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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH

Contact: Annes Siôn  01286 679490

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet Members and Officers were welcomed to the meeting.

An apology was received from Councillor Dilwyn Morgan and the Chief Executive, Dilwyn Williams.

2.

DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor W. Gareth Roberts declared a personal interest in item 6 as his son-in-law worked for the Youth Service. It was a prejudicial interest and he withdrew from the meeting for this item.

 

A declaration of personal interest was received from Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn and Cllr Peredur Jenkins on the item as both were members of the Ysgol Bro Idris Governing Body. It was not a prejudicial interest.

3.

URGENT ITEMS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

4.

MATTERS ARISING FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from overview and scrutiny.

 

5.

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 22 MAY 2018 pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair signed the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 22 May 2018, as a true record.

6.

REMODELLING THE YOUTH SEVICE pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Craig ab Iago

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.    To accept the report and allocate up to £50,000 from the Transformation Fund to set up a fund to assist Community Councils that wish to retain a Youth Club to bridge the financial situation until they have established their own funding arrangements for 1 April 2019.

 

2.    To delegate the right to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture in consultation with the Head of Children and Supporting Families Department to establish a prudential management procedure to manage the fund's expenditure.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Craig ab Iago

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    To accept the report and allocate up to £50,000 from the Transformation Fund to set up a fund to assist the Community Councils that wish to retain a Youth Club to bridge the financial situation until they have established their own funding arrangements for 1 April 2019.

 

2.    To delegate the right to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure and Culture in consultation with the Head of Children and Supporting Families Department to establish a prudential management procedure to manage the fund's expenditure.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted noting that the members were aware of the background to this item. It was added that a Notice of Motion had been submitted during the Full Council on 3 March which asked the Cabinet to reconsider elements of the new model. The Cabinet looked at every element individually.

 

Change of emphasis from the community to the welfare of individuals

It was emphasised that it was a statutory change by the Government that the Youth Services supported young people with their learning and teaching, focusing on young people not in employment, training or education. Nevertheless, it was noted that the new service would offer a service to everyone, and not to these individuals only. It was added that 14% of young people went to clubs, and the need to target more young people across the county was therefore noted.

 

It was added that:

-        A consultation had been held by the Corporate Support Department, asking what was important to young people. It was noted that the top three things were Mental Health, Housing and Alcohol and Drugs Problems, which coincided with the observations received when discussing the Youth Service with young people.

-        Activities had taken place in Porthmadog, and the feedback was satisfactory but it was asked what the feedback was across the county. A programme of activities had been arranged for the summer, and they were in the process of arranging forums so that it would be possible to have a discussion about the type of activities with young people.

-        Connections in England was mentioned - a project that failed. This was a national project that was specifically for careers, and not for Youth Services. It had failed, but the Youth Service was offering much more than careers only.

 

The impact on deprived areas

It was noted that Maesgeirchen and Caernarfon were seen as deprived areas in accordance with Welsh Government's definition, but it was added that there were deprived areas across the county. Nevertheless, it was added that the Equality Assessment had identified the impact that would be had on both areas, and that the service was working with the Town Council in Caernarfon to look at options, and that they were hoping to do the same in Maesgeirchen.

 

It was added that:

-        Two petitions had been presented to the Council in Caernarfon, specifically about Caernarfon. The SPLASH project would continue during the holidays and activities would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Awdur: Catrin Thomas

7.

SURVEY OF THE PROCEDURE OF DEVELOPING YSGOL BRO IDRIS, DOLGELLAU pdf icon PDF 115 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Gareth Thomas

Additional documents:

Decision:

Generally, to adopt the recommendations deriving from Gareth Williams's independent report to enable the Education Department to incorporate them as a core part of the reorganisation processes it implements jointly with other stakeholders in other catchment areas in future.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Gareth Thomas

 

DECISION

 

Generally, to adopt the recommendations deriving from Gareth Williams's independent report to enable the Education Department to incorporate them as a core part of the reorganisation processes it implements jointly with other stakeholders in other catchment areas for the future.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted, noting that the main reason for carrying out the independent survey on the procedure of developing Ysgol Bro Idris was to learn lessons, particularly due to the fact that the length and breadth of this scheme was unique. It was reiterated that the commission was also an opportunity to address some concerns expressed by former members of staff regarding some aspects of the process of establishing the school.

 

It was added that the procedure of establishing a new school was a partnership between the Authority and the Shadow Governing Body. It was added that the Authority was responsible for the decision to open a school and finish the building, but it was the Governing Body that was responsible for ensuring that the school was in order, that a Headteacher had been appointed and that a staffing structure was in operation. It was acknowledged that a multi-site all-through school led to more challenges as a result of the effect arrangements would have on the physical location. It was noted that the Department had considered all recommendations and had accepted them. It was expressed that, in adopting the recommendations, the Department, alongside other stakeholders, would be able to incorporate them as a core part of the reorganisation processes.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        It was noted that the school was innovative and that steps were in place for the Bright Future principles. It was added that, despite the problems that had arisen, the Headteacher and teachers were thanked for their work.

-        It was expressed that when things went wrong, there was a need to ensure that the department learned lessons and to ensure that things would be done differently.

 

Awdur: Debbie Ann Williams Jones

8.

BAND B TWENTY FIRST CENTURY SCHOOLS PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Gareth Thomas

Additional documents:

Decision:

-        To approve in principle initial priorities for Band B of the Twenty First Century Schools Programme.

 

-        To await the result of the process of establishing the Council’s Asset Management Plan before adopting the final programme.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Gareth Thomas

 

DECISION

 

-        To approve in principle initial priorities for Band B of the Twenty First Century Schools Programme.

 

-        To await the result of the process of establishing the Council’s Asset Management Plan before adopting a final programme.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted, noting that Welsh Government's Twenty First Century Schools Programme was now reaching the end of the first phase of its project (Band A). It was added that Gwynedd Council had been identified as one of the most successful authorities in achieving its programme thus far and, consequently, the Government had given an additional allocation of £12m in residual funding to Gwynedd to review the primary education provision in Bangor.

 

It was explained that the Government was now focusing on the second phase, that would commence in April 2019. A request was received by the Government, asking that the Authorities establish their priorities at short notice. It was noted that the Council would need to contribute 50% of the funding, and attention was also drawn to the fact that it was pleasing to see children being taught using the latest resources.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

It was noted that the difficulty of the project would be to find funding, as the expenditure requirements of the Council would be higher, but there would be a need to prioritise.

Awdur: Garem Jackson and Dafydd Gibbard

9.

30 HOUR CHILDCARE OFFER FOR 3-4 YEAR OLDS pdf icon PDF 163 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Dilwyn Morgan

Additional documents:

Decision:

-        To agree for the Gwynedd and Anglesey childcare unit, Children and Families Department to co-operate with Conwy Council to act as Lead Authority to administer the 30 hour childcare offer for 3-4-year olds, in accordance with Welsh Government guidance.

-        Implementing this is subject to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People confirming the inter-authority governance arrangements and ensuring that an appropriate partnership agreement between Gwynedd Council and Anglesey and Conwy Councils is in place.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn

 

DECISION

 

-        To agree for the Gwynedd and Anglesey childcare unit, Children and Families Department to co-operate with Conwy Council to act as Lead Authority to administrate the 30 hour childcare offer for 3-4-year olds, in accordance with Welsh Government guidance.

-        Implementing this is subject to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People confirming the inter-authority governance arrangements and ensuring that an appropriate partnership agreement between Gwynedd Council and Anglesey and Conwy Councils is in place.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted, noting that the project had now been operative for nearly a year and, since April 2018, the Government had included all areas in Gwynedd and Anglesey. It was added that the project had been very popular and many families had taken the opportunity to have free care provision for children aged 3-4. It was expressed that the sector had also taken the opportunity and there had been a clear development in the field.

 

The second phase of the project was explained, noting that the Government was eager for Gwynedd and Anglesey to take the lead role, and Conwy to opt into the project.

 

Observations arising from the discussion

-        The members congratulated the team on its work, emphasising that it was excellent that the team was able to use software to ensure that funding reached the businesses in the sector on time, and that this had led to a development in the sector.

-        It was asked whether more staff would need to be appointed if Gwynedd was taking the lead role. It was noted that there would be an additional Administrative Officer and one of the officers who worked on the project would be bought by Conwy Council to do the work of setting up the system there.

-        It was added that the project was to be welcomed as it encouraged mothers to return to work. It was expressed that the Government was in the process of conducting research to discover the outcomes of the first year of the projects.

 

Awdur: Sioned Owen and Rachel Jones

10.

GWYNEDD COUNCIL PLAN 2018-23: BID FOR RESOURCES FROM THE TRANSFORMATION FUND pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Cyflwynwyd gan: Cyng / Cllr Nia Jeffreys

Additional documents:

Decision:

To assign £104,747 from the Transformation Fund, namely £51,690 during 2018/19 and
£53,057 in 2019/20, to support the implementation of the 'Realising Savings' priority
within the Gwynedd Council Plan 2018-2023.

 

Minutes:

The item was submitted by Cllr Nia Jeffreys

 

DECISION

 

To assign £104,747 from the Transformation Fund, namely £51,690 in 2018/19 and £53,057 in 2019/20, to support the implementation of the 'Realising Savings' priority within the Gwynedd Council Plan 2018-2023.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The report was submitted, noting that this was a bid to employ a Project Manager for a two year period to support the new programme of realising savings. It was noted that the funding came from the transformation fund and that investing one-off funding to find permanent savings was the purpose of the post.

 

Observations arising from the discussion:

-        It was added that it needed to be ensured that the individual discovered efficiency savings and to be innovative in order to safeguard services.

 

Awdur: Dewi Wyn Jones