Venue: Multi-Location Meeting - Council Chamber, Port Talbot & Microsoft Teams. View directions
Contact: Alison Thomas Email: a.thomas6@npt.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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Chair's Announcements Minutes: The
Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies
were received from Cllr. N. Gold-Up John and Cllr D. Thomas. The
Chair confirmed, Members of the Committee would scrutinise all items on the
Cabinet Agenda. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: Declarations
of interest were received from Cllr. D Whitelock, Cllr R. Mizen, Cllr. J.Jones, Cllr. P. Rees and Cllr. W. Carpenter who declared
they were Members of the SACRE Committee. Cllr.
S. Reynolds made a declaration of interest against agenda item 14 of the Cabinet
Board Agenda. |
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Consultation on 2023/24 Budget Proposals PDF 918 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Members
were presented with the consultation on 2023/24 Budget Proposals, as outlined
and contained within the report circulated. Members
were reminded the report was presented in it’s full
entirety and were to focus on the information relating to this specific
Committee. Members
were requested to table any income generation suggestions along with potential
savings opportunities. Members
of the scrutiny committee raised questions relating to the funding of schools
and the support of pay awards to school staff for the year 2023/24. Officers
were able to clarify Schools would see a figure of 8.6% in terms of funding,
currently over and above the current rate of 7.1%. Officers also outlined
funding provided by Welsh Government during the Covid recovery process, and
Officers confirmed schools were in receipt of all the funding, of which,
assisted against the reserves budgets. Officers
highlighted the forthcoming industrial strike action, but at present due to the
uncertainty of the outcome and potential implications, should the pay award go
above the funding already available were unable to clarity the situation to
members. Members
next raised a query surrounding the home to school Transport and the proposed
9% figure. Officers were asked if there were any contingency plans available
should the figure increase due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and
secondly if inflation rates should also remain at a high. Officers
confirmed the 9% increase was noted to consider the current inflation costs
with an additional budget pressure of £1.276 million for school transport.
Officers outlined; the costs were proposed to support current rates in the hope
inflation would see a reduction over subsequent years with contracts proposed
to increase by 5%. Members were given a brief update in terms of a contingency
plan, with Officers stating that following a scoping exercise and that fact
budgets were at present balanced it was not viable to proceed any further.
Schemes to reduce travel costs and demands were outlined to Members, in
particular those for Children transitioning into adulthood. Members
queired the insourcing of Leisure Services and the
impact this would have on the budget. Officers confirmed the implementation had
been proposed to delay this for a further twelve months. The costs however are reflected
within the medium term budget plan. A
reduction of energy costs in terms of solar panels and proposed schemes was
discussed with Members informed, Officers were currently assessing buildings
surrounding this topic. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: Members
were presented with an overview to the report by Officers. Members
noted the positive effects of recent appointments made in terms of child psychology
officers. Officers also outlined members the opportunity of appointing speech
and language therapists. This as prioritised post pandemic and
, done via funding granting sources. Members
highlighted the difficulties of children in terms of transition periods
returning to school following the pandemic. Officers were pleased to inform
Members of appointments made in terms of child psychologists, re-engaging with
children and families, assisting with mental health issues raised due to the
effect of the pandemic. Members
were informed a report would be expected in the near future in conjunction with
Social Services. Officers went on to state a Covid-19 forward action
plan, was to continue as an ongoing document, and Members would be updated with
future information reports. The report is for information purposes, therefore
the report was noted. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny
(Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members) Minutes: Cabinet Agenda items, agreed to be scrutinised. Agenda item 7 – Participation and Engagement Strategy Members
were informed the Strategy had involved many stakeholders within the engagement
process. Particular responses were seen from children and young people.
Officers were keen to highlight the importance of involving these specific
stakeholders in the development stages. Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported
to Cabinet Board. Agenda item 8 – The Agreed Syllabus for Religion, Values and Ethics in
Neath Port Talbot Schools. The recommendation was supported to Cabinet Board. Agenda item 9 – School
Improvement Team Members
raised a question in terms of schools within Neath Port Talbot of special
measures and improvements. Officers were able to clarify, there were currently
none requiring these. Officers confirmed investigations of this nature would be
formally carried out by Estyn. Following scrutiny, the report was noted. Agenda item 10 – Employability and Skills Update report Officers
were able to clarify to Officers that the Communities plu,
would be replaced by the new Welsh Government funded programme as of the 1st of April 2023, covering young people
from ages 16 above. Members
were updated on ongoing collaborations between departments in Directorates in
terms of providing information to young people of available programmes. Following
scrutiny, the report was noted. Agenda item 11 – Margam Castle Cadw Grant Funding. Members
were provided with an overview of the grant funding in terms of emergency works
to repairs to the fabric of the building. Officers went on the explain, the works
once complete were anticipated to allow public access which was at present
unavailable. Officers
further updated Members to a 5-year ongoing project fully funded by Heritage
Lottery, that would see the project in receipt of £10k. Members
congratulated officers on the successful funding. Following scrutiny, the report was noted. Agenda item 12 – Leisure Services Report Members
were provided with an update on the report. Members were informed due to
financial constraints, the initial timeline date had been delayed by twelve
months, and was now proposed to be 1st of April 2024, as opposed to
2023. Members
queried financial details of insourcing Leisure Services and the effect on the
budget gap. Officers
responded that Members would be able to source information from the devised
Business plan, which would be circulated following the meeting. Members were
informed of potential income generation and energy efficiency saving measures. Members
were given a brief overview of the Councils expectations once the service had
fully been established back into the Authority. Following scrutiny, the report was noted. Agenda item 14 – Supplementary report – Expansion of Flying Start
Childcare – Phase 2. Members
made enquiries on the capital bill situated at Cwmavon,
and asked Officers for an update to this. Officers confirmed all surveys were
now complete and the proposed completion date of March 2024 was on track. Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported
to Cabinet Board. |
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Forward Work Programme 2022/23 PDF 416 KB Minutes: That
the Forward Work Programme 2033/23 for Education, Skills and Scrutiny Committee
be noted. |
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Urgent Items Any
urgent items (whether public or exempt) at the discretion of the Chairperson
pursuant to Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972. Minutes: No
urgent items were received. |