Education Committee - 20/11/2000

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th November, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor WARD. Depute Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th October, 2000 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 24TH AND 25TH OCTOBER, 2000

The minutes of the above mentioned meetings (Appendices I and II) were submitted for information.

II HM INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS - FOLLOW-UP TO THE INSPECTION OF JESSIE PORTER NURSERY SCHOOL

There was submitted and noted the report of HM Inspectors of Schools with regard to the follow-up inspection of Jessie Porter Nursery School.

III ARDLER PRIMARY SCHOOL - ELECTRICAL UPGRADING

There was submitted Report No. 590-2000 by the City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval for estimated additional expenditure.

The Committee agreed to approve the estimated additional expenditure of approximately 19,500.

IV SUPPLY OF JANITORIAL SUPPLIES - CLEANING MATERIALS/STORES

There was submitted Report No.737-2000 by the Director of Education seeking approval to accept a tender for the supply of janitorial supplies - cleaning materials/stores for schools in Dundee for the period 1st December 2000 to 30th November 2002.

The Committee agreed to award the contract for the supply of janitorial supplies - cleaning materials/stores for the period 1st December 2000 to 30th November 2002 to ICCS (Northern) Ltd., 16 Dunsinane Avenue, Dundee DD2 3QT.

V SCHOOL SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR PROGRAMME

There was submitted Report No.724-2000 by the Director of Education bringing to the attention of the Committee progress on the School Sports Co-ordinator Programme and making recommendations for the continuation of the programme.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) note the success of the School Sports Co-ordinator Programme during 1999/2000;

(b) approve the continuation of the programme; and

(c) approve the continuation of the post of Sports Development Officer.

VI ESTABLISHMENT OF INTEGRATED DAYCARE AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROVISION AT HAPPYHILLOCK CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE

There was submitted Report No. 729-2000 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Education seeking approval to establish as part of an integrated Education and Social Work Initiative a new day care service for children under the age of three at Happyhillock Child and Family Centre. This would be a pilot project until March 2002 and offer a number of daycare places for families on low incomes, or where parents were in education or training. The new provision would be delivered as an integrated part of the range of services currently provided at Happyhillock Child and Family Centre to children in need and their families. This would promote economic regeneration and social inclusion in the Happyhillock and Linlathen areas, and offer access to daycare provision to families living in other areas, as appropriate, where there was a lack of existing childcare services.

The Committee in so far as its interests are concerned agreed to approve the contents of the report, but requested that a further report be submitted regarding the proposed charges in Appendix 2 of the report.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order 51(3)(B) due to current concerns.

VII SCHOOL BUILDINGS - UPKEEP AND REPAIR

This item had been included at the request of Monsignor Creegan who requested that the Committee call for a report on the condition of Dundee's schools to be prepared and submitted to a future meeting.

The Committee agreed to the request by Monsignor Creegan asking him to liaise with the Director of Education to look at material currently available and that the Director of Education prepare a report on the condition of Dundee's schools for submission to a future meeting of the Committee.

BETTY WARD, Depute Convener.

APPENDIX I