WESTERN EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD

Transcription

1 WESTERN EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD A meeting of the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) took place on Thursday 13 February 2014 in the Board Room, WELB Headquarters at 2.00 pm. PRESENT: IN ATTENDANCE: Rev R Herron (Chairman) Mr P Duffy (Vice Chairman) Mrs K Bradley Cllr A Brolly Cllr G Campbell Mrs M Cooper Mrs R Fox Mr D McDermott Cllr M McHugh Mr G White Mr B Mulholland (Chief Executive) Mr P Hughes (Chief Finance Officer) Mr P Mackey (Head of Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Youth) Mrs A Smyth (Head of CASS) Mrs R Watterson (Chief Administrative Officer) Mr P Garrity (C2k Finance Manager) Mrs A Devine (Corporate Services) Mrs M McCrory (Recorder) B/14/02/1 APOLOGIES Apologies for non-attendance were received from Mr F Murphy and Cllr R Irvine. B/14/02/2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST None. B/14/02/3 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 9 JANUARY 2014 The minutes were agreed on the proposal of Mrs Cooper, seconded by Mrs Bradley. B/14/02/4 MATTERS ARISING B/14/01/4 Matters Arising The Chief Executive informed Members that a meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee was held on Tuesday 21 January It was agreed that the SELB and WELB Chief Executives would meet again to discuss potential options. The Chairman informed Members that the ANIELB Executive Council met with the Minister for Education on Thursday 30 January Representatives included Chairmen from the WELB and SELB, Board Members from the NEELB and BELB and the WELB Chief Executive. The Minister for Education was accompanied by his Advisor, the Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent 1

2 Secretary. The topics discussed at the meeting included; the Education Bill timeline, Reconstitution of Education and Library Boards, Workforce challenges facing Education and Library Boards arising from prolonged application of Vacancy Control and the Configuration of Education and Library Boards post April It was agreed that the President of the ANIELB would forward a paper (prepared by WELB Chief Executive) to the Minister for Education and the Permanent Secretary outlining the difficulties faced by the Vacancy Control policy. B/14/01/12 Admissions Criteria The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) spoke to a tabled paper which is a synopsis from the Primary School (Admissions Criteria) Regulations (Northern Ireland) Mrs Fox raised concern regarding the admissions criteria used in some Post Primary Schools whereby they are giving preference to pupils who attended certain Primary Schools. Following a short discussion on the different criteria used by schools, it was agreed that the CAO would forward Members concerns to the Open Enrolment Section in the Department of Education (DE). B/14/02/5 CHAIRMAN S BUSINESS (ii) (iii) (iv) The Chairman welcomed observers from Enniskillen Collegiate Grammar School to the meeting. The Chairman expressed sympathy on the recent death of Leah White, a Year 12 pupil at Limavady HS. In response to correspondence received from Fiona Hepper, Deputy Secretary, the Chairman has nominated the Chief Executive on to the Membership of the Lisanelly Programme Board. Members present, were in full agreement. The Chairman gave a brief overview of the business of the Governance and Accountability Review (GAR) Meeting which was held on Tuesday 28 January 2014 and also attended by the Chief Executive, Mr Mackey and Mr Hughes. The Chairman thanked the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team (SMT) for the concise pre-briefing for the GAR meeting. The Chief Executive highlighted some of the issues discussed at the GAR, including the reform of local government in April 2015 whereby the current structure of 26 District Councils will reduce to 11 new Councils. The Chief Executive informed Members that this was also discussed at the ANIELB Executive Council meeting with the Minister for Education and confirmed that DE are considering the implications. Mr McDermott queried who is responsible for deficit budgets in school. In response, the Chief Executive stated that the DE see it as the Education and Library Board (ELB)/School responsibility. Mrs Bradley highlighted a concern around schools with a surplus 2

