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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. |
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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 MJB Davies declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Gwernyfed High School. County Councillor GW Ratcliffe declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Gwernyfed High School. County Councillor WJT Powell declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Llandrindod High School and Crossgates CP School. County Councillor MJB Davies declared a personal non pecuniary interest as his partner was an LEA appointed governor of Brecon High School. County Councillor JH Brunt declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Llanbister CP School and a governor of Neath Port Talbot College. County Councillor GSI Williams declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Llandrindod High School. County Councillor WD Powell declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Gwernyfed High School. County Councillor GG Hopkins declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Gwernyfed High School. County Councillor ET Morgan declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Brecon High School. County Councillor EA York declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Builth Wells High School. County Councillor TJ Van-Rees declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Builth Wells High School. County Councillor M Mackenzie declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Llandrindod High School. County Councillor DW Meredith declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Brecon High School. County Councillor KF Tampin declared a personal non pecuniary interest as an LEA appointed governor of Llandrindod High School. The Chief Executive declared a personal interest as the parent of a pupil attending Llandrindod High School and left the meeting whilst this matter was being discussed.
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In accordance with the decision taken at the last meeting that Full Council meets to discuss recommendations relating to Primary and Secondary School proposals that are affected by the Council’s Transformation Policy and Schools Reorganisation Policy 2015, to inform the Cabinet of Council’s views prior to any decision being taken by Cabinet, to consider the Portfolio Holder for Education’s recommendations to Cabinet on 27th September 2016 in respect of:
1. Builth Wells and Llandrindod High Schools 2. Brecon and Gwernyfed High Schools 3. Llanbister C.P. School 4. Llanfihangel Rhydithon C.P. School.
Minutes: Members were reminded of the purpose of the meeting as agreed by Council on 13th July that:
Full Council meets to discuss recommendations relating to Primary and Secondary School proposals that are affected by the Council’s Transformation Policy and Schools Reorganisation Policy 2015, to inform the Cabinet of Council’s views prior to any decision being taken by Cabinet.
Members of the Cabinet would listen to the points raised by members but would not participate in the debate other than to respond to questions put to them. If a vote was taken they would not take part as they did not wish to be seen as having predetermined any of the recommendations before they were considered by Cabinet on 27th September.
Builth Wells and Llandrindod High Schools The Portfolio Holder for Education advised that following consultation he was not proposing to change the recommendation to Cabinet to close Builth Wells High School and Llandrindod High School and to establish a new dual stream 11-18 secondary school that will operate across the current sites of the two schools from 1st September 2017.
County Councillor Dorrance asked if the recommendation included moving Welsh medium education from Brecon High School to Builth Wells High School as felt this would predetermine where Welsh medium education would be provided. The Portfolio Holder for Education explained that there would be a further consultation on the provision of Welsh medium education in Brecon. Councillor Dorrance asked about capacity and the Portfolio Holder advised that there were currently 134 spare places. Councillor Dorrance noted that the capacity would change as a result of the proposals.
County Councillor Gary Price asked if the Portfolio Holder felt the current leadership of the schools were weak. The Portfolio Holder said he did not but that merging the leadership teams would help improve outcomes for learners. Councillor Price asked if the Portfolio Holder had seen the email sent by the Chair of Governors of Llandrindod High School. The Portfolio Holder confirmed he had and that it would be taken into account as part of the consultation. Councillor Price noted the comments from Estyn in the consultation analysis that the proposals failed to demonstrate how they would improve standards. The Portfolio Holder replied that past experience showed that outcomes had improved. Councillor Price noted that £17m capital had been allocated for the scheme and he argued that it would be more beneficial to use the money to address the backlog of £3.5m works at both schools. Councillor Price pointed to a number of errors in the consultation analysis.
County Councillor Gwilym Williams questioned if Welsh medium education would be sustainable in Builth Wells without children attending from Brecon. He noted the improved GCSE results. He referred to Estyn’s assessment that the plans were unlikely to improve standards. He called on the Cabinet to abandon the proposals until the issue of the Welsh language provision in Brecon had been determined. The Portfolio Holder for Education again confirmed that there would be a ... view the full minutes text for item CC80- 2016 |
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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: Council considered the advice of the Chief Executive and the Solicitor to the Council and
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following items 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).
County Councillor David Meredith left the meeting. |
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Compulsory Redundancy To consider approving the financial details of a redundancy package consequent upon the Cabinet’s decision to remove the post from the Council’s organisation structure and make the post holder redundant.
Minutes: Council considered the redundancy package for the Director of Change and Governance consequent upon the Cabinet’s decision to remove the post from the Council’s organisation structure and make the post holder redundant.
County Councillor Aled Davies left the meeting.
The details of the package were put to the vote and passed by 32 votes to 3 with 1 abstention.
RESOLVED to approve the redundancy package. |