Agenda and minutes

County Councillor M. Groucutt declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 8 – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) Band B Update, as he is a governor of King Henry VIII Comprehensive School.

Country Councillor R. Harris declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 8 – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) Band B Update, as he is a member of the 21^st Century School Board.

County Councillor A. Easson declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of the urgent item of business regarding a presentation - White Paper: Services fit for the future - Quality and Governance in health and care in Wales, as he is a member of the

Community Health Council (CHC).

County Councillor M. Powell declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 8 – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) Band B Update, as she is a governor of King Henry VIII Comprehensive School.

County Councillor L. Brown declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 8 – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) Band B Update, as she is a Chepstow area Member.

County Councillor P. Pavia declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 5.1 Revenue and Capital Monitoring 2017/18 Outturn Statement, as he is a governor of St. Mary’s R.C. Primary School.

Dr. A. Daly declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of agenda item 8 – 21^st Century Schools Programme – Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) Band B Update, as she is the Diocesan Director of Education and church schools are her work interest.

County Councillor V. Smith declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest pursuant to the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of the urgent item of business regarding a presentation - White Paper: Services fit for the future - Quality and Governance in health and care in Wales, as she is a member of the

Community Health Council (CHC).

There were no members of the public in attendance.

The minutes of the Children and Young People Select Committee dated 11^th July 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair.

We received and noted the minutes of the Joint Select Committee dated 24^th July 2017. 

In doing so, it was agreed that the following amendment should be added to Minute 6 - Future Monmouthshire: Proposed new delivery model for tourism, leisure culture and youth services - Under sub heading Member Scrutiny, add the following:

Concern was raised regarding non – executive directors and whether they should be Council Members or not.

We received and noted the list of actions that had been completed arising from the Children and Young People Select Committee meeting held on 11^th July 2017.

We received and noted the Select Committee’s forward work plan.

We received the Council and Cabinet Business Forward Work Plan.  In doing so the following points were noted:

·         Cabinet - 1^st November 2017: Alternative Delivery Model – A Joint Select Committee meeting, consisting of the four select committees and the trade union representatives, had been held regarding this matter in which scrutiny had been undertaken. Members had been encouraged to forward their comments to the Head of Tourism Leisure Culture & Youth. However, County Councillor Easson had forwarded his comments to the officer but had yet to receive a response.  This matter would be investigated with a view to obtaining a response.

·         Review of 20^th Century Schools - this matter will be brought to the Children and Young People Select Committee for scrutiny when the pertinent information is available.

The Chairman agreed to take to the following urgent item of business due to limited availability of Welsh Government representatives to present the White Paper to the Council as part of the Welsh Government’s consultation process.

Context:

To scrutinise the White Paper: Services fit for the future – Quality and Governance in health and care in Wales.

Key Issues:

The Select Committee received a presentation by representatives of Welsh Government regarding the White Paper: Services fit for the future – Quality and Governance in health and care in Wales.  All Members of the Council were invited to attend the Select Committee meeting to undertake scrutiny in respect of this issue.

Member Scrutiny:

Following the presentation, a question and answer session ensued. In doing so, the following points were noted:

·         The Health Board had raised concerns regarding how new duties might be enforced.

·         There is no intention for the NHS to become the dominant partner. The White Paper is looking to build on what is already legislation, i.e., partners equally working together. It is about facilitating the culture in order for health boards to work more closely with social services and local authorities.

·         Local Health Boards already have duties for citizens’ engagement but the White Paper wants to future proof these arrangements by making them more effective.

·         Any legislative changes that might result from the White Paper will result in all costs being set out and when the bill is introduced, that document will be laid with it. Engagement with key partners will be undertaken regarding this matter at the appropriate time.

·         Transparency already exists with open meetings of Health Boards.  However, it was acknowledged that there is still some way to go to improve this.  A system has been in place since 2011 entitled ‘Putting things right’ which seeks to resolve issues fairly and openly.

·         There is a requirement for local Authority representation on health boards and this will continue, going forward. The current representation consists of an elected Member and Director of Social Services on the health board.

·         One of the key challenges is to strengthen the citizens’ voice but at the same time, not lose local representation and local links.  The proposals in the White Paper seek to invest statutory function in the national body but give it a significant amount of freedom to decide how to operate locally.  Depending on the results of the consultation, Welsh Government will have to look at whether this is right and whether something important might be lost.

·         The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report looked at all four UK nations and the quality of the health services. No one service is performing better than the others.  All services have their good points, as well as having their weaknesses.  The Wales service is very well placed to take advantage of the building blocks already in place in integrated health boards to make a difference in outcomes for the population of Wales. However, there is a balance that needs to be adhered to in terms of the centralised powers that exist, as opposed to local powers that exist.

·         Currently, the duty of candour does not exist in Wales. However, there exists a form of duty of candour  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Context:

To scrutinise the revenue and capital outturn positions based on activity data at month 2.

Recommendations proposed to Cabinet:

·         That Members consider a net revenue outturn overspend of £164,000.

·         Members consider a capital outturn spend, forecast by service managers to agree with the budget.

·         Members note that the low level of earmarked reserves, which will severely reduce the flexibility the Council has in meeting the financial challenges of reducing settlements and consequent need to re-design services.

·         Members note the significant forecast reduction in the overall school balance at the end of 2017/18 and supports the continuing work with schools to ensure that the Council’s Fairer Funding scheme requirements are met and that the overall schools balance reverts to  positive position at the earliest opportunity. 

Member Scrutiny:

·         Concern was expressed regarding the number of schools across the County currently carrying a negative budget.  In response, it was noted that across Wales secondary school balances are reducing and primary school balances are being maintained. There is a pressure around examination fees in secondary schools and there has been a reduction in Post 16 funding from Welsh Government.  This has had a negative effect on some schools’ balances. Officers are working with schools regarding recovery plans with a view to allowing the schools to recover but to be able to maintain standards.

·         Chepstow Comprehensive School had been in debt to the sum of £400,000 four years ago but had now recovered over this period and was now carrying a surplus budget.

·         Last year the Authority received late notification from Welsh Government regarding a reduction in Post 16 funding.  For Monmouth Comprehensive School this equated to a reduction of £216,000 which comprised of 60% of the school’s deficit budget. 28% of King Henry VIII Comprehensive School’s budget was caused by the reduction in this grant.  These reductions in schools’ budgets fell outside of the management of schools.  Officers are working with these schools with a view to undertaking a rapid recovery path with regard to their finances.

·         In terms of the overall deficit position of Monmouthshire’s schools, Monmouth Comprehensive and King Henry VIII Comprehensive schools make up the most significant element of this issue.

·         With regard to Additional Learning Needs (ALN), a wide ranging review of ALN has been undertaken over the previous 12 months. That report, with the case for some financial changes, will be presented to the Children and Young People Select Committee in October 2017.

·         Via the ALN review, the Authority is looking to ensure that interventions are early, in the main stream, that there are effective resource bases in the north and south of the County that pupils are able to access easily.  Also, to provide more significant interventions higher up the levels of intervention that will preclude the Authority from having to send the children out of County.  The most pressing need is around speech and language.  New units are being looked at in the north of the County.  An ALN regional advisor will be appointed shortly.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Context:

To scrutinise details of the current breach in the Fair Funding (Scheme for Financing Schools) Regulations and actions to address this and to seek exception for the financial year 2017-18.

Key Issues:

The Fair Funding (Scheme for Financing Schools) is the funding framework in which schools and the Local Authority operate, and is based on the legislative provisions in Section 45-53 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

In line with the timescales outlined in the Fair Funding Regulations, the Local Authority received all school budgets approved by the governing body by 31^st May 2017. On receipt of these, the Section 151 Officer was informed that collectively, schools were reporting a deficit of £608,000. 

Primary schools reported a surplus of £74,000, whilst secondary schools reported a deficit of £667,000 and the special school and pupil referral unit a deficit of £15,000.  With regard to the deficit in secondary schools, there have been particular circumstances which have contributed to this issue including the late notification of post 16 funding reductions from Welsh Government. 

School balances on the 1^st April 2017 stood at a surplus of £269,000 and the collective reserve use during the year is anticipated to be £877,000. Schools have been made aware of the cumulative deficit position and are working together to both minimise the anticipated spend in year but also to try and maintain surplus budgets where they exist.

The actions that the Local Authority has put in place are detailed below:

·         Immediate work with all schools has ensured that the month 2 report details an improvement in the school balances of £180,000.

·         All schools with a significant deficit have met with the Chief Officer for Children and Young People and relevant Finance officers. At these meetings the schools have outlined how they are intending to recover from the deficit with timescales.

·         All recovery plans will be monitored on a monthly basis and head teachers and Governing Bodies are held to account to ensure all the savings will be made.

·         Where applicable, the Cabinet Members for Finance and Children and Young People will meet with schools in the autumn term of 2017 to gain reassurance and an understanding of each recovery plan.

·         Hereford College presents a significant challenge to the north of the County and is drawing students away from Monmouthshire. As an Authority, we are ensuring that we have the best teaching and learning that can be provided in Monmouthshire’s schools with a range of subjects being offered to students.  Post 16 provision is a real area of focus for the Authority now and in the coming years. With the four secondary schools in Monmouthshire working more closely together their strengths can be recognised and economies of scale with regard to the provision of the post 16 curriculum can be identified also.

Member Scrutiny:

·         Post 16 grant comes directly from Welsh Government which goes to Monmouthshire’s secondary schools for the teaching of A levels.  In previous years, Welsh Government has informed the Authority  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Context:

To provide some historical context regarding the Children’s Services Improvement Plan and to identify progress that has been made.

