Approved Minutes of Meeting
West Dunbartonshire Council · 24 June 2026
Back to Educational Services Committee — 24 June 2026 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, 24 June 2026 at 10.00 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan, and Councillors Gurpreet Singh Johal, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, John Millar*, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Martin Rooney, William Rooney, Gordon Scanlan, Hazel Sorrell and Sophie Traynor, and Mr Gavin Corrigan*, Miss Ellen McBride, Ms Joanne McLaren* and Ms Julia Strang. *Arrived later in the meeting. Attending: Gillian Hamilton, Chief Education Officer; Alan Douglas, Chief Officer – Regulatory and Regeneration (Legal Officer); Laurence Slavin, Chief Officer – Resources; Alison Bowers, Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment; 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); and Scott Kelly, Committee Officer. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor Chris Pollock, Mrs Barbara Barnes and Reverend Ian Miller. Councillor Michelle McGinty in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor McGinty, 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. Note: Mr Corrigan entered the meeting at this point. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of Meeting of the Educational Services Committee held on 18 March 2026 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 17 March 2026 were submitted and all decisions contained therein were approved. Note: Ms McLaren entered the meeting at this point. 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. Note: Councillor Millar entered 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 detailing a proposal to increase the hourly rate paid by West Dunbartonshire Council to contracted private providers for funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:-
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(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 2026-27’, published in March 2026, which recommended a minimal increase of 5.2%. (2) to an increase of 5.2% in the hourly rate paid to Early Learning and Childcare private providers, including childminders, for the provision of funded ELC, it being noted that 5.2% was in line with the minimal increase outlined in the guidance; and Age Current Rate 5.2% Increase 2-3 £6.74 £7.09 3-5 £6.59 £6.93 (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. Note: Councillor Traynor returned to the meeting at this point. LEARNING ESTATE DEVELOPMENT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the status of the Learning Estate Strategy and seeking approval to commit staff resources to explore options for future provision. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the present position of our Learning Estate; and (2) to commit officer resource to form a working group to explore options for provision of the future Learning Estate. PROCUREMENT OF ONLINE PAYMENTS SYSTEM A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer seeking approval to tender for the re-procurement of an online payments system for all establishments, enabling parents and carers to make online payments to their children’s schools, and requesting that authority be delegated to the Chief Education Officer to make a direct award.
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After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the plan for the re-procurement of the online payments system for all establishments; (2) to note that the cost of the system will be met from the existing budget for the current online payments systems being used in schools; and (3) that authority be delegated to the Chief Education Officer to conclude, with the assistance of the Corporate Procurement Unit, a direct award using the G-Cloud Crown Commercial Services framework. SCHOOL TRANSPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing details of the timetable for the processing of tenders for mainstream home-to-school contracts and for the transportation of pupils with Additional Support Needs (ASN) from school session 2026/27 to session 2028/29. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources in further explanation and in answer to a Member’s question, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note: (i) that in order to meet statutory requirements and Council policy, it had been necessary to secure contracts for school transport for session 2026/2027; (ii) that the process had required to follow a tight timetable and that, because of the change in date for this meeting of the Committee, officers had required to proceed with securing contracts outwith the standard procedures but in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders; (2) to note that the Chief Education Officer, in consultation with the Corporate Procurement Unit, the Committee Chair, the Section 95 Officer and Chief Executive, authorised the necessary arrangements to commence and award tenders for the transport of children with Additional Support Needs for session 2026/2027 and beyond for contracts of up to three years’ duration with the option to extend for a further 12 months; and (3) to note that the Chief Education Officer, in consultation with the Corporate Procurement Unit, the Committee Chair, the Section 95 Officer and Chief Executive, authorised the award of mainstream contracts for session 2026/2027 and beyond for contracts up to three years’ duration.
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STRATEGY FOR EXCELLENCE AND EQUITY A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the service improvement programme aimed at delivering improved outcomes in excellence and equity supported by Strategic Equity Funding. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/ Improving Learning and the Chief Education Officer in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the range of improvement and development work delivered in the service to support delivery of quality education; and (2) to note the range of interventions implemented across primary and secondary schools to improve equity outcomes. 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 Attainment and the Chief Education Officer in further explanation 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 support to children, young people and families. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Services for Children and Young People in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress on plans to continue developing and improving support to children and families. SENIOR PHASE UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer providing an update on the work exploring timetable options and Reduced Class Contact Time (RCCT), and highlighting the breadth of courses on offer to our young people in our schools and with our partner providers. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Policy, Performance and Resources and the Chief Education Officer in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:-
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(1) to note the progress made with timetabling options, and Reduced Class Contact Time (RCCT); and (2) to note the breadth of offer for our young people in the courses and awards on offer in our schools and with our partner providers. EDUCATION DELIVERY PLAN 2026/27 A report was submitted by the Chief Education Officer setting out the Delivery Plan for 2026/27. After discussion and having heard the Senior Education Officer – Raising Attainment/ Improving Learning in further explanation, the Committee agreed to note the new plan. VALEDICTORY JOE REILLY, BUSINESS UNIT FINANCE PARTNER (EDUCATION) Councillor McGinty, Chair, informed the Committee that this would be the final meeting of the Educational Services Committee that Joe Reilly, Business Unit Finance Partner (Education), would attend as he would soon be retiring from Council service. The Chief Education Officer and Councillor McGinty, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Mr Reilly for his service to the Committee and wished him well in retirement. In response, Mr Reilly thanked them for their kind words. VALEDICTORY ELLEN MCBRIDE, RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVE Councillor McGinty, Chair, then informed the Committee that this would be the final meeting of the Educational Services Committee that Ellen McBride, Religious Representative for the Roman Catholic Church, would attend as she would be stepping down from this role. Councillor McGinty paid tribute to Miss McBride’s long involvement in education in West Dunbartonshire in teaching, as an academic, in quality management, and as a representative for the Archdiocese of Glasgow in local and national forums, including 26 years as a member of this Committee. Members concurred with Councillor McGinty’s remarks and Miss McBride thanked them for their kind words. CHAIR’S REMARKS Councillor McGinty, Chair, closed the meeting by paying tribute to St Ronan’s Primary School on its 50th anniversary. The meeting closed at 11.21.a.m.