Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Claire Brown and Maureen Harris (Co-optees).

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

Councillor Chris Davies declared an interest at the meeting as he is the Chairman of Plant Bach Pre School Setting Committee.   He advised the Committee that he has been granted dispensation by the Standards Committee to speak and vote on matters relating to the Flying Start Programme and Early Years and Child Care matters except where any financial/funding matters are being discussed.

To consider the attached report

Sue Walker advised the Committee that there was an error on 3.2 of the report where the objective should read “Children get the Best Start to Life”.   The objective outlined in the report will be brought to the  next Scrutiny Committee.

Sue Walker then referred members to the Committee report “Best Start to Life  -  Children get the best start to life” and advised that the Council is committed to delivering its key strategies and through joint working with a range of partners.   She outlined the key strategies that focus in delivering excellent services in Education which are:

·         Learning Strategy

·         Early Years Strategy

·         Youth Services Strategy

·         Central South Consortium (CSC) Business Plan

Sue Walker, Sarah Bowen and John Sellwood gave an update on each project listed at Appendix II, as follows:

·         Supporting Child Development

·         Improving Family Involvement in Learning

·         Achieving Excellence in Schools

·         Active Merthyr  -  Pre and Post Natal Mothers

Officers provided advice and background information in relation to the following questions from the Committee:

·         Clarification of the yellow status listed under project evaluations.

·         Clarification on project risks identifying the information sharing.

·         Are there any formal links developed between Child Care and Schools?

·         In relation to the current issue with the Multiple Intervention Assistance Team, what is the latest position in sorting out this issue?

·         Families First Commissioning Plan  -  delivery of this plan.

·         Clarification on key performance indicator (Flying Start children 0 to 1, living in high resilient families) as listed at 5.2 of the report. 

·         Clarification on the annual performance data for the percentage of children in Flying Start areas fully immunised at 4^th birthday (Appendix 1).

·         In relation to parental involvement in their children’s learning which has been an issue for many years  -  what is going to be different about this?

·         Reasons why Schools are not completing the Parental Engagement Evaluation Tool.

·         Improving family involvement in learning at Caedraw  -  how are these parents identified and are they the parents whose families need the most support?

·         Frequency of homework in Schools throughout the Borough.

·         FAST Programme within the Schools.

·         Development of skills in their role as Governors.

·         Clarification on Bump Fit project.

·         Continuation of funding in respect of Active Merthyr and the delivery of these programmes.

·         What is the number of mums in a group to make a programme viable?. 

RESOLVED that:

·         The contents of the report be noted.

·         The Families First Commissioning Plan be scheduled at a future meeting. 

·         Chris Hole to provide members with details of the resilient families and immunisation levels outside of this meeting.

To consider the attached report

Sue Walker advised members that this report is the current judgement for key question 3.2 which is self evaluation and improvement planning, previously known as improving quality and updated members on the process of evaluation.

Sue Walker provided advice and background information in relation to the following questions from the Committee:

·         Headteacher representation on the monthly LAESCYP Monitoring Group.

·         Since taking up the post as Chief Officer for Learning  -  how has the change over been and are there any particular challenges or opportunities to be shared with the Committee?

·         As outlined in Appendix 1, five future actions are set out to improve self evaluation.    Are the necessary action plans in place to see how these are going to be implemented?

RESOLVED that:

The contents of the report be noted.

Ryan Crowley (Youth Forum Representative) and Alan Rees (Co-optee) left the meeting at 5.00 pm.

To consider the attached report

Sue Walker gave an update to members on the current judgement for Key Question 3.1 in the Quality and Effectiveness of Leaders and Managers known previously as ‘impact of leadership’.

Sue Walker provided advice and background information in relation to the following questions from the Committee:

·         What are the challenges in relation to the multi-agency collaboration?

·         As outlined in Appendix 1, there is a strong partnership between the Authority and the Central South Consortium, which helps to provide a clear model of support and challenge for schools.   Are you satisfied with the level and quality of support from the Central South Consortium? 