3 budget on a yearly basis, stating that the funding should be spent on the current pupils. The Chief Executive outlined the process applied by the WELB to challenge schools in this situation. B/14/02/6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE S BUSINESS Engagements since last Board Meeting The Chief Executive gave a brief account of events he had attended since the last Board meeting which included the following: WELB/SELB Joint Oversight Committee Meeting Tuesday 21 January 2014 Opening of Limavady Youth Resource Centre Thursday 23 January 2014 Governance and Accountability Review (GAR) Meeting Tuesday 28 January 2014 ANIELB Executive Council Meeting with Minister for Education Thursday 30 January 2014 Area Planning Steering Group Wednesday 5 February 2014 ANIELB Executive Council Meeting Wednesday 12 February 2014 The Chief Executive referred to the paper highlighted earlier by the Chairman regarding Workforce challenges facing Education and Library Boards, arising from the prolonged application of Vacancy Control which will be submitted to the DE today. He informed Members that the Vacancy Control Policy was implemented in October 2006 in preparation for the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA). He highlighted that Vacancy Control is only effective if implemented within the last year or so of an existing organisation and it is now in place over 7 years, therefore creating difficulties such as permanent staff being appointed to non-permanent posts on a promotional capacity, but retaining permanent rights in their substantive posts. This also in some instances creates a domino effect because associated backfill appointments cannot be made permanent because of rights accruing to the substantive postholder. The Chief Executive outlined the adverse effect this is having on Senior Management Teams (SMT) across the ELBs with some having no permanent staff on their SMTs. In response to Mrs Bradley, the Chief Executive stated that Boards have been successful in making some posts permanent subject to specific criteria being fulfilled but first and second tier posts are exempt from this process. 3

4 As Chairman of Management Side, the Chief Executive attended a meeting on Wednesday 12 February 2014 to discuss Teachers' Pay Negotiations. B/14/02/7 CORRESPONDENCE None. B/14/02/8 REPORTS OF MEETINGS Children and Young People s Services Formal Approval of Statutory Assessments On the proposal of Mr White, seconded by Mrs Bradley, it was agreed that Statements of Special Education Needs be made to pupils with code reference numbers 2014/1 to 2014/25 and Amended Statements of Special Needs with code reference numbers 2014/1 to 2014/9. (ii) Finance and Services Committee meeting held on 22 January 2014 In proposing the adoption of the Report, Mr Duffy gave an account of the business discussed at the meeting. He drew attention to the submission of the Economic Appraisal in respect of Devenish College, the need to appoint additional staff associated with the minor works and School Enhancement Programme for non- controlled schools and the Revenue and Capital Reports to end of December The report was seconded by Mrs Bradley. In response to Mrs Fox, the Chief Finance Officer stated that delegated budgets will be sent out by the end of the month. B/14/02/9 FINANCE/SERVICES REPORTS It was agreed to go into Committee on the proposal of Mr McDermott, seconded by Cllr Campbell. IN COMMITTEE Human Resources Report 1: Appointments (Tabled) The CAO introduced the report which was adopted on the proposal of Mr White, seconded by Mrs Cooper. Report 2: Teaching Appointment Committee (TAC) Minutes 12 September 2013 The minute from the TAC was noted by Members. 4

