Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 September 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 26 September 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
RESOLVED: a) That the update report on Home to School Transport be noted. b) That the publication of the survey on Home to School Transport in February 2024 be supported. Note: Councillor Chris Brockley declared a personal interest in the above item as he is employed by Coleg Llandrillo. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Brockley was able to speak and vote on the matter.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Carol Beard, Cheryl Carlisle, Keith Eeles, Ifor Lloyd and Roz Harrison (Co-opted Member).
Councillor Chris Brockley declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8a (To provide members with an update on the Home to School Transport Consultation) as he is employed by Coleg Llandrillo. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Brockley was able to speak and vote on the matter.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 September 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 September 2023 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 19 September 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 26 September 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 26 September 2023 were submitted. RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 26 September 2023 be noted.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer presented Members with the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP. The following was highlighted: · The review of the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision had been moved from January 2024 to April 2024 in light of some recommendations regarding what should be included in the new statutory review. · The update on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan had been deferred until March 2024. · The strategic outline plan for the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme would be presented to the meeting on 21 May 2024. RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: a) That the update report on Home to School Transport be noted. b) That the publication of the survey on Home to School Transport in February 2024 be supported. Note: Councillor Chris Brockley declared a personal interest in the above item as he is employed by Coleg Llandrillo. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Brockley was able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced an update report on the home to school transport consultation, which was due to be undertaken in February 2024 and the Strategic Manager - Education Property and Site Management highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • The impact of removing discretionary transport to Welsh medium schools over the statutory distance and how this could affect the Welsh Government’s target of increasing Welsh language education. • The Head of Education Services confirmed that work was ongoing in respect of improving Welsh standards within all schools. • It terms of equity, it was important that all areas of non-statutory home to school transport were consulted on and it was confirmed that an equality impact assessment would be undertaken in respect of any proposals. • It was noted that the Council currently transported some pupils to Welsh language schools which were outside of the county. • It was only as a result of the Council’s financial situation that the non-statutory elements of home to school transport were being consulted upon and that transport would still be provided for those who travelled over 2 miles (primary school) or over 3 miles (secondary school). • It was confirmed that reference to ‘looked after children’ would need to be amended to ‘children looked after’ within the report and consultation. • The Strategic Manager - Education Property and Site Management confirmed that the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) did not allow for services to be charged for. From 1 August 2026 all vehicles would be required to comply with PSVAR in full. • In order to provide some context to the consultation, the Head of Education Services confirmed that further information could be provided in respect of each of the discretionary elements. • It was suggested that a breakdown of figures in respect of discretionary home to school transport would be useful. However, it was noted that this information would be provided as part of the consultation on the Council Tax. • It was suggested that parents/guardians could decide to undertake alternative transport arrangements such as car sharing. • Concern was noted in respect of the procurement, management and audit of school transport contracts. • Whilst savings relating to home to school transport would not be realised until 2025/2026, reassurance was provided that other savings would be implemented in 2024/2025. • It was suggested that consideration be given to utilising school mini buses. • . • Post 16 transport was non-statutory and would be consulted on. RESOLVED: a) That the update report on Home to School Transport be noted. b) That the publication of the survey on Home to School Transport in February 2024 be supported. Note: Councillor Chris Brockley declared a personal interest in the above item as he is employed by Coleg Llandrillo. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Brockley was able to speak and vote on the matter.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced a report which set out the proposed bridging loan request process and delegated authority and the Head of Finance highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • In response to concerns that a loan option may discourage schools from balancing their budgets, the Head of Education confirmed that schools were looking at their staffing structures and that regular meetings were held with finance officers. A loan was the last resort for schools. • The School Budget Forum has supported the proposal to charge interest to schools for loans, due to the current financial climate. • It was suggested that interest on loans should be charged to the school taking out the loan and not shared across all schools. • Whilst loan requests for less than £100k would not be presented to the democratic process, in the interest of transparency, a robust process was in place to challenge the requirement for a loan and financial information would be reported to school governors, which would include a parent governor. • It was suggested that publicising school financial information could have a negative impact and misinform parents as there were many reasons that a school could require a loan. • The Cabinet Member for Education advised that Conwy County Borough Council was one of the only Councils in Wales that did not operate a licenced deficit provision for schools. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the revised School Bridging Loan Request Process be approved. b) That the delegated arrangements set out in the report be approved. c) That a joint Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee schools loan application panel be established to consider detailed loan requests for £100,000 and over and make recommendations to Cabinet or Council. That schools be charged interest on bridging loans in line with the ‘Scheme for financing schools maintained by Conwy Education Service’ with effect in the current financial year. And, that the School Budget Forum determines how the interest payable is applied.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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