Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the

meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the

meeting.

There were no declarations of interest received.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.

Members considered items from the Cabinet Forward Work Programme.

Following scrutiny, members supported the recommendation in the draft Cabinet report.

Officers provided an overview of the report as contained within the agenda pack.

Members complimented officers on the work undertaken in this area.

Members referred to the reference in the report of ‘lighting to make children feel more secure and safe and clean green spaces.’ Members questioned what interaction was taken between directorates; other directorates are proposing a reduction in street lighting and park gates have been left open, which has resulted in reports of antisocial behaviour and more littering in those areas.

Officers confirmed that the Play Strategic Implementation Group contained members from other directorates within the authority, such as planning and neighbourhood services. Work is undertaken by the group to address these issues.

Members enquired whether the authority engaged with grassroots sports clubs and commented that there are many qualified volunteers who could assist in providing play opportunities for children.

Officers confirmed that work is undertaken with third sector organisations but there is more work to do over the next three years. During the consultation period, third sector organisations were relied on to make connections with local sports clubs and this link can be explored further. Young people have communicated that they would like more access to football in parks as well as through sports clubs. Through the Communication plan, parents will be advised of what is available in their local area.

Members commented that some local facilities need improvements.

Officers stated that the Local Authority Grants Officer, works closely with Town and Community Councils, to support organisations to apply for grants to enable facilities to be improved.

Members commented that play opportunities for children and young people were vital.

Members enquired whether any consideration had been given regarding the visibility of the Welsh language in relation to signage in parks. The visibility of the Welsh language is important particularly for Welsh speaking children and young people; more could be done to promote the Welsh language through play.

Officers agreed that Welsh speaking children and young people wanted information to be communicated to them within their own first language. This is something that will be raised and taken forward.

Members referred to page 36 of the report and the mention that there was no representative of the Play Sufficiency Implementation Group on the West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board.

Officers advised members that there had been no call for this previously. This is the first year within the assessment toolkit, that the Welsh Government has asked this question. Representation on the Regional Partnership Board will be explored.

Members asked if any concern was held over a lack of play opportunities for children and young people in rural areas. Is there any inequality in attendance at after school clubs due to children and young people living in rural areas and the lack of public transport?

Officers confirmed that after school clubs would fall under the remit of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessments so this would not have been considered in depth, as part of the Play Sufficiency Assessment. The team responsible  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3a

·        There are no items to consider from the Scrutiny Committee

Forward Work Programme.

There were no items to consider from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme.

There were no items to consider from the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme.

Members considered the Performance Monitoring item.

Members considered the Performance Monitoring item.

Service Improvement Plans

·        Education Development

·        Child and Family Support Team

·        Early Years and Partnerships Service

·        Inclusion Service

·        Employability, Skills and Poverty  

·        Education Support Services 

·        Transformation (Strategic School Improvement Programme and Welsh in Education Strategic Plan)

Following scrutiny, the report was

noted.

The Head of Education Development advised members that there are seven Service Improvement Plans that sit below three of the four Heads of Service in Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning. The plans will be updated annually in line with the ESTYN recommendations and the revised Corporate Strategy Plan 2025-2028.

Members enquired how regularly the committee would receive updates on the Service Improvement Plans.

The Head of Service advised members it is likely that Service Improvement Plans will move towards Business Plans, to align with other directorates. Time needs to be given to align the plans with the Corporate Strategy and Estyn Inspection recommendations. Work will be undertaken with the Chair and Democratic Services to identify an appropriate timescale for updates. Members can request the information at any time, but it was noted that some of the information may not be available on a quarterly basis and most of the improvement plans will need at least an annual approach to achieve any actions within them and performance monitoring.

Members noted the reliance on grants to fund certain posts and enquired whether the authority was in a position to know how stable the grants are and whether they will continue in the same form.

The Head of Education Development advised members that grants, by their nature were unreliable. It is not anticipated that Welsh Government will remove grants due to the nature of the improvements that are being worked on. But there are no certainties that grants would continue.

Officers provided an example to members; in one team, confirmation of the continuation of grants was not provided by Welsh Government until four weeks before the staff contracts were due to expire. This provides difficulties for staff.

Members requested that any changes expected in grants be communicated to scrutiny committee as soon as possible?

Members referred to page 80 of the report and the mention of the home education team collating information and formal feedback from parents on the   level of support that they are receiving. Members enquired whether any initial information was available in relation to the feedback collated.

The Head of Education Development confirmed that a full report would be brought to the committee as specified on the Forward Work Programme.

Officers confirmed that the feedback was collated from parents on an ongoing basis. The report being brought to committee will contain the most recent updates relating to parent feedback. Officers confirmed that parents do not have to engage and provide feedback to the authority and there is no legal right for the authority to physically see a child on a visit to a home schooled child.

Members acknowledged that budget pressures mentioned in the report can place an additional burden on services. Is there a mitigation plan going forward to address this.

The Head of Education Development, responded for his service area, that where services are grant funded, any reduced funding stream could have an impact on the service provided or redundancies.

Members enquired whether there were sufficient plans in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5a

·       Cabinet Forward Work Programme

·       Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme

The Forward Work Programme was

noted.

Officers referred to the Cabinet and Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programmes contained within the agenda pack, and members were given the opportunity to request further items for consideration.

Members were advised that the School Funding Formula Review report has moved on the Cabinet Forward Work Programme from the 26th of November to the 16th of December Cabinet and this will enable the scrutiny committee to consider that item for pre decision scrutiny on the 27th of November.

In agreement with the Chair, the following reports were added to the Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Programme:

•         Pupil and Staff Wellbeing – 27th November 2025

•         Development of literacy in Neath Port Talbot Schools - 8th January 2026

•         Development of numeracy in Neath Port Talbot Schools – 8th January 2026

•         Additional Learning Needs Provision and Progress – 19th February 2026

Members discussed a previously proposed Strategic Schools Improvement Programme (SSIP) Workshop.

The Head of Support Services and Transformation advised members that a report was brought to Cabinet and Scrutiny Committee previously to ask Cabinet for permission to submit the rolling program. A further report will be brought to Cabinet possibly within six months to revise the programme due to rising financial costs and the report will also be available for scrutiny.

Members requested sight of the SSIP Programme, and it was agreed that the previous reports would be re-circulated.

Members agreed that a workshop would not be beneficial at this time due to the forthcoming reports that can come to scrutiny committee.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to

Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as

amended)

There were no urgent items.

There were no urgent items.