|
Prayer:
Rev David Campbell
|
|
The meeting was opened with prayer led by
Rev David Campbell.
|
|
|
|
MINUTES
|
|
Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 2004
|
1
|
The Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 2004 was approved.
|
|
Declaration
of Interest
|
2
|
Mr Archie Campbell declared an interest in
item 9 and left the meeting during consideration of the item.
|
|
|
|
FINANCE
|
|
Pitch
Audit – Capital Programme
AL06.01.62
|
3
|
The Director
for Sustainable Communities submitted a Report seeking approval of a
prioritised list of projects to be developed. It was indicated in the Report
that an audit of existing pitch facilities had been undertaken by the Sport
and Health Section, in conjunction with the Department of Technical
Services. A summary of the responses to the audit were outlined in the
Report. A list of projects which it was recommended be considered for
further development was appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the prioritised list of projects to be developed, as
detailed in the Appendix to the Report, with the inclusion of the Tong
Community Pitch and the Carloway Football Club Pitch, be approved.
Arising out
of consideration of this item it was noted that the Director for Sustainable
Communities would add the pitches at Tolsta and Sandwick to those listed on
page 15 of the Report, section 6.4 under the title of Community Owned Grass
Pitches.
|
|
|
|
BUILDINGS
|
|
Capital
Works: Programme and Progress
PR33.01.12
|
4
|
With reference to item 7 of the Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 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.
|
|
|
|
It was agreed
that the public, including the press, be excluded from the meeting during
consideration of the following item on the grounds that exempt information as
defined in Paragraphs 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973 would be disclosed, namely information relating to the
amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Comhairle under any
particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods or
services and any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Comhairle in
the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of
property or the supply of goods or services.
|
|
Public Private
Partnership Progress Report
E01.04.38
|
5
|
With reference to item 9 of the Minute of
Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of Education submitted a Report
detailing progress to date with the PPP bid.
It was agreed to recommend that the
Report be noted.
|
|
Balallan Primary School – Development of Canteen Building
E02
|
6
|
With reference
to item 13 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of
Education submitted a Report seeking approval to investigate a design and
build solution to the requirement for new facilities at Balallan Primary School. It was indicated in the Report that representatives from the Education
Department had met with the Head Teacher to review the site and determine how
to progress the development as a matter of urgency.
It was agreed to recommend that it be
delegated to the Director of Education and the Director of Technical Services
to investigate a design and build solution to the requirement for new
facilities at Balallan Primary School, Isle of Lewis.
|
|
|
|
EDUCATIONAL
PROVISION
|
|
Review of
the Common Boundary of the Catchment Areas for Stornoway and Laxdale Primary Schools
E01
|
7
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
which set out the reasons for the need to identify the delineation of the
catchment areas of Stornoway Primary and Laxdale Primary Schools. The
Consultation Document which had been issued to parents, school boards and
other interested parties was appended to the Report. Notes of Meetings held
in Stornoway Primary and Laxdale Schools and written submissions received
were also appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that the
catchment areas of Stornoway Primary and Laxdale Primary Schools remain
unchanged.
|
|
|
|
EDUCATIONAL
POLICY
|
|
Home to
School Transport – Policy Development
E05.01
|
8
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
regarding the establishment of a short life Member/Officer Working Group with
a view to developing further the Comhairle’s policy on home to school
transport. It was indicated in the Report that the Comhairle’s current
policy was that no pupil, apart from those children within a mile of school
for whom transport is recommended on medical or special needs grounds, should
walk more than one mile in the course of their journey to school.
