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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme as outlined in report COGC/116/23s be agreed.
AGREED – (i) That Officers be thanked for the report. (ii) That the Committee supports the proposed scoring methodology and weightings to be used to prioritise schools for Band C Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme outlined in Appendices 1a and 1b. (iii) That a progress report on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan be submitted to the meeting on 24 April 2024.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Beryl Blackmore and Dana Davies.
AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 November 2023 be signed as a correct record.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare the existence and nature of any personal interest in respect of any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declarations were made – Agenda Item 5 – Councillor Stella Matthews as an LEA appointed school governor. The Councillor remained in the meeting and claimed an exemption under Paragraph 12(2) of the Members’ Code of Conduct taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme as outlined in report COGC/116/23s be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/116/23s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. Presenting the report the Scrutiny Facilitator drew Members’ attention to the following matters: · Meetings of the School Improvement Working Group had been scheduled for 28 February 2024 in respect of Ysgol y Grango and 11 July 2024 in respect of Minera Aided Primary (follow up meeting). · Noted that the School Meals for All report would be submitted to the January meeting. · Reported that a review of parent governor statutory co-opted members on the Committee would be submitted to the January meeting inviting the Committee to consider and support the request received from Alison Fisher to continue to be a member of the committee after her term of office finishes end February 2024. This would be in addition to the three statutory co-opted parent governors and she would serve in a non-voting capacity. Furthermore, the parent governor representing ALN has been vacant since Council agreed to the appointment in February 2021. Suggested that if no nominations are received from parent governors, consideration is given to recommending to Council that this is widened to other governors, but they would only be able to serve in a non-voting capacity. Members considered the report and during discussion referred to the valuable contribution made by Alison Fisher to the committee and supported the proposed review of parent governor statutory co-opted members on the Committee. AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme as outlined in report COGC/116/23s be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That Officers be thanked for the report. (ii) That the Committee supports the proposed scoring methodology and weightings to be used to prioritise schools for Band C Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme outlined in Appendices 1a and 1b. (iii) That a progress report on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan be submitted to the meeting on 24 April 2024.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COEEI/20/23s) to consider a draft proposed Sustainable Communities for Learning (SCfL) Rolling Programme after Band B (scoring mechanism for prioritising schools for future Band C programmes). Presenting the report the Lead Member reminded the Committee that the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme will transition away from fixed bands of funding to a more agile rolling programme of capital investment over a nine year period, consisting of a short, medium and long term plan of capital investment for education provision in the County Borough. The remaining four Band B projects (St. Mary’s Brymbo, St. Mary’s RC, Specialist Provision and New Provision) will be delivered during years 1-3 of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (phase 1). It was proposed that phase 2 of the programme would be based on the needs for ALN provision, with a view to address the increased costs arising from out of county ALN provision for those with specialist need. Phase 3 would address the strategic drivers at that time but it was anticipated that this may include Welsh Medium. The Lead Member highlighted the funding streams in respect of the programme and budgetary implications. The Head of Education Effectiveness & Infrastructure reminded the Committee that the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme was only one route of investment in school buildings in Wrexham. The officer provided Members with an overview of the scoring methodology used in the scheme and the reasons for the scoring factors. Members were advised that end of each phase in the programme, the strategic drivers and methodology would be reviewed to ensure that they were still relevant and applicable. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Member and officers present. During debate the following issues were highlighted in particular: · Financing of schemes with particular reference to sale of assets. · Further information provided on the rationale for the weighting multiplier used for the proposed scoring criteria for schools. · Noted that in planning demand for future education provision predicted demographics showed a trend of reduced demand for pupil places in some areas. The demographic factors take into account both undersubscribed and oversubscribed schools and a consideration of more development in an area. · Confirmation that there was some flexibility in the scoring criteria. · The use of Section 106 contributions. It was noted that Section 106 contributions were allocated to schools in the area of the development. Further information in respect of Section 106 contributions would be provided to the Committee at the March meeting as part of the Education Estate – Capital Investment report. · Welsh Medium provision and the aspirations of the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan. · Officers were thanked for the quality of school refurbishments. It was noted that condition surveys of all schools were due to take place in the New Year. · Members commented that they now had a clearer understanding of the methodology which would be used to prioritise future funding. AGREED – (i) That Officers be thanked for the report. (ii) That the Committee supports the proposed scoring methodology and weightings to be used to prioritise schools for Band C Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme outlined in Appendices 1a and 1b. (iii) That a progress report on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan be submitted to the meeting on 24 April 2024.
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