Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor Avril York and from County Councillor Sandra Davies, leader of the Labour group. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held as a correct record. Minutes: The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 1st November 2016 as a correct record. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda. Minutes: County Councillor John Brunt declared a personal non pecuniary interest in item C218 – 2016 Schools Transformation Programme Forward Plan as a Local Authority appointed Governor of Llanbister primary school.
County Councillor John Powell declared a personal and prejudicial interest in items C216 – 2016 Welshpool Town Primary Education and C218 – 2016 Unlicensed School Budgets as a member of the Board of Finance for the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon.
County Councillor David Jones declared a personal non pecuniary interest in item C216 – 2016 Welshpool Town Primary Education as a Local Authority appointed Governor of Guilsfield CP School.
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Welshpool Town Primary Education PDF 123 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education. Additional documents:
Minutes: County Councillor John Powell left the meeting during consideration of this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest.
The Portfolio Holder for Education presented the proposals to reorganise primary education in Welshpool.
· It is proposed that the new English-medium School will be located on land at Welshpool High School. The school will, however, operate from the current sites of Ysgol Maesydre, Gungrog and Oldford Schools on a temporary basis before subsequently transferring to the new building at the earliest opportunity; · The new build Welsh-medium School will be located on the Ysgol Maesydre site, but will operate from the current site of Ardwyn School on a temporary basis before subsequently transferring to the new building; · The anticipated timescale is for the new schools to be established from September 2017 before transferring into the two new school buildings upon their opening in 2018/19; · The current four schools in Welshpool – Ardwyn Nursery & Infant School; Gungrog Church in Wales Nursery & Infant School; Oldford Nursery & Infant School and Ysgol Maesydre would close from the end of August 2017.
Council had met on 18th November and had endorsed the proposals. Draft minutes from that meeting were circulated and the meeting was adjourned for a short time to give members to read them.
In presenting the options the Portfolio Holder for Education explained the site selection process that had led to the sites being recommended and which had concluded that there would be significant problems with access and parking if both schools were accommodated on the one site. He confirmed that the Cabinet would visit the sites. He also noted receipt of a letter from the Chairman of the Welshpool County (and Grammar) Schools Old Pupils Association to express concern at proposals to demolish the Maesydre buildings.
Cabinet noted the results of the consultation which were largely positive. A proportion of responses had come from the Wales Humanists Association who had encouraged their supporters to oppose the proposal for the English-medium primary school to be a Church in Wales school. Many of the responses were anonymous and it was not clear how many were from Welshpool or Powys and how many came from out of the county. The Cabinet noted that the public meeting held in Welshpool had been very supportive of the proposals.
County Councillor Phil Pritchard spoke as a local member and thanked officers for their work. He welcomed the establishment of a Welsh medium school in Welshpool but was not convinced that the Maesydre site was the best location. He would prefer to see both schools on the one site and thanked the Cabinet for agreeing to visit the sites.
The proposals were welcomed by the Cabinet, People Scrutiny Chair and group leaders. Members expressed disappointment that the meeting was not webcast and the Leader said he would raise this with the Cabinet Manager to ensure that future meetings involving decisions on school reorganisation were webcast. Members sought clarification about the ownership of the Gungrog site and were advised that ... view the full minutes text for item C216- 2016 |
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Schools Transformation Programme - Forward Plan 2016 - 18 PDF 121 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education. Minutes: County Councillor John Brunt explained that he would be acting as a local member and would not vote on this matter and went to sit with other members.
Cabinet received the timetable for reports to come to Cabinet on Brecon and Gwernyfed High Schools and Llanbister and Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP Schools.
County Councillor Hywel Lewis spoke as the local member for Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School to say that he fully supported the dialogue already underway to maintain education on the site.
In response to some criticism about the additional time being taken, the Portfolio Holder for Education noted that in the past the Cabinet had been criticised for taking decisions too quickly, sometimes without local support, and that following the local government elections in May a new administration might choose to take a different approach to schools modernisation. He took on board a comment from the leader of the Liberal Democrat group that communities should be included in the stakeholders consulted.
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Unlicensed School Budgets PDF 150 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education and County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents: Minutes: County Councillor John Powell left the meeting during consideration of this item having declared a personal and prejudicial interest.
The Portfolio Holder for Education outlined the position on a number of schools with unlicensed budgets. He acknowledged receipt of a letter from Ysgol Gunradd Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant. He explained that there would be further reports to Cabinet on 20 December on Brecon High School and Ysgol Cedewain.
County Councillor Gareth Morgan spoke as the local Member to explain the background to the budget deficit at Llanidloes High School.
The Portfolio Holder for Finance emphasised the seriousness of the situation with 40 schools currently in deficit and a projected deficit greater than the Council’s general reserve. He wanted to see the rules on licensing school budgets strengthened so that governors were required to address deficits sooner. He rejected claims that the Cabinet had cut funding to schools and reminded members that the Fair Funding Formula was worked out by officers and head teachers.
Councillor Powell returned to the meeting.
