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  • Agenda and minutes

    Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 21st November, 2019 10.30 am

    • Attendance details
    • Agenda frontsheet PDF 135 KB
    • Agenda reports pack PDF 1 MB
    • Printed minutes PDF 91 KB

    Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH

    Contact: Eirian Roberts  01286 679018

    Media

     
    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    APOLOGIES

    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 1.

    Minutes:

    Councillors: Beth Lawton, Dewi Owen, Mair Rowlands and Gareth Williams.

    Anest Gray Frazer (Church in Wales) and David Healey (ATL)

    Councillor Gareth Thomas (Cabinet Member for Economy)

     

    2.

    DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

    To receive any declarations of personal interest.

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 2.

    Minutes:

    Councillor Selwyn Griffiths declared a personal interest in the following items for the reasons noted -

     

    ·         Item 6 - Supporting Gwynedd businesses to respond to Brexit - as his son was a co-author of the report.  The member was of the opinion that it was not a prejudicial interest, and he did not withdraw from the meeting during the discussion on the item.

    ·         Item 8 - An outline of the TRAC Scheme in Gwynedd - as his daughter-in-law worked for the Service.  The member was of the opinion that it was a prejudicial interest and he withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on the item.

     

    3.

    URGENT BUSINESS

    To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration.

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 3.

    Minutes:

    None to note.

    4.

    MINUTES pdf icon PDF 69 KB

    The Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 10th October, 2019 be signed as a true record  (attached).

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 4.

    Minutes:

    The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 20 June 2019, as a true record.

     

    5.

    REVIEW OF HAFAN PWLLHELI AND HARBOUR pdf icon PDF 101 KB

    Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas

     

    To consider a report on the above  (attached)

     

    *10.30am – 11.30am

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 5.

    Minutes:

    Presented - the report of the Cabinet Member for Economy, detailing the work that had been carried out thus far on the development of management options for the Pwllheli Hafan and Harbour.

     

    The officers elaborated on the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from members.

     

    The Chair summarised the main observations of the members arising from the discussion as follows:

     

    ·         Responses were provided to a number of questions during the discussion, and this had deepened our understanding of the situation in Pwllheli.

    ·         The Members had emphasised that ensuring a resolution for the dredging situation and removing the sediment to keep the channel clear was essential for the whole situation.

    ·         This work had been in progress for some time now, and the business case now needed to be prepared. More clarity was required with regard to the potential investment costs, the possible opportunities, the relationship with Plas Heli, etc. in order to raise the standard and attract more customers to the Hafan.

    ·         There was a need to continue to engage with local companies, etc.

     

    RESOLVED to accept the report, and request an early update on the Hafan and Harbour Management Plan (including the business cases) for this Scrutiny Committee.

     

    6.

    SUPPORTING GWYNEDD BUSINESSES TO RESPOND TO BREXIT pdf icon PDF 73 KB

    • View the declarations of interest for item 6.

    Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas

     

    To consider a report on the above  (attached)

     

    *11.30am – 12.15pm

     

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 6.

    Minutes:

    The Cabinet Member for the Economy submitted a report outlining how the Council and other organisations were raising awareness amongst businesses of the implications of the UK's decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) and supporting them to overcome any resulting obstacles.

     

    The officers elaborated on the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from members.

     

    The Chair summarised the main observations of the members arising from the discussion as follows:

     

    ·         As the Brexit situation was constantly changing, and nobody knew what was going to happen, it was very difficult to provide definitive observations.

    ·         However, it was clear from the report and the responses given that the Council was providing support to the business sector to face the challenges of Brexit, and that we needed to continue with this support, by giving particular focus to the agriculture, tourism and countryside sector, as well as the fishing sector.

     

    RESOLVED to accept the report.

     

    7.

    SAVINGS 2020/21 - EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT AND ECONOMY AND COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT pdf icon PDF 72 KB

    Cabinet Members – Councillors Gareth Thomas and Cemlyn Williams

     

    To consider a report on the above  (attached)

     

    *12.15pm – 1pm

     

     

    *LUNCH BREAK – 1pm – 1.45pm

     

     

    Additional documents:

    • Webcast for 7.

    Minutes:

    The report of the Cabinet Member for Education and the Cabinet Member for the Economy was submitted, inviting the committee to scrutinise the proposals of the Education Department and Schools and the Economy and Community Department to deal with their share of the potential £2m deficit in the 2020/21 budget, along with proposing alternative plans to meet the lack of current savings schemes for the Education Department.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Education, both Heads of Services and officers expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from the members.

     

    The Savings Proposals by the Economy and Community Department

     

    During the discussion, it was noted that, although it was accepted that the savings proposals would have some impact on the residents of Gwynedd, the Department had managed to mitigate the impact as far as possible.

