Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff crynodebau eu hysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion, sef ei gofnod swyddogol o'r hyn a benderfynodd cyfarfod. Maen nhw fel arfer yn ymddangos ychydig wythnosau ar ôl y cyfarfod.
Response by the Cabinet Member: Question Response 1 On what date was the most recent remeasurement undertaken? The Council’s Schools Estates Manager reviewed the capacity by reviewing the site plans for the campus, which include measurements for each space, with the Headteacher, and confirming with the Headteacher how the different spaces are currently being used. This is the usual process for carrying out capacity calculations. This was carried out in January 2026. 2 Who undertook it? As above. 3 What methodology was applied? The capacity was recalculated in accordance with the Welsh Government’s ‘Measuring the Capacity of Schools in Wales’ guidance. 4 Why was I not notified of this remeasurement, given that officers had previously agreed with me (email attached) that a fresh measurement would be carried out? The remeasurement was carried out in discussion with the Headteacher, and the outcome was shared with the Headteacher as is usual practice. Apologies that you were not notified of the remeasurement. 5 Why was the 149 figure not included in the consultation document itself, but only introduced retrospectively within the Consultation Report? The Consultation Document includes the latest capacity figure that was available to the Council when it was published. The Consultation Report includes a description of the steps that were undertaken to address the concerns raised about the capacity of the campus during the Consultation Period, and provides the outcome of the review of the capacity that was carried out. 6 Has Welsh Government been formally notified that the capacity figures relied upon in earlier submissions have now changed for a third time? Capacity figures are reported annually to the Welsh Government. The Council does not notify Welsh Government every time a capacity is recalculated, however the revised capacity will be reflected in the next annual return submitted to the Welsh Government. 7 The movement from 175, to 158, to 149 does not demonstrate clarity. It demonstrates uncertainty. The movement from 175 to 158 took place a number of years ago and was explained as part of the previous process to merge Mount Street Infants, Mount Street Juniors and Cradoc schools. The subsequent change to 158 to 149 is explained in the Consultation Report prepared in respect of the proposal which is currently ongoing in respect of the Cradoc campus. 8 Does the Cabinet Member accept that earlier decisions regarding Cradoc were taken using inaccurate capacity data? The earlier decisions were not taken using inaccurate capacity data. They were taken based on the most recent capacity calculations carried out. 9 Has any internal governance review been undertaken into how incorrect figures were relied upon in formal decision-making? Incorrect figures were not relied upon. The capacity figure published as part of the consultation documentation was the most up-to-date information available at the time. Following queries raised during the current process, the capacity has been reviewed based on current use of the Cradoc campus, and the updated capacity figure which resulted from this review, has been provided in the Consultation Report. 10 Will the Council now commission an independently verified remeasurement using Welsh Government methodology, with the full calculation published before any further progression of the proposal? The Council will not commission a further remeasurement before any further progression of the proposal. At their meeting on the 24th February 2025, Cabinet agreed to proceed with the current process in respect of the Cradoc campus by publishing a Statutory Notice. This provides a further opportunity for stakeholders to submit comments on the proposal as part of the Objection Period, and there would be an opportunity for Cabinet to consider these when making a final decision on whether or not to proceed with implementation of the proposal. 11 Has the leased 3@Cradoc space been formally excluded from the 149 calculation? Yes, this space has been excluded from the calculation. 12 Has the assembly hall been excluded? The school hall has been included as an ‘ancillary area’ as per Welsh Government guidance. 13 If so, can the Council provide documentary evidence of this? The Headteacher has received a copy of the revised calculation. 14 Does the Cabinet Member consider it procedurally sound for Cabinet to determine the proposal on the basis of a figure that was not subject to consultation? The information published in the consultation document was the most recent capacity calculation carried out at that time. Following queries raised during the consultation period, a revised capacity calculation was carried out which resulted in a reduction in the capacity, this was included and explained in the Consultation Report. There is still another phase to the current process, and stakeholders can provide any further comments related to the capacity figure during the Objection Period. 15 Has legal advice been obtained on this point? The papers considered by Cabinet on the 24th March were reviewed by the Council’s Monitoring Officer and his comments are included in the Cabinet paper. 16 What educational research or professional advice supports the decision to require two transitions rather than one? It is fully recognised that numerous transitions are not desirable, however there had been a significant decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc site before the Council started on the current process, from 71 in September 2024 to 39 in September 2025. Since then, there has been a further decrease in pupil numbers on the site, to 15. In these cases, parents have chosen to move their children early, which has resulted in the ‘double transition’ referred to here. Concern about the ‘double transition’ was one of the issues raised during the Consultation Period which is outlined in the Consultation Report (Appendix B) – see section 2.1 – Concern about pupils having to move school twice, on pages 26 – 28. 