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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, The Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made.

2.

Public Open Forum

Minutes:

No members of the public were present.

3.

Confirmation of Minutes

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 28th June 2018 were confirmed and signed as a true record.

 

The Committee recognised the contribution of Mr. K. Plow who had resigned as representative of the Monmouthshire Association of School Governors.  Members requested that a letter of thanks is sent and look forward to welcoming his successor, Mrs. Leanne Wakerley.

4.

Supporting People Programme Grant - Service Update pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose:

Whilst the Supporting People (SP) programme is predominately focused on adults, a significant number of younger people (16-25) are also supported. For consideration are:

1.    The proposal to extend Supporting People contracts for a year from 1 April 2019 whilst whatever future funding arrangements Welsh Government makes are implemented.

2.    Whether sufficient positive action is being taken in consideration of this protected characteristic (young age) through the age-specific services.

 

Recommendations:

1.    To approve the proposal to extend contracts due for renewal on 1 April 2019 for a year whilst the implications of Welsh Government’s decisions on future funding, to be made later in this financial year, are worked through and implemented.

2.    To agree that the positive action in terms of funding and people supported reflects the Authority’s objectives sufficiently.

 

Key Issues:

Current Programme

SP is a service providing housing-based to support to people in Monmouthshire. The purpose of the support is to help vulnerable people to either live independently or to achieve the greatest degree of independence that their personal challenges will allow, with a significant focus on the prevention of homelessness.

 

In 2017, the services supported 2,550 people and contributed to the costs of circa 2,000 community based alarms (as in sheltered housing).

Monmouthshire’s SP funding is £2.039m per annum, approximately 10% of the Gwent provision of £21m. Our service funding is approximately broken down into 14% accommodation based services (e.g. refuge, hostels and alarms), 10% Gateway assessment, intervention and brokerage service and 76% floating support.

 

The SP programme comprises 33 contracts and/or service level agreements with 12 providers. These contracts are due for renewal and/or extension on 1 April 2019, with the exception of 3 small contracts with a total value of circa £70k. Of these contracts, 3 are regional contracts managed by other Authorities on behalf of MCC and 2 are regional managed by MCC on behalf

of other Gwent Authorities. SP outcomes are measured across a range of 11 outcomes, each of which can be assessed as relevant to the individual and assessed and recorded on a 5 step model. On average, over a year individuals make 5 positive steps of progress or the equivalent of achieving one outcome to full independence. The average cost of achieving this progress is circa £1,500, or £300 per positive step. The £1,500 is equivalent to 1.54 hours of weekly support. Welsh Government feedback confirms this to be a value for money provision, with at least two examples of best practice – the Gateway intervention, assessment and brokerage service and the place-based service delivery model.

SP provides support across the full range of outcomes, however, incidence of support relating to mental health demonstrates the complex nature of the vulnerabilities supported (44% of service users achieve positive progress in this area). Of the support issues that are traditionally considered housing support issues, 36% of service users achieve positive progress in respect

of managing their money, 34% in respect of managing their accommodation and 30% in feeling safer.

 

In terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

EAS: Briefing on Changes to Accountability and Curriculum Reform pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

Context:

The Select Committee received a presentation explaining changes to the education accountability framework from Helen Power, Principal Challenge Adviser (Monmouthshire) and Ed Pryce, Challenge Adviser and Interim Service Strategic and Policy Lead, SE Wales Education Achievement Service (EAS). 

 

Key Issues:

To receive information regarding Curriculum Reform and the EAS Support Programmes. 

 

Member Scrutiny:

Following the presentation, Select Committee Members asked questions:

 

·         In response to a question, it was confirmed that Part 1 and Part 2 of the education reform support programme will be starting in the Autumn through to Spring. Schools not engaging will be encouraged to do so and the relevant authority also advised.

·         A Member referred to a decline in numbers of students choosing Modern Foreign Languages (MFL).  It was responded that MFL are included in the Language, Literacy and Communication section of the curriculum.

·         It was not known if there will be a formal consultation to allow parents and others to comment on the draft curriculum in April 2019.  More information will be sought.

·         A Member referred to “What Matters” statements and an Estyn report in relation to Religious Education.  It was mentioned that Welsh Government sponsored international research found for RE being separate from humanities.  Concern was expressed about proposed secularisation of RE and the Member asked if the curriculum would follow the international research instead.  It was noted that the EAS has no influence on curriculum content which is being considered by separate groups.

·         In terms of data, it was commented that the move to divide schools into thirds will be helpful when looking at outcomes.  It is recognised that often the better performing pupils do very well but it is not necessarily the same for Free School Meal (FSM) pupils so this change will assist effective scrutiny in the future.  The Chief Officer for Children and Young People referred to this period as one of constant change; it will be a challenge when reporting on outcomes without comparative data.  The change to the assessment of teaching and learning aligned to the new professional standards, and how judgements are made, will be very important.  That FSM pupils appear not to do well does not reflect that they often do well according to their own potential.  There is a need to better explain such achievement and progress to the Committee.

