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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3A, Guildhall, Swansea

Contact: Democratic Services - Tel (01792) 636923 

Items
No. Item

41.

Disclosures of Personal & Prejudicial Interest.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared:

 

Councillor M H Jones - personal - Minute No. 45 – Chair of Governors at Olchfa School – The school playing fields at Olchfa were mentioned as part of the Cabinet Member Question Session.

 

Councillor J W Jones - personal - Minute No. 45 – Governor at Olchfa School – The school playing fields at Olchfa were mentioned as part of the Cabinet Member Question Session.

 

42.

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.

43.

Minutes. pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.  

 

Minutes:

Resolved that the Minutes of the Scrutiny Programme Committee held on 11 September 2017 be approved and signed a s a correct record.

44.

Public Question Time.

10 Minute Period for Questions to Cabinet Members in attendance or Chair of the Committee in relation to the Scrutiny Work Programme.

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

 

45.

Cabinet Member Question Session: Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning (Councillor Jennifer Raynor). pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jennifer Raynor, Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning, provided a verbal address further to the written report circulated. She highlighted the following areas: -

 

·      Improved performance in pupil attainment in key stages 2 and 3, key stage 4 was still to be determined

·      21st Century Schools Programme

·      Cynnydd Project - European Social Fund project to ESF to support young people at risk of becoming NEET

 

Questions and discussions with the Cabinet Member, Chief Education Officer and Head of the School Support Unit focussed on the following: -

 

·      Steps to ensure that education is valued by all and all students are enabled to thrive

·      Availability of training for Schools in relation to attachments, family break-ups, or other adverse experiences affected children and young people

·      Pupil Development Grant (Looked After Children)

·      ‘Team around the School’ initiative for schools that require additional support

·      Resilience Training and support for families coping with bereavement.

·      Council’s prioritisation for 21st Century Schools Programme, including building condition surveys

·      Sale of surplus education land (it was noted that the proceeds from sales amount to £3.6 Million since 2012 - land sold has not disposed of any school facilities, but largely vacated schools and wider educational assets)

·      Health implications from car and bus fumes particularly at school pick up and drop off

·      Targets for Welsh Education provision

·      Criteria for distribution of education contributions received through S106 Planning Agreements

·      30 hours free childcare provision pilot being run in Swansea

·      Requirements of registration with CCSIW

·      Impressive figures for transition to Welsh medium Secondary Schools

·      Improvement required on transition from childcare to nursery

·      Challenge Advisors – benefits and conflicting views

·      Decline of Modern Foreign Languages in schools

·      Educational Psychologists and allocated time in schools

·      Extent of services delegated to schools

·      Responsibility for the School Curriculum, including provision for teaching on the environment / sustainability

·      Effect of the change of Grading system in England

·      Determination of School Catchment areas

·      Progress on the Pupil Referral Unit in Cockett

·      Effectiveness of Governing Bodies 

 

Resolved that the Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee writes to the Cabinet Member, reflecting the discussion and sharing the views of the Committee.

46.

Children & Young People's Rights Scheme - Annual Progress Report 2017. pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Lifelong Learning, the Partnership & Commissioning Manager and the Children’s Rights Co-ordinator presented an Annual Progress Report on Children & Young People’s Rights Scheme 2017.

 

The Children’s Rights Co-ordinator highlighted the following work areas: -

 

·           Sustained and increased engagement with children and young people with 6,087 participants across ages 2-18

·           Increased age range of Corporate Parenting Challenge

·           UK Youth Parliament involvement

·           Early years and ensuring quality childcare

·           Promoting knowledge of UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)

·           98% of schools in Swansea are now engaged in the Rights Respecting Schools Award

·           Recommendations for future improvement – Broadening Our Approach, Extending Our Offer, Being More Visible and Assessing Impact

 

Questions and Discussions with the Cabinet Member and Officers focussed on the following: -

 

·      Better accessibility of reports going forward

·      Super Survey Data – Surprising data in respect of experience in relation to Sexual Health, Cigarettes and Alcohol – it was suggested that future survey questions look at including vaping. Results in relation to children’s views about the transition to secondary school were also discussed

·      How the report is shared with schools – it was noted that the Super Survey Data has been broken down per school and fed back for them to respond accordingly. The feedback from schools on the Survey will be shared with the committee

·      Marked difference in response of Primary and Secondary Schools to the School Council Audit

·      Engagement of Home Educated children and young people

 

The Committee thanked the officers and colleagues for their excellent work carried out with schools and also commended the UNCRC training delivered over the last year.

 

Resolved that the views of the committee on progress be noted by the Cabinet Member and Officers.

 

47.

Membership of Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups. pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Minutes:

The Chair presented a report on scrutiny panel / working membership.

 

Resolved that: -

 

1)  the co-option of the following be endorsed:

Adult Services Performance Panel

Tony Beddow

Katrina Guntrip 

 

2)  the following changes to the Public Services Board Performance Panel be noted: -

Martyn Waygood has replaced Paul Newman as the ABMU representative

Cllr Paulette Smith has come off the South Wales Police and Crime Panel and confirmation of a new representative is awaited.

 

48.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/18. pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Discussion on:

a) Committee Work Plan.

b) Opportunities for Pre-Decision Scrutiny.

c) Progress with Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair highlighted the Scrutiny Work Programme 2017/2018 for review.

 

The Chair stated that expressions of interest would be sought from scrutiny councillors to participate in the next set of identified Working Groups. It was suggested that the proposed Working Group on Homelessness be deferred until the New Year to enable discussion on the draft Homelessness Strategy which is being developed.

 

A summary of the work plans of the Council’s Policy Development & Delivery Committees was provided to ensure awareness and help avoid any duplication.

 

Members noted an extra committee meeting would take place on 17 October at 2pm for pre-decision scrutiny of a cabinet report on the regeneration of Castle Square.

 

Resolved that the next 2 Working Groups be on:

Car Park Charges

Roads / Footway Maintenance

 

49.

Scrutiny Letters. pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A log of scrutiny letters produced this year and correspondence between the Committee and Cabinet Members relating to the committee meeting in August were reported.

 

Resolved that the contents of the letters be noted.

 

50.

Audit Committee Work Plan. pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Minutes:

The Audit Committee Work Plan was noted.

51.

Date and Time of Upcoming Panel / Working Group Meetings.

a)     Adult Services Performance Panel – 10 October at 3.30pm (Committee Room 3a, Guildhall)

b)     Emergency Planning & Resilience Working Group – 11 October at 10.30am (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

c)     Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel – 16 October at 2.00pm (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

d)     Child & Family Services Performance Panel – 16 October at 5.00pm (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

e)     Building Sustainable Communities Inquiry Panel (follow up) – 17 October at 10.00am (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)    

f)      Schools Performance Panel – 18 October at 4.00pm (Committee Room 3a, Guildhall)

g)     Public Services Board Performance Panel – 25 October at 10.00am (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

h)     Regional Working Inquiry Panel – 30 October at 4.00pm (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

i)      Child & Family Services Performance Panel – 30 October at 4.00pm (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

j)      Service Improvement & Finance Performance Panel – 1 November at 10.30 am (Committee Room 5, Guildhall)

Minutes:

The dates and times of upcoming Panel / Working Group meetings were noted.

Letter to Cabinet Member - Q&A Session pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Cabinet Member Response - Q&A Session pdf icon PDF 442 KB