DAWSON	Derek J SCOTT
Fiona M GRANT	Willie W SAWERS	Rev J WILSON
Christopher HIND	Joe FITZPATRICK	Monsignor J CREEGAN
Joe MORROW	Christina ROBERTS	Mr E BAILLIE
Fraser MACPHERSON	Jim BARRIE	Mrs H Millar
Helen DICK	Will DAWSON

Councillor KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th December, 2005, was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 44-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(i) MENZIESHILL HIGH SCHOOL - ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSION PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services for Phase 2 Alterations and Extension at Menzieshill High School for 146,660.00, together with allowances of 1,180.00 for building warrant, 1,260.00 for planning supervisor and 20,900.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 170,000.00.

II REVIEW OF SCHOOL CATCHMENT AREAS IN EAST OF DUNDEE - STATUTORY CONSULTATION

There was submitted Report No 41-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to publish and consult on proposals to make alterations to school catchment areas in the east of Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:

(i) remit the Director of Education to prepare and carry out statutory consultation procedures in terms of the Education (Publication and Consultation etc) (Scotland) Regulations 1981; and

(ii) note a further report would be brought forward dealing with the results of the publication and consultation exercise.

III EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

There was submitted Report No 47-2006 by the Director of Education relative to the above.

The Committee approved the Education Department Health and Safety Policy.

IV PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PLAYGROUPS

There was submitted Report No 50-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to provide Childcare Strategy Funding to local playgroups.

The Committee approved the report and the award of funding to playgroups as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report shown below:-

Name of Group	Funding Amount Requested	Funding Amount Allocated	Summary of Items
Little Lodgers Playgroup	303.04	300.00	Games, threading beads, magnets, home play resources, playmobil.
Ferry Playgroup	458.19	300.00	Play panels.
Fintry Community Playgroup	302.28	300.00	100 ongoing revenue, arts and crafts resources, farmyard.
Barnhill St Margaret's	300.00	300.00	Trikes, magnetic blocks, popoids, books, 100 ongoing revenue.
TOTALS	1,363.51	1,200

V FORTHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL - LOOSE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN26-2006 where reference was made to Article IV(i) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September, 2005, when expenditure on loose furniture and fittings up to 35,000 was approved.

For information and record purposes, the Committee noted that following the tendering process, the following firms were selected to provide a range of loose furniture including desks, tables, chairs, filing and storage units, together with moveable gymnasium equipment.

Corrie Services Ltd, Dundee	8,964.05
Davies Sports, Ashby-de-la-Zouch	4,444.00
Demco Interiors, Wellingborough	430.35
EME Furniture, Sanquhar	1,704.38
Langstane Press, Dundee	9,414.42
Office and Training Consumables Ltd, Edinburgh	1,535.00
Teacherboards (1985) Ltd, Skipton	2,731.95

Together with allowances of 4,060.00 for items for which no suitable tenders were received (to be purchased by Director of Education) and 1,664.00 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 35,000.

VI MANAGING DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR

There was submitted Agenda Note AN27-2006 where reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st November, 2005, when Report No 703-2005, by the Director of Education entitled 'Managing Unacceptable Behaviour in Schools' was approved and a commitment made to bring a full report on the management of disruptive behaviour to the Education Committee in January 2006.

That report, including detailed guidelines and appendices, had been issued for consultation to all appropriate parties and was attracting considerable interest and response.

Accordingly, in order to give adequate opportunity for consideration of that document, the Committee were asked to note that the report would now be submitted to the February 2006 meeting of the Education Committee.

The Committee noted accordingly.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 5 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VII REQUEST FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

(a) There was submitted Report No 25-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee an application for the provision of education at home.

The Committee agreed to accept the application for education at home.

(b) There was submitted Report No 37-2006 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee an application for the provision of education at home.