Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Penny Jones declared a non-prejudicial interest as an Independent Member of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. 

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No public present.?

To conduct pre-decision scrutiny of the policy.

Dr Morwenna Wagstaff and Jacquelyn Elias introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Will McLean, Chief Officer for Children and Young People.

What has been the effect of the vulnerable learner lead role on the numbers of pupils with reduced absences and levels of exclusion?

The vulnerable learner lead role has been in place since March 2023. While there have been high levels of exclusion recently, this trend is mirrored regionally and nationally. There is ongoing work to manage and reduce exclusions, with schools are now being better supported and challenged regarding exclusions, and there is a greater understanding of using exclusion as one of the tools in their toolkit. 

Are there significant cost benefits from the King Henry School model?

The potential benefits for children with additional learning needs are the continuity and consistency offered by the model at the school, which is expected to provide smoother transitions and build long-lasting relationships with key staff. The inclusion of a Specialist Resource Base (SRB) at King Henry School will further support children with additional needs.?This can prevent situations from escalating and potentially offer cost savings by keeping children in local mainstream schools. 

Are we seeing pressure from children coming out of private education due to increased fees?

There are not significant numbers of learners leaving the independent sector to join MCC schools. However, there is capacity in the system to accommodate any such students, and the inclusion service would support those with additional learning needs through the usual process. 

Have we had any children with additional learning needs coming from private education?

There are around 10 children who have moved from private education to Monmouthshire schools. She also mentioned that there is one child with additional learning needs currently going through an assessment process after moving from an independent setting.?

How do you identify children of service families and are you confident that you are identifying them all?

The identification of children of service families is done through close work with the Armed Forces Covenant. There is a service family worker who helps in this process. While there is confidence in the identification process, it is acknowledged that there might be hidden cases, especially among reservist families. 

What work is done in relation to supporting service children?

The local authority works closely with the Armed Forces Covenant to ensure support for service children. This includes applying for grants where there are clusters of service children and recognizing the unique challenges they face, such as frequent school changes. 

Councillor Peter Strong also paid tribute to Raglan School for their excellent work with service children, noting their recent bronze award from the Supporting Service Children in Education Cymru group. 

How much work is done in schools with head teachers and staff in identifying young people with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia)?

There is an ongoing program of raising awareness and training in the whole school community for literacy and numeracy aspects of specific difficulties. The Monmouthshire Specialist Teaching  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To scrutinise the 2025/26 Draft Revenue and Capital Budget Proposals.

Cabinet Member Ben Callard delivered a presentation, introduced the report and answered the members’ questions with Jonathan Davies, Cabinet Member Ian Chandler, Jenny Jenkins and Tyrone Stokes.

Are there any caveats on the £2.9 million expected from the Welsh Government?

Some of the additional funding from the Welsh Government is expected to be earmarked specifically for social care and health. This earmarked funding will offset other funding, allowing redistribution to other services as required. The exact details are still being finalised, but there is confidence in closing the remaining gap without further impact on services or Council tax. 

When will the police and Crime Commissioner's precept be available to the public?

The police and community councils have recently provided their precept proposals. This information is being processed and will be included in the final budget papers, which will be presented to the cabinet on March 5th and to the Council on March 6th. 

Do we charge for the administration of the police precept?

No, the local authority does not charge an administration fee for the police precept due to regulatory restrictions. The arrangements around the Council tax base and collection rate are strictly regulated. 

How does the £125,000 staffing review saving within the home care teams equate with the increased demand and pressure on home care teams?

The saving is part of a broader strategy to right-size care packages and support people within their communities for as long as possible. The review aims to consolidate existing vacancies without compromising the quality of care or delaying transfers of care from hospitals. The Cabinet Member confirmed they believe it is sustainable without impacting service delivery. Officers added that they are confident in maintaining service levels despite the vacancies, as they have been managing with these vacancies for a considerable time and are changing the way services are delivered.

What changes are planned for youth clubs in rural areas?

The plan is to withdraw the standalone rural youth service provision in the South of Monmouthshire and focus on the youth service provision within the four main towns (Caldicot, Chepstow, Abergavenny, and Monmouth). The services required in rural areas will be absorbed by the existing provisions in these towns. 

How successful are we in getting maximum Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding from the NHS?

Securing CHC funding remains a challenge, particularly for younger people with mental health and learning disabilities. While there is more success with older people, the process is complex and often involves long-standing disputes. The local authority is actively lobbying Welsh Government to address these challenges. 

Is any of the increased investment in key infrastructure specified for bridge maintenance, particularly the chain bridge?

The work required for the Chainbridge is not specifically covered in the budget. However, a grant application has been submitted to the Resilient Roads Fund to cover the necessary work, and the outcome is expected by the end of March. 

How do we budget for the costs associated with bed blocking and how the social care budget manages these  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor Jackie Strong requested ‘Age-friendly status for Monmouthshire’ be added to the forward work programme, with an invitation to the Older Person’s Commissioner. It was felt the Committee should have an oversight of the Council's plans for achieving age-friendly status and actions taken over the past year.

Councillor Laura Wright (Chair) raised mentioned discussing with officers the specifics of what the committee wants to cover regarding Tudor Street and when it should be brought to the committee. 

In terms of actions from the last meeting in respect of the Homesearch policy, further information would be sent to the committee. 

Councillor Simon Howarth highlighted that the forward work programme had many items listed with unconfirmed dates and requested this be taken up with officers and relevant Cabinet Members to ensure there was a clear direction.

This was noted. 

The minutes were agreed, proposed by Councillor strong and seconded by Councillor Jones.