Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Charlotte Davies 01639 763745 Email: c.l.davies2@npt.gov.uk
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: The
following members made declarations of interest at the start of the meeting.
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Update on Pupil Voice/ Youth Council Report
of the Head of Participation Minutes: Members
received an update on Pupil Voice which was included in the Youth Service
Update as detailed in the circulated report. The
committee was pleased with the success of the Duke of Edinburgh and Open Gold
Award Scheme with over 400 young people gaining the award and asked that their
appreciation be cascaded to staff who support the young people undertaking the
award. Discussion
took place on the increase in attendance at Youth Clubs and asked if the latest
data on these numbers could be circulated to the committee. Clarification
was given that the format of the data contained within the report was compiled
and submitted as a requirement of the Welsh Government and that the data was
not used to compare performance year on year. It
was highlighted that the current youth club provision was based on need and
established in areas of deprivation but historically some clubs had been
established in areas that would not meet the current criteria but those clubs
would continue. In
addition, surveys/mapping take place every 3 years and takes into account
groups that are arranged by voluntary organisations and the council works in
partnership with those groups to support them, to try to increase the current
provision. Confirmation
was received that any new youth clubs could only be arranged at the expense of
losing an existing provision, as there was no additional funding available to
increase the current council provision.
Funding was always a concern especially in regard to the format of the
grant provision from Welsh Government being based on an annual basis. This results in long term planning being
difficult as the criteria for each funding stream can change and cease in some
cases. The committee reiterated the importance of this vital service
continuing. Further
data was requested on the provision for young people who are NEET (not in
employment, education or training).
Officers explained that the youth service aims to work with the young
people who not engaging with services. Officers
in future reports to consider identifying the reason why there was no impact on
the valleys. At
members request consideration be given to inviting a young person to become a
scrutiny member of this committee. Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny
i.
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for
pre-decision scrutiny (Cabinet Boards reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: The
committee chose to scrutinise the following cabinet board items: School
Attendance Members
received information and data in relation to Neath Port Talbot pupil attendance
and persistent absenteeism as detailed in the circulated report. Discussion
took place on decrease in attendance compared to the same period last year and
asked if the impact was mainly on schools in deprived areas. Officers explained that in the latter part
of 2019 a number of schools were affected by the Norovirus which impacted on
both children and staff but no schools within Neath Port Talbot closed. Also, schools not in deprived areas can have
a higher level of unauthorised school absence due to the increased number of
holidays taken. At the request of
Members in future, data would include the area and reason for absence. Further
discussion took place on the importance of members who are school governors to
keep raising attendance at governing body meetings so that it was constantly on
school agendas. Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. Longlands Lane Playing Fields and
Changing Rooms The
committee received information on the proposal to declare the playing fields
and changing rooms at Longlands Lane, Margam, Port Talbot, as being surplus to the ongoing strategic
and operational requirements of the Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning
Service as detailed in the circulated report. Discussion
took place on the lack of sports facilities in the area and asked that this be
a consideration during future proposals for the use of the site. Officers explained that any decision on the
future use of the site would fall under the remit of Regeneration and
Sustainable Cabinet Board. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet board. |
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Forward Work Programme 2019/20 PDF 75 KB Minutes: Confirmation
was given that the site visit to schools would take place on the 3 February and
not the 27 January 2020 as stated in the Forward Work Programme. |