·         A Member referred to the new GCSEs and to curriculum change.  It was confirmed that there will be a new range of GCSEs by 2025 for children following the new curriculum.

·         A Member queried the KS4 measures and the capped point score equating to core subjects, and asked if the EAS had any influence to have a wider based curriculum and measure as there is a risk of the Baccalaureate being devalued.  It was confirmed that the capped point score can be a range of other subjects but that the Welsh Government proposals are that there will be only three restricted subjects (literacy, numeracy and science) and six other open subjects.

·         A Committee Member expressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Revenue and Capital Monitoring 2018/19: Outturn Statement pdf icon PDF 339 KB

Minutes:

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with information on the revenue and capital outturn position of the Authority at the end of reporting period 1 which represents the financial outturn position for the 2018/19 financial year based on May inclusive activities.

This report will also be considered by Select Committees as part of their responsibility to,

• assess whether effective budget monitoring is taking place,

• monitor the extent to which budgets are spent in accordance with agreed budget and policy framework,

challenge the reasonableness of projected over or underspends, and

• monitor the achievement of predicted efficiency gains or progress in relation to savings proposals.

 

Recommendations proposed to Cabinet:

1. That Members consider a net revenue forecast of £471,000 overspend.

2. Members consider a capital outturn spend of £35.7m, which accords with budget provision for the year, after proposed slippage of £75,000. This describes a breakeven position not uncommon for this early in the year, although there is a potential for additional 21c schools costs in respect of additional asbestos removal and treatment costs not anticipated, which colleagues indicate could be the order of £350,000.

3. Considers the use of reserves proposed in para 3.8.1,

4. Members note that the low level of earmarked reserves will notably reduce the flexibility the Council has in meeting the challenges of scare resources going forward.

5. Members note the extent of movements in individual budgeted draws on school balances, and acknowledge a reported net forecast deficit of £622k resulting, and support the amendments to MCC’s Fairer Funding Regulations as described in para 3.8.13 for onward engagement with schools forum and governing bodies

 

Member Scrutiny

The Assistant Head of Finance/Section 151 Officer and the CYP Finance Manager introduced the report.  Select Committee Members took the opportunity to ask questions, as follows:

 

·         ALN Review: A Member referred to the deficit projected for Mounton House School and the income from other authorities and asked if the status quo could be maintained to attract more pupils external to Monmouthshire to ensure that the income source continues.  The Chief Officer explained that following the publication of the proposals earlier in the year, there has been no reduction in pupils at the school.  Cabinet was advised that the proposal for change will not proceed but the authority will work with the school and others to understand the need for that type of provision in Monmouthshire.  The capacity is for 55 pupils, currently there are 28 on roll.  Next year there will only be 1 Monmouthshire pupil on roll.  The Chair looked forward to updates regarding proposals.

·         Funding Formula: The Chair referred to the funding formula noting that 3 of the 4 secondary schools are in deficit, with the fourth in surplus but being closely monitored. With 17 schools forecasting deficits, it was questioned if the authority had the resources to monitor individual schools and commented that some schools are finding it very difficult.  It was questioned if there is a need to fundamentally  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Action arising from previous meeting pdf icon PDF 37 KB

Minutes:

Eligibility Criteria for Free School Meals (FSM)

With the Chair’s permission, an urgent addition was made to the agenda: Consultation on changes to the eligibility criteria for FSM, arising from the roll out of Universal Credit. 

 

The CYP Finance Manager provided a verbal report and requested that Committee Members provide responses to the consultation document. The Clerk was asked to circulate the e mail containing the consultation document to Committee Members requesting responses by the 14th September 2018.

 

Actions arising from the previous meeting:

·         Apprenticeships within the authority:  This is being encouraged and progressed.

·         ALN Review: A one month extension to the ALN review has been agreed. In response to a query, it was confirmed that the most recent Cabinet paper updates the current position clearly identifying the changes to the original proposals and identifying aspects that will be subject to further consultation.  Such consultation will take place in the Autumn term.  The report will be distributed to parents at the schools concerned.  The matter will be returned to this Committee and then to Cabinet in December 2018.

8.

Children and Young People Select Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Minutes:

The work programme was noted. 

 

A Member mentioned that there were some suggestions for topics in the last minutes.  It was also suggested that Pioneer schools could be invited to a future meeting to give their impression of curriculum reform and development.  The Chair will follow this matter up with the Scrutiny Manager.

 

 

9.

Cabinet and Council Forward Planner pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet and Council Forward Planner was noted. 

10.

To confirm the date and time of the next meeting