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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 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.
RESOLVED: That the Committee note the information and evidence provided within the report with regard to exclusion management processes for Flintshire schools and the actions undertaken by officers to support schools, children and young people.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee note the report; (b) That the Committee note that there would need to be ongoing work by the Education and Youth Portfolio to understand fully the resource implications for delivering on the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act and that an update on this work be provided to the Committee when appropriate; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Welsh Government to encourage appropriate funding to be provided in the delivery of the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee support the Play Team to provide safe, supervised play opportunities for children in their communities throughout the year, particularly in areas affected by austerity; (b) That the Committee commit to supporting the new 2025–2028 Play Sufficiency Action Plan as a strategic document that all councillors must consider when making decisions that impact children and young people, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and year-round play opportunities across Flintshire; and (c) That the Committee continue to support the Play Development Team’s work to build a bigger, better, and more sustainable service that provides all children across Flintshire with high-quality, play-based opportunities.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the strategic and operational priorities in the Youth Justice Plan; and (b) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Wes Streeting - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Lynne Neagle MS - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Jeremy Miles MS – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care asking that the recommendation of the Equalities and Social Justice Committee to embed speech and language therapy (SALT) into every Youth Justice Team be supported as mandatory; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to Welsh Government seeking a fairer sustainable funding system for the Youth Justice Service going forward, in line with the comments made by the Committee.
No declarations were made.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
To confirm as a correct record the Minutes (Agenda item 3)of the meeting held on the 25 September 2025. RESOLVED: That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.
The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the report (Agenda item 4) which outlined the Committee’s current Forward Work Programme. An update was provided on the outstanding actions and those that had been completed since publication of the Agenda. The Facilitator then advised that the following reports would be added to the Forward Work Programme for the next meeting scheduled for 4th December:- • Power of Play in Schools • School Staff Absences, Health and Well-being Councillor David Healey asked that a report detailing what steps were being taken by the Education & Youth Portfolio towards net zero be added to the FWP for consideration at a future meeting. He asked that the report outlined the positive work being carried out by the Council, alongside information on the progress being made around schools being made more energy efficient and positive projects being implemented across Schools. In response to a request from Councillor Gina Maddison that a report from Communities 4 Work on the work undertaken with 16-25 year olds be presented to a future meeting of the Committee, the Facilitator explained that this would come under the Terms of Reference of the Environment & Economy Overview & Scrutiny Committee and was currently included on its FWP. It was suggested that the Environment & Economy OSC be asked to included information on 16-25 year olds in the report and that the Committee Members be invited to attend the meeting for this item. In response to a question from Councillor Andrew Parkhurst on the feedback given by the Cabinet Member for Education and Youth to Cabinet on the Proposal to Modernise the Catholic School Estate, it was agreed that a copy of the feedback provided to Cabinet from the Committee be circulated following the meeting. Councillor Parkhurst asked for an update on the recommendation from the Committee at its last meeting, that Cabinet provide the additional £500K received from Welsh Governmentto Schools. The Facilitator explained that a briefing note was being prepared for Cabinet to consider and following a response from Councillor Paul Johnson, it was agreed that a written response to the recommendation be circulated to the Committee. Councillor Jason Shallcross asked that an item regarding the previously agreed funding for St. David’s High School in Saltney be added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme. The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) explained that this was work in progress and that an update could be provided when appropriate. RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Committee note the information and evidence provided within the report with regard to exclusion management processes for Flintshire schools and the actions undertaken by officers to support schools, children and young people.
In presenting the report (Agenda item 5) the Senior Manager (Inclusion and Progression) outlined the process for fixed-term and permanent exclusions for Flintshire schools. Information was also provided on the behaviour policies which schools must have in place, the Exclusion Guidance for fixed term or permanent exclusions and the roles of governors in relation to this. The Senior Manager then directed committee to the information on the Fresh Start service, the case studies and other specific sections of the report. Councillor Fran Lister referred to the notice of motion submitted by Councillor Mel Buckley to County Council on 2nd July, concerning the growing emergency of Ketamine addiction among young people in Flintshire. She requested that a training session for elected Members be arranged so that an awareness of local substance misuse trends and emerging drugs of concern, such as, Ketamine could be provided. The Senior Manager, Flintshire Youth Justice Service & Flintshire Sorted advised that the Area Planning Board had recently put on a briefing session across North Wales and suggested linking in to identify any other briefings that could be provided to elected Members. RESOLVED: That the Committee note the information and evidence provided within the report with regard to exclusion management processes for Flintshire schools and the actions undertaken by officers to support schools, children and young people.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee note the report; (b) That the Committee note that there would need to be ongoing work by the Education and Youth Portfolio to understand fully the resource implications for delivering on the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act and that an update on this work be provided to the Committee when appropriate; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Welsh Government to encourage appropriate funding to be provided in the delivery of the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act.
