Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

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

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 16th of October, 2025 be signed as a true record.

To scrutinise the draft Schools Strategy 2026-2036.

DECISION

1.     To welcome the strategy and accept the report noting the comments.

2.     That the Scrutiny Committee recommends to the Cabinet Member for Education that further information on safeguarding, poverty, social equity, faith schools, access to parents' voice, inclusion, the Welsh language, staff well-being and governance needs to be included in the Schools’ Strategy.

3.     That information about the Schools Support Service be distributed to members.

4.     Ask the Education Department to ensure that safeguarding is integrated into the department's planning.

5.     That the Cabinet is aware of the importance of staff well-being to attract and retain staff and does all that is possible to promote well-being and favourable conditions.

6.     Ask the Education Department to give full consideration to the Welsh Government's new recommendations regarding governance when these are received.

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Education Department.

DECISION

1.     To accept the report noting the questions on home education, de-registration, use of units, school meals, monitoring arrangements, youth clubs and safeguarding.

2.     To note the importance of giving a high-profile for safeguarding in documentation for the purpose of providing comfort to the public, and that the matter is prioritised by the authority.

3.     To ask the Cabinet Member for Education to:

• consider carrying out an exercise to find out why so many children are not taking advantage of free school meals.

• consider whether there are ways of effectively informing governors about how to question at meetings of school governing bodies.

• ensure that all steps are taken to avoid de-registration in our schools.

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Economy Department.

DECISION

1.     To accept the report and note the observations.

2.     Ask the Economy and Community Department to convene a group early in the new year to consider the challenges facing the agricultural industry.

To report to the Scrutiny Committee on the performance of the Finance Department.

DECISION To accept the report and note the observations.