Agenda and draft minutes

Agreed that Councillor P.A.Rees be appointed Chairperson for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and a roll call was taken.

There were none.

No Declarations of Interest were received.

·        25 November 2021 (Special)

·        25 November 2021

It was agreed that the minutes of the Special meeting held on 25 November 2021, be taken to the next meeting of the Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board, for approval, as Cllr Lockyer was not present at that meeting

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2022, be approved.

That the Forward Work Programme 2021/22 be noted.

Officers verbally amended the wording of the recommendation contained in the circulated report, which Members agreed to, and which is reflected as the decision below.

Decision:

Having given due regard to the Integrated Impact Assessment, circulated prior to the meeting, and the responses to the Consultation, the draft WESP be commended to Council for permission to submit to Welsh Government for approval.

Reason for Decision:

To comply with the consultation requirements imposed upon the council by Section 84 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the WESP (Wales) Regulations 2019.

Implementation of Decision:

The Decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ends at 9.00am on Sunday 23 January 2022. There was no call in of this item.

Consultation:

This item has been subject to external consultation.

It was noted that Welsh Government funding was not necessary for the creation of the new Welsh medium starter school, but would enable a superior build.

Decisions:

1.           Having given due regard to the Impact Assessments in relation to equality, risk, community usage and Welsh language, and to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales 2015), together with the legal implications, and in line with Section 48 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013, Consultation on the proposal to establish a new Welsh–medium primary school at St John’s Terrace, Neath Abbey, Neath, SA10 7ND, be approved.

2.           That the proposed date of implementation to be 9 January 2023.

Reason for Decisions:

This decision is necessary to comply with the consultation requirements imposed upon the council by Section 84 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 and the WESP (Wales) Regulations 2019.

Implementation of Decision:

The Decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ends at 9.00am on Sunday 23 January 2022. There was no call in of this item.

Consultation:

This item will be subject to external consultation.

Decision:

Having had due regard to the first stage Integrated Impact Assessment, the land and premises at Abbey Primary School Infant site at New Road, Neath Abbey, Neath, SA10 7NG be declared surplus to the ongoing strategic and operational requirements of the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Service, and to transfer ongoing responsibility for management of any future disposal to the Head of Property and Regeneration.

Reason for Decision:

The land and premises will become non-operational when the school relocates to its brand new building during March 2022 and therefore surplus to the ongoing strategic needs of the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Service.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period which ends at 9.00am on Sunday 23 January 2022. There was no call in of this item.

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Decision:

That the new Pastoral Support Programmes guidance (as detailed at Appendix 1 to the circulated report) go out for consultation between February and March 2022.

Reason for Decision:

The current guidance is due for review and requires updating to reflect new legislation and processes. This new guidance will further strengthen arrangements and monitoring of provision for learners with Pastoral Support Programmes.

Implementation of Decision:

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period, which ends at 9.00am on Sunday 23 January 2022. There was no call in of this item.

Consultation:

This item will be subject to external consultation.

Any urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 2290 (as amended).

None were received.