Venue: Remotely via Teams
Contact: Michelle Roberts, Scrutiny Officer
No. | Item |
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Disclosure of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: None |
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Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips Minutes: None |
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Letters and Minutes PDF 187 KB Additional documents: Minutes: The Minutes and letters were accepted by the Panel. |
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Public Questions Questions must be submitted in writing, no later than noon
on the working day prior to the meeting.
Questions must relate to items on the agenda. Minutes: No public questions were received. |
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Annual Budget Proposals - as they relate to Education matters PDF 242 KB Invited to attend are Cllr Robert Smith (Cabinet Member for Education Improvement, Learning and Skills) and Education Officers Also follow link to the 17 February Budget Cabinet Papers (papers will be available online from 10 Feb 2022) Minutes: The Panel thanked the Cabinet Member Cllr Robert Smith, the Director Helen Morgan Rees and the Head of Education Planning and Resources Brian Roles for the comprehensive presentation and attending the panel to discuss the issues. The following points from the discussion will be forwarded to the Service Improvement and Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel for discussion and inclusion in their letter giving feedback on scrutiny views of this year’s Annual Budget proposals. 1.
The
Panel welcomed the increase in the budget provision for schools for the next
year but noted that the funding is heavily weighted to year 1 2022/23. We share the departments concerns in relation
to the clarity of funding for schools in years 2 and 3. 2.
The
Panel heard that individual school reserves are currently at a high level. We did recognise that this is a positive
thing given the challenges coming in years 2 and 3, but we agreed that this
means the schools must be encouraged to have good medium term spending plans,
in order for this to been used effectively. 3.
The
Panel did have concerns regarding the potentially inadequate funding from Welsh
Government for: a.
Phased
roll out of Free School Meal provision to all primary pupils b.
The
emerging implications of the Additional Learning Needs Act. 4.
The
Panel raised concerns about the potential change to the proxy measure that is
based upon Free School Meal allocation which is the indicator used for extra
funding in schools for vulnerable pupils like, for example, the allocation of
the Pupil Development Grant and the School Uniform Grant. The Panel would be keen to see how this will
be addressed in upcoming policy changes from Welsh Government, so vulnerable
children do not lose out. 5.
The
Panel were concerned about the rising energy costs for schools and would like
to see schools switching to more green solutions, where it is feasible. 6.
The
Panel welcomed the high level of delegated spend that has been maintained by
Swansea Council. Hearing that this
coming year will be 83% and will increase to 85% in 2024/25. |
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Work Programme 2021/2022 PDF 69 KB Minutes: The Panel agreed to re-schedule the item on Asylum Seeker and Refugee pupils to the meeting on the 15 March 2022. |