Agenda and minutes

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

The following Members made a declaration of interest at the commencement of the meeting.

Decision:

That the Forward Work Programme for 2019/20 be noted.

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Decision:

That the Community Schools Admissions Policy 2021/2022 be approved for consultation as detailed in Appendix A to the circulated report.

Reason for Decision:

To enable the council to meet statutory duties and good practice guidelines in respect of the admission of pupils to community schools.

Implementation of Decision

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

Consultation

The Council, as local authority is required to consult each year on the admission arrangements for those schools which it is the admission authority as identified in the requirements of consultation set out in the Welsh Government’s School Admissions Code.

Admission to voluntary aided (i.e. Faith Schools) is the responsibility of the respective governing bodies.

Decisions:

1.   That delegated authority be given to the Head of Transformation to transfer the Library Headquarters to the former Ynysmaerdy School on a date to be agreed with the Head of Transformation and Head of Property and Regeneration.

2.   That the former Library Headquarters be declared surplus to the requirements of the Education Directorate and that responsibility for the same pass to the Head of Property and Regeneration.

3.   That Officers undertake a feasibility study into the relocation of the Neath Library to the proposed new development in Neath Town Centre and a report be brought back to Members for approval should it prove acceptable.

4.   That delegated authority be given to the Head of Transformation to sell two mobile library vehicles and replace the same with one small vehicles.

5.   That delegated authority be given to the Head of Transformation to purchase a new van for the Home Delivery Service.

6.   That delegated authority be given to the Head of Transformation to amend the opening hours of the Branch Library Network to the hours identified in Appendix 3 for a period of three months.

7.   Following the conclusion of this three months period the Head of Transformation in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member be granted delegated authority to implement the changes to the opening hours of the Branch Network on a permanent basis.

Reason for Decisions:

To ensure that the Library Service continues to deliver a relevant, cost effective and sustainable service for the people of Neath Port Talbot over the next five years.

Implementation of Decisions:

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

Decisions:

1.   That the contents of the Annual Report be noted.

2.   That approval be granted for the Annual Report to be forwarded to Welsh Government.

Reasons for Decisions:

To enable the Council to comply with its statutory duty of providing a library service in Neath Port Talbot.

Implementation of Decisions:

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

Decisions:

1.   Having given due regard to the responses to the consultation, and the integrated impact and risk assessments, approval be granted in line with Section 48 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 to publish the statutory notice of the proposal to establish specialist provision for secondary age pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder at Dwr y Felin Comprehensive School.

2.   That the notice of the proposal be published on 7 January 2020 which would allow 28 days for receipt of objections.

3.   That the date of implementation be the 20 April 2020.

Reason 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.  A draft statutory notice is attached as appendix D to the circulated report.  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 will be implemented after the three day call in period.

To resolve to exclude the public for the following items pursuant to Regulation 4 (3) and (5) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 2290 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision:

That pursuant to Regulation 4 (3) and (5) of Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 2290, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Members received a verbal update from the Chair of the Leisure and Culture Sub Committee on the recent presentation from Celtic Leisure Performance 2019-20 including the six monthly review. 

Decision:

That the report be noted.

Decision:

That the report be noted.