29 January 2002

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Tuesday 29 January 2002 at 2.00pm

PRESENT

Mr Norman L Macdonald (Chairman)

Mrs Morag Munro (Vice-Chairman)

Mr Malcolm J Macleod

Mr Donald M Mackay

Mr Iain Morrison

Mr Archie K Campbell

Mr Alexander A Macdonald

Rev Andrew Coghill

Mr Murdo Macleod

Rev Donald A Macdonald

Mr Donald I Nicholson

Mr Murdo Macdonald

Mr Finlay Morrison

Dr Alan J F Fraser

APOLOGIES

Mr Roderick J Murray

Mr Norman M Macleod

Mr Philip R McLean

Rev John Macleod

Tribute: Mr Murdo Macdonald

The Chairman welcomed Mr Murdo Macdonald, Co-opted Member (teachers representative), to his first meeting of the Education Committee.

Tribute: John Maclean, Annette Murray, Alan Fraser & Calum Maclean

The Chairman referred to Mr John Maclean, Head Teacher, Back School, Ms Annette Murray, Head Teacher, Stornoway Primary School, Dr Alan Fraser, Depute Head Teacher, The Nicolson Institute and Mr Calum Maclean, Depute Head Teacher, Bayble School and, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated them on their successful completion of the Scottish Qualification for Headship.

Prayer

The meeting was opened with prayer led by Rev Andrew Coghill.

MINUTES

Education Committee

E08

1

The minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 was approved, subject to the following amendment:

at PRESENT: insert Mr Murdo Macleod.

Teaching Staff Joint Consultative Committee: 22 March 2001

E08

2

The minute of meeting of the Teaching Staff: Joint Consultative Committee of 22 March 2001 was noted.

Sir E Scott School Member/Officer Working Group

E08

3

The minute of meeting of the Sir E Scott School Member/Officer Working Group of 11 December 2001 was noted.

Service Appeals Panel

E08

4

The minute of meeting of the Service Appeals Panel of 11 December 2001 was submitted.

It was agreed to approve the recommendations at item 2 of the minute of meeting of the Service Appeals Panel of 11 December 2001 and that in future references to distances for school transport will be reported to the Comhairle in imperial measurement with metric measurement in parenthesis, when referring to the Comhairle's policy.

Bayble School Member/Officer Working Group

E08

5

It was agreed to note the Minute of Meeting of the Bayble School Member/Officer Working Group of 17 December 2001.

KEY TASKS

Update on Key Tasks

PR110.04

6

With reference to item 140 of the minute of meeting of 5 October 1999 the Chief Executive submitted a Report intimating that the Key Tasks agreed by the Comhairle for each of its Committees in 1999, provided the framework for service developments. It was stated that there was a need, following the adoption of the Comhairle's revised decision-making structure, to assess the progress made in implementing the Key Tasks as well as re-allocating Key Tasks to Committees so as to reflect changes in Committee remits and responsibilities.

Appended to the Report was a statement setting out the Key Tasks, together with information on the progress concerning the implementation of the Key Tasks.

It was agreed to note the report, insofar as the Comhairle's interest was concerned.

FINANCE

Non-Housing Capital Programme: Third Quarter Monitoring

PR110.08

7

With reference to item 63 of the minute of meeting of 29 May 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report regarding the Non-Housing Capital Expenditure for the period 1 April 2001 - 31 December 2001.

It was agreed to approve the recommendations in the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.

Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring

PR110.08

8

With reference to item 74 of the minute of meeting of 1 September 2000 the Director of Finance submitted a Report giving information on the Quarterly Forecast Out-turn. The report detailed revenue expenditure incurred in the period from 1 April to 31 December 2001 for the Comhairle's services, including the Housing Revenue Account and set out the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2002.

It was agreed to note the report.

Budget Strategy 2002/2003

PR110.08

9

With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 31 January 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report advising Members of the final Aggregate External Finance announcement for 2002-03 and setting out the revised Budget Strategy for 2002-03 to 2004-05.

It was agreed to:

(1) note the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.; and

(2) make representations to the Scottish Executive regarding the amount of Gaelic Specific Grant allocated to the Comhairle.

