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Tribute:
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The Chairman,
on behalf of the Committee, referred to the tragic loss of life in the recent
storm of members of the Campbell and MacPherson families. Andrew and Hannah
MacPherson were primary school pupils at Iochdar School. Their mother
Murdina was the school secretary, their father Archie was a former employee
of the Comhairle and their grandfather Calum Campbell was for many years a
schools piping instructor. The Chairman extended sympathy and condolences to
the family of the bereaved, who included Comhairle employees and a former
member of the Committee. The Committee held a period of silence as a
tribute.
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Prayer:
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The Meeting
was opened with prayer led by Rev Andrew W F Coghill.
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Storm
Disruption and Damage
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The Chairman referred to the disruption and
damage caused to school and other educational properties in the recent storms
and on behalf of the Committee thanked Mr Macdonald and the staff at Qinetiq
for their assistance in the Southern Isles.
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Tribute:
Mairead Macneil
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The Chairman
referred to Mairead Macneil, a pupil at Castlebay School who had recently won
a competition organised by the National Heritage and the “Rock On”
partnership for a poem in Gaelic which was to be engraved in stone at the
Scottish Parliament and on behalf of the Committee congratulated Mairead on
this notable achievement.
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Emergency
Sub-Committee: Balivanich School
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It was agreed
to recommend that an Emergency Sub-Committee comprising the Convener,
Vice-Convener, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee, and the local
member be established to prepare a case in relation to Balivanich Primary School with a view to presenting this case to the Scottish Executive and also to
oversee the interim arrangements for the continuity of the School.
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MINUTES
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Minute of
Meeting of 8 December 2004
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1
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The Minute of
Meeting of 8 December 2004 was approved subject to the Minute being
amended to reflect the Apologies received from Rev Andrew W F Coghill and
that Rev Dr Iain D Campbell had led the meeting in prayer.
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Declaration of Interest
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2
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There were no declarations of interest.
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FINANCE
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Third Quarter Revenue Monitoring 2004/05
PR110.05
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3
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The Acting
Director of Finance submitted a Report detailing the Comhairle’s Forecast
Revenue Outturn for 2004/05 at the end of the third quarter. A summary of
the financial performance to the end of December 2004 was appended to the
Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted insofar as the Committee’s
interests were concerned.
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Third
Quarter Capital Monitoring 2004/05
PR110.03
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4
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The Acting Director of Finance submitted a
Report concerning progress in the 2004/05 Capital Programme as at 31 December
2004.
It was agreed to recommend approval of
the recommendations in the Report insofar as the Committee’s interests were
concerned.
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Revenue
Estimates 2005/06
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5
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The Acting Director of Finance submitted the
draft Revenue Estimates for 2005/06.
It was agreed to recommend approval of
the Draft Revenue Estimates 2005/2006, insofar as the Committee’s interests
were concerned.
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BUILDINGS
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Capital Works: Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
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6
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With
reference to item 4 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning programme and progress in
respect of properties held on the Education and Children’s Services account.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted and that the PPP briefing note recently issued to schools and
school boards be issued to all Members, including co-opted Members.
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Proposed
Transfer of Iochdar and Paible Schoolhouses to the Housing General Fund
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7
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The
Director of Corporate Services, following consultation with the Chairman,
withdrew this item.
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Future Use of the Former Gibson Hostel
E02
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8
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With
reference to item 12 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director
of Education and the Head of Housing Services submitted a joint Report
concerning an expression of interest in acquiring the former Gibson Hostel on
the part of the Housing Department.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the expression of interest by the
Housing Department in acquiring the former Gibson Hostel be noted; and
(2)
a further Report on the site be
submitted to the Housing and Education and Children’s Services Committees
after details of possible housing provision and funding sources had been
established.
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Schools Estate Management Plan
E01
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9
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With
reference to item 11 of the Minute of Meeting of 25 November 2003 the
Director of Education submitted a Report concerning approval for submission
of the School Estate Management Plans to the Scottish Executive. Background
information and details of the plans were appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the submission of the School Estate information to
the Scottish Executive be approved.
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EDUCATIONAL PROVISION
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Review of Education Provision: Berneray Primary School
E01
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10
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The Director
of Education submitted a Report seeking approval to undertake statutory
consultations in respect of the possible closure of Berneray Primary School. Projected roles for Berneray School were appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the
Director of Education be authorised to undertake consultations in respect of
the possible closure of Berneray Primary School with effect from 30 June
2005, subject to final approval by Scottish Ministers; and
(2) a further Report be submitted to the
Committee detailing the outcome of the consultation.
