Agenda and minutes

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

The following Members made declarations of interest at the commencement of the meeting:-

 

Councillor P.A.Rees

Re:    Report of the Head of Transformation on the Strategic School Improvement Programme – Proposal to Establish Specialist Provision for Primary Age Pupils with Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties as he is a governor at Crynallt Primary School but has dispensation to speak and vote.   Re:    Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools – Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a school governor within the County Borough but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has grandchildren who attend schools within the County Borough.

Councillor A.R.Lockyer

Re:    Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools – Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a school governor within the County Borough but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has grandchildren who attend schools within the County Borough.

 

Noted by Committee

Noted by Committee

Decision:

 

That the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Directorate Development Plan 2017-20 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the circulated report be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

To enable the requirements of the Performance Management Framework to be met.

 

Implementation of Decision:

 

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.

Decisions:

 

That having given due regard to the impact assessments in relation to equality, risk, community usage and Welsh Language approval be granted in line with Section 53 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 to:

 

1.      Establish specialist provision for primary age pupils with social emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD) at Coedffranc Primary School and at Crynallt Primary School with the implementation date of the 15 January 2018;

 

2.      That delegated authority be given to the Head of Transformation to implement the proposal.

 

Reasons for Decisions:

 

To enable the Council to comply with the formal publication requirements imposed on the Council by the School Organisation Code and associated legislation.  Implementation of the proposal will enable the Council to promote high educational standards and the fulfilment of every child’s potential.  It will also enable the Council to meet its duty to secure efficient education in its area.

 

Implementation of Decisions:

 

The decision is an urgent one for immediate implementation, following the consent of the relevant Scrutiny Chair and is therefore not subject to the call-in procedure.

 

Consultation:

 

The school organisational proposal had been brought forward under the Council’s Strategic School Improvement Programme.  Formal consultation has been undertaken in line with the Welsh Government’s School Organisation Code, July 2013.

 

Separate consultations were undertaken on the respective provisions.  Statutory proposals were published on 10 November 2017 allowing the required 28 day period for submitting objections, which ran until 7 December 2017.

 

 

 

(Cllr. P.A.Rees re-affirmed his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only.  Cllr.D.W.Davies substituted.)

 

(Cllr.A.R.Lockyer re-affirmed his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only.  Cllr. D.Jones substituted.)

 

Cabinet Board was supportive of the addition to the recommendation from the Education, Skills and Culture Scrutiny Committee held prior to this meeting, which have been incorporated into decision below, as (d). 

 

Members asked that the review of the formula taking place prior to the 2019/2020 budget share allocation be reported back to Education, Skills and Culture Cabinet Board.

 

Decisions:

 

Having given due regard to the impact assessments approval be granted for:

 

a.      Option A as detailed in the circulated report to be the basis for funding primary school budgets for the 2018/2019 financial year;

 

b.      the withholding of financial benefits resulting from Option A to schools with reserves above the £75K threshold as at 31 March 2017;

 

c.       the methodology in the circulated report for the redistribution of withheld funds to schools with a reduction in their budget share allocation of more than £20K;

 

d.      the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning (or his nominated representative) and the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture be granted delegated authority to make alternative funding arrangements where, specifically in relation to the £75K reserve threshold, the financial circumstances of individual schools warrant further consideration and that any use or refusal of an application be reported to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

 

e.      a review of the formula prior to the 2019/2020 budget share allocation.  In addition, the results of the review to reported to Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Cabinet Board.

 

Reason for Decisions:

 

To enable the Council to comply with the formal requirements of the School Funding (Wales) Regulations 2010.

 

In addition, it will enable the Council to promote high educational standards and the fulfilment of every child’s potential and to meet the Council’s duty to secure efficient education in its area.

 

Implementation of Decisions:

 

The decision will be implemented after the three day call in period.

 

Consultation:

 

Consultation on the formula for funding primary schools took place between 16 October 2017 and 3 December 2017 as detailed in the circulated report.