Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Councillors Brent Carter, Michelle Jones and Michelle Symonds (Co-optee).

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

As agreed by the Chair, this item was considered under Unit 4.

The Chair welcome Chris Hole and Diane Jones to the meeting. 

Chris Hole and Diane Jones referred members to the Adult Community Learning Partnership Progress Report and advised that this report gives an update on the progress against the Estyn Post Inspection Action Plan and the impact of the pandemic on this progress identifying both benefits and drawbacks over the past 18 months across the partnership. 

They took Members through the report in detail as follows:

-       Impact of the Welsh Government restructuring of Adult Community Learning Funding and progress on developing options. 

-       Inspection findings and recommendations, including the grading of each of the 5 key areas of the common inspection framework.  

-       Follow up visits by Estyn to monitor progress. 

-       Post Inspection Action Plan (PIAP).

-       Proposed Regional Partnership.

-       The continuation of on-line partnership steering group meetings. 

-       Summary of the key achievements to date. 

-       Partners taking ownership.

-       Continuation of the Regionalisation agenda. 

-       Where we want to be and what do we need to do next.  

RESOLVED that:

Members consider the progress of the Post Inspection Action Plan and the regional partnership arrangements and future impact of co-ordination options being proposed. 

The Chair thanked Chris Hole and Diane Jones for the excellent report presented today.    He also thanked the Officers who have worked on this project within the adult community partnership for the past 18 months.   

The Chair advised Members that no Scrutiny referrals had been received and there were no follow up actions to report. 

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair and the Committee reflected in detail on the items that had been considered in the Meeting.

The Chair advised that the Forward Work Programme would now be discussed at item 3 on the agenda, followed by the Adult Community Learning Partnership Progress Report.

Sue Walker advised that meetings have been held outside of this Committee to look at proposals and to develop a Forward Work Programme for 2021/22 for consideration by Members today.  

Members were also advised that consideration has been given to reflect the key objectives in line with the RARS Strategy as well as the Local Authority’s corporate priorities.      

Sue Walker took members through the items outlined in the Forward Work Programme and it was RESOLVED that:

-       Members agree the Forward Work Programme, as outlined in the agenda.

-       Consideration be given to including an update on the provision of Flying Start for the 12^th July 2021 meeting.    

-       Consideration also be given to a future meeting of the Learning and LGES being held at a School, if guidelines permit.  

The Chair advised that there were no items deemed urgent.