Minutes:
The
Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:
Cabinet
Board Proposals
5.1 Education Lifelong learning Directorate
Delivery Plan
Members were provided with information on the
business plan for the Directorate of Education Leisure and Lifelong Learning 2017-20
as detailed in the circulated report.
Members asked how the number of Seven year old
children were going to be encouraged to be educated through the Medium of
Welsh. It was noted that it was a legal requirement to teach children through
the Medium of Welsh and one way of meeting this requirement was by providing
free transport to a welsh School through the Home 2 School transport. Officers
highlighted that the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan is due to come to a
future meeting which will make information more clear.
Members asked that Welsh Language Skills be
included in the Adult Education targets.
Members queried about the provision of Nursery
Education and to look to involve Flying Start when impacts are investigated in
the School Improvement Programme. It was asked for the impact to be looked at
when considering the Strategic School Improvement Programme. Officers confirmed
that updates on Flying Start is scheduled in the Forward Work programme to be
reported back to a future meeting and that the Strategic School Improvement
Programme report is due to come to a future meeting and officers will consider
the impact on flying start.
Members asked who is invited to attend the
well-being conference. Officers confirmed that every head teacher is invited to
attend.
Members were concerned that the performance measure
on page 32 of the circulated report ‘Improve the performance of boys in L2 by
2018 to 89%’ had reduced to 58.3%.
Members highlighted that the surplus places in Ysgol Newydd Briton Ferry and Ysgol Newydd Maram
were not totalling correctly. Officers highlighted that when a new school is
planned the catchment area is what is considered as opposed to the number of
pupils that go to that school. The Officer agreed to explore this further with
the relevant member.
Members asked if officers were confident that the
standards are being met with the budget pressures. Officers confirmed that they
are confident, however, if pressures get difficult then officers would relook
at the priorities and targets.
Members asked for the Participation and Sport
target to be increased.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet Board.
5.2 Strategic School Improvement Programme - Proposal to
Establish Specialist Provision for Primary Age Pupils with Social Emotional and
Behavioural Difficulties
Members received information on proposed specialist
provision for primary age pupils with social emotional and behavioural
difficulties. The specialist provisions are to be located at Coedffranc Primary School and at Crynallt
Primary School as detailed in the circulated report.
Members highlighted that staff would need to be
suitably skilled and that appropriate training would have to be anticipated and
that the impact would need to be evaluated over a 5 to 10 year period.
Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of
the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet Board.
5.3 Financing Schools – Reviewing the
Funding
Formula to Raise Standards
(Cllr. P.A.Rees
re-affirmed his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(Cllr.A.R.Lockyer
re-affirmed his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(Cllr.S.Miller
re-affirmed her interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(Cllr.D.Whitelock
re-affirmed his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(Cllr.R.L.Taylor
re-affirmed her interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(Cllr.R.Mizen re-affirmed
his interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(M.Caddick re-affirmed
her interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
(A.Amor re-affirmed his
interest at this point and withdrew for this item only)
Members received information on proposed changes to
the formula for allocating funding to schools. It was highlighted to members
that Option A was the preferred option following consultation, as detailed in
the circulated report.
At the meeting, members received a paper copy of the
funding formula options that were consulted upon.
Members queried how often the funding formula is
reviewed. Officers reported that the requirement is to review the funding
formula annually, however, it doesn’t follow that there will be changes made to
the formula at each annual review.
Members queried the longevity of the smaller
Schools. Officers highlighted that maintaining standards at smaller Schools can
be challenging, however, school organisation matters are considered on an area
by area basis and sometimes a small School is the most appropriate option.
Members queried whether class size grants would be
available within option A. Officers reported that head teachers proposed the
removal of class size grants
allocations in favour of a fairer way of distributing money. Officers also
reported that under a Welsh Government initiative there is a small Rural School
Grant available.
Members asked whether officers are comfortable with
the detrimental impact of the proposed funding formula on some schools and
whether support and help would be provided to those schools that need it.
Officers confirmed that they are and that schools would be appropriately
supported.
Members were concerned about the accumulation of
reserves in some Schools and asked for specific plans for reclaiming money from
excessive reserves held by schools. Officers highlighted legislative procedures
that enable an Authority to challenge schools with reserves in excess of 50k in
respect of Primary Schools and 100k for Secondary Schools. Officers will explore the potential for
reclaiming excessive reserves and will report to members on this matter at a
later date.
Members queried whether excessive reserves could be
calculated as a percentage of a school’s budget rather than a financial sum.
Officers reported that, whereas percentages could be used in future proposals,
to do so in this proposal could adversely affect the intended outcome.
Members asked whether the 75k threshold had been
modelled. Although the Welsh Government has set a reserve guide of 50k for
primary schools, officer consider 75k represents a reasonable threshold given
that there are fewer small schools within the county borough than was the case
when the Welsh Government figure was issued.
Members were disappointed with the 65% turn out on
the consultation.
Members asked for a report to be brought back to a
future meeting on a proposed mechanism for managing excessive school reserves.
Following scrutiny, it was agreed that Cabinet
Board be asked to consider the following recommendations:
Having given due regard to the impact assessment approval be
granted for:
a)
Option A as detailed in the circulated report to be the
basis for funding primary school budgets for the 2018/2019 financial year;
b)
the withholding of financial benefits resulting from Option
A to schools with reserves above the £75K threshold as at 31 March 2017;
c)
the methodology in the circulated report for the
redistribution of withheld funds to schools with a reduction in their budget
share allocation of more than £20K;
d)
the Director of
Education, Leisure and Lifelong Learning (or his nominated representative) and
the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Leader
of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture be
granted delegated authority to make alternative funding arrangements where,
specifically in relation to the £75K reserve threshold, the financial
circumstances of individual schools warrant further consideration and that any
use or refusal of an application be reported to the relevant Scrutiny
Committee.