Provost Cameron; Councillor Paterson; S Quinn, Assistant Director (Education), G McKinlay, Head of Schools, J Trainer, Head of Early Years & Inclusion, M Convery, Head Teacher (St James Primary School); M Dewar, Head Teacher (Park Mains High School); A Hall, Education Manager (Development) and L McAllister, Education Manager (all Children’s Services).

In accordance with the terms of the local recognition and procedure agreement, which stated that the Chair of the Committee should alternate between the two sides comprising the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff, it was agreed that John Welsh would chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

There was submitted the Minute of meeting held on 25 April 2017.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Schools relative to the review of the Teacher Exchange Scheme.

The report intimated that the Teacher Exchange Scheme was introduced as a pilot for school session beginning August 2016 and had been rolled out again for school session beginning August 2017. The report detailed the evaluation of the pilot scheme undertaken in March/April 2017.

The report highlighted that following on from feedback received from those who participated in the exchange process, revisions had been made to the policy and application form which would be implemented for the teacher exchange programme in 2018/19. A copy of the revised policy document was enclosed as Appendix 1 to the report and the revised application form enclosed as Appendix 2 to the report.  It was intended that there would be an annual briefing session for teachers interested in taking part in the scheme. Head Teachers would be updated on the revised procedure at a Head Teacher’s meeting during session 2017/18.

There was submitted a report by Joint Secretaries relative to membership of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff for 2016/17. 

It was noted that the membership of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff would be:-

Management side

Provost L Cameron

Councillor J Paterson

S Quinn, Assistant Director of Schools  

G McKinlay, Head of Schools

J Trainer, Head of Early Years and Inclusion

L McAllister, Education Manager

M Convery, Head Teacher, St James’ Primary School

M Dewar, Head Teacher, Parkmains High School

L Mullin, Principal HR and OD Adviser

A Hall, Education Manager

Teacher’s side

K Fella (EIS)

M Russell (EIS)

J Welsh (EIS)

J McCusker (EIS)

A Howie (EIS)

H Whittle (EIS)

JP Tonner (EIS)

M Greenlees (SSTA)

It was noted that S McCrossan had been nominated as the Adviser to the teachers’ side.

It was also noted that in M Greenlee’s absence, S Dargie would be the substitute member for the SSTA and R Hannah would be the substitute member for the EIS.  The Committee thanked R Hannah for all his work on the Committee.

Provost Cameron was nominated as Chair of the management side and John Welsh was nominated as Chair of the teachers’ side. There being no other nominations, Provost Hall and John Welsh were appointed as Joint Chairs of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff. Provost Cameron advised that Councillor Paterson as Convener of the Education & Children’s Services Policy Board would chair meetings when it was the managements side turn to do so.  

K Fella was nominated as Joint Secretary for the teachers’ side and G McKinlay was nominated as Joint Secretary for the management side. There being no other nominations, K Fella and G McKinlay were appointed as Joint Secretaries of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

DECIDED:   

(a) That the membership of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff be noted; and

There was submitted a report by Joint Secretaries relative to the annual report 2016/17. 

The report intimated that in the period covered by the annual report, six meetings of the Committee had taken place. The appendix to the report detailed the membership (it was noted that JP Tonner was also a member of the Teacher’s side), the reports agreed by the Committee and discussions held across the year on key matters including provision of supply, PRD and professional update, Early Years, teacher workload, tackling bureaucracy and working time agreements.

The report intimated that the JNC/JNC sub groups would continue to take forward issues which were included in the items of ongoing work including teacher workload, supporting attendance, discipline and grievance, voluntary/exceptional transfer of teachers, risk assessment/health and safety, specific duties and job remits, consultation on school holiday pattern and equalities issues.

The Joint Secretary (Management Side) extended his thanks to everyone involved and this was echoed by the Joint Secretary (Teacher’s Side). 

DECIDED:

(a) That the content of the report  and appendix be noted; and

There was submitted a report by Joint Secretaries relative to dates of agreed future meetings of this Committee from September 2017 to June 2018. 

DECIDED: That the schedule of meetings for session 2017/18 be noted.