The Senior Manager for School Improvement commented that the report (Agenda item 6) provided an overview of the provisions within the new Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Act 2025. The Act provided a statutory basis for the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050. The main objective of this Act was to ensure that all pupils were independent Welsh language users, at least, by the time they reached the end of compulsory school age. Specific sections of the Act were highlighted to Members with reference made to the number of requirements for schools and local authorities and the development of statutory Welsh Language Education Delivery Plans. The Senior Manager – School Improvement suggested that a link to the oral statement given by the Rt. Hon Mark Drakeford MS (Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language) around the timetable for the implementation of the Act be circulated to the Committee following the meeting. In line with recommendation (b) that an update report be added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme. In line with recommendation (c), the Chair write to the Welsh Government to encourage appropriate funding to be provided in the delivery of the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee note the report; (b) That the Committee note that there would need to be ongoing work by the Education and Youth Portfolio to understand fully the resource implications for delivering on the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act and that an update on this work be provided to the Committee when appropriate; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Welsh Government to encourage appropriate funding to be provided in the delivery of the local authority’s responsibilities under the 2025 Act.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee support the Play Team to provide safe, supervised play opportunities for children in their communities throughout the year, particularly in areas affected by austerity; (b) That the Committee commit to supporting the new 2025–2028 Play Sufficiency Action Plan as a strategic document that all councillors must consider when making decisions that impact children and young people, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and year-round play opportunities across Flintshire; and (c) That the Committee continue to support the Play Development Team’s work to build a bigger, better, and more sustainable service that provides all children across Flintshire with high-quality, play-based opportunities.
The Lead Officer (Play Development) introduced the report (Agenda item 7)which provided an update on the progress of the Flintshire Play Development Community Play Programmes over the last year. The service had expanded from the summer programme and now included the delivery of a year round service across the county. The Service provided support to community provisions, transition clubs together with the re-settlement team supporting refugee and asylum seeking families. Information was provided on the partnership working which ensured the best use of resources with a focus on creating a sustainable and inclusive play offer that now reached far beyond the summer months. An update was provided on the Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan with specific sections of the report then highlighted to Members. Councillor Andrew Parkhurst referred to the graph relating to the ‘Number of Registration and Attendance’ and commented on the small number of children registering in comparison to the number attending and questioned whether this indicated that there was a problem with the registration process. The Lead Officer - Play Development said that he would check this with his Team and provide a response following the meeting. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee support the Play Team to provide safe, supervised play opportunities for children in their communities throughout the year, particularly in areas affected by austerity; (b) That the Committee commit to supporting the new 2025–2028 Play Sufficiency Action Plan as a strategic document that all councillors must consider when making decisions that impact children and young people, ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and year-round play opportunities across Flintshire; and (c) That the Committee continue to support the Play Development Team’s work to build a bigger, better, and more sustainable service that provides all children across Flintshire with high-quality, play-based opportunities.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the strategic and operational priorities in the Youth Justice Plan; and (b) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Wes Streeting - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Lynne Neagle MS - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Jeremy Miles MS – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care asking that the recommendation of the Equalities and Social Justice Committee to embed speech and language therapy (SALT) into every Youth Justice Team be supported as mandatory; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to Welsh Government seeking a fairer sustainable funding system for the Youth Justice Service going forward, in line with the comments made by the Committee.
The Senior Manager (Flintshire Youth Justice Service & Flintshire Sorted)introduced the report (Agenda item 8)which provided an outline of the Flintshire Youth Justice Service Youth Justice Plan 2025- 2026. The Plan included the achievements of the service over the previous year and the commitments for the forthcoming year. The plan would also consider any improvement plans, including recommendations from the HMIP Inspection and the work around the recommendation on the out of court disposal work. Information was provided on re-offending rates and the work undertaken with CAMHS to strengthen the Emotional Health and Well-being offer. Specific sections of the report were then highlighted to the committee. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the strategic and operational priorities in the Youth Justice Plan; and (b) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Wes Streeting - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Lynne Neagle MS - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Jeremy Miles MS – Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care asking that the recommendation of the Equalities and Social Justice Committee to embed speech and language therapy (SALT) into every Youth Justice Team be supported as mandatory; and (c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to Welsh Government seeking a fairer sustainable funding system for the Youth Justice Service going forward, in line with the comments made by the Committee.
RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting for the following items by virtue of exempt information under paragraph(s) 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
There were no member of the press or public in attendance.
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