Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Kath Phelan and Karl Jones (Co-optees) and Kaitlin Sutton (Youth Forum Representative).

Members are reminded of their personal responsibility to declare any personal and prejudicial interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992 relating to Council Tax, the Local Government Act 2000, the Council’s Constitution and the Members Code of Conduct

Note:

(a)  Members are reminded that they must identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest and

(b)  Where Members withdraw from a Meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chair when they leave

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Education

Sue Walker referred to the Corporate Self-Evaluation report on Inspection Area 3 and she took members through the report in detail as follows:

·         Clarification on the Self Evaluation process.

·         Where we are now in relation to the judgement made (Leadership and Management).

·         Areas that are good and also areas that need improvement.

·         What we need to do next by addressing the priorities for improvement identified in the SER, particularly those that will support leadership, people management and priority setting, to improve from adequate to good. 

Sue Walker provided background information in relation to the following questions:

·         Staff resources that are required to enable the delivery of a Capita One Development Plan.

·         Clarification on the increased structured learning and training opportunities for all staff across Education Services, particularly those at middle management level.

·         Update on the Carbon Footprint within Schools and what feedback is being received from the Eco Committees on progress being made within Schools?

·         Update on whether clarity has been reached in respect of requirements by Contractors having DBS checks when working in a setting of children and vulnerable young adults.

·         Clarification on the method and intervention that prevents a reduced timetable offer for vulnerable and looked after young people. 

·         How clear and robust is the Local Authority’s behavioural support policy and how robustly does it analyse this and where appropriately report this to the LSCB and elected Members?  At what stage would this information be shared with elected Members? 

·         Clarification on the increase of school leaders in school to school working.

RESOLVED that:

-       Members note the content of the report developed through completion of the self-evaluation process.

-       Members approve the judgement of adequate put forward by the Learning Department.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Education

Iain Goldsworthy gave members an update on some of the Carbon and Energy Management activities over the past 12 months.

In relation to the REFIT Energy Efficiency Programme, he made members aware that there is an error on the report and clarified that stage 2 is the end of the procurement process for appointing an energy services provider, stage 3 is the investment grade audit and stage 4 will be installing the energy efficiency measures. 

Officers provided background information in relation to the following questions:

·         With regard to the installing of Systemslink Energy Management Software, could this software also include water meter readings.

·         Clarification on the Heolgerrig Kick Off Meeting document dated 5^th November 2019, as outlined in the background papers.

·         The independent carbon management review in 2015.

·         Support from Headteachers and Caretakers in Schools across the County Borough. 

RESOLVED that:

·         Members note the contents of the report.

·         In relation to agreeing a financing model with the Schools Forum, that Steve Jones and Anthony Lewis be included on future discussions / considerations. 

·         Alan Rees (co-optee) to liaise with Iain Goldsworthy in relation to correspondence on the independent carbon management review carried out in 2015.

·         Financial Sustainability (report from Penydre Cluster) to be added to the Forward Work Programme for the 24^th February 2020.

To consider report of the Chief Officer Education

Sarah Bowen referred to the report on the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act and gave members an update in relation to the following:

·         Delay to the implementation of the Act, resulting in the statutory roles being created by the Act commencing in January 2021 and the ALN System commencing on a phased basis with effect from September 2021.

·         ALN Initial Readiness Survey being revisited to identify strengths and also gaps in areas that need to be focused on.

·         Key areas that have been focused on locally.

·         Where we want to be to move forward.

Sarah Bowen gave background information in relation to the following questions:

·         Clarification on whether the appointment of an officer to the statutory Early Years post by January 2021 will be a new post.

·         Confirmation of the ALNCO Cluster Leads that have been appointed to disseminate information and products for the Local Authority.

RESOLVED that:

Members note the contents of the report. 

To consider report of the Chief Officer Education

Anthony Lewis referred to the report on securing sufficient nursery education for the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil and advised members that this has been scheduled today to give members an opportunity to scrutinise the report prior to it being considered at Full Council on the 18^th December 2019.

Anthony Lewis went through the report in detail as follows:

·         Nursery Education Provision 2014/15 onwards.

·         Statutory duty on the Local Authority.

·         Collaborative working on how to take forward Nursery Education.

·         Research report on securing sufficient nursery education provision. 

·         Addressing the strategic aims for FPN1 / FPN2. 

·         Sufficient nursery education provision (english medium places/welsh medium places).

·         The annual publication of the Nursery Education Admissions Policy as part of the overall Annual School Admissions Policy. 

Officers gave background information in relation to the following question:

·         Clarification on the two additional infants classrooms in Ysgol Santes Tudful and how these are going to be accommodated within the School.

RESOLVED that:

Members fully support this report to be scheduled to the Full Council meeting on the 18^th December 2019.

To consider the attached report

The  Committee considered and agreed the Work Programme with the following item being added to the 24^th February 2020 agenda:

-       Financial Sustainability  -  report from Penydre Cluster

A representative from the School Forum to be invited to the meeting.

The Chair advised that there was no update on this matter.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the members reflected in detail on the items discussed in the meeting.

The Chair advised that there was no business deemed urgent.