Minutes of meeting
Renfrewshire Council · 7 November 2022
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 7 November 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Minute of Special Meeting Education and Children's Services Policy Board Date Time Venue Monday, 07 November 2022 11:00 Microsoft Teams Meeting, Present: Councillor Jennifer Adam, Councillor Fiona Airlie-Nicolson, Provost Lorraine Cameron, Councillor Carolann Davidson, Councillor Audrey Doig, Councillor Edward Grady, Councillor Gillian Graham, Councillor John Gray, Councillor Anne Hannigan, Councillor Lisa- Marie Hughes, Councillor Robert Innes, Councillor David McGonigle, Councillor Iain McMillan, Councillor Will Mylet, Mr Jack Nellaney, Councillor Jim Paterson, Councillor Emma Rodden, Mr Ravinder Singh, Councillor Ben Smith Chair Councillor Rodden, Convener, presided. In Attendance A Russell, Chief Executive; S Quinn, Director of Children's Services, J Calder, Head of Service (Curriculum & Quality), T McGillivray, Head of Education and K McDonagh, Education Manager (all Children's Services); L Mahon, Head of Marketing & Communications, A Morrison, Head of Economy & Development Services, L Adamson, Communications & Public Affairs Manager, D Christie and J Connolly, both Senior Communications Officers, L Butler, Service Planning & Policy Development Manager, J Gardyne, Senior Planning & Policy Development Officer and L Johnston, Assistant Planner, (all Chief Executive's); and M Conaghan, Head of Corporate Governance, J Lynch, Head of Property Services, D Low, Democratic Services Manager, E Gray, Senior Committee Services Officer, J Barron, Assistant Committee Services Officer and D Pole, End User Technician (all Finance & Resources). Webcasting of Meeting Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Convener intimated that this meeting of the Board would be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site.
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Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting. 1 Dargavel Primary School Capacity There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the capacity of Dargavel Primary School. Prior to consideration of the report, the Convener requested that a statement submitted by Dargavel Primary School Parent Council outlining their concerns and expectations be circulated to all Board members. The report advised that the school opened in January 2022 and that over the course of the 2022/23 school session the rate of admissions had been higher than anticipated. Accordingly, a forecast roll projection based on the existing school roll, known pre- school population within the school catchment area and potential future pace of house completions across the Dargavel development was carried out and the results of the preliminary stage provided clear conclusions that the existing school capacity would be materially insufficient to meet the future demand profile of the catchment area. The projected figures showed a school roll of circa 600-620 in August 2023 and circa 685 – 705 in August 2024. The capacity of Dargavel Primary School was currently 609 pupils. The report proposed that an interim solution be sought for the 2023/24 session, namely the installation of six modular classrooms at Dargavel Primary School with a capacity of 198 pupils, with options for a permanent solution to be submitted to a meeting of this Policy Board in early 2023. It was also noted that the Chief Executive had instructed a review into the matter which would begin in January 2023, with a report on the findings to be submitted to a meeting of this Policy Board following its conclusion. Councillor Rodden, seconded by Councillor Hughes, moved that: (a) That the interim solution of six new modular classrooms being procured and in place for August 2023 be approved; (b) That it be noted that a further report outlining options for a permanent solution would be submitted to a meeting of this Policy Board in early 2023; and (c) That it be that a full external review would be carried out to determine the underlying reasons for the errors made in initial calculations determining the school capacity of Dargavel Primary School and that the findings from this review will be brought back to an appropriate future board. Councillor G Graham, seconded by Councillor McMillan, moved as an amendment that recommendation (c) be replaced with: (c) That it be agreed that the proposed internal review was demonstrably inadequate and an external inquiry by an independent body such as Audit Scotland, was essential to determine what happened, how it happened and to ensure that it could not occur again.
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In terms of Standing Order 27, Councillors Rodden and Hughes, being the mover and seconder of the motion agreed to accept the amendment and the motion, as amended, was agreed unanimously. DECIDED: (a) That the interim solution of six new modular classrooms being procured and in place for August 2023 be approved; (b) That it be noted that a further report outlining options for a permanent solution would be submitted to a meeting of this Policy Board in early 2023; and (c) That it be agreed that the proposed internal review was demonstrably inadequate and an external inquiry by an independent body such as Audit Scotland, was essential to determine what happened, how it happened and to ensure that it could not occur again.