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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the School Budget Forum held on 14 November 2024 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved together with the combined Forward Work Programme.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13, 14 and 15, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Antony Bertola and Trevor Stott.
Councillor Paul Luckock, declared a personal interest in agenda item 8a (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol Glan Gele and Ysgol Sant Elfod) as he is a Local Authority appointed governor for Ysgol St Elfod. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Luckock was able to speak on the matter. Councillor Bernice McLoughlin declared a personal interest in agenda item 8b (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen) as she is a Local Authority appointed governor for Ysgol Y Foryd. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor McLoughlin was able to speak on the matter. Councillor Kay Redhead declared a personal interest in agenda item 8b (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen) as she is a Local Authority appointed governor for Ysgol Y Foryd. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Redhead was able to speak and vote on the matter.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2024 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 December 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the School Budget Forum held on 14 November 2024 be noted.
The minutes of the meeting of the School Budget Forum held on 14 November 2024 were submitted. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the School Budget Forum held on 14 November 2024 be noted.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved together with the combined Forward Work Programme.
Members were presented with the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP. The report on Attendance, Engagement and Belonging had been deferred from the meeting on 1 April 2025 to the meeting on 6 May 2025, due to availability of data sources. RESOLVED: That the forward work programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved together with the combined Forward Work Programme.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced a report on the outcome of the consultation on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol Glan Gele and Ysgol Sant Elfod and the Strategic Manager - Education Property and Site Management highlighted key points from within the report. The purpose of the report was to consider the outcome of the consultation and to seek approval to proceed to the next stage of the process, which was to issue a statutory notice. In considering the responses to the consultation, the following was discussed: • The amalgamation was welcomed, especially as the local community was supportive. • The process would take between 18 and 24 months in line with statutory timelines and targets. • The Head of Education Services advised that the reallocation of savings realised from the amalgamation would require strategic consideration. • It was proposed and seconded that savings realised from school amalgamations be reinvested into school budgets. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That savings realised from school amalgamations be reinvested into school budgets. b) That the issuing of a statutory notice to formally amalgamate Ysgol Glan Gele and Ysgol Sant Elfod as one school be approved. Note: Councillors Paul Luckock, declared a personal interest in agenda item 8a (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol Glan Gele and Ysgol Sant Elfod) as he is a local authority appointed governor for Ysgol St Elfod. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Luckock was able to speak on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced a report on the outcome of the consultation on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen and the Strategic Manager Education Property and Site Management highlighted key points from within the report. The purpose of the report was to consider the outcome of the consultation and to seek approval to proceed to the next stage of the process, which was to issue a statutory notice. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That the issuing of a Statutory Notice to formally amalgamate Ysgol Y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen as one school be approved. Councillor Bernice McLoughlin declared a personal interest in agenda item 8b (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen) as she is a Local Authority appointed governor for Ysgol Y Foryd. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor McLoughlin was able to speak on the matter. Councillor Kay Redhead declared a personal interest in agenda item 8b (Consultation outcome report on the proposed amalgamation of Ysgol y Foryd and Ysgol Maes Owen) as she is a Local Authority appointed governor for Ysgol Y Foryd. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Redhead was able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced a report proposing to terminate the Inter Authority Agreement with the School Effectiveness and Improvement Service (GwE) and the Head of Education Services highlighted key points from within the report. It was proposed that the consortia would be disbanded on 31 May 2025 and all school improvement functions, services and support, would move to Local Authorities. The following was discussed: • The proposed new structure was likely to realise some savings, which would be reinvested into the education budget. • The Cabinet Member for Education extended her thanks to GwE officers for their hard work and dedication. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the termination of the agreement to work in partnership with other North Wales local authorities in the context of the regional School Effectiveness and Improvement Service (GwE) on the 31 May 2025 and subsequently dissolving the requirement for the GwE Joint-Committee be approved. That Conwy County Borough Council confirms its contractual commitment in relation to ending the arrangement.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13, 14 and 15, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following item as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13, 14 and 15, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
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