Approved Minutes of Meeting
West Dunbartonshire Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Educational Services Committee — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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EDUCATIONAL SERVICES COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 10.05 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors Fiona Hennebry, Gurpreet Singh Johal, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, John Millar, Lauren Oxley, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Clare Steel and Sophie Traynor, and Mr Gavin Corrigan, Miss Ellen McBride, Reverend Ian Miller, Ms Joanne McLaren and Ms Julia Strang. Attending: Peter Hessett, Chief Executive; Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer; Lawrence Slavin, Chief Officer – Resources; Alison Bowers, Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Childcare; Andrew Brown, Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources; Claire Cusick, Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People; Julie McGrogan, Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/ Improving Learning; Michelle Lynn, Asset Manager; Joe Reilly, Business Unit Finance Partner (Education); Alan Douglas, Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration (Legal Officer); and Scott Kelly, Committee Officer. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Lawrence O’Neill and Hazel Sorrell, and Mrs Barbara Barnes. Councillor Clare Steel in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor Steel, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATION OF INTEREST Councillor Traynor declared an interest in the item ‘Increase Sustainable Rate Paid to Funded Early Learning and Childcare Providers’, having a relative who was employed in this capacity.
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RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be carried out by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held on 19 March 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record. LOCAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR TEACHERS The Minutes of Meeting of the Local Negotiating Committee for Teachers held on 18 March 2025 were submitted and all decisions contained therein were approved. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. DECLARATION OF INTEREST Having earlier declared an interest in the following item of business, Councillor Traynor left the meeting at this point. INCREASE SUSTAINABLE RATE PAID TO FUNDED EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer outlining a proposal to increase the hourly rate paid by West Dunbartonshire Council to contracted private providers for funded Early Learning and Childcare. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Childcare in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the guidance for setting sustainable rates contained in the ‘Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard for Early Learning and Childcare Providers – Guidance for setting sustainable rates for the delivery of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) in 2025-26’, published in February 2025, which recommended a minimal increase of 3.75%;
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(2) to note: (i) the percentage uplift options outlined as an increase in the hourly rate paid to Early Learning and Childcare private providers, including childminders, for the provision of funded ELC; and (ii) that 3.75% was the minimum Age Current Rate; Age Current Rate 3.75% 4.00% 4.50% 5.00% 2-3 £6.42 £6.66 £6.68 £6.71 £6.74 3-5 £6.28 £6.52 £6.53 £6.56 £6.59 (3) to note the external factors influencing the sustainability of the hourly rates paid to contracted providers of funded ELC in West Dunbartonshire, including rising costs and to enable payment of the real Living Wage to those childcare workers delivering the funded entitlement; and (4) that the increase for 2025/26 should be 5%. Note: Councillor Traynor returned to the meeting at this point. PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES FOR SCHOOL TRANSPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer:- (1) providing an update on plans to transport pupils with Additional Support Needs to and from school from the beginning of school session 2025/26; and (2) seeking approval to proceed with the procurement of six vehicles as part of the fleet to transport children to and from school. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the progress made securing arrangements for home to school transport for children with Additional Support Needs (ASN); (2) to authorise the Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration to conclude, on behalf of the Council, a direct award via ‘The Procurement Partnership Limited’ (TPPL) framework ‘Bath and North East Somerset Council & TPPL’, to Ford Motor Company Limited, Lot 1 Vehicle Chassis with Ford nominating ‘Trust Ford’ as the supplying dealership; and (3) to note that the award shall be for the supply & delivery of six minibuses (17 seat), including a five year warranty at a value of £307,336.26, inclusive of VAT, delivered to Richmond Street Depot, Fleet and Waste Services, Richmond Street, Clydebank, G81 1RF in time for the commencement of the new school session in August 2025.
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EDUCATION DELIVERY PLAN 2025/26 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer setting out the Education Delivery Plan for 2026/26. Following discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources, the Chief Education Officer and relevant officers in explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the new Plan. NATIONAL THEMATIC INSPECTION REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer presenting the West Dunbartonshire National Thematic Summarised Inspection Findings (March 2025), conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIE), along with the National Thematic Inspection Report (March 2025). After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/ Improving Learning, the Chief Education Officer and relevant officers in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the very positive findings relating to West Dunbartonshire in the inspection reports; and (2) to note the stakeholder feedback, concerns and report conclusions in the national report. EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of progress made to provide high quality Early Learning and Childcare in West Dunbartonshire Council. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Childcare in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress to deliver high quality Early Learning and Childcare. SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES UPDATE REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer informing of progress on supports to children, young people and families.
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After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People and the Asset Manager, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress on plans to continue developing and improving supports. VALEDICTORY LAURA MASON – CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER Councillor Steel, Chair, informed the Committee that this would be the last meeting of the Educational Services Committee that Laura Mason, Chief Education Officer, would attend as she would soon be retiring from Council service. On behalf of the Committee, Councillor Steel thanked Ms Mason for her dedication and lasting impact on education, and wished her the very best in retirement. Members concurred with Councillor Steel’s remarks and also wished Ms Mason a happy retirement. In response, Ms Mason thanked the Committee for its kind words. The meeting closed at 11.30 a.m.