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RESOLVED that the Welsh Language Monitoring report 2025/26 be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Welsh Language.
RESOLVED that the proposals to commence formal statutory consultation on the Welsh language provision at Ysgolion Bro Banw, Griffith Jones, Llangynnwr and Llandybie be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet.
RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Catering Service Review update be received; 6.2 a further report be presented to the Committee in the Autumn 2026.
RESOLVED that the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be endorsed.
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
RESOLVED that the Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan 2026/27 be approved.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor H. Jones.
Councillor Minute Item(s) Nature of Interest Cllr. M. Palfreman 4. Annual Report on the Welsh Language 2025-26 Personal - the report referred to consultancy support provided to the council by an organisation which Cllr. Palfreman is an associate. Cllr. S.M. Allen 4. Annual Report on the Welsh Language 2025-26 Personal - Council appointed member of the Welsh Language Advisory panel. Cllr. E. Skinner 4. Annual Report on the Welsh Language 2025-26 Personal - Council appointed member of the Welsh Language Advisory panel. Cllr. L. Bowen* 4. Annual Report on the Welsh Language 2025-26 Wife works in the Council’s Translation Unit Cllr. P. Hughes-Griffiths 5. Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) Son in law works in Ysgol Llandybie. Cllr. B. W. Jones 7. Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring report 2025/26 Son is Headteacher of a school within Carmarthenshire. Cllr Jones has been granted dispensation by the Standards Committee allowing her to speak and make representations only. *declaration made during item 4 There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
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RESOLVED that the Welsh Language Monitoring report 2025/26 be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Welsh Language.
[NOTE: Councillors S.M. Allen, L. Bowen, M. Palfreman and E. Skinner, having declared an interest in this item remained in the meeting during its consideration and voting thereof]. The Committee received for consideration the Annual Report on the Welsh Language for 2025/26 which had been produced to comply with the Welsh Language Commissioner’s monitoring arrangements in accordance with the standards enshrined within the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. The Cabinet Member for Communities and Welsh Language referred to the key role of the Welsh Language Strategic Forum in the development and implementation of the action plans for the Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2023-2028 and which ensured a clear focus on increasing daily use of the language across the County's communities. Similarly, it was noted that the Welsh Language Advisory Panel had contributed significantly to strengthening the Authority’s strategic direction. The Cabinet Member for Communities and Welsh Language provided a synopsis of the key areas of activity during the reporting period and noted that a video highlighting the achievements of the Canolfan Brianne Welsh Language Immersion Centre at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr would be circulated to the Committee. The Committee reviewed the key themes within the report, including workforce language skills, learning and development activity, compliance with standards, and engagement with communities and partners. A number of comments and queries were made and addressed in respect of the report. The main matters were as follows: • Reference was made to the ‘Leading in a Bilingual Country’ initiative delivered by Academi Wales whereby it was noted that insights from the programme had been tailored for an initiative within the Council to facilitate leadership in a bilingual organisation. The Director of Education and Leisure confirmed that further work was underway to progress the Council’s vision in this regard and an update would be available in due course. • Concerns were raised regarding the ongoing trend of young people leaving the County in order to pursue higher education or job opportunities that led a decrease in the number of Welsh-speaking young people within some areas, which, in turn, challenged the linguistic stability of the community. It was explained to the Committee that funding for the ARFOR initiative, which provided support for the Welsh language to prosper through economic interventions, had ceased and whilst the Authority continued to monitor the situation, it had limited influence in respect of migration. • In response to a query it was confirmed that the Authority would be utilising the Thinqi learning platform in its endeavours to address the data gap in terms of the 1000 plus members of staff who had not recorded their level of Welsh language skills. It was acknowledged that this cohort of staff mainly comprised frontline employees with limited access to computers. • The Committee was advised that all public facing staff were expected to ensure that language preferences were consistently respected in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards, however some compliance issues had been identified by way of complaints received by the Authority. An assurance was provided that the Authority endeavoured to learn from the feedback provided to improve the public's experience when accessing Welsh language services. • The Committee was assured to note that the Authority’s intention was to continue to ensure that the Welsh language was central to the strategic decisions and to build on the work undertaken to date. It was reported, in response to a query, that the daily use of Welsh language naturally within the workplace had increased in recent years and was prominent across the Council. In respect of marketing, the Council was leading on the promotion strategy and worked alongside partner agencies to create more opportunities to use the Welsh language naturally. • The Committee commended the positive progress made during the reporting period and endorsed the Authority’s endeavours to support continued improvement and development of the Council’s Welsh language provision. RESOLVED that the Welsh Language Monitoring report 2025/26 be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet Member for Communities and Welsh Language.
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RESOLVED that the proposals to commence formal statutory consultation on the Welsh language provision at Ysgolion Bro Banw, Griffith Jones, Llangynnwr and Llandybie be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet.