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RELATED MATTERS
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11
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With
reference to item 12 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the implementation of
20mph speed limits and traffic management at all schools.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
Arising
out of consideration of this matter it was agreed to recommend that a Report
in relation to survey work carried out at Goathill Road, Stornoway, be
submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.
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E01
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12
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With
reference to item 18 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director
of Education submitted a Report concerning the free school milk pilot for
primary schools and the possible continuation of the scheme of provision on
the basis of a part subsidy by the Comhairle.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the
Director of Education be authorised to enter into discussions with the NHS
Board and other stakeholders on possible additional funding for the continued
provision of school milk and to reduce any contribution required from
parents;
(2) the pilot scheme be continued until the
end of March 2005 and that the sum of £17k held in balances against school
meals be allocated to Hungry for Success budgets to assist in meeting the
additional resource requirement; and
(3) it be noted that a further Report be
submitted to the next series of meetings indicating progress with discussions
with other stakeholders and confirming any revisions to operational
arrangements and the extent of the subsidy which the Education Department can
offer to schools in light of Revenue Estimates considerations.
Arising out
of consideration of this matter it was agreed to recommend that a Report be
submitted to a future meeting of the Committee detailing the outcomes from
the Hungry for Success Working Group in relation to food in Schools.
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Allocation
of Existing Balances in Relation to Access Funding, Childcare and Sure Start
E01.02.06
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13
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The Director of Education submitted a Report
concerning the allocation of funding held within balances in relation to
pre-school provision and access. The background to the matter was outlined
and details of resources committed and provided for 2004/2005 were appended
to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the
carry forward to the next financial year of the 2004/2005 reserved funding of
£84,000 held in balances for Child Care/Sure Start funding be approved;
(2) the additional funding of £329,000 for
2005/2006 being held in reserves to be released upon approval of the
Integrated Early Years Strategy be approved; and
(3) the release of the additional £57,000
accessibility funding allocated in 2004/05, as detailed in Appendix B of the
Report, by the Scottish Executive to the Department of Education in order to
develop access provision be approved.
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Site Use of Nicolson Lewis Sports
Centre
AL06.01.40
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14
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With reference
to item 7 of the Minute of Meeting of the Arts and Leisure Committee of 20
April 2004 the Director for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report to
consider the site restoration of the campus following the demolition of the
Nicolson Lewis Sports Centre.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
Arising out
of consideration it was agreed to recommend that a Report providing details
and specification of the proposed security fence around the perimeter of The
Nicolson Institute and outlining the proposed security measures at the School
be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.
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Integrated Community Schools
E01
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15
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With
reference to item 19 of the Minute of Meeting of 21 April 2004 the Director
of Education submitted a Report concerning the current work of staff, funding
and future developments in integrated community schools. The background to
the matter was outlined and details of current provision given.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the position in relation to Integrated Community Schools
be noted;
(2) a
Report be submitted to the April series of meetings outlining the proposed
strategy in relation to Integrated Community Schools;
(3) it
be noted that a Report regarding this matter would be submitted to the Human
Resources Sub-Committee on 4 February 2005.
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Coastal Erosion at Seilibost
DS60.01
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16
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With
reference to item 11 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director
of Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the extent of coastal
movement along the coastline at Seilibost School following recent storms.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
Arising out of consideration of
this item it was agreed to recommend that the DTI document which gave details
of predicted coastal erosion for the next 40 years from 1997 be circulated to
all Members.
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PERFORMANCE REVIEW
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Reports Outstanding: Progress
PR33.01.12
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17
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With
reference to item 23 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director
of Corporate Services submitted a Report concerning the Reports Outstanding
arising from decisions of the Education and Children’s Services Committee.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
Arising out of consideration of
this item it was agreed to recommend that the outstanding Report at item 4
regarding the Inclusion Programme at Sgoil nan Loch be submitted to the next
meeting of the Committee.
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ADDITIONAL ITEMS
The Chairman
ruled that in accordance with the provision of Section 50(B) 4 of the Local
Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended the following two items be
considered as a matter of urgency in order to allow the Committee to take a
view on these matters.
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Scoring Proforma for Pitch
Development Proposals
AL06.01.02
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18
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The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning a scoring proforma
to assist in the process of assessing proposals to improve the provision of
pitches. A draft scoring proforma was appended to the Report.
It was agreed
to recommend the utilisation of the scoring pro-forma, as detailed in
Appendix 1 to the Report by the Director for Sustainable Communities, to
assist in the assessment of proposals for pitch developments, be approved.
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Coastal Erosion at Lionacleit
DS60.01
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19
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With reference
to item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 8 December 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report concerning the extent of coastal
erosion along the coastline south and east of Lionacleit School.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
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