Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions

Contact: Elizabeth Patterson  01597 826980 Email: elizabeth.patterson@powys.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chair for the Meeting

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that County Councillor P Roberts be elected as Chair for the meeting.

2.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Sandra Davies and Susan McNicholas and Church Representative Margaret Evitts.

3.

Declarations of interest

To receive declarations of interest from Members.

Minutes:

The following declarations of interest were made in respect of Members who are School Governors.  Members who are Local Authority appointed School Governors are granted an exemption under the Members’ Code of Conduct to take a full part in discussions excluding regulatory type matters.  Members who are appointed as School Governors otherwise than through the Council have a similar dispensation to take a full part in discussions excluding regulatory type matters.

 

Mark Barnes             Penygloddfa Primary School, Newtown High School

Graham Breeze        Welshpool High School

Kelvyn Curry             Rhayader CIW Primary School

Bryn Davies              Ysgol Pennant

Emily Durrant           Llangorse Primary School, Gwernyfed High School

Diane Jones-PostonLlanbrynmair Primary School, Llanidloes High School

David Jones              Castle Caereinion Primary School, Guilsfield Primary School

Gareth Jones            Llanfair Caereinion Primary School

Pete Roberts             Llandrindod Wells CP School - Cefnllys

Lucy Roberts            Brynhafren Primary School, Llanfyllin High School Gwynfor Thomas            Ysgol Llansantffraid, Llanfyllin High School

Nigel Bufton             Llanfihangel Rhydithon Primary

Angela Davies          Rhayader Primary School, Builth Wells High School and Interim Governoing Body – Ysgol Calon Cymru

 

 

 

 

4.

Declarations of Party Whips

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

 

(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

 

5.

Review of Schools Funding Formula pdf icon PDF 280 KB

To undertake pre-Cabinet Scrutiny of the Schools Funding Formula Review prior to consultation.

Minutes:

Documents:

·         Draft Cabinet Paper for 10th July 2018 ‘School Funding Formula Review’

 

Discussions:

 

·         The paper is intended to get Cabinet approval to move to consultation

·         Officers and a Review Group of 25 people are working on the proposed formula

·         Views from across the education sector  are being sought before consultation

·         The formula will be based around four blocks:

o   Core educational delivery and basic running costs

o   Additional educational need and social deprivation

o   Costs relating to site, facilities and establishment

o   Other factors and adjustments

·         The group considered it will be necessary to identify the minimum cost of running a school (block 1)

·         The following risks are identified:

o   Ensuring enough views sought before consultation

o   A mismatch between the cost of running schools and the finance available

o   Meeting timescales for consultation

·         An experienced consultant is advising on the project (experience and appointment authority requested)

·         The links between the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Review and the Funding Formula Review were explored.  It was confirmed that pupils with additional learning needs would be funded according to their need and that the ALN Review and Funding Formula Review were working closely together.  Further detail would be provided to Members as part of an update on the ALN Transformation Programme as this project progresses

·         The content of the fourth block (other factors and adjustments) was discussed. It was noted that this would address funding issues in connection with all-though schools and multi-site schools and that the report considered these as exceptions. However, the move towards federation would increase the number of schools that this would cover.  Officers confirmed the intention was for the policy to be future proofed as far as possible in line with Welsh Government guidance.

·         Scrutiny noted that previous reviews of the funding formula had resulted in schools of between 135 and 160 pupil numbers being penalised.  Officers confirmed that there was insufficient information available at this stage of the process to identify if any particular sized school would be penalised by these changes but further discussions would be had by Schools Forum when further detail was available. The additional costs of Welsh education were raised and it was confirmed that the work identifying the costs of running a school would consider language provision to address the increase in Welsh medium education.

·         Members noted that a majority of schools were forecasting a deficit position and queried that by calculating the cost of running a school and reviewing the funding formula may not necessarily improve this position.  Officers confirmed that the Funding Formula Review and the actions taken to address the deficit positions of schools would run in parallel but holding schools to account for their financial management and setting a balanced budget is a statutory requirement which is monitored by Estyn.  Scrutiny observed that the Schools Service had previously taken action to improve the forecast deficit position but the position had worsened.  Officers assured Members that a more robust approach was being taken in line with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Schools Safeguarding Compliance pdf icon PDF 566 KB

To receive the Schools Safeguarding Compliance Audit 2018 and Schools Service Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Additional Learning Needs Manager presented the Safeguarding Audit report and draft Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (copy attached to signed minutes).

 

·         A draft Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy had been produced to function at the level of the Schools Service and as an umbrella policy to cover both schools and other settings to which Powys has a degree of responsibility through the provision of funding (namely, pre-school provisions).

·         The draft Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy also includes a model policy for use by schools and other settings.

·         The first annual safeguarding audit of schools has been completed.

·         Members who had been involved in completing the audit found it time consuming; it provided good focus although it was not clear what evidence was needed

·         It was confirmed that the responses had been variable particularly around the ratings and when the audit is next undertaken the Challenge Advisors will provide support and challenge in respect of the audit

(Cllr M Barnes left 3.30pm)

·         It was confirmed that the school staff member and Governor with Safeguarding responsibilities would have completed the report.  Each Governing Body should have an Annual Safeguarding Report.

 

 

7.

Schools Service Workforce Strategic Development Plan 2018 pdf icon PDF 457 KB

To receive the Schools Service Workforce Strategic Development Plan June 2018.

Minutes:

The Senior Challenge Advisor introduced the Workforce Strategic Plan (attached to the agenda).

 

·         Organisational charts are published on an annual basis and can be provided for previous years

·         The service has a Critical Incident Process which is regularly reviewed and after each Critical Incidence a debrief will take place

·         The service work closely with Emergency Planning and the Police and it depends on what type of incident as to who takes the lead on any Critical Incident

·         It was confirmed that Education Psychologists were hard to recruit and the service had appointed two trainees to help address this

 

8.

Timing of Meetings pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To receive and consider the report of the Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services.

Minutes:

The Committee received the report of the Scrutiny Manager. It was noted that

this suggestion had developed during the discussion prior to the last meeting of the Council regarding the new scrutiny committee structure. As there was a

larger number of Councillors who worked than in previous terms of office, the

Group Leaders had suggested that the scrutiny committees might consider

alternating the times of meetings, including meetings in early evenings which

might allow for a greater number of Members to attend the meetings. The

Committee was therefore asked if it was prepared to trial some alternative times for meetings.

 

Members indicated that they were willing to attend meetings at the following times:

 

            Option A – 10.00am to 1.00pm                  19 votes

            Option B – 2.00pm – 5.00pm                     11 votes

            Option C – 4.00pm – 7.00pm                     1 vote

            Option D – 5.00pm – 8.00pm                     0 votes

 

Members agreed that morning meetings were preferable but afternoon meeting could be held if necessary due to Officer availability.

9.

Work Programme

The Scrutiny Work Programme is under review following the change of structure of the Scrutiny Committees.

 

Future meeting dates are:

 

·         25th June 2018

·         19th July 2018

·         22nd August 2018

 

Further dates will be circulated when they have been confirmed.

 

Minutes:

The work programme for this Committee was being put together for consideration at Joint Chairs and Vice-Chairs and would be circulated when available.

 

Meeting closed 4.00pm