Issue - meetings

To consider the Forward Work Programme of the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee and to inform the Committee of progress against actions from previous meetings.

(a)     That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

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

(c)     That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.

The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented the report and confirmed that the Forward Work Programme had been populated since the last meeting of the Committee.  She drew Members attention to the report on Elective Home Education, scheduled to be presented at the next meeting of the Committee, which had been added to the Forward Work Programme, following a request from Councillor Gladys Healey at a recent meeting.  

The Facilitator suggested amendments to the Forward Work Programme, which included a verbal update at the next meeting which would cover the portfolio risks identified by the Recovery Committee around the impact of the pandemic on children and young people on their health and emotional wellbeing and the resilience in schools whilst managing a significant number changes.  It was also suggested that an update report on the successful delivery of the Flintshire Play schemes and Welsh Government funded Summer of Fun programme be reported to the December meeting.  The Committee supported the addition of the suggested items. 

The Facilitator also provided information on the two ongoing actions, as outlined in appendix 2 of the report. 

            In response to questions on the report on Elective Home Education, the Chief Officer confirmed that the report would provide information of the numbers of pupils currently being electively home educated together with the Council’s Statutory Responsibilities and an overview of how the Inclusion Welfare Service discharges the Council’s function with regard to these pupils.  The report would also provide a broad overview of the reasons why parents had made the decision to electively home educate their children. 

The recommendations, as outlined within the report, were moved and seconded by Councillor Paul Cunningham and Councillor Tudor Jones.

RESOLVED:

(a)     That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

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

(c)     That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.