Draft Revenue Estimates 2002/2003

PR110.08

10

With reference to item 23 of the minute of meeting of 19 February 2001 the Director of Finance submitted the Comhairle's Draft Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2002/2003.

It was agreed to note the report.

Budget Service Strategy Report

PR110.08

11

With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 30 January 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report containing the Service Strategy Development Reports for the budget year 2002/03. The Report set out areas of committed and desirable growth for each service, together with savings proposed to fund the growth and to meet the agreed Cash Planning Limits.

It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations in the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.

BUILDINGS

Capital Works: Programme and Progress

E03

12

With reference to item 125 of the Minute of Meeting of 10 November 2001 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the capital works programme and progress in relation to education properties.

It was agreed:

(1) to note the report;

(2) that the Director of Education submit an interim report on the progress with the Private Public Partnership submission to the next meeting of the Committee;

(3) that the Director of Education submit a report regarding the condition of Airidhantuim School, identifying all the options for funding; and

(4) that the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Chief Executive make further representations to the new Education Minister concerning the condition of schools in na h-Eileanan an Iar, the lack of capital funding for schools and the special circumstances of na h-Eileanan an Iar.

Disposal of Former Leurbost School Premises: Consultation with the Local Community

E02

13

With reference to item 129 of the minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the feedback from local consultations on the proposal to transfer the site of Leurbost School to the Department of Housing. Appended to the report were the note of the public meeting held on 28 August 2001 and a copy of a letter dated 3 November 2001 from North Lochs Community Council proposing that the site be developed for private housing.

It was agreed that the feasibility of the option proposed by the North Lochs Community Council to develop the site for private housing be explored by the Comhairle.

Croileagan Lacasdail: Request for `In Principle' Lease of Land at Laxdale School

E02

14

The Director of Education submitted a report concerning the lease of 390 square metres of ground at Laxdale School to allow Croileagan Lacasdail to establish premises for pre-school provision. Appended to the report was a local plan and a copy of a letter dated 7 January 2000 from Croileagan Lacasdail requesting lease of the land. The background to the matter was outlined in the report.

It was agreed that:

(1) the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Education, be authorised to grant an `in principle' lease of 390 square metres of land at Laxdale School for an initial period of 25 years, with an option for renewal thereafter, to allow facilities for pre-school provision within the grounds of the school to be established; and

(2) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to negotiate a notional annual rental when proposals reach a more advanced stage.

EDUCATIONAL PROVISION

Roll Out of New Community School Approach: Submission for Funding to the Scottish Executive

E01

15

With reference to item 41 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the submission to the Scottish Executive for the roll out to all schools of the New Community School model. The draft plan and submission for funding 2002/04 and a copy of a circular from the Scottish Executive dated 17 December 2001 were appended to the report. The report indicated that a significant amount of work was still required to progress the submission to its final format and that this was currently being progressed in association with the Western Isles New Community Schools Partnership.

It was agreed to approve the model set out in Appendix A to the report by the Director of Education as the basis of the submission to the Scottish Executive for the roll out of the New Community School Approach for na h-Eileanan an Iar.

School Targets 1999-2001: Standard and Higher Grade

E01

16

With reference to item 13 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the performance of schools against targets in relation to Standard Grade and Higher Grade. Targets for Standard Grades and Higher Grades and attainment by the end of S6 were appended to the report. Details of the target setting exercise and reporting on targets were included in the report.

It was agreed to note the report.

RELATED MATTERS

Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday: 3 June 2002

E07

17

With reference to item 83 of the minute of meeting of 29 May 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the proposal to submit an application to the Scottish Executive to reduce the 2001/2002 session to 189 days to allow the schools to observe the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday on 3 June 2001. It was indicated in the report that Regulation 5 of the Schools General (Scotland) Regulation 1975, as amended, requires schools to be open for a minimum of 190 days per school year but that on application to Scottish Ministers modifications may be made to the Regulations provided Ministers are satisfied that it would be unreasonable for Regulation 5 to apply, or to apply without modification.

It was agreed that an application to reduce the 2001/02 session from 190 to 189 days be submitted to the Scottish Executive to allow the schools to observe the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday on 3 June 2002.