17 Has a comparative impact assessment been undertaken between closing in 2026 and waiting until the new build is complete? No, a comparative impact assessment has not been undertaken. However, as explained above, concern about the ‘double transition’ is one of the issues raised during the Consultation Period, which was addressed in the Consultation Report. There had been a significant decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc site before the Council started on the current process, from 71 in September 2024 to 39 in September 2025. Since then, there has been a further decrease in pupil numbers on the site, to 15. In these cases, parents have chosen to move their children early, which has resulted in the ‘double transition’ referred to here. 18 What asset management rationale justifies closing the best building while retaining poorer-condition buildings? It has been acknowledged throughout the current process that based on the latest condition surveys carried out in 2024, the Cradoc building was assessed as condition B, whilst the Mount Street buildings were assessed as condition C. This has been considered in the Consultation Document and the Consultation Report. As stated in response to point 7.1.5 on page 38 of the Consultation Report (Appendix B): ‘The Council notes this comment regarding the status of the building conditions across all sites of Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan, and acknowledged that, based on the most recent condition surveys, the Cradoc campus is assessed as category B, whilst the two Mount Street campuses are assessed as category C. As indicated in the Consultation Document: ‘Some improvements have already been carried out to the Mount Street buildings, and the need to ensure appropriate accommodation for all pupils at Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan during the period until the new building is ready is fully recognised. The Council will continue to work with the school in the period until the new building is ready to ensure the buildings provide safe and secure accommodation for pupils. Should the Council proceed with the current proposal, there would be one less building to maintain, which would enable the Council to focus its improvement work on the remaining campuses.’ As there are fewer pupils at the Cradoc campus of the school and it is this site which has experienced a decline in pupil numbers, the proposal is to close this campus and limit the number of pupils who need to transfer to a different campus/school. The proposal acknowledges that disruption is unavoidable but seeks to limit the disruption where possible. In addition, the aim is that Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan will eventually move to a new building in Brecon, which would ensure that all pupils would access a new school building.’ 19 Has a comparative lifecycle cost analysis been undertaken? No, a comparative lifecycle cost analysis has not been undertaken. 20 What formal viability assessment was carried out in relation to alternative wraparound provision? As stated in the Consultation Report: ‘The Council supported the school to consider alternative ways of providing wraparound care, however none of these were deemed viable due to the number of pupils that would be attending.’ However, consideration of possible options was mainly undertaken by the school, supported by the Finance team. 21 How many pupils were using the wraparound service prior to the service being removed? The Council does not hold this information. This information would be held by the school. 22 Will that documentation now be published? It is unclear what documentation this relates to. 23 Has any independent review of leadership impact on enrolment been undertaken? No independent review of leadership impact on enrolment has been undertaken. Regardless of the reasons for the decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc campus, the fact remains that there had been a significant decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc site before the Council started on the current process, from 71 in September 2024 to 39 in September 2025. Since then, there has been a further decrease in pupil numbers on the site, to 15. The decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc site is the reason for the current process, not the reasons for the decrease in pupil numbers. 24 If not, on what evidence is the Council relying to dismiss these concerns? As above. 25 Has a fresh rural options appraisal been undertaken specifically for this early closure proposal? It is fully acknowledged that the current process would result in closure of the Cradoc campus, which is located in a rural area, before the planned new build in Brecon is complete. However, it is also the case that the Council had already approved a proposal which would have resulted in closure of the Cradoc site during 2025/26. The additional steps required for proposals to close rural schools were carried out as part of the previous process which resulted in closure of Cradoc C.P. School, and in recognition of the rural nature of the Cradoc campus, these steps have also been undertaken as part of the current process, even though Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan is not listed as a rural school. Whilst recognising that implementation of the current proposal would mean that the Cradoc site would close earlier than the community had expected due to the delay in making progress with the new building, the fact remains that there had been a significant decrease in pupil numbers on the Cradoc site before the Council started on the current process, from 71 in September 2024 to 39 in September 2025. Since then, there has been a further decrease in pupil numbers on the site, to 15, therefore the situation has changed significantly compared with the situation which existed when the previous process was carried out. 26 If not, how does the Council satisfy itself that it has met the spirit and intent of the Presumption Against Closure of Rural Schools? As above. 27 Can a full financial breakdown be provided, including transition and displacement costs? Whilst costings related to the proposal have been included in the documentation. It is recognised that there would be some costs associated with closure of the campus which would need to be funded, and whilst the costings have been calculated on the basis that pupils would transfer to Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan’s other campuses, it is recognised that they could choose to transfer to other schools instead. It is not anticipated that there would be any additional maintenance costs for the Mount Street campuses – the Council would need to maintain these campuses regardless of whether the current proposal proceeds. 28 Has sensitivity modelling been undertaken if further pupils leave the school entirely? Sensitivity modelling of this kind has not been undertaken, however whilst costings related to the proposal have been calculated on the basis that pupils would transfer to Ysgol Golwg Pen y Fan’s other campuses, it is recognised that they could choose to transfer to other schools instead. 29 Will Cabinet pause progression of this proposal until capacity data is independently verified and all underlying assumptions are transparently published? Progression on the current proposal will not be paused. At their meeting on the 24th February 2025, Cabinet agreed to proceed with the current process in respect of the Cradoc campus by publishing a Statutory Notice. This provides a further opportunity for stakeholders to submit comments on the proposal as part of the Objection Period, and there would be an opportunity for Cabinet to consider these when making a final decision on whether or not to proceed with implementation of the proposal.
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.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Dyw'r cyngor ddim wedi cofnodi presenoldeb ar gyfer y cyfarfod hwn.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.