Minutes:
Members
received the report of the Head of Transformation in relation to the
above. Members were asked to note that
the report was not asking Members to agree the particular proposals contained
in the report, which, if funding was approved, would come before the Education,
Skills and Leisure Scrutiny Committee/Cabinet Board for decision, on a
piecemeal basis and would be subject to the necessary consultation. The Welsh Government had only asked for
expressions of interest at this point in time. Members also noted that the
Welsh Government had indicated that the Band B proposals may extend into 2026.
Members
then raised the following:-
·
That it would have been of benefit if Officers of the Education
Directorate had discussed the contents of the report with the Head Teachers and
Governors of the schools mentioned in the report – as had been done in relation
to Band A. Members were disappointed
that the first schools knew was a letter received on 29 September 2017.
·
Members highlighted the importance of not only improving teaching
conditions but also the sporting facilities, also developing community
partnerships in this regard, where possible.
·
Concern was expressed at the amount of money to be spent on Welsh medium
education, and Members were advised that in the region of £42m would be spent
in the 21st Century Schools improvement programme. As a result of improvements in the South of
the County Borough, pupils who currently attend school in the North would
relocate to schools closer to where they lived.
This would result in the re modelling of the provision. In addition it was confirmed that there was
potential for the new school in Coed Darcy to be a
Welsh medium provision.
·
The local Member expressed concern at the rational for the proposals in
relation to Cwmtawe, as it was both successful and
oversubscribed. It was also felt that
the proposals in the report had affected the morale of staff and would have a
detrimental effect on recruitment. In
addition the vehicular access was at present an issue. Officers responded and
advised that there were a number of 3-16 models for consideration in relation
to the future of Cwmtawe and that no decision would
be made in relation thereto at today’s meeting.
·
Members supported the proposal to upgrade a second tranche of schools,
however concern was expressed in using the Mutual Investment Model to fund part
of the proposals as it was too similar to Private Finance Initiatives (PFI’s) which
had proved to be problematic.
·
Members also asked whether there was a further list of schools should
any of the schools mentioned in the report not be progressed. Officers confirmed that there was as some
schools had contacted the Directorate and were unhappy at not being included in
Band B.
·
The Director of Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that finances
were available to progress the schemes, some as part of a 106 Agreement, but
reiterated that today’s report was not asking for Cabinet to commit the
resources.
(At
this point in the meeting Councillor L. Purcell disclosed an interest as she
works at Rhydyfro Primary School as a volunteer and
took no further part in the discussions or voting on the report as it referred
to Rhydyfro Primary School).
· The relevant Cabinet Member
reiterated that over the last 7 years the Authority had invested £42m in Welsh
medium education and again stressed that a decision in relation to each school,
contained in the report, would be dealt with on an individual basis. The report had been produced as a result of
Welsh Government asking for expressions of interest in the next round of 21st
Century School funding.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet.