Venue: Committee Room 1 - Civic Centre, Swansea. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services - Tel: (01792) 637292
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Use of Social Media at Scrutiny Programme Committees. Minutes: The Vice Chair referred to the use of social media to
promote the work of the He stated that photographs would be taken unless Members
advised to the contrary. Councillor A M Cook stated that she did not want photographs to be taken. |
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Election of a Chair For The Remainder of the Municipal Year 2014-2015. Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor M H
Jones be elected as Chair for the remainder of the 2014/2015. Councillor M H Jones (Chair)
presided. The Committee wished to convey thanks to the previous Chair, Councillor A M Day and it was further RESOLVED that a letter of thanks be sent to him. |
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Apologies for Absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were
received from Councillor N J Davies, Mr D Anderson-Thomas and Mrs S Joiner. |
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Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest. PDF 30 KB Minutes: In accordance with the Code
of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest
was declared: Councillor J W Jones – personal and prejudicial - Minute No. 124 – Election of Chair for the Remainder of the Municipal Year – married to Councillor M H Jones who may be nominated. Councillor J W Jones left prior consideration of this item. |
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Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips. Minutes: In accordance with the Local
Government (Wales) Measure 2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party
Whips were declared. |
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To approve and sign as a
correct record the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 24
November, 2014. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 24 November, 2014, be agreed as a correct record. |
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Cabinet Member Question Session: PDF 30 KB a.
Deputy
Leader / Cabinet Member for Services for Children & Young People
(Councillor Christine Richards attending) b. Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Jennifer Raynor attending) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee took the opportunity to question Councillor Christine Richards, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Services to Children and Young People and Councillor Jennifer Raynor, Cabinet Member for Education. Members’ noted the short report on ‘headlines’ in relation to portfolio objectives which assisted the Committee in focusing on priorities, actions, achievements and impact. The Chair asked a question of the Cabinet Member for Education in relation to the QEd 2020 Review, specifically that the Council found that “the key corporate risk particularly relevant to the Directorate, was for the local authority to continue to fail to gain the confidence of schools” and how the Cabinet Member intends tackling that issue? Councillor Jennifer Raynor stated that since she became the Cabinet Member for Education she has had a number of meetings with Head-teachers of Primary and Secondary Schools and the response had been very positive. Many Head-teachers were already active members of a number of committees set up by the schools to liaise with the Council and were well aware of the changing financial situation. She stated that
alternative funding may need to be identified to continue the QEd 2020 programme and meetings were ongoing with
head-teachers, governing bodies and Welsh Government. Due to the severity of current financial
pressures QED programme phase B is
under review and a decision will be made following consultation with heads,
public and other stakeholders. The Chair referred to a question from the public regarding
the proposed sale of the The Cabinet Members’ sought clarity on who specifically had
proposed the question. The Cabinet
Member for Education stated that she had received a number of emails and
letters from Parklands Action Group, some of whom were not residents of Councillor R A Clay expressed concern regarding the process of Cabinet Members not having sight of the questions beforehand and suggested that the questions be forwarded to the Cabinet Members for formal response at a later date. The Chair advised that Officers were actively seeking public
involvement in the scrutiny process by means of various social media including
tweets publicising the work of The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Services to Children and Young People stated that the QEd 2020 programme was long standing policy of the Council which had been started before the Labour Administration. The consultation process had been commenced with Governing Bodies asked to consult with staff and pupils in respect of UNCRC (United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child). Some schools had not participated in the training. The Chair explained the process for engaging the public and referred to the second question from a member of the public regarding the identification of surplus school land.
The Cabinet Member for Education referred to the Council’s requirement to achieve budget savings in excess of £25m over the following three year period. She detailed the situation in relation to the delegated schools budget and service level agreements. As a result the Council was looking at all assets to dispose which included Council owned land adjacent to schools. The Council had resolved that the Parklands land was surplus, however, not all land identified would be used. The Cabinet Member for Education stated that In respect of concerns regarding childhood obesity, the Welsh Government had a series of initiatives to combat the growing issues of obesity. However, the issue was one that could not be resolved by schools alone and parents’ contributions were required in dealing with the levels of obesity. The Cabinet Member for Education detailed the reduction in
Welsh Government funding and the impact this would have on the QEd 2020 programme.
However, it was a priority to ensure that the money received from sale
of school land would be used for the benefit of schools. She referred to
Schools who had been generous in so far as selling school land for the benefit
of other schools in order to provide excellent schools for all children across
the City and The Cabinet Member
for Education was asked about School Surplus Places and stated that, according
to Welsh Government, the level is acceptable.
Options such as federated schools may, however, have to be looked at but
the Cabinet will be guided by heads teachers on this. The Cabinet Member
fort Education was asked about Poor Performing Schools and stated that lots of good
peer to peer work was being done by secondary schools. There was, however, a need to work with the
primary schools. The Chair thanked the Cabinet Members for attending. RESOLVED that: 1. Details of difficulties in relation to Foster Carer training be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Services to Children and Young People; 2.