It was agreed to recommend that a short
life Member Officer Working Group be established to further develop the
Comhairle’s policy on home to school transport provision with a view to
submitting a draft revised policy to the Education and Children’s Services
Committee by mid 2005 and that the Vice-Chairman, Mr Donald I Nicholson and
Mr Ian M Macleod be appointed to the Group.
|
|
|
|
Mr Archie
Campbell declared an interest in the following item and left the meeting
during consideration of the matter.
|
|
Policy on
Early Retirement: Teaching Staff
E06
|
9
|
With reference
to item 19 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of
Corporate Services and the Director of Education submitted a Report detailing
the terms of the policy on early retirement in relation to the appeals process
for teaching staff and to clarify the policy in relation to the retirement of
teaching staff who were over the age of 60. The background to the matter and
details of the appeals process were outlined in the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
|
|
|
|
RELATED
MATTERS
|
|
Coastal
Erosion at Lionacleit
DS60.01
|
10
|
With reference
to item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 21 April 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report which provided an update on the extent
of coastal erosion along the coast line south and east of Lionacleit School. A drawing showing comparisons between the current survey, those from Spring
2000 and Spring 1997, and the 1965 Ordnance Survey were appended to the
Report as an indication of the progress of the erosion taking place.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
|
|
Coastal
Erosion at Seilibost
DS60.01
|
11
|
With reference
to item 10 of the Minute of Meeting of 21 April 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report which provided an update on the extent
of coastal erosion along the coast line at Seilibost School.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
|
|
Road
Safety: 20mph Speed Limits at Schools/Schools Traffic Management
T08.05.06
|
12
|
With reference
to item 20 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of
Technical Services submitted a Report providing information regarding the
implementation of 20mph speed limits at all schools in the Western Isles.
Details of the existing speed limits outside each school were provided in the
Appendix to the Report and details of the available finance were provided in
the Report. The cost of 20mph speed signs at all Schools was also shown,
together with the spend to date under these budget headings.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(a) a priority list be approved as detailed
in the Appendix to the Report;
(b) the implementation of these schemes be
subject to funding being made available by the Scottish Executive; and
(c) a Report detailing
progress and expenditure in relation to these schemes and the possibility for
expenditure of the Schools Traffic Management Budget become a standing item
on the Committee agenda until the schemes have been implemented.
|
|
Active
Schools AL06.01.58
|
13
|
With reference
to item 21 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director for
Sustainable Communities submitted a Report concerning the establishment of
posts required to implement the Active Schools network. Details of the
establishment of post procedures, external funding, the proposed funding
package and an exit strategy were outlined in the Report. Job Descriptions
and Person Specifications for each of the proposed jobs were appended to the
Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the Comhairle approve the realignment
of the Education Department’s School Sport Co-ordinator budget of £12,157 per
annum to the Active Schools Network and
(2) the recruitment of posts be
considered by the Human Resources Sub Committee in order to implement the
Active Schools Network in the Western Isles.
|
|
Scheme of
School Attendance
C01.09
|
14
|
The Director
of Education submitted a Report concerning the Comhairle’s policy in relation
to the timing of the annual school Spring holiday and the allocation of
flexible holidays. The current situation in respect of school holidays and
details regarding the possible future standardisation of school holidays was
outlined in the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the timing of the Spring Holiday be noted; and
(2) the Director of
Education be authorised to write to CoSLA to propose that individual local
authorities retain control of the setting of the school calendar within their
own areas.
|
|
Quality
Management in Education: Review of Service Planning
E01
|
15
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
which provided information on the Quality Management in Education Review of
Service Planning. The procedure used in the review was detailed in the
Report and it was indicated that this involved auditing, seeking stakeholder
views, self-evaluation and identification of development needs.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) progress to date be noted; and
(2) the Director of Education be authorised
to draw up an action plan to ensure that the proposed improvements were
implemented in the production of the Business Plans for 2005/07.
|
|
Quality
Management in Education: Review of the Deployment and Effectiveness of
Centrally Employed Staff
E01
|
16
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
which provided information on a Quality Management in Education Review of the
Deployment and Effectiveness of Centrally Employed Staff. The procedure used
in the review was detailed in the Report. Responses from stakeholders,
details of self-evaluation based on audit and development needs were appended
to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) progress to date be noted; and
(2) the Director of Education be authorised to draw up an
action plan based on the development needs identified.
