Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any Declarations and advise Members accordingly.

Councillor Parkhurst declared a personal interest as his wife worked in a school.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst declared a personal interest as his wife worked in a school.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on the 23^rd May,  28^th May and 18^th July 2024.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the joint meeting held with the Social & Health Care Committee on the 27 June 2024.

That the minutes of the meetings held on the 23 May, 28 May and 18 July 2024 , be approved subject to a slight amendment to the 18 July minutes,  as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the minutes of the joint meeting held with the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on the 27 June 2024 be approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the meetings held on the 23 May;  28 May; and 18 July 2024  were presented for approval.

The minutes of the joint meeting with the Social & Health Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 27 June 2024 were also presented for approval.

Councillor Fran Lister advised that she had been present at the Committee meeting held on 18 July.  The Facilitator said that the minutes would be amended to reflect this.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the amendment listed above, the minutes of the meetings held on 23 May, 28 May, 18 July, and the joint meeting held on 27 June 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 Reportfor consideration and welcomed any questions from Members.

Councillor Andrew Parkhurst referred to the action relating to the log from the EMRT meeting, the comments made by Audit Wales around the need for lessons to be learnt and to the response from the Council that a lessons learnt document had been created.  He asked whether this template had been used for lessons learnt following the snow alert.  The Facilitator agreed to speak to the relevant officers on this following 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 present the report following the recent Youth Justice Service Inspection.

(a) That the Committee note the recommendations from the HMIP Inspection and is assured of the quality of provision of the Flintshire Youth Justice Service;

(b) That the Committee endorse a robust approach to seeking the identified support that was currently identified as lacking from external partners.

(c) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to the Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Service to outline its concern around the challenge for the service due to the delay in the notification of the Youth Justice Grant; and

(d) That the Chair, on behalf of the Committee, write to James Warr, Senior Manager for Flintshire Youth Justice Service and his team to thank them for the positive findings of the HMIP Inspection, as outlined within the report.

The Senior Manager, Flintshire Youth Justice Service and Flintshire Sorted presented the report (agenda item number 5) and provided background to its establishment in 2000, the chief aims and the statutory obligation under Section 40 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.  HM Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) had undertaken an inspection of the service and their findings and recommendations were included within the report.

It was suggested that a letter be written to the Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Service to outline the Committee’s concern around the challenge for the service due to the delay in the notification of the Youth Justice Grant.  This was moved and seconded as an additional recommendation to those listed in the report.

It was also suggested that a letter be written to James Warr, Senior Manager for Flintshire Youth Justice Service and his team to thank them for the positive findings of the HMIP Inspection, as outlined within the report.  This was moved and seconded as an additional recommendation to those listed in the report.

The recommendations within the report were supported.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That members note the recommendations from the HMIP Inspection Report and are assured of the quality of provision of the Flintshire Youth Justice Service;

(b)        That members endorse a robust approach to seeking the identified support that is currently identified as lacking from external partners;

(c)        That a letter be written to Welsh Government (WG) outlining the Committee’s concern around the challenge for the service due to the delay in the notification of the Youth Justice Grant; and

(d)        That a letter be written to the Senior Manager for Flintshire Youth Justice Service and his team to thank them for the positive findings of the HMIP Inspection, as outlined within the report.

To provide the Committee with details of the closing balances held by Flintshire schools at the end of the financial year and information on changes in demographics.

That the Committee note the level of reserves as at the 31st March, 2024 and overview of schools’ current financial position, as outlined within the report.

In presenting the report (agenda item number 6) the Chief Officer (Education & Youth) explained that the level of school reserves had decreased considerably across all sectors over the past year and she outlined the key factors for this reduction.  The Strategic Finance Manager (Schools) provided detailed information on the school reserves, which included a summary for all sectors together with information on demographics and risk management.

The recommendation within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the level of reserves as at the 31March 2024 and overview of schools’ current financial position, as outlined within the report.

That the Committee understands and supports the Young Flintshire Participation Model to engage children and young people in Flintshire in matters that impact on them and provide a mechanism for decision makers to hear their  views.

The Learning Advisor – Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding introduced the report (agenda item number 7) which provided an overview of the proposed Young Flintshire Participation Model for children and young people to have their voice heard around matters which affected them and speak to key decision makers in the local authority.

The recommendation within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee understands and supports the Young Flintshire

Participation Model to engage children and young people in Flintshire in

matters that impact on them and provide a mechanism for decision makers

to hear their views.

To consider the Annual Performance Report 2023-24, noting the Council Plan (2023-28) end of year performance for 2023-24.

That the Committee support the 2023/24 Annual Performance Report, combined with the Council Plan End of Year 2023/24 Performance Report, noting the performance achieved.

The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) introduced the report (agenda item number 8) which provided an overview of how well the Council had performed against its Well-being Objectives, Priorities and Sub-priorities at the end of the financial year 2023/24 of the Council Plan (2023-28).  Specific sections of the report were highlighted to Members.

The recommendation within the report was supported.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee support the 2023/24 Annual Performance Report, combined with the Council Plan End of Year 2023/24 Performance Report, noting the performance achieved.

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 update Members on developments and progress made since reports were last presented in May.

(a) That a special meeting of the Education Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny committee is held as soon as possible and prior to the next cabinet meeting;

(b) That the committee requires that a copy of the contract offered to Aura be produced at that meeting or made available to committee members prior to the meeting and all other necessary documents; and

(c) That pending this meeting the Education Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny committee strongly recommends a new agreement on reasonable terms is signed with Aura.

The Strategic Executive Officer introduced the report which outlined the progress made in exploring a new grant arrangement with Aura and an associated compliant subsidy control assessment.

Councillor Carolyn Preece moved the following amended recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Bill Crease:-

·           That a special meeting of the Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee was held as soon as possible and prior to the next Cabinet meeting;

·         That the Committee require that a copy of the contract offered to Aura be produced at that meeting or made available to Committee Members prior to the meeting and all other necessary documents; and

·         That pending this meeting the Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee strongly recommends a new agreement on reasonable terms is signed with Aura.

The Facilitator reported that advice had been provided to Councillor Preece, prior to the meeting, that it was not appropriate for a copy of the contract to be provided to Members.  Councillor Preece provided the Committee with a response that she had given to the Democratic Services Manager ahead of the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

(a)        That a special meeting of the Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee is held as soon as possible and prior to the next Cabinet meeting;

(b)        That the Committee requires that a copy of the contract offered to Aura be produced at that meeting or made available to Committee Members prior to the meeting and all other necessary documents; and

(c)        That pending this meeting, the Education, Youth & Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee strongly recommends a new agreement on reasonable terms is signed with Aura. 

None.