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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: g)

Contact: Annes Siôn  01286 679490

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

2.

DECORATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

Minutes:

No declarations of personal interest were received.

 

3.

URGENT MATTERS

4.

MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

5.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10 MARCH 2020 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

Minutes:

The Chair signed the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2020, as a true record.

6.

APPLICATION FOR RESOURCES BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng. / Cllr Cemlyn Williams

Decision:

Resolved to commit £180,000 of one-off funding from the Council's transformation fund up to the end of March 2022 to enable the Education Department to have additional capacity on secondment terms for a period of two years to target, support and offer an appropriate and timely challenge for secondary schools realising one of the commitments in the Council Plan so as to improve outcomes for children and young people.

 

Minutes:

Submitted by Cllr Cemlyn Williams 

 

DECISION

 

Resolved to commit £180,000 of one-off funding from the Council's transformation fund up to the end of March 2022 to enable the Education Department to have additional capacity on secondment terms for a period of two years to target, support and offer an appropriate and timely challenge for secondary schools realising one of the commitments in the Council Plan so as to improve outcomes for children and young people.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was presented, noting that this was a bid for funding for a secondment post for a period of two years. It was added that there were two parts to the post, the first to give support to the county's secondary schools to respond to the problems arising within the secondary sector and secondly to release resources for the Education Modernisation - Twenty First Century Schools service.

 

The Head of Education Department noted that the department had acknowledged that there were some situations in the Secondary sector that required additional support and assistance in order to improve schools' outcomes. It was noted that this scheme was linked with one of the Council's strategic priorities, namely to develop leadership. It was added that challenges existed in the Secondary sector, specifically in Meirionnydd, with low numbers applying for leadership jobs within schools. As a result of this, it was added, discussions were being held with all head teachers to review recruitment processes. It was noted that there was a lack of resources in the Education Modernisation field at present, and the funding would ensure this resource.  Additionally, it was noted that the resource was available to assist with new challenges of ensuring that children, and specifically vulnerable children, remained in education during this crisis period.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

¾        A question was asked about the situation in relation to the Transformation Fund, and it was noted that it was healthy and was available currently but that it depended on what the need would be following the Covid-19 crisis

Awdur: Garem Jackson

7.

UPDATE ON THE RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Verbal report

Decision:

To note the information and thank staff for their work during the crisis period.

 

Minutes:

The report was submitted by Dilwyn Williams

 

DECISION

 

To note the information and thank staff for their work during the crisis period.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Chief Executive noted that he would provide an update which would outline what the Council was doing to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. It was noted that elected members would be receiving an update before the end of the week.

 

A snapshot of the staffing situation was given, noting that 137 were in the Government's shielding category, 175 staff were ill with 46 of those as a result of covid-19 symptoms. It was added that over 1800 staff were now working from home and that only 132 members of staff were now working in an office. It was noted that, currently, the care field was coping fairly well but that cases had arisen in three older people's homes, but that the situations were now under control.

 

It was reported that statistics showed Gwynedd as being fairly successful and that the cases were at the bottom end of the range highlighted in the potential scenarios. It was added that, once the restrictions would be relaxed, we would need to plan for the next period. It was noted that there was much talk about PPE but it was stressed that the level of PPE in Gwynedd was fine but that the level of masks was a cause for concern. It was stated that supplies were coming from the Government and it was also noted that work was being undertaken to investigate the level of additional costs facing the private sector.

 

It was stressed that the volunteer system was working well, with an army of people in Gwynedd ready and willing to assist. It was explained that education continued to look after the children of key workers and vulnerable children. It was emphasised that the bins service had continued throughout the period but that the Recycling Centres would remain closed for now.

 

Observations arising from the discussion                                                   

¾  The Chief Executive and the Chief Officers were thanked for leading the work throughout this period. It was added that the Cabinet members had been meeting informally regularly.

¾  The Cabinet Member for Finance expressed his gratitude to the department's staff for their work during this period, specifically the Information Technology staff for ensuring that all staff could work from home. It was also stressed that no council tax would be recovered until the end of June and it was outlined that work was being done in order to measure the financial effect of this period on the Council.

¾  It was stressed that this was a crisis period and that it struck everyone compared to the crises the county had faced in the past, where specific communities had been struck. In relation to the Adults field, it was explained that staff were working hard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Awdur: Dilwyn Williams