Education Committee - 23/10/2006

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd October, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th September, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NEW REGISTERED CHILDMINDERS IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 610-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval to continue to provide funding to registered childminders in Dundee.

The Committee approved the award of funding to childminders as detailed in the report noted below:-

II SCHOOL TERMS AND HOLIDAYS 2007/2008

There was submitted Report No 585-2006 by the Director of Education seeking approval for school terms and holidays for Session 2007/2008.

The Committee agreed the school terms and holidays for Session 2007/2008 as detailed in the report noted below:-

III PILOT PROVISION OF PLAY AND LEARNING SERVICES FOR TWO YEAR OLDS IN LOCAL AUTHORITY NURSERIES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN348-2006. Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th May, 2006 which approved in principle to pilot the provision of play and learning for two year olds, within Local Authority Nurseries.

In order to ensure that full consultation and evaluation could take place, it was proposed that an initial short term pilot be commissioned within 4 nursery schools across the City, led by a Birth to 3 Co-ordinator in each location.

A further report would be brought forward to both the Education and Personnel Committees in March 2007, setting out the final proposals for financial year 2007-08.

The Committee approved the above.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

IV SCHOOLS FUND 2006-2007 - ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION

There was submitted Report No 614-2006 by the Director of Education informing the Committee of additional capital allocation from the Scottish Executive School Fund in 2007 and seeking approval for the projects identified.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the projects recommended by the Director of Education as noted in Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) authorise the City Architectural Services Officer to negotiate offers, obtain tenders or partnership agreements for the capital works, and

(iii) authorise the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in conjunction with the Director of Education to accept negotiated offers, tenders or partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for the works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other contractors.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 5 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

V REQUESTS FOR EDUCATION AT HOME

(a) There was submitted Report No 563-2006 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 the application for education at home.

(b) There was submitted Report No 566-2006 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 the application for education at home.

(c) There was submitted Report No 567-2006 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 the application for education at home.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.