Venue: Committee Room 1/2 - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Charlotte Davies 01639 763745 Email: c.l.davies2@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
Minutes: The
Committee noted the minutes. |
|
To receive the Scrutiny Forward Work Programme 2018/19. PDF 77 KB Minutes: Members
were informed that the forward work planner had been updated, but it was still
in draft form as there were outstanding items to be added. Members referred to
the discussions held at the recent forward work programme workshop held in May,
and referred to the two suggestions made by Members for task and finish
projects, which included the role and support of school governors, and healthy
schools/obesity. The Committee agreed to prioritise the task and finish project
for healthy schools/obesity, which would be scoped and brought back to a later
meeting for comment. The
Committee noted the forward work programme. |
|
To select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board Agenda for pre-scrutiny (Cabinet Board reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members). Minutes: 3. PRE-SCRUTINY The
Committee chose to scrutinise the following items: Cabinet
Board Proposals 3.1
Welsh Government Feminine Hygiene
Grant The
Committee received information in relation to the Welsh Government Feminine
Hygiene Grant as contained within the circulated report. Members
queried why an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) had not been completed and
attached to the report. Officers explained that the report was for information
only, and that it was generally held that reports for information were not
usually subject to EIAs. Members commented that it may have been useful to
complete an EIA to demonstrate the positive impact that this particular item
had made. Members
questioned whether the grant money received from Welsh Government (WG) covered
the schools’ costs for purchasing feminine hygiene products. Officers stated
that the grant subsidised the costs and eased the financial pressure on
schools, but did not cover all the costs. Officers informed Members that once
the grant money ceased the schools would have to pay the full cost from their
own budget once again. Members
queried the timescale for purchasing the products using the grant funding and
distributing them to the schools. Officers explained that the schools were
already providing products to pupils from their own budgets. Officers added
that the only potential delay in using the grant funding would be if WG
specified that the money would have to be spent on vending machines to
distribute products to pupils; otherwise it was envisaged that there would be
no issue as the products would be given out via the existing mechanisms already
established by the schools. Members
queried whether there was any data available which could provide an indication
of how many pupils relied on products from the schools, in order to try to
understand the magnitude of the situation. Officers stated that no specific
data had been collected to date, but it was possible that the information could
be obtained from the records held by the schools on the number of products
purchased and the number of products distributed to pupils. Officers added that
it had been previously deemed unnecessary to quantify as the schools were
responding to the problem, and pupils were receiving the products that they
required. Members
questioned whether pupils in special needs schools were also receiving feminine
hygiene products. Officers confirmed that all schools including special needs
schools were providing products free of charge to pupils. Members
queried whether work was being progressed across the various portfolios to look
at how pupils who were unable pay for feminine hygiene products could receive
them free of charge outside of school times. Officers acknowledged that there
was currently no provision to provide products for pupils outside school times,
and agreed that this needed to be looked at. Members questioned whether
officers had spoken to other organisations who were currently providing similar
support to young girls such as Wings Cymru. Officers
commented that they were not aware of the organisation and stated that they
would make enquiries. Members questioned whether a portion ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |