Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cabinet Members Cllr Jake Berriman and Cllr David Selby.

Officers: E. Palmer CEO and C. James

To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

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. 1

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

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member had been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

To scrutinise the Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025-2030, Draft 2025-26 Budget and Capital Programme for 2025-2030

Attached, in relation to the Cabinet’s Budget proposals to Council are the following documents:

General 

The Committee noted, observed, or requested that: 

• The potential impact of the Education Staff Review (Appendix 1 Pg 237) on the implementation of Inclusion Strategy, and undue pressure on the Central Team delivering both pieces of work through a Management of Change process.  

• Assurance received that work commenced on the Education Staff Review in September 2024, pressures were distributed amongst the Leadership team, to change structures to meet current and emerging needs in schools.  

• The Education Staff Review was based on a model to promote collaboration and expertise amongst colleagues, bringing clarity, responsibility, and accountability to roles. 

• The Management of Change process was not tied to an academic year and the Service was confident savings would be achieved during the financial year 2025-26, there could be no predetermination of future savings. 

• Reports lacked detail on Primary to Secondary transition, with little emphasis on Early Years. consideration was given within the new structure under a whole team around the cluster approach. 

• Clarity was received in respect of the Pre-school specialist provision and Nurture programme as the £50k saving formed the year 2 saving as detailed in the budget 2024-25. Delivery had changed focus from location based to across all schools as per Waves1-3 of the Additional Learning Needs Strategy. 

• Freedom Leisure Service Level Agreement had not been reviewed since 2015. A review would consider decreasing pupil numbers within catchments, to ensure contracted hours matched usage. 

• Due to a variation in the swimming provision, an engagement exercise had been conducted for a more equitable offer. Discussions were ongoing with Freedom Leisure.  

• Clarification was given in respect of the £390k undelivered PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) savings from 2024-25, as a virement of £120k had reduced pressure with the remaining £233k spread across 2025-26 (£110k) 2026-27 (£79k) and 2027-28 (£50k). 

• Leisure had been netted off from £177k in the Finance Resource Model (FRM) in 2024-25, with slight mitigation of £20k. The undelivered saving had been brought forward.  

• An individual FRM be produced for schools to allow savings to be tracked across financial years.  

• Continued realignment of grant income insured that base costs were covered and service provision provided.  

• Welsh Government (WG) had rationalised the number of grants and reduced the Terms and Conditions of use, Education Services had adjusted in line with the new measures as WG hold services to account via spending plans and overview of impact. 

• For grants that were specifically for schools e.g., Education Improvement Grant, WG had a national formula for funds to be passported via the Local Authority. 

• More information was required around the total percentage of the £30k savings on consultants. 

• Future papers to include all percentage figures of savings to indicate relevance to total service budget.  

• More detailed explanation be provided on individual savings and pressures. 

• Assurance was given on Third Party Spend, that the Secondary Strategy model from 5 years ago, had reduced year on year. 

• Significant increase in demand in pupils requiring Special School provision. Brynllywarch was noted in the FRM as banded levels  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Appendix I

To consider and confirm the Scrutiny Committee recommendations to Cabinet on the Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025-2030, the Draft 2025-2026 Budget and Capital Programme for 2025-2030.

Scrutiny Committee Recommendations to Cabinet were:

1.    The Committee wished to formally noteconcerns regarding how much schools were struggling to balance budgets. 

2.    Request that narrative for each cost reduction and pressure be included in budget papers. 

3.    Request assurance and evidence that the voice of schools was heard via the School Budget Forum and the School Funding Formula Review Group. 

4.    Request assurance and evidence that the voice of schools was heard via the School Budget Forum and the School Funding Formula Review Group. 

5.    Toreduce delays and improve the progress of the Transformation Programme. 

6.    The current Estyn Review be presented to the Scrutiny Committee. 

7.    The budget report for Schools did not align with the Sustainable Powys Programme. The Sustainable Powys Programme which underpins the Sustainable Communities for Learning process which had Council services within schools had not always been favourably received. 

8.    More detailed information requested on the schools' funding formula. 

9.    A more detailed analysis was requested on the relationship between the resources(capital & revenue) and standards within schools.Evidence indicated that the outcomes were below what was expected.