Employment of Children: Proposed Amendment to Bye-Laws

E07

18

With reference to item 29 of the minute of meeting of 26 January 1999 the Director of Education and the Director of Corporate Services submitted a joint report concerning the terms of the Children (Protection at Work) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 and amendments required to the Comhairle's existing bye-laws to take account of this provision. The proposed bye-laws were appended to the report. The report indicated that the proposed amended bye-laws conformed with the new model bye-laws issued by the Scottish Executive.

It was agreed that:

(1) on the date that the new bye-laws are confirmed by the Scottish Ministers the existing bye-laws made by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on 10 February 1999 and confirmed by the Scottish Ministers on 27 August 1999, shall cease to have effect; and

(2) the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Education, be authorised to take all action necessary in order to ensure that bye-laws, substantially in the same terms as shown in Appendix A, are presented to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation in terms of Section 202 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The McCrone Agreement: Creation of Local Negotiating Committee

E06

19*

With reference to item 47 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning proposals for the most appropriate composition for the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff which is set to be set up by 1 April 2002 following the McCrone Agreement. It was detailed in the report that it was proposed that the current Joint Consultative Committee: Teaching Staff be replaced by the Local Negotiating Committee for devolved matters relating to teaching staff. The proposed composition of the Local Negotiating Committee was set out in Section 7.1 of the report.

It was agreed to recommend that:

(1) the Joint Consultative Committee (Teaching Staff) be disestablished;

(2) the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff be established with the following membership:

(i) six members of the Education Committee;

(ii) the Director of Education; and

(iii) seven members of Teaching Staff Associations as outlined in Section 7.1 of the Report by the Director of Education,

(3) the model framework outlined at Appendix B of the Report by the Director of Education forms the basis for the draft remit for the Local Negotiating Committee and that the Committee be asked to finalise the remit for approval by the Committee; and

(4) the Comhairle appoints six members for the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Reports Outstanding: Progress

PR33.01.12

20

With reference to item 141 of the minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a report concerning reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Education Committee.

It was agreed to note the Report.

___

PRESENT	Mr Norman L Macdonald (Chairman)
	Mrs Morag Munro (Vice-Chairman)
	Mr Malcolm J Macleod	Mr Donald M Mackay
	Mr Iain Morrison	Mr Archie K Campbell
	Mr Alexander A Macdonald	Rev Andrew Coghill
	Mr Murdo Macleod	Rev Donald A Macdonald
	Mr Donald I Nicholson	Mr Murdo Macdonald
	Mr Finlay Morrison	Dr Alan J F Fraser

APOLOGIES	Mr Roderick J Murray	Mr Norman M Macleod
	Mr Philip R McLean	Rev John Macleod

