Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal interest in Agenda item 6 as he was a member of Theatr Clwyd.

Councillor Carolyn Preece declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6 (Theatr Clwyd Business Plan) as she was a member of Theatr Clwyd and a member of her family was undertaking a doctorate which Theatr Clwyd were part funding.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal interest in Agenda item 6 (Theatr Clwyd Business Plan) as he was a member of Theatr Clwyd.

Councillor Carolyn Preece declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 6 (Theatr Clwyd Business Plan) as she was a member of Theatr Clwyd and a member of her family was undertaking a doctorate which they were part funding.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on the 10 May, 2024.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 10 May 2024 were presented for approval.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst referred to recommendations (e) on the last page, which stated that further reports would be brought back to the Committee.  He then referred to a recent press article in relation to a contract agreement in principle and questioned why no further information had been provided to the Committee prior to this information being made public.  The Facilitator agreed to speak to the relevant officers following the meeting to enquire when an update report would be provided to the Committee. 

The minutes were approved.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the Forward Work Programme of the Education, Youth & Culture 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 Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking Report  for consideration and welcomed any questions from Members.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst referred to page 19 of the Action Tracking Report, the outstanding Emergency Planning Arrangements item, and asked why the minutes of the EMRT meeting had not been provided to the Committee.  The Facilitator agreed to take this as an action from the meeting.

The recommendations within 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.

To update the Committee on progress to date and the plan for roll out of Healthy Schools Scheme and Healthy & Sustainable Pre-School Scheme (HSPSS).

(a)       That the Committee was briefed in regard to the planned improvements to the Healthy Schools programme in 2023/24 and 2024/25;

(b)       That Members of the Committee formulate their conclusions and recommendations based on the information in the report and the discussion at the meeting; and

(c)        That the Committee formally thank the Learning Advisor (Health, Well-being & Safeguarding) for the report and the work carried out with Schools.

The Learning Advisor (Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding) introduced the report and provided background to the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Scheme (WNHSS), which was now supported by all schools and 50 pre-school settings. The scheme also included links with Education and Health which promoted a healthy school curriculum ethos across the whole school community with communication and partnership at the heart of the scheme. 

The Chair asked if anonymous examples of the concerns raised by staff and where they were signposted and supported could be provided. The Learning Advisor agreed to share the case studies once all the surveys had been received and analysed following the pilot.  The Chair asked that this be included on the Forward Work Programme once all the findings had been analysed.

The Chair requested that a copy of the Water Policy be shared with the Committee following the meeting.  It was agreed to share this following the meeting.

Councillor Carolyn Preece asked if information could be provided from the Learner Voice event, including what feedback was provided by learners and if any of the suggestions made were taken on board by NEWydd.  The Learning Advisor suggested that the feedback from the Learner Voice events be included in the NEWydd report.  That way Steve Jones would be able to respond to why suggestions were taken or not taken forward.  It was also suggested that Members may want to attend the next event scheduled for the Autumn term.

The Chair proposed that a third recommendation be included to read “that the Committee formally thank the Learning Advisor (Health, Well-being & Safeguarding) for the report and the work carried out with Schools.  This was supported by the Committee.  

The recommendations, with the additional recommendation, were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee was briefed in regard to the planned improvements to the Healthy Schools programme in 2023/24 and 2024/25;

(b)       That Members of the Committee formulate their conclusions and recommendations based on the information in the report and the discussion at the meeting; and

(c)        That the Committee formally thank the Learning Advisor (Health, Well-being & Safeguarding) for the report and the work carried out with Schools.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst asked for an explanation why this was being considered under Part 2 proceedings.  It was explained that there was commercial sensitivity with regard to the Capital Project.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded for the remainder of the meeting for the following item by virtue of exempt information under paragraph(s) 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To provide Members with an opportunity to view the finalised Theatr Clwyd Business Plan 2023-29 and receive an annual update on delivery against the Plan.

That the Committee note the content of the Theatr Clwyd Business Plan, the achievements delivered as identified in the Impact Report, and the financial position as detailed in the accounts provided.

In presenting the report the Executive Director and CEO of Theatr Clwyd explained that included within the documents presented today were the Business Plan, Impact Report and Theatr Clwyd Accounts to March 2023.

The Corporate Manager (Corporate Property and Assets) and Executive Director and CEO of Theatr Clwyd provided responses to questions raised by the Committee.

The recommendation within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the content of the Theatr Clwyd Business Plan, the achievements delivered as identified in the Impact Report, and the financial position as detailed in the accounts provided.

None.