Education Committee - 08/12/2014

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th December, 2014.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost Bob DUNCAN

 

Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Ian BORTHWICK

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Ken LYNN

Tom FERGUSON

John ALEXANDER

Vari McDONALD

Brian GORDON

Jimmy BLACK

Craig MELVILLE

Richard McCREADY

David BOWES

Gregor MURRAY

Norma McGOVERN

Bill CAMPBELL

Alan G ROSS

Fraser MACPHERSON

Kevin CORDELL

Kevin KEENAN

Monsignor K McCAFFREY

Will DAWSON

Mohammed ASIF

Miss A FINLAYSON

Stewart HUNTER

Lesley BRENNAN

Mrs C HUXLEY

 

Georgia CRUICKSHANK

 

 

Councillor Stewart Hunter, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th November, 2014 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article II as he had a child at one of the affected schools.

 

II SCHOOL ESTATE CONSULTATION PROPOSALS

 

There was submitted Report No 466-2014 by the Director of Education seeking Committee approval to formally consult on four proposals under the terms of the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010.

 

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Murray, moved that the Committee agree, in principle, with the following proposals and instruct the Director of Education to formally consult and report the outcomes in due course:-

 

(i) the closure of Menzieshill High School and redelineation of the catchment area of Harris Academy to include Menzieshill High Schools existing catchment area within Dundee; and to transfer that part of Harris Academys catchment area, which comprises the catchment area of Rosebank Primary School to Morgan Academys catchment area and make Morgan Academy the associated secondary school of Rosebank Primary School; and to make Baldragon Academy the associated Dundee secondary school of Longforgan, Inchture, Abernyte, Auchterhouse, Birkhill and Liff Primary Schools from August, 2016;

 

(ii) the revision of catchment areas for Sidlaw View Primary School, Ardler Primary School, Downfield Primary School and Craigowl Primary School from August, 2016;

 

(iii) the redelineation of the existing catchment areas for St Pauls RC Academy and St Johns RC High School by transferring that part of St Pauls RC Academys catchment area which comprises the catchment area of St Clements RC Primary School to St Johns RC High School and to make St Johns RC High School the associated secondary school of St Clements RC Primary School from August 2016; and

 

(iv) subject to a funding allocation from the Scottish Futures Trust, the closure of St Lukes and St Matthews RC Primary and St Vincents RC Primary Schools and the establishment of a new Roman Catholic primary school to be located on a new school campus setting and the relocation of Longhaugh Primary School and Longhaugh Nursery School to that campus.

 

As an amendment, Councillor Cruickshank, seconded by Councillor McGovern, moved to defer progression of (i) and (ii) above to provide:-

 

Additional elaboration of:

 

- the effects of the proposals on other community users of the school especially but not exclusively sports organisations who use the sports hall, swimming pool and playing fields;

 

- how the Council intends to minimise or avoid the actual and potential educational dis-benefits that may arise from the proposal;

 

- financial savings which are rigorously evidenced and impact, if any, of the implementation of the proposal on the General Revenue Grant;

 

- population projections taking into account City Development predictions on employment growth in the city post V&A and Scottish Registrar population projections; and

 

- reassessment of the case for designation of the school catchment area for the Western Gateway.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Lord Provost, Depute Lord Provost, the Convener, Bailies Sawers and Scott, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross and Macpherson and Monsignor McCaffrey (19); and for the amendment - Bailies Wright and Borthwick and Councillors Keenan, Asif, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready and McGovern (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

 

 

 

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.