Tribute: Mr Murdo Macdonald		The Chairman welcomed Mr Murdo Macdonald, Co-opted Member (teachers representative), to his first meeting of the Education Committee.
Tribute: John Maclean, Annette Murray, Alan Fraser & Calum Maclean		The Chairman referred to Mr John Maclean, Head Teacher, Back School, Ms Annette Murray, Head Teacher, Stornoway Primary School, Dr Alan Fraser, Depute Head Teacher, The Nicolson Institute and Mr Calum Maclean, Depute Head Teacher, Bayble School and, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated them on their successful completion of the Scottish Qualification for Headship.
Prayer		The meeting was opened with prayer led by Rev Andrew Coghill.
		MINUTES
Education Committee E08	1	The minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 was approved, subject to the following amendment: at PRESENT: insert Mr Murdo Macleod.
Teaching Staff Joint Consultative Committee: 22 March 2001 E08	2	The minute of meeting of the Teaching Staff: Joint Consultative Committee of 22 March 2001 was noted.
Sir E Scott School Member/Officer Working Group E08	3	The minute of meeting of the Sir E Scott School Member/Officer Working Group of 11 December 2001 was noted.
Service Appeals Panel E08	4	The minute of meeting of the Service Appeals Panel of 11 December 2001 was submitted. It was agreed to approve the recommendations at item 2 of the minute of meeting of the Service Appeals Panel of 11 December 2001 and that in future references to distances for school transport will be reported to the Comhairle in imperial measurement with metric measurement in parenthesis, when referring to the Comhairle's policy.
Bayble School Member/Officer Working Group E08	5	It was agreed to note the Minute of Meeting of the Bayble School Member/Officer Working Group of 17 December 2001.
		KEY TASKS
Update on Key Tasks PR110.04	6	With reference to item 140 of the minute of meeting of 5 October 1999 the Chief Executive submitted a Report intimating that the Key Tasks agreed by the Comhairle for each of its Committees in 1999, provided the framework for service developments. It was stated that there was a need, following the adoption of the Comhairle's revised decision-making structure, to assess the progress made in implementing the Key Tasks as well as re-allocating Key Tasks to Committees so as to reflect changes in Committee remits and responsibilities. Appended to the Report was a statement setting out the Key Tasks, together with information on the progress concerning the implementation of the Key Tasks. It was agreed to note the report, insofar as the Comhairle's interest was concerned.
		FINANCE
Non-Housing Capital Programme: Third Quarter Monitoring PR110.08	7	With reference to item 63 of the minute of meeting of 29 May 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report regarding the Non-Housing Capital Expenditure for the period 1 April 2001 - 31 December 2001. It was agreed to approve the recommendations in the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.
Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring PR110.08	8	With reference to item 74 of the minute of meeting of 1 September 2000 the Director of Finance submitted a Report giving information on the Quarterly Forecast Out-turn. The report detailed revenue expenditure incurred in the period from 1 April to 31 December 2001 for the Comhairle's services, including the Housing Revenue Account and set out the forecast expenditure to 31 March 2002. It was agreed to note the report.
Budget Strategy 2002/2003 PR110.08	9	With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 31 January 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report advising Members of the final Aggregate External Finance announcement for 2002-03 and setting out the revised Budget Strategy for 2002-03 to 2004-05. It was agreed to: (1) note the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.; and (2) make representations to the Scottish Executive regarding the amount of Gaelic Specific Grant allocated to the Comhairle.
Draft Revenue Estimates 2002/2003 PR110.08	10	With reference to item 23 of the minute of meeting of 19 February 2001 the Director of Finance submitted the Comhairle's Draft Revenue Estimates for the financial year 2002/2003. It was agreed to note the report.
Budget Service Strategy Report PR110.08	11	With reference to item 6 of the minute of meeting of 30 January 2001 the Director of Finance submitted a Report containing the Service Strategy Development Reports for the budget year 2002/03. The Report set out areas of committed and desirable growth for each service, together with savings proposed to fund the growth and to meet the agreed Cash Planning Limits. It was agreed to recommend approval of the recommendations in the report, insofar as the Committee's interest was concerned.
		BUILDINGS
Capital Works: Programme and Progress E03	12	With reference to item 125 of the Minute of Meeting of 10 November 2001 the Director of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the capital works programme and progress in relation to education properties. It was agreed: (1) to note the report; (2) that the Director of Education submit an interim report on the progress with the Private Public Partnership submission to the next meeting of the Committee; (3) that the Director of Education submit a report regarding the condition of Airidhantuim School, identifying all the options for funding; and (4) that the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the Chief Executive make further representations to the new Education Minister concerning the condition of schools in na h-Eileanan an Iar, the lack of capital funding for schools and the special circumstances of na h-Eileanan an Iar.
Disposal of Former Leurbost School Premises: Consultation with the Local Community E02	13	With reference to item 129 of the minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the feedback from local consultations on the proposal to transfer the site of Leurbost School to the Department of Housing. Appended to the report were the note of the public meeting held on 28 August 2001 and a copy of a letter dated 3 November 2001 from North Lochs Community Council proposing that the site be developed for private housing. It was agreed that the feasibility of the option proposed by the North Lochs Community Council to develop the site for private housing be explored by the Comhairle.
