Agenda item

(copy enclosed)

(a)  GwE’s final business case was presented for approval, which summarises the present areas of work, assesses the possible options and recommends the most effective intervention for delivery. 

Ian Budd (Lead Director – Chair of Management Board) noted that the business case was assessed against the following criteria:

·         Does it make the best use of experience and expertise?

·         In a time of financial constraints, is value for money ensured and is there flexibility to manage the decrease in funding?

·         Is it easily understood so that it may be shared with stakeholders?

(b)  Mr Geraint Rees (Welsh Government) noted that the Local Authorities have kept the leading roles in these areas, therefore sufficient capacity needs to be ensured within the networks. 

In response, Ian Budd (Lead Director – Chair of Management Board) noted that the Management Board has revised its remit and membership so as to comply with the national model. 

(c)  The following points were highlighted during the subsequent discussion:

·         the need to improve the Governing Body in schools 

·         in response to a comment from a Member, Ian Budd (Lead Director – Chair of Management Board) noted that a main officer takes the leading role on every network. He added that authorities could provide more resources to deliver a specific programme, but when GwE was established no individual authorities made specific requirements.

·         accountability would be clearer when the Service Level Agreement is in place noting roles and responsibilities.

·         the WAO report notes that a movement towards joint ownership should be seen rather than commissioning by an individual authority and that GwE is making great strides by producing a joint business plan.

            It was decided to:    

(a)        accept and note the content of the report

(b)       approve the following interventions with regard to areas of work:

·         advice and support for Governors (page 10 of the report)

·         the Foundation Phase (page 10 of the report) 

·         Learning Pathways 14 – 19 (page 12 of the report)

·         Welsh in Education Strategic Plans and Welsh in Education Grant (page 13 of the report)

·         regional co-ordination of the ICT Strategy (page 14 of the report)

·         specialist human resources support (page 14 of the report)

delegate the responsibility of planning and delivery of the interventions to the GwE Management Board.