Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Aled Evans and Elfed P.Roberts and Ruth Roe (Meirionnydd Parent Governors Representative).

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

Councillor Cai Larsen declared an interest in item 5 on the agenda - Developing a Regeneration Framework for Gwynedd, as he was the Chair of the Cwmni Dre Board, namely an arms-length company set up by Caernarfon Town Council, and which dealt with some Gwynedd Council officers in relation to the Regeneration Framework.  He was of the opinion that it was a prejudicial interest, and he withdrew from the meeting during the discussion on the item.

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

None to note.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee held on 9^th December, 2021 be signed as a true record.

The Chair signed the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on 9 December, 2021 as a true record.

Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas

To consider a report on the above.

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting, with a request to see the action plans later in the year.

The Cabinet Member and officers from the Economy and Community Department were welcomed to the meeting.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Community inviting the committee to scrutinise the direction of the proposed Framework, and the steps taken thus far during Phase 1 (Setting the Foundations).  An on-screen presentation was also shared outlining the main aspects of the report.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

Individual members made the following observations:-

·         The Service was thanked for all of its work, and it was noted that there had been a positive and heartening start to the process. 

·         The direction of the work was supported and it was noted that the Service had identified that not all areas were the same and that different schemes were needed tailored to the different needs of those areas and that they also viewed the Council as a partner with local communities.

·         The fact that the Service viewed the process as continuous rather than a one-off event was welcomed.

·         It was noted that the area statements were clear, concise and educational and although the validity of some figures was doubted, they were a starting point for further dialogue.

·         That a regular and effective dialogue between the Council and communities and collaborative enterprises had to be secured with an aim of regenerating areas.

·         There was some concern that this again was one of those reports that was on the cards for a while and which then ended up gathering dust.

·         It was welcomed that there were 48 stakeholders in Llŷn, but it was suggested that the RNLI should also be included, as it was very active there and had a contribution to make and a voice in relation to area regeneration.

·         There was no reference in the report to primary / secondary schools and listening to the voice of the young.

·         There was no reference to major employers in the Porthmadog / Penrhyndeudraeth area, such as Portmeirion and Ffestiniog Railway neither was there reference to the Welsh Slate World Heritage Site, which would also be working to regenerate our areas.

·         That the town and community councils were key to the discussion and the Council needed to collaborate with them and not consider itself above doing this, and they should also be able to raise money to spend within their own communities.

·         Using the RACI matrix was to be welcomed as it was a means of facilitating a consultation where there were many stakeholders, by identifying the key stakeholders for every aspect.

·         That one of the advantages of the Framework was that it was possible for the communities to refer to the evidence to assist them in attracting funding and grants.

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted:- 

·         As part of the arrangements for the engagement work, that paper versions of all material would be available in different offices. The service was also eager to see links with libraries in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To accept the report and welcome the work, with a request for an update as time goes on.

The Cabinet Member and officers from the Education Department were welcomed to the meeting.

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

To consider a report on the above.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Education responding to a request from committee members for a presentation on the harassment of teachers and school staff over social media.  The report also shared information about what had been done and achieved by the Education Department to help schools deal with situations where this was happening.

The Head of Education Department noted that since the report had been prepared, that the Secondary Headteachers Strategic Group had further discussed the situation at their meeting on 2 February, and that it was apparent that the actions taken to address the matter had worked as the situation had now calmed down and no one had reported a case of harassment after the letter had been sent out to parents / carers.  The Department would continue to monitor and support should a case be brought to their attention.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

Individual members submitted the following observations:-

·         The Head of Education Department was thanked for the letter to parents / carers, noting that it was short, precise and created the right tone. The reference to 'some' pupils and 'some' cases was welcomed, and the strong encouragement for parents to check their children's mobile phones.

·         It was noted that it was a shame that such a report had to be prepared at all, and it was suggested that the use of mobile phones compounded any issues that already existed.

·         Concern was expressed that schools could lose staff as a result of these incidents, and although there were rules at schools in term of using phones, etc, there was a small cohort who did not comply at all, whose parents were not concerned about the matter either.

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted:- 

·         The Department had policies in terms of the use of mobile phones in schools, and that the schools were likely to look at this again in light of these incidents.  It was noted that pupils were very reliant on mobile phones nowadays, and rather than prohibiting them, they were encouraged to make appropriate, mature and responsible use of them.  They did not wish to punish everyone due to the behaviour of a very small minority, but it was confirmed that the schools prohibited any inappropriate use of phones.

