Venue: Siambr Hywel Dda, Council Offices, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SH
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES To receive
any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillors Selwyn Griffiths and Dewi Owen. Dylan Davies (Meirionnydd Parents /
Governors' Representative), Anest Gray
Frazer (Church in Wales) and David Healey (ATL) |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive
any declarations of personal interest. Additional documents: Minutes: No declarations of personal interest were
received from any members present. |
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URGENT BUSINESS To note any
items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for
consideration. Additional documents: Minutes: None to note. |
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The
Chairman shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this
committee held on 24th January, 2019 be signed as a true record (attached). Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair signed the minutes of the previous
meeting of this committee held on 24 January, 2019 as a true record. |
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CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS CODE AND THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS PDF 91 KB Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas To consider
a report on the above (attached). *10.30am
– 11.15am Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member
for Education summarising the main principles of the Draft Additional Learning
Needs Code, the planning work for the changes and the risks to the authority. The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on
the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from
the members. The main conclusions of the
discussion were as follows: ·
That the committee appreciated the comprehensive
report that had been prepared by the Senior Manager - ALN and Inclusion in
response to the consultation. ·
Despite the Government's assumption that changes would
be cost-neutral, that the committee fully accepted the explanation provided by
the Senior Manager - ALN and Inclusion, and which was reiterated by the Head of
Education Department, that it was not cost-neutral, especially given that the
age would be extended from 0-25, and included pre-school children and young
people who had left school. ·
There was concern regarding capacity, not only in terms
of additional costs but also in terms of the number of staff with expertise and
sufficient resources etc. ·
That concern had also been expressed, especially by
the unions' side, but also by the Department regarding work pressures on
coordinators, given that the headteacher was the
coordinator undertaking the additional work in many small schools. ·
That members agreed with the direction in terms of
early intervention as this improved the situation for the child and ensured
that problems were dealt with early. ·
That concern had been expressed regarding Education
Tribunals and continuing to review support for coordinators had to be ensured,
and facilitating matters electronically would assist in this. ·
It had to be ensured that collaboration took place, especially
with the Health Board ensuring clarity regarding roles and responsibilities.
Concern was expressed that no designated education clinical lead officer had
yet been appointed as this was a strategic and key post. ·
There was a need to address the shortage of education
psychologists who could undertake the work through the medium of Welsh. Concern
was expressed that an insufficient number were currently being trained in
Cardiff University and it was suggested that Bangor University should be
contacted to try to encourage Welsh-speaking Psychology students to consider a
career as education psychologists. ·
The additional requirements on the authority in terms
of children in independent schools were noted, and especially children who were
home-schooled as it was difficult to reach them. ·
That members shared the concerns of the Service
regarding the proposed changes and supported officers in their efforts to
present the committee's viewpoint to the Assembly. ·
There were concerns that the changes would potentially
go against what was being done in Gwynedd, and it was very much hoped that it
would be possible to find some middle ground that was acceptable by everyone. |
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EDUCATION AREA OFFICES - PROJECTS TO REDUCE WORKLOAD PDF 111 KB Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas To consider
a report on the above (attached). *11.15am
– 12.00pm Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member
for Education inviting the observations of the committee on: ·
The direction of the Area Education Offices from
2018/19 onwards; ·
The definition of the purpose of education in the
context of Ffordd Gwynedd; ·
The projects to reduce the workload of headteachers. The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on
the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from
the members. The main conclusions of the
discussion were as follows: ·
The fact that support continued in order to identify
ways of reducing the workload of headteachers was
welcomed, and it was challenged whether or not other areas could be improved or
to reduce the workload further. ·
That there was a financial challenge to ensure that
the arrangements of area offices were self-sustaining, but the Department was
confident that this could be ensured. ·
It appeared that there was slight vagueness regarding
the current role of the area Education Scrutiny Boards, and there was room to
improve this and to improve members' understanding of this. ·
A composite report was required on the main messages,
the responses of the Authority and what difference was made by the Area
Education Scrutiny Boards. |
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EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT 2017-18 PDF 184 KB Cabinet Member – Councillor Gareth Thomas To consider
a report on the above (attached). *12.00pm
– 12.30pm *LUNCH BREAK – 12.30pm – 1.30pm Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member
for Education enclosing the Education Annual Report 2017/18. The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on
the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from
the members. The main conclusions of the
discussion were as follows: · That the Annual
Report enabled members to receive an update on a number of items and to
scrutinise what occurred in the fields of ALN, TRAC and language, and standards
to an extent, and hope was expressed that further information would be
available on this next year. · That
scrutinising attainment was exceptionally difficult at present and it was
enquired whether there was room to enable scrutiny committee members to receive
further information to be able to scrutinise and for scrutiny to be an
appropriate intervention by the Authority via GwE? |
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NORTH WALES GROWTH BID - PROGRESS REPORT PDF 75 KB Cabinet Member – Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn To consider
a report on the above (attached). *1.30pm –
2.30pm Additional documents:
Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Leader
providing an update on the North Wales Growth Deal and presenting the Draft
Implementation Plan. The Leader and the Corporate Director
expanded on the content of the report, and also responded to questions /
observations from the members. The main conclusions of the
discussion were as follows: ·
It was appreciated that work was progressing and the
opportunity to challenge from the Authority's perspective to ensure
accountability for Gwynedd was welcomed. ·
An understanding of the current situation in terms of
the accountable body was provided, and that Gwynedd held this role at present.
Therefore, it was possible to ensure that Gwynedd principles, e.g. procurement
arrangements and keeping the benefit local were being addressed. ·
It was seen that the programme was ambitious. It was
suggested that perhaps there was room for better engagement with projects that
had recently failed and there was also scope to seek funding beyond the Growth
Deal, e.g. lagoon project across the north Wales coast. ·
There was a need to connect the Seren
Network with the type of schemes and type of requirements / skills that derived
from these schemes in order to bring the business and education worlds closer
together. ·
That clarity was needed regarding how to secure Shared
Prosperity Fund funding and other funds for smaller / other projects in future. ·
That a response to Brexit
was required, whatever would happen in due course. ·
It was greatly hoped that it would soon be possible to
proceed with the Growth Deal, without any further delay, as it was anticipated
that exciting opportunities would arise. |
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THE EFFECTS OF EVENTS IN GWYNEDD PDF 696 KB Cabinet Member – Councillor Ioan Thomas To consider
a report on the above (attached). *2.30pm
– 3.00pm *estimated times An informal
session will be held for members
at the close of the meeting.
Additional documents: Minutes: Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member
for Economic Development demonstrating the effect of events supported by the
Council on Gwynedd. The Cabinet Member and officers expanded on
the content of the report, and also responded to questions / observations from
the members. The main conclusions of the
discussion were as follows: ·
That the report was very interesting and
showed that the £50,000 of resources that had been allocated to support events
during 2019 had gone very far. ·
It was very encouraging to see that events
were being held across the county. |