·         It is noted that the quality and effectiveness of managers is not excellent in the 5 ways of working in the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act.   What is being done to overcome this?

·         With the continued cutbacks and austerity at this Authority, are you still satisfied that the Council will be able to give you the support that is required?

RESOLVED that:

The contents of the report be noted.  

To consider the attached report

Sarah Bowen referred to the report on Welsh in Education Strategic Plan 2017-2020.

She gave members an update on the status of the Welsh Education Strategic Plan and advised that each Local Authority in Wales has a statutory duty to prepare and submit this Strategic Plan.  

Sarah Bowen and Sue Walker provided advice and background information in relation to the following questions from the Committee:

·         Current position in relation to the Welsh Government requesting more information with regard to the inclusion of welsh-medium projects as well as the possibility of establishing a welsh-medium nursery on an english-medium site.

·         Clarification on the 2 welsh-medium Schools in the County Borough  -  number of children currently registered at the Schools, are there waiting lists and is there a requirement of expansion of the primary school provision.

·         Child care sufficiency assessment.

·         Demands on the welsh-medium secondary school sector. 

RESOLVED that:

The contents of the report be noted by members.

To consider the attached report

Diane Jones referred to the new NEET’s Strategy for 2018-2021  and updated members on the progress made against the previous strategy for 2013-2016.

Diane Jones provided advice and background information in relation to the following questions from the Committee:

·         Reviewing and tracking systems right through School and School leavers. 

·         Engagement with Careers Wales.

·         Tracking problems post 18.

·         In relation to Priority 1 (Raising Attainment), clarification on the tracking system put in place when this work started 4-5 years ago.

·         The possibility of an earlier age range being included within the Strategy. 

·         Clarification on the 80% of ESA claims for young people 16-24 for Mental Health. 

·         Support agencies for young people.

·         Consideration of providing members with actual figures in relation to future reporting of baseline indicators and KPI’S

RESOLVED that:

Members note the contents of the report.

Diane Jones to provide data on the 80% of ESA claims for young people 16-24 for Mental Health. 

To consider the attached report

Sue Walker referred to the report and advised members that this item needs to be considered at the same time as item 12 (Forward Work Programme).  

She referred to the new Local Government Inspections Framework which was published in September 2017 to support the inspection of Local Government Education Services and she would therefore ask the Committee to consider redrafting the current work programme so that the reports being brought forward will reflect the new Local Government Guidance (as listed in Appendix 2 of the report).

Resolved that:

The public be excluded from the Meeting on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 14 and 15 under Part 4 of Schedule 12A Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the attached report

The Chair advised that this item has been deferred.

The Chair advised that there were no referrals, feedback and follow up actions to discuss. 

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the Committee reflected on the items discussed at the Meeting.

To consider the attached report

In relation to the forward work programme attached to the agenda, detailed discussion ensued in relation to the attendance of the Central South Consortium (CSC) and also the topic for detailed discussion at this presentation being support to our vulnerable learners. 

RESOLVED that:

·         The contents of the report be noted.

·         Sue Walker’s suggested changes to the Work Programme be considered in order to reflect the new Local Government Guidance (as outlined in Agenda Item 8 Appendix 2 of the report).

·         Councillor Chris Davies to draft and e-mail Howard Jones and the Committee suggested topics for the presentation by CSC.

·         Due to the number of reports to be scheduled at future meetings, time management needs to be considered for each item presented. 

Attendance Review  -  The Chair updated members on the Attendance review.   He advised that the primary school review has been completed and will carry on with the secondary school review.    

Fixed Penalty Notices  -  He also gave members an update in relation to the Fixed Penalty Notices being issued throughout the Borough by many Schools and stressed the need to ensure that all Schools are on board with this.  

Visit to Greenfield School  -  Members who attended Greenfield School gave the Committee very positive feedback on the recent visit.