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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 Cabinet held on 8 September 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.
RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Betws y Coed with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to provide home to school transport from September 2027 to either Ysgol Dolwyddelan, or Ysgol Capel Garmon for those children currently at Ysgol Betws y Coed for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the federalised school governing body of Ysgol Betws y Coed, Ysgol Dolwyddelan and Ysgol Capel Garmon. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to offer home to school transport from September 2027 to Ysgol Pentrefoelas for those children currently at Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the school governing body of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
RESOLVED- That, as a consequence of the tragedy that occurred in Llanfairfechan, the item be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet on 20 October 2026.
RESOLVED- (a) That the Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Model (LLM) Policy version 2.0, attached at Appendix A, be approved as the Council’s corporate governance framework for the use of AI. (b) That the three-tier AI governance model – Microsoft 365 Copilot, Conwy AI Helpers, and external frontier LLMs such as Claude – and the four-tier data classification framework that underpins it be noted. (c) That it be noted that the that generic and service-specific guidance is being developed under this policy and will be brought forward separately. (d) That delegate authority be given to the Head of Innovation and Transformation, in consultation with the Information Governance Service, to make minor or technical amendments to the Policy between scheduled reviews, with any substantive changes reported back to Cabinet.
RESOLVED- That the Maternity and New Child Policy be approved.
None.
Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8(i) (Objection Report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Betws Y Coed), as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the school governing body of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter. Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8(ii) (Objection Report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan), as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the federalised school governing body of Ysgol Betws y Coed, Ysgol Dolwyddelan and Ysgol Capel Garmon. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 September 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 September 2026 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 September 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The Leader welcomed Jenny Williams, who had been appointed as Acting Chief Executive, and sent well wishes to the Chief Executive.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.
Members were presented with the Forward Work Programme for the Cabinet. RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Betws y Coed with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to provide home to school transport from September 2027 to either Ysgol Dolwyddelan, or Ysgol Capel Garmon for those children currently at Ysgol Betws y Coed for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the federalised school governing body of Ysgol Betws y Coed, Ysgol Dolwyddelan and Ysgol Capel Garmon. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education presented the Objection Report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed and sought approval for the recommendations within the report to close the school. The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Governance Services, who was also the Local Ward Member for Uwch Conwy, advised that it had been a difficult time for the community. The Cabinet Member proposed an additional recommendation to provide home to school transport from September 2027 to either Ysgol Dolwyddelan, or Ysgol Capel Garmon for those children currently at Ysgol Betws y Coed for the period of their primary education. The Cabinet Member for Education advised that the recommendation would be an exception to the Home to School Transport Policy but was supportive for Cabinet to make the decision. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Providing home to school transport for all the children would ensure that friendship groups were maintained for those pupils transferring to a new school. · The Local Ward Member for Betws y Coed and Trefriw reiterated community opposition and requested that the Ysgol Betws y Coed site be retained and considered for additional learning needs provision; officers advised that any future use would follow the Council’s usual processes and require evidence of need. · In terms of the cost of the home to school transport, it was confirmed that it would be an exception to the Home to School Policy and would apply only until the affected pupils completed primary education and cost an estimated £120,000, subject to parental choice and existing provision. · The Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Infrastructure advised that as he sat on the Home to School Transport Dispute Panel, he would abstain from the vote on the recommendation relating to home to school transport. · The Cabinet Member for Education further proposed retaining any savings within the school modernisation budget, subject to the Council’s usual financial and budget-setting processes. RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Betws y Coed with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Betws y Coed remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to provide home to school transport from September 2027 to either Ysgol Dolwyddelan, or Ysgol Capel Garmon for those children currently at Ysgol Betws y Coed for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the federalised school governing body of Ysgol Betws y Coed, Ysgol Dolwyddelan and Ysgol Capel Garmon. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to offer home to school transport from September 2027 to Ysgol Pentrefoelas for those children currently at Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the school governing body of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education presented the Objection Report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan and sought approval for the recommendations within the report to close the school. The Cabinet Member Culture, Leisure and Governance Services proposed an additional recommendation to provide home to school transport from September 2027 to Ysgol Pentrefoelas for those children currently at Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan for the period of their primary education. Discussion ensued as follows:- · The Local Ward Member for Uwch Aled thanked the Ysbyty Ifan Community Council, parents and staff for their dignified handling of the situation. The Member expressed disappointment and recognised the scale and difficulty of the decision. The Member raised concerns with regard to the lack of planning for depopulation, alongside a commitment to sustaining Welsh-speaking communities and supporting their future viability. · The estimated transport cost for the current cohort until the end of primary education was £80,000. This was not wholly additional expenditure, as transport was already being provided, and would reduce the net savings. · The Cabinet Member for Education further proposed retaining any savings within the school modernisation budget, subject to the Council’s usual financial and budget-setting processes. RESOLVED- (a) That the contents of the report on the Proposed Closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan and the Objection Report attached at Appendix A, including the objections received during the statutory objection period and the Authority’s responses to those objections be noted. (b) That the School Organisation Code (2018), the Consultation Report, the statutory Impact Assessments, the assessment of reasonable alternatives, the cumulative impact assessment, Estyn’s consultation response and the presumption against the closure of rural schools be noted. (c) That the objections received and the evidence presented be determined as not giving rise to any matter that would justify amending or withdrawing the proposal. (d) That the implementation of the proposal to discontinue Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan with effect from 31 August 2027 be approved. (e) That the principal that savings from the closure of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan remain within the Schools Budget for reinvestment in education be supported, subject to the Council's normal financial governance and annual budget-setting arrangements. (f) That an exception be made in terms of the Home to School Transport Policy to offer home to school transport from September 2027 to Ysgol Pentrefoelas for those children currently at Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan for the period of their primary education. Note: Councillor Dilwyn Roberts declared a personal interest in the above item, as he sits as a Local Education Authority Governor on the school governing body of Ysgol Ysbyty Ifan. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Roberts was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That, as a consequence of the tragedy that occurred in Llanfairfechan, the item be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet on 20 October 2026.
As a result of the recent tragedy in Llanfairfechan, the Cabinet Member for Education sought approval to defer the report. It was not considered appropriate in the circumstances to consider the proposals. The thoughts of Cabinet were with the pupils, school and community of Llanfairfechan. RESOLVED- That, as a consequence of the tragedy that occurred in Llanfairfechan, the item be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet on 20 October 2026.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Model (LLM) Policy version 2.0, attached at Appendix A, be approved as the Council’s corporate governance framework for the use of AI. (b) That the three-tier AI governance model – Microsoft 365 Copilot, Conwy AI Helpers, and external frontier LLMs such as Claude – and the four-tier data classification framework that underpins it be noted. (c) That it be noted that the that generic and service-specific guidance is being developed under this policy and will be brought forward separately. (d) That delegate authority be given to the Head of Innovation and Transformation, in consultation with the Information Governance Service, to make minor or technical amendments to the Policy between scheduled reviews, with any substantive changes reported back to Cabinet.
The Cabinet Member for Education sought approval for the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Model (LLM) Policy. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Councillor training requirements would be clarified and progressed through the Democratic Services Committee for recommendation to Council, subject to the usual processes and mandatory training policies. · Members welcomed the informative presentation and forthcoming training, noting the potential for GenAI to support staff effectiveness and engagement. · In terms of usage within Social Care, safeguarding assurances had been provided. · It was noted that the Joint Council for Wales were reviewing an all Wales charter for the use of GenAI. RESOLVED- (a) That the Generative AI (GenAI) and Large Language Model (LLM) Policy version 2.0, attached at Appendix A, be approved as the Council’s corporate governance framework for the use of AI. (b) That the three-tier AI governance model – Microsoft 365 Copilot, Conwy AI Helpers, and external frontier LLMs such as Claude – and the four-tier data classification framework that underpins it be noted. (c) That it be noted that the that generic and service-specific guidance is being developed under this policy and will be brought forward separately. (d) That delegate authority be given to the Head of Innovation and Transformation, in consultation with the Information Governance Service, to make minor or technical amendments to the Policy between scheduled reviews, with any substantive changes reported back to Cabinet.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Maternity and New Child Policy be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult Services and Human Resources sought approval of the Maternity and New Child Policy. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Members welcomed the revised family-friendly Policy, which was clear and accessible. · In response to concerns relating to post-maternity burnout and whether data was collected, officers advised that the data was unavailable and could be intrusive to collect. · Support was available through managers, which included family-friendly leave. · Flexible working supported returners and carers. RESOLVED- That the Maternity and New Child Policy be approved.
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