[NOTE: Councillor P. Hughes-Griffiths, having earlier declared an interest in this item remained in the meeting during its consideration but did not vote]. The Committee considered a report which outlined proposals to implement regulated alterations to the Welsh language provision at Ysgolion Bro Banw, Griffith Jones, Llangynnwr and Llandybie. The report set out proposals to commence a formal statutory consultation process for each school, in accordance with the School Organisation Code 2026, and in line with the strategic objectives of Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2022–2032, national policy aims including Cymraeg 2050, and the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025. The Committee was advised that the overall aim of the proposals was to strengthen Welsh-medium provision by enhancing early immersion opportunities, ensuring clearer and more consistent progression pathways across the primary phase, delivering the outcomes and ambitions of Carmarthenshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and supporting the long-term growth and sustainability of the Welsh language. In considering the consultation documents and impact assessments appended to the report, the Committee was advised that engagement had been undertaken with headteachers and governing bodies, and their feedback had been considered in the development of the proposals put forth for consideration. An overview of the proposals for each school was provided to the Committee, as set out within the report and which broadly sought to increase the proportion of Welsh-medium (Category 3) provision to be implemented gradually on a year-by-year basis from September 2027, ensuring that existing pupils would not be adversely affected. In considering the statutory requirements, the Committee was informed that a formal consultation period would be initiated between 7 September 2026 and 20 October 2026 in order to provide stakeholders, including pupils, parents, staff and the wider community, with opportunities to review the proposals and submit feedback through various engagement activities. A report would be presented to the Cabinet for consideration prior to any final determination by Full Council in accordance with the following completion of the statutory process. A number of comments and queries were made and addressed in respect of the report. The main matters were as follows: • The Cabinet Member for Education, in response to a query, emphasised the importance of the county’s schools in moving forward along the Welsh language continuum and noted the Council’s intentions to progress at pace in this regard. • Consideration was given to the potential risks, including parental concerns for non-Welsh speaking families, workforce capacity, and pupil numbers, alongside mitigating measures such as stakeholder engagement and phased implementation. It was reported that the Authority would work with each school to develop a deliverable scheme in terms of the resources required, professional development of staff, and communication with the community. The Committee was appraised of the anticipated educational benefits of early Welsh language immersion, including evidence of improved bilingual proficiency, cognitive development and enhanced long-term outcomes for learners. An assurance was provided that schools could provide additional support to families and pupils as required. • The Committee concluded that implementation of the proposals was expected to have a positive impact on educational standards, Welsh language development, and learner progression. • In closing, the Director of Education and Leisure commended the Welsh Language Development Manager and his team for the significant work in developing robust and comprehensive proposals in accordance with legislative compliance. RESOLVED that the proposals to commence formal statutory consultation on the Welsh language provision at Ysgolion Bro Banw, Griffith Jones, Llangynnwr and Llandybie be endorsed for consideration by the Cabinet.
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RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Catering Service Review update be received; 6.2 a further report be presented to the Committee in the Autumn 2026.
The Committee received a report which provided an update on the ongoing review of the Council’s education catering service. The report outlined the current financial and operational challenges, emerging strategic considerations, progress made to date and set out the next steps to identify a preferred operating model for the service going forward. The Committee noted that the service was operating at a significant projected overspend of approximately £500,000 per annum, driven by structural cost pressures, workforce challenges, and limited income generation within the existing in-house model. Members were appraised of challenges in respect of high levels of staff sickness absence, recruitment and retention difficulties, and the impact these issues were having on service delivery and resilience. The Committee also acknowledged the requirement to ensure continued compliance with Welsh Government standards and alignment with local strategic priorities, alongside the implications of changes to the school estate arising from the Modernising Education Programme. In closing, the Committee was advised that the next phase would involve a comprehensive options appraisal, stakeholder engagement and benchmarking, with a report to be presented in the autumn to inform a decision on the preferred future operating model for implementation during 2027/28. A number of comments and queries were made and addressed in respect of the report. The main matters were as follows: • The Head of Healthy Communities and Public Protection, in response to a query regarding local produce, referred to the success of the pilot schemes between various schools and Bremenda Isaf Farm to grow fresh, high-quality and affordable fruit and vegetables for schools. The pilot had provided learning opportunities to adapt and extend the initiative, alongside the current procurement frameworks with Castell Howell and Dole Foodservice to support the provision of circa 20,000 school meals each day. • In reviewing the progress made to date, it was confirmed that the initial desktop analysis had been completed which had identified of a range of potential delivery models, such as enhanced in-house provision, externalisation, and the establishment of a Local Authority Trading Company. It was recognised that examples from other authorities demonstrated opportunities for improved financial performance and operational flexibility. It was reported that further detailed work would be required to assess the financial, legal, and workforce implications of each option, alongside the potential impact on schools and pupils. • In view of the comments made by members regarding the voluntary contribution that could be made by parents/guardians to the school breakfast club, the Director of Education and Leisure highlighted the need for a holistic review of the school day, taking into consideration various elements such as play, sports, wellbeing and the childcare offer. • An assurance was provided that the follow up report would provide further details in respect of any impact on staff to ensure that any changes supported improved and aligned outcomes. • It was clarified that the overspend for the catering service was, in the main, a result of staff absences, and other contributory factors included a shortfall in grant funding from Welsh Government to meet the cost of free school meals in primary schools and income targets not being met. • It was questioned whether the recent Government announcement of £15m across Welsh Authorities to extend the free school meal provision for eligible secondary school pupils would be sufficient to meet the costs. The Director of Education and Leisure explained that it was understood that the provision would be rolled out from January 2027 to eligible year 7 and 8 pupils in the first instance, however further information and detail was required from Welsh Government to enable the Authority to consider costings. Whilst the Authority was fully supportive of the initiative, it was emphasised that the challenges, issues and risks would need to be taken into consideration to implement the initiative in a balanced and manageable manner. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that: 6.1 the Catering Service Review update be received; 6.2 a further report be presented to the Committee in the Autumn 2026.
