Dear Member,

A meeting of the EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORT COMMITTEE will take place in the  COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL HEADQUARTERS, GLENURQUHART ROAD, INVERNESS on THURSDAY, 10 NOVEMBER, 2005 at 10.30 A.M .

BUSINESS

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

REVENUE BUDGET 2005/06 - MONITORING 

There is circulated Report No ECS65/05 dated 18 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport on Revenue Expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period from 1 April to 30 September 2005 and the projected year end position. 

In considering the contents of the report, Members are asked:- 

(i)              to approve the actions to manage the projected over-spend;

(ii)      to note the current position in relation to devolved school budget projections and

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE 2005/2006 - MONITORING 

There is circulated Report No ECS66/05 dated 1 November 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport setting out expenditure on the Education, Culture and Sport Service for the period 1 April to 30 September 2005 as per the revised Capital Plan of 11 August 2005.

SUMMARY OF SCHOOL BUILDING IMPROVEMENT FUND
There is circulated Report No ECS67/05 dated 1 November 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport summarising the present position in relation to projects being carried out and funded by the Area Devolved School Building Improvement Fund (SBIF).  A CD-ROM disk has also been provided to Area Managers and Education, Culture and Sport Portfolio Holders which details the condition of schools as per the Schools Estate Strategy at the time of the Schools Estate Surveys of 2003. 

Members are invited:- 

(i)        to note the present position with regard to the projects undertaken through the devolved School Building Improvement Fund; and

POLICY

SCOTTISH SCHOOLS (PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT) BILL

There is circulated Report No ECS68/05 dated 26 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport advising Members on the main policy objectives and specific proposals in the new Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Bill and seeks agreement on further Area consultation on the Bill.  The report also seeks comment on the appended draft response to the Scottish Parliament with regard to its recent call for evidence on the Bill. 

The Committee is asked:- 

(i)        to note the content of the report; and

A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE 

It will be recalled that the launch of “Ambitious Excellent Schools” in November 2004 contained a commitment by the Scottish Executive to establish a review of the curriculum 3 to 18 to work towards A Curriculum for Excellence.  In this connection, there is circulated Report No ECS69/05 dated 25 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport outlining the authority’s implementation strategy for a Curriculum for Excellence within the context of Ambitious, Excellent Schools.  

The Committee is asked to note and comment on the proposed way forward in reviewing and delivering A Curriculum for Excellence.

DETERMINED TO SUCCEED – ENTERPRISE IN EDUCATION 

There is circulated Report No ECS70/05 dated 27 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport detailing the significant progress in the first two years of this initiative and seeking advice on the future direction of this development. 

Members are invited:- 

(i)         to note the significant developments to date across the Authority; and

BEST VALUE - REVIEW OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE

Following the Best Value Review of Support for Learning in 2003 a Best Value Review of Educational Psychology Services was established.  In this connection, there is circulated Report No ECS71/05 dated 25 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport detailing the recommendations from the review. 

SAFE AND WELL – NEW NATIONAL CHILD PROTECTION GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 

There is circulated Report No ECS72/05 dated 31 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members of the benchmark requirements for schools and local authorities as a result of new national child protection guidance from the Scottish Executive entitled “Safe and Well” and which outlines how the Service proposes to respond to guidance in Highland. 

REVIEW OF BLAS FESTIVAL 

There is circulated Report No ECS73/05 dated 27 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport providing Members with a performance overview of Blas, the Festival celebrating Highland Music, which took place in September 2005. 
Members are invited to consider and comment on the inaugural Blas festival. 

REVIEW OF SCHOOL CLOSURE PROCEDURES 

Members will recall that they requested a review of the current procedures relating to school closures.  However, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has recently announced its intention to co-ordinate a national review of this matter.  In addition, the Education Minister has also recently indicated a desire to review existing guidance to authorities on school closures.  Against this background Members are asked for their views as to whether the Committee should proceed with a review at this time or defer until the results of the National work on this issue are known.

FUTURE OF EDUCATIONAL PROVISION IN BRAE, LOCHABER 

There is circulated Report No ECS7405 dated 1 November 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which sets out the background to an options appraisals exercise, carried out following informal community consultation, and recommends that a statutory consultation be carried out on the future of educational provision in Brae, Lochaber. 

Members are asked to agree that:- 

(i)        there be a statutory public consultation on the future of educational provision in Brae Lochaber; and

PROPOSED REVIEW OF PROVISION AT MILLBANK PRIMARY SCHOOL – GAELIC MEDIUM EDUCATION  

Arising from requests from parents, the Director of Education, Culture and Sport recommends that, in terms of the Council’s agreed procedures, a consultation process should commence on providing Gaelic Medium Education at Millbank Primary School, Nairn. 

Members are asked to agree:- 

(i)          that a consultation should be undertaken on the provision of Gaelic Medium Education at Millbank Primary School; and

OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION ON THE REVIEW OF DELINEATED AREAS OF FARR/STRATHERRICK PRIMARY SCHOOLS

There is circulated Report No ECS75/05 dated 1 November 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport informing Members on the outcome of the statutory consultation undertaken in connection with a proposal to alter the delineated areas of Farr Primary School and Stratherrick Primary School.    

MINUTES OF MEETING 

There are circulated the following Minutes of Meetings:- 

(i)         Education Public Private Partnership Sub-Committee held on 6 September, 2005 (for noting);  

(ii)        Annual General (pp.77-79) and Ordinary Meeting of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff held on 4 October, 2005 (for approval); 

(iii)        Education Public Private Partnership Sub-Committee held on 18 October, 2005 (for noting); and  

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC 

18.

INVERNESS AQUADOME – MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 

There is circulated Report No ECS76/05 dated 28 October 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport which reviews the performance of Caledonia Community Leisure Limited in its operation of Inverness Sports Centre and Aquadome and asks Members to consider options for the future operation of the facility. 

The Committee is invited to agree that:- 

(i)        Caledonia Community Leisure Limited be asked to enter into a further three year agreement with the Council for the operation of the facilities at Inverness Sports Centre and Aquadome from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009;

(ii)        the funding agreement be set at a fixed level (no inflationary increase) of £900,000 per annum;

(iii)       a service level agreement is negotiated between the Highland Council and Caledonia Community Leisure Limited to ensure that service delivery meets the Council’s objectives; and

19.

EIGG PRIMARY SCHOOL - REFURBISHMENT AND EXTENSION OF SCHOOLHOUSE 

There is circulated Report No ECS77/05 dated 1 November 2005 by the Director of Education, Culture and Sport regarding the tenders which were invited for the refurbishment and extension of the existing schoolhouse at Eigg Primary School to provide nursery and office accommodation on the ground floor and a three bedroom flat on the first floor.  The flat would be transferred to Lochaber Housing Association on completion but would be occupied by the Head Teacher. 

Members are requested to note the content of the report and to agree to authorise officials, in consultation with the Directors of Education, Culture and Sport, Property and Architectural Services and Finance, the Chairman of the Education, Culture and Sport and the Local Member for Eigg to award the contract once satisfied that:- 

(i)          a Contract Bond is in place;

(ii)         Lochaber Housing Association contribution is confirmed; and