Councillor Paterson, G McKinlay, Head of Schools, M A Renfrew, Head Teacher, Trinity High School, J Colquhoun, Education Manager (Development), A Hall, Education Manager (Development), M Thomas, Education Manager (Development) (all Children’s Services); and L Mullin, Principal HR & OD Advisor (Finance & Resources).

K Fella, JP Tonner, C Carson (all EIS); S Dargie (SSTA); A Newton (NASUWT); and S McCrossan (Adviser to Teachers’ Side).

S Fanning, Principal OD and HR Adviser and T Slater, Senior Committee Services Officer (both Finance & Resources).

Councillor Paterson welcomed returning and new members to the first meeting of the Committee following the summer break.

The Chair intimated that he proposed to alter the order of business to facilitate the conduct of the meeting by considering item 10 of the agenda prior to item 9 of the agenda.

Following discussion on John Welsh’s position as a member of the Committee following his retirement from full-time teaching, it was agreed that he could continue to be a member and joint Chair of the Committee.

It was proposed that an additional date be added to the timetable of meetings for the Committee in early May 2020.  It was agreed that the clerk would look at the meeting schedule and confirm whether an additional date could be added in May 2020 at the next meeting of the Committee on 12 November 2019.

DECIDED:

(a) That John Welsh continue as a member and joint Chair of the Committee; and

(b) That confirmation be provided at the next meeting of the Committee on 12 November 2019 on whether an additional date could be added to the meeting schedule for early May 2020.

Provost Cameron; L McAllister, Acting Head of Early Years and Broad General Education, G Hannigan, Head Teacher, St Charles’ Primary School (both Children’s Services); and J Welsh (EIS).

There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

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, in the absence of J Welsh from the Teachers’ Side, Councillor Paterson would chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

DECIDED:  That Councillor Paterson chair this meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff.

There was submitted the Minute of meeting held on 11 June 2019.  It was noted that the Minute required to be amended in relation to item 3 to remove S Quinn, Director of Children’s Services from the management side of the JNC membership and add A Hall, Education Manager (Development).

DECIDED:  That the Minute, as amended, be approved.

There was submitted a report by the Head of Schools relative to proposals to amend school holiday arrangements for school session 2019/2020.

The report advised that, on 25 April 2019, the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) agreed a three-year pay deal for teachers.  As part of the package of wider measures, it was agreed that two additional in-service days should be made available within the academic year 2019/2020 to support professional learning.  Following a consultation exercise, the additional in-service days were identified as Wednesday, 12 February 2020 and Thursday, 30 April 2020.

Subsequently, the UK Government announced that the May Day 2020 public holiday should be changed from Monday, 4 May 2020 to Friday, 8 May 2020 to support VE Day celebrations.  Should the change to the May Day public holiday be approved by the Council, there would be an impact on the April and May 2020 in-service days.

At its meeting on 22 August 2019, the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board agreed proposals, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, to authorised the Director of Children’s Services to amend the school holiday arrangements for the academic year 2019/2020, as outlined in Appendix 1 to the Policy Board report, should the May Day 2020 public holiday remain as Monday, 4 May 2020, or as outlined in Appendix 2 to the Policy Board report, should the May Day 2020 public holiday be moved to Friday, 8 May 2020.

This would be dependent on the decision of the Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board which would consider the public holidays for 2020 at its meeting on 4 September 2019.

The report highlighted that, should any change to the May Day 2020 holiday impact on previously agreed and booked holiday arrangements, those arrangements would be honoured.

DECIDED:  That the content of the report and appendix be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to ongoing issues with payroll and the detrimental impact that this was having on the correct administration of Teachers’ salaries.

The report advised that the introduction of Business World had not improved the situation and Renfrewshire Teachers were still experiencing difficulties and hardship arising from this.

G McKinlay apologised for any hardship faced by Teachers as a consequence of administrative errors related to pay, recognised the duty the Council had as an employer and acknowledged that there had been challenges around the implementation of Business World.

Following discussion, it was proposed that K Fella, G McKinlay and L Mullin meet with the Business World representatives to look at the issues experienced by Teachers and that consideration be given to including a brief introduction to Business World at a future in-service day.

DECIDED:

(a) That the difficulties experienced by Teachers in relation to the administration of their salaries through Business World be noted; and

(b) That K Fella, G McKinlay and L Mullin meet with Business World representatives to consider the issues raised and the proposal to include a brief introduction to Business World at a future in-service day.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to the new guidelines issued by the Scottish Government on Devolved School Management as part of its drive to create an empowered school system.

The guidelines stated that there would be meaningful consultation and engagement at all levels, involving local authorities, Head Teachers and all stakeholders and the Teachers’ Side requested to be included in any review and amendment of the current Devolved School Management scheme.

G McKinlay advised that the timeline for the review was being developed and a short-life working group would be established which would include Teacher representation.

DECIDED:  That it be agreed that the Teachers’ Side be included in any review of the current Devolved School Management scheme.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to the practice in Renfrewshire secondary schools of Teachers being timetabled to teach Bi-Level and Tri-Level SQA courses.

The report advised that this had taken place without any consultation or discussion on the pedagogical merits of such a practice, or the resource and workload implications involved.

G McKinlay confirmed that this was not a new practice, however, he would be happy to agree to the proposed action and would raise the issue of the timetabling of Bi-Level and Tri-Level SQA courses, as part of ongoing discussions on reducing Teacher workload, with Headteachers.

DECIDED:  That the inclusion of the timetabling of Bi-Level and Tri-Level SQA courses, as part of ongoing discussions on reducing Teacher workload, be raised with Headteachers.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) relative to the recent teachers’ pay agreement, which had the issue of tackling Teacher workload included within the agreement.

The report advised that the Education Secretary had approved an additional two in-service days to address this issue and the Teachers’ Side was seeking clarification on how the issue of reducing Teacher workload would be tackled through the use of the extra in-service days.

G McKinlay advised that, following agreement at a previous meeting of the Committee, he had written to Headteachers to request that Teacher workload be placed on the agenda for in-service days early in the school session.  It was further explained that the local authority did not instruct the content of in-service days, however, it was expected that the SNCT agreement be followed.

It was also noted that any areas of good practice noted by Education Managers were shared and signposted.

DECIDED:  That the position be noted.

There was submitted a report by the Joint Secretaries relative to the completion of an operational review of job sizing of promoted posts.

The aims of the review were to update and improve the guidance and identify areas for the SNCT to consider when undertaking a more in-depth review as part of the Teachers’ pay award.

The report advised that the revised Job Sizing Questionnaire and Notes of Guidance were agreed by the SNCT at its meeting on 30 May 2019.  This involved updated terminology and improved clarity and consistency of language used.  Revised guidance documentation received from SNCT, attached as appendices 1 and 2 to the report, had been forwarded to Renfrewshire Job Sizing Co-ordinators.

DECIDED:  That the revised guidance documentation, attached as appendices 1 and 2 to the report, be noted.

The next meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 12 November 2019 at 2.00pm in Corporate Meeting Room 2.

DECIDED:  That it be noted that the next meeting of the Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff would take place on Tuesday 12 November 2019 at 2.00pm in Corporate Meeting Room 2.