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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 be agreed.
AGREED – That Agenda Item 6 be brought forward and taken at this time.
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thanks the Lead Member and Officers for the report. (ii) That the Committee continues to monitor the impact of budget cuts to schools and considers a further report in May 2025.
AGREED – (i) That the review of the School Transport Policy be submitted to this Committee prior to consideration by the Executive Board. (ii) That a further update be submitted to the June 2025 meeting, together with other updates on school transport issues which are being considered as part of the work of the Change Programme.
AGREED – That the report be noted.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Mrs Alison Fisher, co-opted member and Councillor Dana Davies.
AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 July 2024 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/85/24s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee attached at Appendix 2 and Scrutiny Topic Selection Form at Appendix 1. Presenting the report the Scrutiny Facilitator drew Members’ attention to the following: · Referral from Customers Performance Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee regarding the budget pressures in school transport. As the topic of school transport has been scheduled for the October meeting, the Chair agreed that the budget issues can be included in that report. · Scrutiny process to consider the Change Programme. An item would be placed on the work programme for each Scrutiny Committee each month to January 2025 to pick up any specific proposals highlighted by the Chair or Committee members arising from Change Programme reports to the Executive Board. · Topic Selection Form attached in respect of the use of agency supply teachers. Committee agreed to schedule this item once the outcome from the national project that aims to re-establish a central supply list is completed. In the meantime, it was requested that details of the current teacher supply costs be circulated to Members of the Committee. · Report in respect of Universal Primary Free School Meals deferred to the November meeting. · School Transition report deferred to the February meeting. · Report in respect of school improvement service to be scheduled for the December meeting. · Curriculum for Wales item to be circulated as an Information Report. · Education standards report – Noted that the Authority was awaiting guidance from Welsh Government in respect of the publication of exam results and teaching assessment data. · School Transport Task & Finish Group – Committee confirmed that the Chair of the Committee be involved in the work of this group. AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That Agenda Item 6 be brought forward and taken at this time.
AGREED – That Agenda Item 6 be brought forward and taken at this time.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Committee thanks the Lead Member and Officers for the report. (ii) That the Committee continues to monitor the impact of budget cuts to schools and considers a further report in May 2025.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COEEI/14/24s) to consider further the impact of budget cuts to schools, the impact of staff redundancy/redeployment and the position regarding schools going into a licenced deficit following the report that was presented to the committee on 11 July 2024. Presenting the report the Lead Member recognised the pressures facing schools and the impact upon staff, referring to the level of licensed deficit requests, the redundancy costs facing schools, the school budget allocation formula review which would be reported to the School Budget Forum in November and the overall budget pressures facing the Council. The Chief Officer Education and Early Intervention reported on the work of officers in supporting schools during this difficult process, highlighting that the situation facing Wrexham schools was the same across Wales. The Chair welcomed Tim Newbould, Chair of the Primary Headteachers’ Federation and Christopher Wilkinson, Chair of the Wrexham Association of Secondary Headteachers to the meeting and invited them to address the Committee to provide further information on the impact of the cuts to schools. They thanked Education and Finance officers for the support that was being provided and commented that the increased level of need presented by children post pandemic, at a time of reduced budget was resulting in immense pressure on the education community as a whole. Reference was made to the decisions taken by some secondary schools to reduce capacity in some curriculum subject areas and in pastoral care. Furthermore, reduced admin posts and teaching assistants meant that some programmes to assist vulnerable pupils were no longer available. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Members, Officers and guests in attendance. During debate the following issues in particular were highlighted: · The inability of some schools to bring licenced deficit back into balanced budget within 3 years. Clarification was sought whether realistic expectations were being set. The COEEI confirmed that officers were working very closely with schools and that the majority had set a 3 year plan which should bring them back into balance. · The Lead Member confirmed that of the £350k redundancy costs, only £250k had been top sliced from the schools’ budgets for this purpose, the remainder would need to be found from individual school balances. · The review of the ALN funding formula and the implications for schools. The Lead Member explained that the total funds available for distribution were not reducing however the new allocation formula proposed would result in those schools with the greatest need receiving a larger share. · The work being undertaken by the Leader, Lead Member and Chief Officers in raising awareness of the challenges facing schools managing change and reform at a time of reduced funding. · The need to set school budgets in line with the Council’s medium term financial plan and inflation uplifts. · The other work being undertaken by LA officers in respect of investment in school buildings, the work at Y Noddfa and changes to ALN provision. · Concern for the wellbeing of teachers and school staff who were under immense pressure. Officers assured the Committee that the LA was focussed on supporting wellbeing. · The importance of the open and transparent dialogue between schools and LA officers. · Agency teacher supply costs. Noted that this matter had been considered earlier in the meeting under the work programme AGREED – (i) That the Committee thanks the Lead Member and Officers for the report. (ii) That the Committee continues to monitor the impact of budget cuts to schools and considers a further report in May 2025.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the review of the School Transport Policy be submitted to this Committee prior to consideration by the Executive Board. (ii) That a further update be submitted to the June 2025 meeting, together with other updates on school transport issues which are being considered as part of the work of the Change Programme.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COET/35/24s) to update the Committee of work being undertaken to address the budget pressure within school transport provision. Presenting the report the Lead Member referred to the forecast budget pressure based on the position at the end of July, despite the increased overall budget for the provision of school transport for the 2024-25 financial year. He reported that this was due to various factors including a greater ALN demand and specialist provision, and increases in contract prices. Officers were exploring a number of areas of work including the introduction of personal travel budgets, in-house provision of school transport and collaboration with neighbouring local authorities. The Interim Head of Service (Strategy) reminded Members that the issues relating to school transport provision were common across local authorities. He stated that whilst some of the proposals were not without risk and challenge they did also present some benefits and improvements in the wider context. Members asked questions of the Lead Member and officers present. During debate the following matters were highlighted: · The possibility of increasing in-house delivery of school transport to provide more than one driver and vehicle. Officers reported that the proposal was being modelled as an example at this stage but had not yet been evaluated for costs of multiple delivery. · Noted that a business case had been put together by the Transport team in respect of Independent Travel Training however at present no funding had been offered by Welsh Government. · The process for hazardous routes appeals. Noted that officers were in the process of assessing historical hazardous routes. The impact of any future changes to the 20mph speed limit would also need to be considered. · The review of school transport policy arising from other legislative changes. · The level of concessionary seats take up by post-16 pupils. Officers agreed to provide a further breakdown by routes and schools regarding concessionary seats. AGREED – (i) That the review of the School Transport Policy be submitted to this Committee prior to consideration by the Executive Board. (ii) That a further update be submitted to the June 2025 meeting, together with other updates on school transport issues which are being considered as part of the work of the Change Programme.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That the report be noted.
The Chair of the School Improvement Monitoring Group submitted a report (COGC/75/24s) to consider feedback from the School Improvement Monitoring Group following the meetings held since January 2023. Committee noted the levels of assurance for improvement which had been provided in respect of the following: • Minera Aided Primary School • Ysgol Clywedog • Ysgol y Grango • Pupil Referral Unit AGREED – That the report be noted.
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