Agenda, decisions and minutes

At the Annual Meeting, Council resolved that the Labour Group should nominate the Chair of the Committee.  The Committee is requested to formally appoint the duly nominated Chair.

That Councillor David Healey be confirmed as the Chairman of the Committee.

The Facilitator advised that it had been confirmed at the Annual Meeting of the County Council that the Chair of the Committee should come from the Labour Group.  As Councillor David Healey had been appointed to this role by the Group, the Committee was asked to endorse the decision.

(From this point, Councillor Healey chaired the remainder of the meeting)

RESOLVED:

That Councillor David Healey be confirmed as the Chairman of the Committee.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the Committee.

That David Hytch be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Councillor Paul Cunningham nominated David Hytch as Vice-Chair of the Committee and this was seconded by Councillor Martin White.

On being put to the vote David Hytch was appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

David Hytch thanked the Committee for their renewed confidence in him.

RESOLVED:

That David Hytch be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2019.

That subject to the above amendment the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 21 March 2019 were submitted.

Accuracy

Councillor Paul Cunningham said he had submitted his apologies to the meeting and asked that the minutes be amended to record this.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the above amendment the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

That the Committee recommend the following to Cabinet:-

• That the Committee support Option 3, as outlined within the report;
• That free Post 16 transport to those entitled to benefits be retained; and

That Cabinet consider concessions for sibling groups in Post 16 education.

The Chair welcomed Mrs. Jane Cooper, Mr. Steve Jackson and Mr. Alex Thomas to the meeting.

                      The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to provide feedback on the outcome of the consultation on the review of discretionary school and college transport policy and to consider the options available.  She invited the School Manager – Planning and Provision to present the report.

            The School Manager advised that Cabinet had agreed a range of options for formal consultation on the discretionary school and college transport policy areas of post 16 provision and benefits entitlement.  Consultation was carried out between 18 February and 5 April 2019.  The report summarised the outcome of the consultation.  The School Manager reported on the key considerations, as detailed in the report, and explained that the options included in the consultation, as agreed by Cabinet on 18 December 2018, were attached in full in appendix 2 to the report with a summary of the responses received.

In conclusion, the School Manager advised that if any new options were agreed by the Committee at the meeting a new period of consultation would be required to consider the proposals put forward.

The Chair invited Mrs. Cooper, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Thomas to address the Committee to outline their views on the outcome of the consultation, as set out within the report. 

Mrs. Cooper, speaking on behalf of the Secondary Headteachers Association, thanked the Committee for the opportunity to put forward the views of Secondary Headteachers in response to the review of discretionary school and college transport policy and the options available.  She said the Secondary Headteachers Association understood the cost pressures around school transport and the need to close the Council’s funding ‘gap’, but it was important that all learners over 16 were encouraged to continue with their education and were supported to do so by accessing an education setting of their choice i.e. Post 16 education in schools or college.  She continued that whilst it was important that learners had free transport to their post 16 setting it was of greater need that transport was made available across Flintshire, even at a small cost to parents, to enable students to continue in their post 16 education and make a choice about where they attended.  The Secondary Headteachers Association supported the options where there was a charge to parents which was kept at a low level but retained the provision of transport for students. 

Mrs. Cooper expressed the concerns raised by the Secondary Headteachers Association that withdrawing the transport would have a number of consequences including increasing traffic congestion around schools.  She said it was important that students were encouraged to continue to use public transport to travel to and from school.  In summary Mrs. Cooper said that whilst the Secondary Headteachers Association wished to remain status quo the need to review transport provision due to funding pressures was acknowledged and therefore the continuation of transport provision for students even at a small charge was considered to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

(a)       That the content of the self-evaluation be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee congratulates the department on the comprehensive nature of the report, and the breadth and overview and value of the service provided.

The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) advised that the Council undertook an annual self-evaluation against the framework for the inspections of Local Government Education Services published by Estyn.  The report provided an overview of that self-evaluation and highlights key strengths and reasons for development in the current provision for education services. 

The Chief Officer presented the report and referred to the key considerations.  She explained that the new framework for local authority inspections on education services was introduced in 2018 following a pilot period and focussed on outcomes; quality of education services, leadership and management.  The Chief Officer advised that all local authority Education Services in Wales would be inspected by 2022 and would be given 10 weeks’ notice of an inspection. The Authority had received notification that it would be inspected by a team of Estyn and WAO inspectors during 3-7 June 2019.  A two day preliminary visit would take place 22 and 23 May.  The Chief Officer explained that the self-evaluation report produced by the Authority would be the key document used by the inspectors to inform their lines of enquiry and judgements during the visit, supported by analysis of a range of data, and interviews with senior officers and key stakeholders.  The Chief Officer drew attention to the five local questions, as detailed in the report, which would be scrutinised in addition to the general inspection framework. 

In summary the Chief Officer said the report on Flintshire’s Education Services would be published on 9 August 2019.  She commented on the high standards achieved in Flintshire schools and said the outcomes for learners were well above the national average and some of the best in the region.

Councillor Kevin Hughes congratulated the Chief Officer and her team, and schools, for their dedicated work to continue to improve educational standards.  He also paid tribute to the excellent work of Claire Sinnott, Learning Advisor, Health, Wellbeing   undertaken to ensure young people were safeguarded and whilst the Authority worked constructively with parents it was a challenge if officers were refused access into a parental home where children were home schooled.  The Chief Officer advised that there was currently a review of national policy around this issue taking place. 

