Education Committee - 19/06/2000

At a MEETING of the EDUCATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th June 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor de GERNIER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd May 2000 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE SUB-COMMITTEE OF 30TH AND 31ST MAY 2000

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

II APPOINTMENT OF SENIOR INSTRUCTOR (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)

There was submitted Report No 416-2000 by the Director of Education outlining a proposal to appoint a Senior Instructor for Instrumental Music Instruction.

The Committee approved the appointment of a Senior Instructor for Instrumental Music Instruction.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) Boiler Replacement at St Joseph's Primary School

There was submitted Report No 409-2000 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

The Committee approved acceptance of the lowest offer which was received from Taylor Mechanical Services Limited for the boiler replacement at St Joseph's Primary School for the sum of 84,238.56 less savings of 11,873.20 giving a cost of 72,365.36 together with allowances of 13,156.00 giving a total amount of 85,521.36.

(b) Schools Concrete Repairs 2000/2001

There was submitted Report No 411-2000 by the City Engineer giving details of tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

The Committee approved acceptance of the lowest offer which was received from Torith Limited for Schools Concrete Repairs 2000/2001 for the sum of 55,857.50 together with allowances and fees of 17,642.50 giving a total amount of 73,500.00.

IV THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT 1963 THE CHILDREN (PERFORMANCES) REGULATIONS 1968

There was submitted Report No 425-2000 by the Director of Education advising the Committee of the situation regarding Dundee Operatic Society and Dundee Junior Showtime for the purposes of Section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963.

The Committee approved Dundee Operatic Society and Dundee Junior Showtime for the purposes of Section 37 of the Children and Young Persons Act.

V PURCHASE OF COMPUTER FACILITIES - SECONDARY SCHOOLS

There was submitted Report No 396-2000 by the Director of Information Technology seeking Committee approval for the acceptance of the recommended tenders for the supply of computer networking facilities for Secondary Schools in Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) approve acceptance of the lowest tender ITD/2000/2 amounting to 84,390 from CRS Computers Limited for the purchase of IT equipment which was detailed in Appendix I of the Report; and

(b) approve ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 2,500 per annum for the above purchases.

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL POSTS

There was submitted Report No 350-2000 by the Directors of Education, Social Work and Personnel and Management Services seeking Committee approval for the establishment of three Temporary Outreach Worker posts to develop and enhance supports for families with very young children under age three in specific areas of greatest need within the city and in partnership with the Education Department, other agencies and local service providers.

The Committee, insofar as its interest was concerned, approved the contents of the report.

VII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN - UPDATE 2000

There was submitted Report No 417-2000 by the Director of Education outlining the progress on the key elements of the Education Department's Service Plan for 1999/2002.

The Committee noted the progress to date on the Education Department's Service Plan 1999/2002 as contained in Appendix 1 of the report.

VIII RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON THE SCHOOLS SCOTLAND CODE

There was submitted Report No 415-2000 by the Director of Education providing a response to the Scottish Executive Education Department on the questions contained in the consultation paper "Improving our Schools - Consultation on the Schools Scotland Code".

The Committee agreed that the content of the document attached to the report be approved as the response from Dundee City Council to the consultation paper including the following amendments submitted by Mr E Baillie:-

(a) Delete the second sentence ("Such regulation Education (Scotland) Act 1980");

(b) Substitute "However," for "Indeed" at the start of paragraph 2; and

(c) Delete the final paragraph and substitute as follows:

"On balance, it is recommended that the Scottish Executive should continue to provide (and update as appropriate) guidance to Local Authorities in relation to minimum staffing standards which would be required to ensure that Councils can fulfil the duties imposed on them by Section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, without making excessive and unreasonable demands of their staff. Local Authorities should, in allocating staffing beyond this minimum, have the freedom to act innovatively and flexibly, without regulation, to meet local needs and circumstances."

IX BUDGET 2000 - ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS

The Committee agreed to the distribution of the additional grant to schools on the basis of the award calculation and instructed the Director of Education to collect details on how the grant has been utilised by schools.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No.51(3)(B) in view of the timescales involved.

X IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DUNDEE EARLY YEARS AND CHILDCARE PLAN - ESTABLISHMENT OF EARLY INTERVENTION INITIATIVE AND SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

There was submitted Report No.437-2000 by the Directors of Education and Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the establishment of a pilot initiative to support the establishment of an early intervention strategy for children aged 2-4 (Sure Start Dundee) and also for provision of funding to support the Dundee Sitter Service and Home Start Dundee.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) approve the proposals contained within the report;

(b) note the deployment of three teachers to support the initiative;

(c) approve the provision of funding to Home Start Dundee (15,000) and Dundee Sitter Service (50,000); and

(d) the Personnel and Management Services Committee approving the establishment of three Nursery Nurse posts from August 2000 to April 2002.

GEORGE DE GERNIER, Convener.

APPENDIX I