Agenda and minutes

The following Members made declarations of interest at the commencement of the meeting in relation to the undermentioned matters:-

Councillor Peter A. Rees               The report of the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, the Head of Transformation and the Head of Participation re: consultation on Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget and Draft Savings 2018/19 as he currently represents the Leader of Council on the Education through Regional Working (ERW) Joint Council.

Councillor Sian Harris                    The report of the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, the Head of Transformation and the Head of Participation re: consultation on Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget and Draft Savings 2018/19 as she is a member of the organisation Friends of Cefn Coed Museum.

Co-opted Member Adam Amor     The report of the Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning, the Head of Transformation and the Head of Participation re: consultation on Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning Budget and Draft Savings 2018/19 as he is a Director of a film production and training company that provides services to some departments identified within the report.

Members received information around the current education, leisure and lifelong learning draft budget consultation exercise as contained within the circulated report.

The Director of Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning and the Head of Transformation presented the report explaining to Members that it had been prepared to provide further information in relation to the budget setting process for the directorate, with a view to aiding the scrutiny of the proposals.

Providing a high level overview for Members the Corporate Director highlighted that the authority’s net revenue budget for 2017/18 was £274.67million and together with grants and income this resulted in a gross budget of  around £418million, with more than £50million invested annually through its capital programme.

As part of the annual budget setting process the Corporate Director reminded members that on, 8 November 2017, the Council’s Cabinet approved to commence public consultation on its draft budget savings proposals for 2018/19 to 2019/20.

As part of this exercise it is projected that financial savings of £10.24million are required to set a balanced budget for the next financial year (2018/19) with a further £13million needed in the following financial year (2019/20), with the majority of financial savings being achieved via the non-delegated school budget(s).

Outlining the approach taken towards the current budget setting process the Corporate Director informed Members that three key principles have been adhered to. These were: to protect vulnerable learners; to protect services that the local authority has a statutory responsibility to maintain and to support areas that are subject to regulatory scrutiny.

The Corporate Director went on to point out that the office of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales (Estyn) were shortly to undertake an inspection of the directorate, and while significant challenge would be likely inspectors remained sympathetic to the reality of the authority’s budgetary position.

Following the conclusion of the Corporate Director’s presentation the Head of Transformation provided Members with a brief overview of the specific budget saving proposals.

Members then proceeded to scrutinise specific proposals with the first questions being raised in relation to cost savings identified in relation to Disability Sport (ELLL 714), Outdoor Education (ELLL 801) and Celtic Leisure (ELLL 802).

In relation to these specific proposals, Members enquired as to how confident the Chief Officers were that such savings could be achieved. In addition, with regard to the specific proposal around disability sport Members queried whether this proposal had been equality impact assessed.

In responding to Members questions the Head of Transformation explained that the £15,000 saving identified regarding disability sport would be achieved through the withdrawal of match funding for the post of disability sports co-ordinator.  It was also confirmed that the relevant equality impact assessment had been undertaken.

Turning to the budget proposals for Outdoor Education the Head of Transformation pointed out that the local authority currently has a contract in place with the Field Study Council (FSC) which is due to terminate in April 2019.

The Local Authority provides a management fee subsidy to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.