Cabinet received the observations of the Education Scrutiny Working Group on unlicensed school budgets and noted the need for a response within 2 months. |
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Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2017-20 PDF 78 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education. Additional documents: Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Education presented the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan for 2017-20. A number of members commented that the Plan seemed to be limited in the scope of its ambition particularly given the Welsh Government’s aim to have 1 million Welsh speakers by 2050. It was acknowledged that one of the lessons learned from the first WESP was to be pragmatic in what could be achieved in the 3 year life of the plan. In response to comments about the lack of opportunities for post 16 pupils to continue their education in the medium of Welsh, Members were advised that whereas local authorities had a duty to provide Welsh medium post 16 education, colleges and other providers did not, a point which Members felt should be raised with Welsh Government.
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Judges Lodgings Presteigne Community Asset Transfer PDF 262 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Graham Brown, Portfolio Holder for Commissioning and Procurement, County Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Portfolio Holder for Property Buildings and Housing and County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance.
Minutes: Cabinet considered proposals for the Museum Service to transfer the Judge’s Lodging in Presteigne to the Judge’s Lodging Trust by a freehold Community Asset Transfer (CAT). The Portfolio Holder for Property and Commissioning explained that in addition to the transfer of the property it was proposed to provide a capital sum of £50,000 as a maintenance and improvement grant with £10,000 of the capital sum released in advance of the formal completion of the CAT transfer for urgent boiler replacement works. The Council’s Principal Lead Museums, Archives & Information Management Services confirmed that she would work with the Trust to help them access grant funding.
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To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: Cabinet considered the Council Tax Base for 2017/18.
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Financial Overview and Forecast as at 30th September 2016 PDF 283 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Finance briefed Cabinet on the budget outturn position. The projected forecast was for the revenue budget to overspend by£5.499m (3.42%) against the approved budget, excluding the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Schools Delegated Budgets. He advised that the Chief Executive’s budget recovery plan would be available for the Cabinet meeting on 20th December.
The Chair of the Audit Committee expressed the Committee’s concern that the rate of overspend would deplete reserves within 4 years and highlighted the overspend in Adult Social Care. The Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that the Adult Social Care budget was being closely examined to ensure that the service was being adequately funded and that he expected the service to make significant additional savings in the last quarter of 2016/17. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care reminded Members of the demographic and inflationary pressures on the service along with the national pressurised position and identified shortfall in funding.
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Workways+ Powys project PDF 108 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Avril York, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration. Minutes: This report was withdrawn for consideration by Cabinet / Management Team on 6th December and Cabinet on 20th December 2016.
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Scrutiny Observations on the CSSIW Improvement Objectives PDF 89 KB To receive and consider the observations of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Group on the implementation of the CSSIW improvement objectives. Minutes: Cabinet received the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Group’s observations on implementation of the CSSIW recommendations for improvement. The Chair of the People Scrutiny Committee reported concerns that the results of the Commissioning Strategy for Older People had not been reported back to Cabinet but to the Joint Partnership Board which was not a public meeting. The scrutiny Group also had some concerns about the operation of Powys People Direct and would be carrying out a follow-up review.
The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care would provide a response within 2 months.
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Strategic Overview Board - Summary Report PDF 74 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Performance. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet received the minutes of the meeting of the Strategic Overview Board meeting held on 18 October 2018 and noted that Councillor Wynne Jones was in the chair and not as printed. Councillor Jones confirmed that the next meeting on 13 December would also include financial management reports as well as performance management and he advised that the Chairs of the Audit Committee and Scrutiny Committees would be invited to attend as observers.
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Treasury Management Qtr 2 Report PDF 181 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet received the Treasury Management report for quarter 2.
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Correspondence To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration. Minutes: There were no items of correspondence received. |
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Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting PDF 37 KB To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. Minutes: Cabinet received for information details of delegated decisions taken by portfolio holders taken since the last meeting. |
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Forward Work Programme PDF 72 KB To consider the Cabinet forward work programme. Minutes: The Leader reminded Portfolio Holders that in order to assist the Scrutiny Committees in planning their work he was looking for the programme to be populated for the next 8 months. The Solicitor to the Council advised Cabinet that the following items had been selected for pre-scrutiny:
Domiciliary Care: 6 December 2016 PCC Care Homes: 6 December 2016 School Asset Management Plan: 21 – 23 December 2016 Education Standards Report:10 – 16 January 2017 Health and Care Strategy 10 year plan: 10 – 16 January 2017 Highways Asset Management Plan: 1- 6 February 2017 Home to School Transport: 1 – 6 February 2017 Older Persons Accommodation: 22 – 27 February 2017
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Exempt Items The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 1 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following item. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 11.8 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose personal data relating to an individual in contravention of the principles of the Data Protection Act. Because of this and since there did not appear to be an overwhelming public interest requiring the disclosure of personal data he felt that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting.
Minutes: RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 1 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).
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Future Delivery Model for Internal Audit Services To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered a confidential report on the provision of the Council’s internal audit provision.
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