5 (ii) Property Services Report 1 and Report 3: Tenders (tabled) Reports 1 and 3 were adopted on the proposal of Mr McDermott, seconded by Cllr McHugh. Report 2: Development Proposal 257 It was agreed that this Report should be deferred. Mr P Garrity joined the meeting at this time in respect of Item 9 (iv). (iii) Principal Procurement Officer s Report 1 Tender Ref: Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a Hardware Infrastructure Report 2 Tender Ref: (tabled) Tender for the Daily Transportation of Pupils to and from School by Private Bus (capacity 9 or more seated passengers) Reports 1 and 2 were adopted on the proposal of Mr McDermott and seconded by Mr White. (iv) C2k Outline Business Case Library Management Software Project (tabled) The Chairman welcomed Mr P Garrity to the meeting and apologised that the document was not available to Members in advance of the meeting. Mr Garrity gave Members a brief background to the Business Case stating that it was compiled in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers and it is valued at 1.1m. The current software, called Alice, is becoming outdated and does not fit well with the new C2k contract. It is currently used in 465 schools across Northern Ireland (NI) and the supplier is proposing to remove all support by the end of March Mr Garrity informed Members that 1016 schools will be authorised to use the new software called Eclipse. Further to approval today, the Business Case will then be forwarded to the DE and Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) for further endorsement. The Chief Executive informed Members that this Business Case has already received approval from the C2k Project Board. In response to Mrs Bradley, Mr Garrity confirmed that the Eclipse Software is fully compatible with hardware in schools which will resolve many issues. Further to a question raised by Mr McDermott, the Head of Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Youth confirmed that split site issues are currently being discussed with Capita. 5

6 The Head of Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Youth explained to Members that this type of document would normally go to the Finance and Services Committee for discussion and approval but, due to time constraints, it was necessary to bring it to the Board. Further to questions raised by Members, the report was adopted on the proposal of Mrs Cooper and seconded by Cllr Brolly. It was agreed to go out of Committee on the proposal of Mr McDermott, seconded by Cllr Brolly. OUT OF COMMITTEE B/14/02/10 TEACHING, LEARNING, CURRICULUM AND YOUTH Board of Governor Appointments Carnhill Nursery School and Strathfoyle Nursery School The two teacher representatives for Carnhill Nursery School and one teacher representative for Strathfoyle Nursery School were approved on the proposal of Mrs Bradley and seconded by Mr White. B/14/02/11 RECONSTITUTION OF BOARDS OF GOVERNORS The Head of CASS talked Members through the tabled Progress Report and informed Members that a new advertising campaign via television, press and a DVD on the DE website is due to commence shortly. The Head of CASS reminded Members that the Special Meeting of Board Members will be held on Thursday 20 February 2014, with the opportunity for Members to attend a morning and/or afternoon session. She directed Members to the tabled paper which outlines the Criteria for filling ELB and DE or ESA School Governor Posts which will be discussed in detail on 20 February B/14/02/12 BUSINESS PLANS Members were informed that the updated Business Plans are available on the Board s website. B/14/02/13 JOINT EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 29 JANUARY 2014 In proposing the adoption of the report, Mrs Fox drew Member s attention to a possible extension of the Literacy and Numeracy Signature Project. WELB have provided information to the DE to help inform it with regard to considering an extension. Mrs Fox also made reference to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Community Relations, Equality and Diversity (CRED) Policy and the SEN Project. The Report was seconded by Cllr Brolly. 6

7 B/14/02/14 SEALING OF DOCUMENTS It was agreed to seal the following documents on the proposal of Mr White, seconded by Mr McHugh: 1 Renewal of Lease (x 2) Site at Strathfoyle Campus (NW Teachers Centre) WELB & Strathfoyle Community Playgroup (Tiny Tots) 2 Contract: WELB Maintenance Works roof, window/door replacement at various school locations Area North Consultant: Maurice Cushnie Architect 3 Contract: WELB Maintenance Works St Comhghall s College & St Ronan s PS - Replacement Heating Consultant: PHP Architects, Belfast 4 Contract: Limavady Central PS Internal & External Refurbishments Contractor: QMAC Construction Ltd 5 Contract: Limavady HS Toilet Refurbishments Contractor: McGuigan Construction Ltd 6 Contract: Ballykelly PS Extension & Refurbishments Contractor: Down Developments Limited 7 Contract: Various Locations Fire Risk Assessment Works - Bundle O B/14/02/15 ANY OTHER BUSINESS Consultant: Gregory Architects Ltd There was no other business. B/14/02/16 DATE OF NEXT MEETING The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 13 March 2014 at 2.00 pm. There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 3.52 pm. 7