The Chair of 3. The public questions would be forwarded to the Cabinet Members for formal response within 21 days of receipt. |
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Final Scrutiny Inquiry Report: PDF 35 KB Social Care at Home (Councillor Uta Clay, convener - attending). Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor U C Clay, Convenor of the Social Care at Home Councillor U C Clay thanked her predecessor, Councillor J E
C Harris for her commitment and working in chairing the panel for almost a year
until her promotion to Cabinet. Councillor U C Clay detailed the aims of the inquiry, the
evidence considered and the conclusions and recommendations. The key issue arising from the review was the difficulty in
obtaining information. The Chair expressed concern regarding officer support for
the scrutiny process. The Committee thanked the Panel for its work. RESOLVED that: 1.
the
report proceed to Cabinet; 2. the Chair write to the Chief Executive regarding officers’ support for the scrutiny process. |
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Scrutiny Performance Panel Progress Report - Schools Scrutiny Performance Panel. PDF 30 KB (Councillor Fiona Gordon, convener - attending). Additional documents: Minutes: The Convenor of the Schools She advised that the panel currently meets on a monthly
basis and the work completed since the last update in September included: ·
a session with the Chief Education Officer and
the new Hub Head of School Improvement around support for schools from
challenge leaders and ensuring consistency of advice and guidance to schools. ·
A meeting with the Chair of Governors and Headteacher of Morriston
Comprehensive School to discuss their school improvement plan and discuss
support provided by the School Improvement Service. ·
Examination of pupil behaviour and how it affects school performance. · Examination
of the Annual Education Performance Data which included the Cabinet Member for
Education and the Chief Education Officer. ·
Updates in respect of individual school Estyn Inspections
publications and any advisory/practice documents including for example:
relevant Estyn
Inspection outcomes for Councillor F M Gordon referred to achievements/impact which
included: · The Panel
recommended that the information on the United Nations Rights of the Child be
included in the guidance given to home educators. The leaflet given to
parents/carers who educate their children at home has now been amended to
include this information. · The Panel have been
(and will be) following up on a number of issues that have been highlighted by
schools in recent meetings:
i. The issue of children being put on a school
roll but never actually attending that school because they are on an educated
other than at school pathway. Some schools are concerned that these
children are on their roll but they have control over their outcomes or
attendance. That in turn affects their
performance figures.
ii. Recruitment of and dealing with competency
issues in relation to teaching staff.
iii. The Special Educational Needs budget formula
and its allocation to schools. The Panel will meet with a further two schools in January
and March and will speak to the Head-teacher
and Chair of Governors of each school. Prior to each of these sessions
they will meet the appropriate Challenge Leader. Schools were chosen
based on the outcomes identified in Regional Support, Challenge and
Intervention Framework (RSCIF). A discussion ensued regarding: ·
Data sharing, specifically in
relation to children who are educated other than at school; · Relations and scrutiny arrangements between
the Council and the ERW Regional Consortium; and · Timescales for completion of the Ethnic
Minority Learning & Achievement Service (EMLAS) review. The Chair thanked the Councillor F M Gordon for the updated.
RESOLVED to ask when the Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) and EMLAS reviews would be completed as part of the letter to the Cabinet member. |
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Scrutiny Work Programme 2014 - 15. PDF 66 KB Includes: a) Committee Work Plan; b) Progress of Panels
/ Working Groups; c) Forward Look (Cabinet Business). Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair presented the The Chair updated colleagues in respect of meetings recently
undertaken with the Chair’s
of Audit and Democratic Services Committee in relation to developing the
relationship in order for mutual awareness and understanding of the work of
scrutiny and Democratic Services Committee; respective work plans to be
co-ordinated and avoid duplication/gaps; and establishment of clear mechanisms
for referral of issues, if necessary. Members’ discussed items for future scrutiny (including the
manner in which civic events are organised) and the work plan. RESOLVED that a Working Group be established to examine the manner in which Civic Events are organised. |
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Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. PDF 25 KB Minutes: The Chair presented a report which advised of changes
required to the membership of the various RESOLVED that: 1.
Schools Performance 2.
Transformation of Adult Social Services Panel
– Remove Councillor A M Cook. Add Councillor R A Clay. 3.
School Governance – Remove Councillor A M Day 4. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – expressions of interest are still invited. |
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a. Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Education (Schools Scrutiny Performance Panel Meeting – 21 August); b. Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Adults & Vulnerable People (Transformation of Adult Social Services Working Group Meeting – 13 November); c. Letter to Cabinet Member for Education (Schools Scrutiny Performance Panel Meeting – 16 October & 10 November); d. Letter to/from Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development & Regeneration (Committee Meeting – 27 October); e. Letter to Cabinet Member for Education (Schools Scrutiny Performance Panel Meeting – 13 November); f. Letter to Cabinet Members for Enterprise, Development & Regeneration and Environment & Transport (Tourism Scrutiny Inquiry Panel Follow Up Meeting – 17 November); g. Letter to Cabinet Member for Housing & Communities (Affordable Housing Scrutiny Inquiry Panel Follow Up Meeting – 3 December). Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair reported the updated
RESOLVED that a working group on the Welsh Housing Quality Standard should be established following a request from the Affordable Housing Scrutiny Inquiry Panel. |
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Scrutiny Dispatches - Impact Report. PDF 33 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Overview and RESOLVED that the contents of the report be agreed and submitted to Council on 3 February, 2015. |
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Date and Time of Future Committee Meetings for 2014/15 Municipal Year (all at 4.30 p.m. except where noted):
Minutes: The dates and times of future meetings for 2014/15 Municipal Year were submitted for information. |
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Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings:
Minutes: The date and time of upcoming Panel/Working Groups meetings were submitted for information. |