Croileagan Lacasdail: Request for `In Principle' Lease of Land at Laxdale School E02	14	The Director of Education submitted a report concerning the lease of 390 square metres of ground at Laxdale School to allow Croileagan Lacasdail to establish premises for pre-school provision. Appended to the report was a local plan and a copy of a letter dated 7 January 2000 from Croileagan Lacasdail requesting lease of the land. The background to the matter was outlined in the report. It was agreed that: (1) the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Education, be authorised to grant an `in principle' lease of 390 square metres of land at Laxdale School for an initial period of 25 years, with an option for renewal thereafter, to allow facilities for pre-school provision within the grounds of the school to be established; and (2) the Director of Corporate Services be authorised to negotiate a notional annual rental when proposals reach a more advanced stage.
		EDUCATIONAL PROVISION
Roll Out of New Community School Approach: Submission for Funding to the Scottish Executive E01	15	With reference to item 41 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the submission to the Scottish Executive for the roll out to all schools of the New Community School model. The draft plan and submission for funding 2002/04 and a copy of a circular from the Scottish Executive dated 17 December 2001 were appended to the report. The report indicated that a significant amount of work was still required to progress the submission to its final format and that this was currently being progressed in association with the Western Isles New Community Schools Partnership. It was agreed to approve the model set out in Appendix A to the report by the Director of Education as the basis of the submission to the Scottish Executive for the roll out of the New Community School Approach for na h-Eileanan an Iar.
School Targets 1999-2001: Standard and Higher Grade E01	16	With reference to item 13 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the performance of schools against targets in relation to Standard Grade and Higher Grade. Targets for Standard Grades and Higher Grades and attainment by the end of S6 were appended to the report. Details of the target setting exercise and reporting on targets were included in the report. It was agreed to note the report.
		RELATED MATTERS
Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday: 3 June 2002 E07	17	With reference to item 83 of the minute of meeting of 29 May 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning the proposal to submit an application to the Scottish Executive to reduce the 2001/2002 session to 189 days to allow the schools to observe the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday on 3 June 2001. It was indicated in the report that Regulation 5 of the Schools General (Scotland) Regulation 1975, as amended, requires schools to be open for a minimum of 190 days per school year but that on application to Scottish Ministers modifications may be made to the Regulations provided Ministers are satisfied that it would be unreasonable for Regulation 5 to apply, or to apply without modification. It was agreed that an application to reduce the 2001/02 session from 190 to 189 days be submitted to the Scottish Executive to allow the schools to observe the Golden Jubilee Bank Holiday on 3 June 2002.
Employment of Children: Proposed Amendment to Bye-Laws E07	18	With reference to item 29 of the minute of meeting of 26 January 1999 the Director of Education and the Director of Corporate Services submitted a joint report concerning the terms of the Children (Protection at Work) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 and amendments required to the Comhairle's existing bye-laws to take account of this provision. The proposed bye-laws were appended to the report. The report indicated that the proposed amended bye-laws conformed with the new model bye-laws issued by the Scottish Executive. It was agreed that: (1) on the date that the new bye-laws are confirmed by the Scottish Ministers the existing bye-laws made by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on 10 February 1999 and confirmed by the Scottish Ministers on 27 August 1999, shall cease to have effect; and (2) the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Education, be authorised to take all action necessary in order to ensure that bye-laws, substantially in the same terms as shown in Appendix A, are presented to the Scottish Ministers for confirmation in terms of Section 202 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
The McCrone Agreement: Creation of Local Negotiating Committee E06	19*	With reference to item 47 of the minute of meeting of 27 March 2001 the Director of Education submitted a report concerning proposals for the most appropriate composition for the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff which is set to be set up by 1 April 2002 following the McCrone Agreement. It was detailed in the report that it was proposed that the current Joint Consultative Committee: Teaching Staff be replaced by the Local Negotiating Committee for devolved matters relating to teaching staff. The proposed composition of the Local Negotiating Committee was set out in Section 7.1 of the report. It was agreed to recommend that: (1) the Joint Consultative Committee (Teaching Staff) be disestablished; (2) the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff be established with the following membership: (i) six members of the Education Committee; (ii) the Director of Education; and (iii) seven members of Teaching Staff Associations as outlined in Section 7.1 of the Report by the Director of Education, (3) the model framework outlined at Appendix B of the Report by the Director of Education forms the basis for the draft remit for the Local Negotiating Committee and that the Committee be asked to finalise the remit for approval by the Committee; and (4) the Comhairle appoints six members for the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.
		PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Reports Outstanding: Progress PR33.01.12	20	With reference to item 141 of the minute of meeting of 20 November 2001 the Director of Corporate Services submitted a report concerning reports outstanding arising from decisions of the Education Committee. It was agreed to note the Report.