In response to the comments made by Mr David Hytch concerning the impact and challenges faced by schools due to lack of funding, the Chief Officer explained that investment in education had remained a priority for the Council despite continuing financial austerity, however, she would not mitigate the impact of poor funding on the quality of education services but reiterated the high standards and good performance which had been achieved in Flintshire schools in the face of limited resources.   

The Committee congratulated the Chief Officer on a comprehensive report and the breadth, overview, and value of the service provided.  The Chief Officer said she would pass on the Committee’s comments to her team.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the content of the self-evaluation be noted; and

(b)       That the Committee congratulates the department on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

That the Committee acknowledge the importance and value of the work and impact of the ADTRAC service.

The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to provide an update on the work and outcomes of the ADTRAC project.  She explained that ADTRAC was a European Social Funded project targeted at 16 to 24 year olds who had been classified as being not in education, employment, or training (NEET), and would run until October 2020.  The project was split into 2 sub regions (East and West) and the Authority was partnered with Wrexham County Borough Council and operated under the East branch of the project.  Other key partners included Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and the Department for Work and Pensions and Careers Wales.   The Chief Officer explained the context and provision of the project and referred to the main considerations as detailed in the report.  She advised that to date 158 young people had engaged with the ADTRAC project and a further 14 were waiting. 

Councillor Patrick Heesom expressed concerns about the opportunities for young people aged 15 – 25 across all parts of the County to be able to access funding through the ADTRAC project.  In response to the comments from Councillor Heesom regarding the availability of funding the Chief Officer referred to the criteria for the Project and agreed to facilitate a meeting between Councillor Heesom and the Head of the Inclusion service to discuss the issues raised in further detail.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee acknowledge the importance and value of the work and impact of the ADTRAC service.

(a)       That the Committee confirms they have received an appropriate level of assurance about the education offer to schools in relation to online safety including social media;

(b)       That Members undertake to set an example to young people, in the way in which they engage in social media themselves;

(c)        That Members support moves to invite all Councillors to make such a commitment; and

(d)       That a copy of the report be made available to all Councillors.

The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) invited the Learning Advisor, Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding, to present the report.  She explained that the report had been produced in response to members seeking an update on the previous report presented in November 2017, to provide assurance that children and young people in Flintshire schools were receiving the appropriate support to develop their skills in relation to the use of social media and internet safety. 

The Learning Advisor, Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding, provided background information and referred to the key considerations, as detailed in the report, concerning social media and internet safety.  She drew attention to the School Health Research Network, UK Government proposed legislation, the Digital Competence Framework, Estyn safeguarding self-evaluation, Hwb platform, 360 Degree Safe Cymru, All Wales School Liaison Core Programme, and Safer Internet Day.

The Chair expressed concerns regarding cyber bullying and the inappropriate use of social media and commented on the need to use technology responsibly and respectfully.  He suggested that members needed to be mindful of their own use of social media and undertake to set an example to young people. 

In response to the concerns raised by the Chair all members of the Committee and Officers stood to pledge that they would not themselves engage in social media in ways which denigrate other individuals.

Councillor Kevin Hughes commented on the increasing use of social media in all aspects of daily life and the fast changing provision of internet-enabled technology.  He proposed that an item on social media and internet safety in schools be regularly included on the Forward Work Programme for the Committee and this was agreed by members.

Councillor Patrick Heesom congratulated the Learning Advisor, Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding, on a comprehensive report and said it would be helpful if a copy was circulated to all Members for information following the meeting.

During discussion the Learning Advisor, Health, Wellbeing and Safeguarding responded to the questions and comments raised by members around parental awareness and reported on the initiatives in schools to engage with parents and share good practice to keep young people safe on-line and during use of social media.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee confirms they have received an appropriate level of assurance about the education offer to schools in relation to online safety including social media;

(b)       That Members undertake to set an example to young people, in the way in which they engage in social media themselves;

(c)        That Members support moves to invite all Councillors to make such a commitment; and

(d)       That a copy of the report be made available to all Councillors.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme as amended, be approved; and

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

The Facilitator presented the current Forward Work Programme for consideration.  She reported that the next meeting of the Committee would be held on 27 June, and following approval of the Schedule of Meetings 2019/20 at the Annual Meeting of the County Council in May 2019, the future meetings of the Committee had been included on the Programme.   

            The Facilitator drew attention to the meeting of the Committee scheduled on 26 September, and said the outcome of the Estyn inspection of Flintshire County Council would be presented for consideration.  She also advised that the Senior Manager Integrated Youth Provision, had been invited to attend the meeting of the Committee on 7 November 2019, to provide information on the work of the Youth Justice Service.

The Committee agreed with the suggestion from the Chief Officer (Education & Youth) that following completion of the Education & Youth portfolio business plans, she would liaise with the Chair to populate the Forward Work Programme.

            The Facilitator explained that she had sent an email to all members of the Committee, inviting them to attend a site visit at the new build school at Penyffordd on Tuesday, 25 June.  She asked that members wishing to attend the site visit let her know as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme as amended, be approved; and

(b)       That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

There was one member of the press in attendance.