·         It was too early to make any comments on a recent report in the press regarding a harassment case at one of the county's schools, and an update would be provided in due course in light of considering the situation in general and reviewing the arrangements.

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

To consider a report on the above.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Education noting the current position regarding school accessibility outlining how this situation had been reached and then looking at the way forward.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

Individual members submitted the following observations:-

·         It was suggested that parents were choosing to send their disabled children to the local community school, rather than the designated school, if at all possible, and therefore the progress in the field since 2017 was welcomed.

·         It was noted that the report referred to ramps and lifts, however disability was  very varied, and it was asked what provision the Council had for different disabilities or conditions such as autism, learning disability, sensory impairment etc.

·         The use of contrasting colours on the stairs in Ysgol Botwnnog was welcomed.

·         It was noted that assurances were needed, before sending a child to a designated school, that no stone would be left unturned to see whether it could be affordable to allow the child to receive education on his/her own doorstep.

·         That the accessibility adaptations had a positive influence on the entire school, in addition to the children with learning needs or disabilities.

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted:- 

·         The main obstacle for many schools was the expensive physical work, and that some things were more within reach of the reasonable adaptations schools would be expected to carry out. 

·         There were adaptations other than the physical ones and it was noted in the report that was part of the accessibility strategy e.g. the collaboration between parents and pupils and schools in terms of making amendments to the curriculum / timetable and changing the use of rooms so that every pupil had access to as full a curriculum as possible. 

·         In terms of determining the type of physical adaptations required, the Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion (ALN&I) officers had been asked to consider situations and individual pupils' needs and to make recommendations on this basis.

·         The Department did not have the right to refer any child to a designated school, and it was the parents' choice as to which school they wished to send their children.  The vast majority wished to send their children to their local school and it would be possible to look at providing parents with more information in terms of what facilities were available at different schools.

·         That parents were part of the conversation on the possibility of carrying out adaptations in a general school.  The ALN&I Service Team dealt with pre-school age pupils, and knew of pupils who would be moving in, and conversations were taking place between parents and the central services.   Therefore, parents had a free choice, all the better if that choice was based on information about the nature of the school(s) they were interested in sending their children to.

·         It was easy to forget the positive impact of the changes on the whole school, and it was important that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

To consider a report on the above.

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Education noting the current position regarding school accessibility outlining how this situation had been reached and then looking at the way forward.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. 

Individual members submitted the following observations:-

·         It was suggested that parents were choosing to send their disabled children to the local community school, rather than the designated school, if at all possible, and therefore the progress in the field since 2017 was welcomed.

·         It was noted that the report referred to ramps and lifts, however disability was  very varied, and it was asked what provision the Council had for different disabilities or conditions such as autism, learning disability, sensory impairment etc.

·         The use of contrasting colours on the stairs in Ysgol Botwnnog was welcomed.

·         It was noted that assurances were needed, before sending a child to a designated school, that no stone would be left unturned to see whether it could be affordable to allow the child to receive education on his/her own doorstep.

·         That the accessibility adaptations had a positive influence on the entire school, in addition to the children with learning needs or disabilities.

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted:- 

·         The main obstacle for many schools was the expensive physical work, and that some things were more within reach of the reasonable adaptations schools would be expected to carry out. 

·         There were adaptations other than the physical ones and it was noted in the report that was part of the accessibility strategy e.g. the collaboration between parents and pupils and schools in terms of making amendments to the curriculum / timetable and changing the use of rooms so that every pupil had access to as full a curriculum as possible. 

·         In terms of determining the type of physical adaptations required, the Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion (ALN&I) officers had been asked to consider situations and individual pupils' needs and to make recommendations on this basis.

·         The Department did not have the right to refer any child to a designated school, and it was the parents' choice as to which school they wished to send their children.  The vast majority wished to send their children to their local school and it would be possible to look at providing parents with more information in terms of what facilities were available at different schools.

·         That parents were part of the conversation on the possibility of carrying out adaptations in a general school.  The ALN&I Service Team dealt with pre-school age pupils, and knew of pupils who would be moving in, and conversations were taking place between parents and the central services.   Therefore, parents had a free choice, all the better if that choice was based on information about the nature of the school(s) they were interested in sending their children to.

·         It was easy to forget the positive impact of the changes on the whole school, and it was important that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To submit a revised scrutiny work programme for 2021-22.

The Chair noted that there were no changes to the work programme at present, and therefore there was no need to discuss or vote on the matter.