     

    The Savings Proposals by the Education Department and Schools

     

    During the discussion, considerable concern was expressed by members regarding two specific savings proposals, namely 'Integration - Individual Development Plans (IDP)/Statements' (£112,530) and increasing the pupil / teacher ratio in the allocation formula (£463,900).  Having received some further explanation on what either scheme would mean for the county's schools, it was noted that one scheme would involve less support for pupils with additional learning needs who were not the subject of an IDP / Statement, and the other scheme would lead to a reduction in the number of teachers and / or a reduction in the number of ancillary staff, thus impacting the educational standards.

     

    Members further noted:

     

    ·         That the schools had already had to cut back to the bare bone.

    ·         That the Council should send a letter to Welsh Government to state their complete dissatisfaction with regard to the insufficiency of the grant, which had led to a financial situation where the Council had had to make substantial savings.

    ·         That the proposals should be revisited in more detail in order to see what exactly was being recommended.

    ·         That the schools would not be able to do their work without the funding, and that the changes impacted the morale of teachers and children.

    ·         That savings should be sought from elsewhere.

     

    In response to the observations, the Chief Executive noted:

     

    ·         This year for the first time, the expenditure per head on education in Gwynedd was the highest amongst all Welsh rural authorities, and even by making these cuts, Gwynedd would still be at the top.

    ·         That they had managed to protect the entire schools' budget last year.

    ·         That this Council had been corresponding and meeting with the Government regularly, and that the Government was very aware of the concerns.

    ·         As a frugal Council, that they needed to plan for the possibility of having to discover the potential £2m deficit in the 2020/21 budget.

    ·         That every Council department was now under pressure, and that the scrutiny committee's role was to decide, should it be required that the Department submit savings proposals, whether the proposals listed in the report or other proposals would have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

    8.

    OUTLINE OF THE TRAC PROJECT IN GWYNEDD pdf icon PDF 69 KB

    • View the declarations of interest for item 8.

    Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

     

    To consider a report on the above  (attached)

     

    *1.45pm – 2.30pm

     

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix 1 - Case Study , item 8. pdf icon PDF 257 KB
    • Appendix 2 - Case Study , item 8. pdf icon PDF 238 KB
    • Webcast for 8.

    Minutes:

    The report of the Cabinet Member for Education was submitted, outlining the TRAC Scheme, which provided additional assistance to support vulnerable children in schools or to engage them back in education.

     

    The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from the members.

     

    The Chair summarised the main observations of the members arising from the discussion as follows:

     

    ·         The Committee would like to congratulate the Department on their work, and the members were proud that the lives of children, who would have otherwise fallen through the net, were being transformed.

    ·         That the report highlighted what was possible to do when resources were available, and that this was a lesson for politicians on all levels.

    ·         That the report also demonstrated the difference purposeful planning could make.

     

    RESOLVED to accept the report.

     

    9.

    UPDATE ON THE GWYNEDD AND ANGLESEY ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS AND INCLUSION SERVICE pdf icon PDF 58 KB

    Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Wiliams

     

    To consider a report on the above  (attached)

     

    *2.30pm – 3.15pm

     

     

     

    *estimated times

     

     

     

    An informal meeting will be held for members at the close of the meeting

     

    Additional documents:

    • Appendix 1 - Update on the Gwynedd and Anglesey Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service , item 9. pdf icon PDF 30 KB
    • Appendix 2 - Update on the Gwynedd and Anglesey Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service , item 9. pdf icon PDF 188 KB
    • Webcast for 9.

    Minutes:

    The report of the Cabinet Member for Education was submitted, which provided an update on the development of the new service structure along with the legislative changes that would become operational in September 2021.

     

    The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from the members.

     

    A question was raised by a member on behalf of an individual who was unable to attend the meeting with regard to a specific school's budgetary situation. As it would be inappropriate to discuss this in an open forum, it was suggested that the author advised the school in question to contact the department.

     

    The Chair summarised the main observations of the members arising from the discussion as follows:

     

    ·         The members acknowledged the detailed work that took place within the Department. 

    ·         It was accepted that there were challenges, however major developments had taken place and the fact that this would continue was welcomed.  Also, the committee took pride in hearing that Gwynedd was so much ahead of the other authorities in this field.

    ·         The Committee would like to congratulate the Department on their work, and the members were very glad to hear that the service was available in Welsh to every child, whatever their difficulties.

     

    RESOLVED to accept the report.

     

    At the end of the meeting, the Head of Education Department noted that the TRAC Scheme Manager and the Senior Learning Needs and Inclusion Manager worked within the two most difficult fields within the education service, with scarce resources, and both of them and their teams were thanked for their work of transforming the lives of the most vulnerable and needy children.

     

     

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