Key Issues:

The Children’s Services Improvement Plan is a three year plan which commenced in April 2016.  As the plan is reaching its halfway point, Officers provided the Select Committee with an update on progress.

Member Scrutiny:

Following the presentation, a question and answer session took place and the following points were noted:

·         The presentation would be circulated to the Select Committee.

·         The Main group of preventative services are via Families First.  Through the links with Families First and the multi-agency meetings with schools the Directorate is in touch with a whole array of services.

Context:

To scrutinise Key Stages 4 and 5 outcomes for the summer 2017.

Key Issues:

The Chief Officer for Children and Young People outlined the following points:

·         A full and comprehensive report will be scrutinised by the Select Committee at its October 2017 meeting.

·         This was a new year for GCSE provision in Wales with the introduction of some key and important examinations.

·         There would no longer be comparability for the Authority’s key measure.

·         Estyn and Welsh Government are now setting a requirement for local authorities to look at a broader set of measures for schools.

·         Even with the level of change and volatility in the system, Monmouthshire’s schools have performed very well during the summer.

·         Monmouthshire’s ranking position last year was third.  Provisional data for this year suggests that Monmouthshire is the highest performing authority in Wales in terms of the Level 2 inclusive.

·         The contributing English examination was no longer English literature as this had transferred to English language.

·         The Welsh Government had introduced a new mathematics paper which focussed on numeracy with very good performance across Monmouthshire’s schools.

·         In terms of the schools’ individual performance, two secondary schools improved their Level 2 inclusive from the previous year.  Monmouth Comprehensive School advanced up to 74% and Caldicot Comprehensive School advanced up to 68%.

·         King Henry VIII and Chepstow Comprehensive Schools performances dropped back slightly.  The key issue for both schools related to English.

·         In terms of the percentage of students who achieved five A* or A grades, the Authority moved from 19.5% to 24.2%.

Member Scrutiny:

·         The Chief Officer for Children and Young People would pass on the Select Committee’s congratulations to the four secondary school head teachers regarding the impressive examination results.

·         A formal report regarding the data will be available at the October 2017 Children and Young People Select Committee meeting whereby in depth scrutiny of the data can be undertaken.

Context:

To scrutinise the details of the Strategic Outline Programme for Band B 21st Century Schools Programme.

Key Issues:

·         Band A of Monmouthshire’s 21st Century Schools’ Programme is well underway. Caldicot School opens later this month and Monmouth Comprehensive School is on schedule to open September 2018.  

·         Working with Welsh Government, the Local Authority is looking to develop Band B of the programme which will involve the building of a new Comprehensive School in Abergavenny.

·         Working within Welsh Government timescales, the draft Strategic Outline Programme has been submitted.

·         The key areas to be considered are that the proposal seeks to address the condition of Monmouthshire’s school buildings and sufficiency, ensuring that the schools are of an appropriate size and design to meet the needs of 21st Century learning.

·         The proposal will also incorporate a larger Welsh Medium primary school, recognising the increase in numbers of pupils choosing Welsh Medium Education, and a new facility, on a dual site to provide Welsh Medium secondary Education within Monmouthshire.

·         Currently, there are two primary schools within the county, educating through the medium of Welsh, but once pupils reach secondary school there is no provision within Monmouthshire and as a result, pupils need to attend schools within other authorities.

·         The original Strategic Outline Programme (2010) held a much wider remit. This included the development of the whole education estate. However, as a result of cost pressures identified during Band A, a greater focus has been applied to the revised Strategic Outline Programme for Band B.

·         The two remaining secondary schools both require developing. However, the needs of King Henry VIII Comprehensive School are greater due to the condition of the building and the site offers greater potential to develop Monmouthshire’s policy aims.

·         King Henry VIII School is situated in a deprived area of Abergavenny and the school holds the highest level of free school meal entitlement within Monmouthshire’s secondary schools.

·         The north of the county has traditionally been a focal point of Welsh Language, with Abergavenny hosting the Welsh National Eisteddfod.  The Band B programme will allow Monmouthshire to build on this and to meet the priorities of the new administration.

·         With the emergence of the City Deal and the proposal to abolish the tolls on the two Severn Crossings, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in residents within the Chepstow area, at this stage the changes are unquantified and difficult to predict.  The proposal is therefore to consider the development of Chepstow School under band C, when the impact of these will be better known.

Member Scrutiny:

·         Welsh Stream in King Henry VIII Comprehensive School has been tried in the past but has not been particularly successful.  However, the Welsh Stream has been raised as a benefit to the Authority and meets Welsh Government commitments in terms of Wales having one million Welsh speakers.  The Authority’s regional position needs to be taken into account which will be an area for discussion, going forward.

·         It was pleasing to see the two  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Thursday 26^th October 2017 at 10.00am.

The next meeting of the Children and Young People Select Committee will be held on the Council Chamber, County Hall, Usk on Thursday 26^th October 2017 at 10.00am.