Agenda and draft minutes

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Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services 

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors K Roberts-Jones, T Van-Rees, C Mills and B Davies.

 

The Committee also noted the resignation of County Councillor C Mills as a member of the Committee.

2.

Disclosures of interest

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest from Members relating to items for consideration on the agenda.

3.

Declarations of Party Whip

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:

The Committee did not receive any 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.

4.

Mount Street Infant School, Mount Street Junior School and Cradoc C.P. School pdf icon PDF 396 KB

To scrutinise the report of the Portfolio Holder for Education and Property and to make observations / recommendations to the Cabinet for consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Documents Considered:

·                 Report of the Portfolio Holder for Education and Property.

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 In relation to Cradoc school for 50.5% of the children at this school, this is their closest school, 24.2% of children, Priory is their closest school, 8.8% Llanfaes, 5.5% Sennybridge, 4.4% Mount Street, 3.3% Archdeacon Griffiths, 3.3% Builth Wells.

·                 The furthest distance a child travels to Cradoc School currently is 6.3 miles, and if the proposal is accepted the furthest distance a child would travel (based on current children at the school) is just over 9 miles.

·                 One of the challenges received is why the authority cannot build a new school in the Cradoc area. If the authority was build a school there based on the population numbers for the area, it would be a recommendation for a two class school for around 50 pupils which is not economic and still be a small school in accordance with the Welsh Government definition.

·                 With regard to the proposal and the Penlan site, this would mean schools operating temporarily from existing sites, moving from three governing bodies to one and one leadership team. It then gives the opportunity to develop one school on the Penlan site (which is the same location as Brecon High School) and across the road from Ysgol y Bannau which is the Welsh Medium primary school in the area.

·                 The proposal creates some exciting opportunities in respect of transition from Year 5 and 6 to the High School.

·                 Mount Street is the only infant and junior schools left in the county.

·                 Temporarily operating from three sites would allow the school to manage admissions.

·                 In terms of the three sites, there would be one governing body and one headteacher with a broader leadership team. There is also a precedent in the county with the Welshpool Church in Wales school which is now in one building but did operate previously on three separate sites.

·                 In terms of transition this should provide better opportunities for transitional arrangements, such as greater ability for pupils in years 5 to 8 to have access to facilities at Brecon High School such as science laboratories, drama studio.

 

·                 Questions:

There has been a statement from the Portfolio Holder about the ideal size of a school in response to a question at any time. Can you confirm that we are looking as an aspiration to move to schools of 210 pupils as part of transformation.

The Portfolio Holder indicated that this is not the case. The information provided was the ideal size of a school from the Portfolio Holder's perspective only. Looking at the funding formula this gives information as to how best to resource a school. A school with 210 pupils is an ideal scenario, but is not suitable for all cases. Therefore this is not relevant in terms of the strategy, what is important is to provide an equal opportunity for pupils across Powys.

 

This is a question which has been asked many times for a county the size of Powys. There  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Work Programme

To note that future meetings of the Committee are scheduled as follows:

 

12-01-22

WESP - post consultation (Cabinet 18-01-22)

24-01-22

14.00 - 16.00

Zoom

Q3 Performance and Risk

 

Estyn Thematic Review on Covid

 

Covid update – lessons learned

01-02-22

Draft Budget

Feb / March

 

02-03-22

A.M.

ALN Strategy and Readiness for the Act

 

Curriculum for Wales and Professional Learning – update

 

P.M.

Ysgol Bro Cynllaith

 

29-06-22

 

20-07-22

Q1 Performance and Risk

Secondary School Strategy

21-09-22

 

26-10-22

Q2 Performance and Risk

14-12-22

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted that future meetings were scheduled as follows:

 

12-01-22

WESP - post consultation (Cabinet 25-01-22)

24-01-22

14.00 - 16.00

Zoom

Q3 Performance and Risk

 

Estyn Thematic Review on Covid

 

Covid update – lessons learned

01-02-22

10.00 – 12.00

Draft Budget

Feb / March

 

02-03-22

A.M.

ALN Strategy and Readiness for the Act

 

Curriculum for Wales and Professional learning – update

 

P.M.

Bro Cynllaith

 

29-06-22

 

20-07-22

Q1 Performance and Risk

Secondary School Strategy

21-09-22

 

26-10-22

Q2 Performance and Risk

14-12-22