Issue - meetings

To adopt the investigation’s brief and to elect members.

DECISION

1.     To adopt the brief.

2.     To elect the following members to undertake the work of the investigation:

-        The Councillors Dawn Lynne Jones, Cai Larsen, Gwynfor Owen, John Pughe Roberts and Dyfrig Siencyn

-        Co-opted Member - Sharon Roberts (Arfon Parent/Governor Representative)

-        Additional reserve name - Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts

It was noted that safeguarding arrangements in schools had been scrutinised at the Committee's meeting on 18 July 2024. There was an informal discussion after the meeting regarding the possibility of holding a Task and Finish Group or a Scrutiny Investigation into the area. It was concluded that a further discussion should be held at the informal meeting of the Committee on 5 September 2024. Concern had been expressed by the members present about the implementation of the safeguarding arrangements within our schools. A draft brief for the scrutiny investigation was considered at the Committee's informal meeting on 9 January 2025.

It was noted that the main question that the investigation would address is: "Are safeguarding arrangements in county schools appropriate and implemented consistently?". It was noted that the investigation intended to consider the authority's current arrangements in relation to safeguarding in schools, as well as arrangements in a sample of schools.

At the informal meeting of the Committee on 9 January 2025, the members were invited to express an interest in becoming members of the investigation. It was concluded that an e-mail should be sent to all members of the Committee to ask them to state which school governing bodies they were members of. The email stressed that members would be required to ensure they had completed the "Child and Adult Safeguarding Training" to be part of the investigation.

It was noted that a maximum of five members may be involved in the investigation and, in accordance with the Council's Constitution, the membership was required to include representation of no less than two different political groups. It was discussed that, given that this was an education issue, it would be appropriate to include one co-opted member with a vote on education issues only.

RESOLVED

1.    To adopt the brief.

2.    To elect the following members to undertake the work of the investigation:

-       Councillors Dawn Lynne Jones, Cai Larsen, Gwynfor Owen, John Pughe Roberts and Dyfrig Siencyn

-       Co-opted Member – Sharon Roberts (Arfon Parent/Governor Representative)

-       Reserve member – Councillor Richard Glyn Roberts