Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillors Fran Lister and Carolyn Preece declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6 - Theatr Clwyd and School Music Service.

Councillor Teresa Carberry declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 6 - Thear Clwyd and School Music Service.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal interest in Agenda item 5 – Newydd Catering - school meal provision and Agenda Item 6 - Theatr Clwyd and School Music Service.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 17 October and 6 November, 2024.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 17 October and 6 November, 2024 be approved as a correct record.

The minutes (agenda item number 3) of the meetings held on 17 October and 6 November, 2024 were submitted. 

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings held on 17 October and 6 November, 2024 be approved as a correct record.

(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 a report (agenda item number 4) to consider the current Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking progress.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst, in referring to discussions held when considering the Budget 2024/25 – Stage 2 commented that the action to ascertain which Committee would receive details of additional cost pressures for leisure and libraries once the transfer had been concluded had not been included within the action tracking document.  The Facilitator advised that Flintshire Leisure and Libraries remained within the remit of the Committee but would request information on where overspend would be reported following the meeting.

Councillor Carolyn Preece referred to the Flintshire Leisure and Libraries Business Plan listed as an item to be scheduled to a date and asked that this be presented to the Committee as soon as possible, ahead of Members considering budget proposals.

In response to a request from Councillor Dave Healey that pupils from Castell Alun involved in the Climate Toolkit be invited to a future meeting of the Committee, the Chief Officer suggested that they be invited to attend the next scheduled meeting in January 2025.

The recommendations of the report were supported.

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.

(a)      That the Committee note the update in regard to level of pupil engagement in relation to school meal provision;

(b)      That the Committee is satisfied with the progress made by NEWydd to provide a school meals service that would maximise the positive impact of the Welsh Government UPFSM initiative on pupil wellbeing and development; and

(c)       That a report on the NEWydd Catering – School Meal Provision be added to the Forward Work Programme of the Committee as an annual report.

The Managing Director (NEWydd Cleaning and Catering) and Learning Advisor (Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding) jointly presented a report (agenda item number 5) to update the Committee on the service provided to Flintshire schools, including information on pupil engagement and suggestions made by children and young people during the Learner Voice workshops, outlining how these had influenced service delivery.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst referred to the direct award contracts detailed within the report and asked whether further information, confidentially around the procurement process could be provided following the meeting.  The Managing Director agreed to provide this following the meeting. 

The recommendations, which were amended to reflect the debate, were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee note the update in regard to level of pupil engagement in relation to school meal provision;

(b)       That the Committee is satisfied with the progress made by NEWydd to provide a school meals service that would maximise the positive impact of the Welsh Government UPFSM initiative on pupil wellbeing and development; and

(c)        That a report on the NEWydd Catering – School Meal Provision be added to the Forward Work Programme of the Committee as an annual report.

(a)       That the Committee notes the developments of the Theatr Clwyd Trust and Theatr Clwyd Music Trust since their creation in 2021;

(b)       That the Committee is assured that the Theatr Clwyd Trust and Music Trust were positively and actively delivering towards work with young people in Flintshire in both formalised educational settings and in other areas of delivery and continuing to develop on the National Music Service Plan;

(c)       That the Chair write to the Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee to seek a commitment to multi-year funding settlements in the future for the national music service; and

(d)       That the Committee request that the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust work towards making the music service accessible to all.

The Managing Director and CEO of Theatr Clwyd and Director of Theatr Clwyd Music Trust jointly presented a report (agenda item number 6) which provided an update and overview of Theatr Clwyd’s work with young people following all activities moving to an independent charitable trust status in 2021.

The recommendations, which were amended to reflect the debate, were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee notes the developments of the Theatr Clwyd Trust and Theatr Clwyd Music Trust since their creation in 2021;

(b)       That the Committee is assured that the Theatr Clwyd Trust and Music Trust were positively and actively delivering towards work with young people in Flintshire in both formalised educational settings and in other areas of delivery and continuing to develop on the National Music Service Plan;

(c)       That the Chair write to the Welsh Government, on behalf of the Committee to seek a commitment to multi-year funding settlements in the future for the national music service; and

(d)       That the Committee request that the Theatr Clwyd Music Trust work towards making the music service accessible to all.

None.