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RESOLVED that the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report be received.
[NOTE: Councillor B.W. Jones, having earlier declared an interest in this item remained in the meeting during its consideration, but did not vote.] The Committee considered the 2025/26 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring report for Education services including Schools for the period as at 28th February 2026. The Committee’s attention was drawn to Appendix A whereby it was noted that the revenue budget forecasted an overspend of £8.4m. Within this, the Schools Delegated Budgets forecasted an overspend of £8.9m. The position remained unsustainable and required urgent action at an individual school level to reduce resourcing levels to bring expenditure in line with available budgets. It was however noted that Central Education Services forecasted an underspend of £442k against a net budget of £47m. In considering Appendices B and C, the Committee was appraised of the main revenue variances whereas Appendix D detailed the current forecast of individual schools’ delegated budgets. The Committee reviewed the main variances on capital schemes set out at Appendices E and F which showed a forecasted net spend of £6,928k compared with a working net budget of £23,010k thereby giving a -£16,081k variance. Appendix G to the report outlined the progress in delivering the proposed efficiencies for the current year. A number of comments and queries were made and addressed in respect of the report. The main matters were as follows: • It was clarified to the Committee that there had not been a freeze on School Redundancies / Early Voluntary Redundancies during 2025/26. Attention was drawn to the Capital Budget Monitoring set out at Appendix E to the report whereby further detail was requested on the over expenditure associated with the Amman Valley bus bays and changing facilities. It was agreed that the requested information would be circulated to the Committee. • Reference was made to the over expenditure incurred by secondary schools as detailed within Appendix D to the report. In response to a query regarding the key themes identified by the consultants, the Director of Education and Leisure confirmed that issues relating to staffing structures and declining pupil numbers had been identified, with opportunities relating to further collaboration between schools to enhance the learning offer. The Committee was advised that bespoke recommendations had also been provided to each school to address the issue. It was recognised that the challenges faced by the county’s schools was reflective of the national position and representations continued to be made to Welsh Government in respect of the education system funding requirements, especially in relation to Additional Learning Needs where significant consequential funding had been provided to Welsh Government. The Director of Education and Leisure advised that should schools not achieve the required progress to address the budget shortfall, the Authority would be duty bound to exercise its statutory powers to effect the necessary changes to return schools to a more sustainable financial footing. RESOLVED that the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report be received.
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RESOLVED that the report be endorsed.
The Committee received for consideration the Education and Young People Scrutiny Committee Annual Report which detailed the work undertaken by the Committee during the previous municipal year. The report had been prepared in accordance with Article 6.2 of the Council’s Constitution and provided an overview of the work programme and key issues addressed, whilst also incorporating any issues referred to, or from, the Cabinet, Task and Finish reviews, development sessions and member attendance. A number of comments and queries were made and addressed in respect of the report. The main matters were as follows: • Reference was made to the collective effort of the Committee, working with officers and Cabinet Members to add value and drive improvement to council services. • In response to a query regarding an error within section 2.6.3 of the report it was confirmed that the wording would be reviewed and amended as required. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be endorsed.
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RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
The Committee received an explanation for the non-submission of the following scrutiny report(s): • Modernising Education Programme Update UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
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RESOLVED that the Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan 2026/27 be approved.
The Committee reviewed its draft Forward Work Plan for 2026/27 which had been compiled following the Committee’s informal planning session held on the 17th April 2026 and subsequent feedback provided by members and officers. It was emphasised that the Forward Work Plan was a flexible document that could be updated throughout the year as and when required. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Education, Young People and the Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee Forward Work Plan 2026/27 be approved.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12th May 2026 be signed as a correct record.
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