|
|
Quality
Management in Education: Resource Management – Review of S1/S2 Provision in
P1 – S2 Schools
E01
|
17
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
on the outcome of a Best Value Review of S1/S2 provision in P1/S2 schools in
accordance with a directive by HM Inspectorate of Education. It was
indicated in the Report that it had been previously agreed by the Committee
that an external adviser be commissioned to carry out this work. A copy of
the External Adviser’s Report was appended to the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1)
serious consideration be given to the
future Secondary S1/S2 educational provision in the Western Isles;
(2)
HMIE be invited to address a future
meeting of the Committee;
(3)
the link between S1/S2 educational
provision and “Ambitious, Excellent Schools” be noted and that update reports
on either matter be cross referenced to the other; and
(4)
Seminar for Members be held during
Committee week in February 2005.
|
|
Hungry
for Success – Progress with Implementation
E09
|
18
|
With reference to item 17 of the Minute of
Meeting of 16 June 2004 the Director of Education submitted a Report
concerning progress with the implementation of the Scottish Executive’s
Hungry for Success Initiative. Details of the pilot project on the provision
of free school milk for all primary school pupils who wished it were provided
in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) progress to date with the
implementation of the Hungry for Success initiative be noted; and
(2) a major publicity campaign starting in
January 2005 be approved.
|
|
Education
Maintenance Allowances – Progress
E01.05.04
|
19
|
With reference to item 18 of the Minute of
Meeting of 1 September 2004 the Director of Education submitted a Report on
the implementation of the Education Maintenance Allowance programme in the
Western Isles. Details of the proposed appointment of additional
administrative and IT staff to deal with Education Maintenance Allowances
were given in the Report.
It was agreed to recommend that:
(1) the number of EMA students be noted;
(2) the change to EMA guidance relating to S4
eligibility be noted; and
(3) the use of EMA funds for the part-time ICT Assistant and
the differential salary funding for the Senior MIS Officer be approved.
|
|
Childcare/Sure
Start Release of Additional Funding
E01
|
20
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
concerning the drawing down from balances a proportion of the additional
funding allocated by the Scottish Executive for Childcare and Sure Start
initiatives. The background to the matter was outlined in the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the release of £70,000 of the additional funding
allocated by the Scottish Executive for Childcare/Surestart for the financial
year 2004/2005 to enable the Education Department to take forward the
Childcare Strategy without reducing current service levels be approved.
|
|
A
Teaching Profession for the 21st Century: Progress
E06
|
21
|
The Director
of Education submitted a Report which provided information in relation to
progress with the implementation of the teachers’ agreement “A Teaching
Profession for the 21st Century”. A list of Local Negotiating
Committee Agreements were appended to the Report.
It was
agreed to recommend that the progress with the implementation of “A Teaching
Profession for the 21st Century be noted.
|
|
Ambitious,
Excellent Schools
E07
|
22
|
The Director of Education submitted a Report
concerning the implementation of the Ambitious, Excellent Schools document.
The Report contained information on the twelve key areas for action specified
in the document, together with a brief comment in relation to implementation.
It was
agreed to recommend that:
(1) the key areas for action in the
Scottish Executive reform package, “Ambitious, Excellent Schools”, be noted; and
(2) it be noted that subsequent reports on
educational developments in the future would be set in the context of this
agenda for action.
|
|
|
|
PERFORMANCE
REVIEW
|
|
Reports
Outstanding: Progress
PR33.01.12
|
23
|
With reference
to item 22 of the Minute of Meeting of 3 November 2004 the Director of Corporate
Services submitted a Report concerning Reports Outstanding arising from
decisions of the Education and Children’s Services Committee.
It was
agreed to recommend that the Report be noted.
|
|
|
|
ADDITIONAL
ITEM
|
|
Lease of
Land at Sgoil nan Loch, Leurbost, Isle of Lewis for Woodland Development
E02.94.01
|
24
|
The Director of Corporate Services submitted
a Report requesting that the Committee consider leasing an area of ground
adjacent to Sgoil nan Loch to enable the School to develop woodland areas as
part of the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme.
It was
agreed to recommend that the area of land as shown outlined in black on the
plan appended to the Report be leased from Leurbost Common Grazing Committee
at a nominal rent and subject to such other terms and conditions as the
Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of
Education, shall determine.
|