Venue: Committee Room, Brecon - Neuadd Brycheiniog. View directions
Contact: Shane Thomas
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors P J Ashton, S C Davies, G G Hopkins, S McNicholas, J G Morris, K Silk and D G Thomas. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting PDF 89 KB To authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 7th March 2016 as a correct record. Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the Minutes of the last meeting held on 7 March 2016 as a correct record. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive declarations of interest from Members in relation to items on the agenda to be discussed. Minutes: The following Members made personal but not prejudicial declarations of interest as LEA Governors:
County Councillors M J B Davies, M R Harris, J C Holmes, D Meredith, E T Morgan, W D Powell, D Price, G Ratcliffe, D A Thomas, T J Van Rees, D H Williams and S Williams
In addition, the following Members also made personal and prejudicial declarations of interest due to having a member of the family attending an affected school or being a governor. However, the Standards Committee had granted a dispensation to Members in relation to any school modernisation review.
County Councillors M J Dorrance, W D Powell and G Ratcliffe
County Councillor J Holmes, disclosed a potential personal interest in respect of a school which may be indirectly affected by the proposals at which a member of his family is employed. However, as there is currently insufficient information as to whether this school will actually be affected, the Councillor determined that this was not to be a prejudicial interest at this point.
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Chairman's Announcements To receive announcements from the Chairman. Minutes: There were no Chair’s announcements. |
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School Organisation Matters To consider a shire view in relation to school organisation matters. Minutes: Members had informally debated the issues around school reorganisation in South prior to the commencement of the meeting and agreed a consensus response to the consultation to be submitted on behalf of the Brecknockshire Committee:
The Brecknockshire Committee of Powys County Council welcomes the potential multimillion pound investment from the Welsh Government into 11 to 18 secondary education infrastructure in the south of the County. The Committee believes that, in delivering transformational change, the County Council must follow best practice as required by the Welsh Government School Organisation Code (2013) and Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015), which came into force on 1 April 2016. It must also act in the spirit of the Donaldson Curriculum Review.
To this end, this Committee endorses the absolute need for:
· 6th form provision in Brecknockshire area being delivered through a network of high schools and high quality vocational training delivered by suitable partners · Prioritisation of new build investment on the Brecon Campus without impacting upon high quality, sustainable, education delivery elsewhere in the area · Recruitment and retention of high quality teaching staff is essential · An open-minded consultation on a transformational through school model where it enjoys local support · Delivery of sustainable Welsh medium provision with equity of access as envisaged in the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act (2015)
Members had a number of questions which could not be answered as officers had not been present at the informal meeting and suggested that a further meeting be held to provide answers to those questions. Other Members from South Radnorshire whose wards may also be impacted by the proposals should also be invited to attend as well as the Portfolio Holder. This process should be carried out as soon as practicable.
RESOLVED that a further meeting be arranged at 3pm, or upon the rising of the AGM, on 11 May 2016, to which the Portfolio Holder, relevant Members from south Radnorshire and officers of the education service and planning policy unit be invited to attend to address the following questions: · Transport costs from feeder schools · Details of the trough in the birth rate · Explanation of the different mechanisms that appear to be employed for school reorganisation in different areas · Financial overlap between schools · Number of pupils accessing Post 16 education outside of the county · Development proposals within the Powys and BBNPA LDPs
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Any Other Business Minutes: The Committee was informed that there had been an incident involving a child at the crossing at Priory Hill and the Struet. The Police were investigating and the Local Member had already had discussions with Traffic and Highways Officers who were of the opinion that the crossing was working as it should.
Other Members also noted the difficulties at the junction in question and agreed that the Portfolio Holder be asked to review the traffic lights and junction.
RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be requested to review the phasing of the traffic lights and configuration of the junction at Priory Hill and the Struet to ensure that the red lights can be seen when entering the junction. In addition a further request for Highways Officers to undertake safe crossing of roads sessions in schools be made. |
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Date of Next Meeting To note the date of the next meeting – 20th June 2016. Minutes: The next meeting would be the Annual General Meeting to be held after Council on Wednesday 11th May 2016. The meeting after that would be held on Monday 20th June 2016. |