To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

Councillor C A Webster declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 3, Approval of Minutes, and a personal interest in agenda item 5, Medium Term Financial Strategy, as she was the NAS Treasurer and her son had LD and was in receipt of home to school transport.

Mr Kevin Pascoe, Registered Representative, declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, Medium Term Financial Strategy, because he worked for the Central South Consortium as a Casual Consultant Governor (no more than 6 days per annum).

To receive for approval the minutes of a meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 of the 6^th November 2017.

RESOLVED            That subject to the addition of Mr C Jackson under Apologies for Absence, the Minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee dated 6^th November 2017 be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Corporate Director – Operational and Partnership Services submitted a report, the purpose of which was to present the items prioritised by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee including the next item delegated to this committee. The report also listed further potential items for comment and prioritisation and asked the Committee to identify any further items for consideration. The Scrutiny Officer also wanted to clarify detail for the Committee’s report to Cabinet on Additional Learning Needs Reform.  

A Member referred to the two child practice reviews that had recently taken place and asked for a briefing on each and how the findings impacted on safeguarding. Members discussed the proposed item, “How our schools respond when allegations of sexual assault are made” and agreed that it could be linked with Safeguarding but that it would be better linked to Early Help where there might be a greater opportunity to consider the matter in more detail.      

Members recommended that Empty Housing be prioritised for consideration.

Cllr Webster had declared a prejudicial interest in Additional Learning Needs Reform so she left the meeting and Cllr M Jones chaired the meeting.

The Scrutiny Officer referred to the draft ALN Reform report and asked the Committee to clarify if the Committee were recommending that additional funding be requested from Welsh Government or from the education budget to meet the additional costs.

Members agreed that additional funding should be requested from Welsh Government and that the consequences of introducing any new legislation that impacted on budgets, should be considered and funded before being introduced. 

Cllr Webster returned to the meeting and took the Chair.

RESOLVED            

1)    The Committee agreed to prioritise the following items for submission to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration and delegation back to Subject Committees:

·         School Modernisation Band B

·         Early Help and Social Care

·         Emergency Housing

2)    The Committee considered the Criteria Form attached at Appendix B and agreed to incorporate this under the item on Safeguarding.

Further to this, Members requested that they receive a briefing on the latest outcomes of Child Practice Reviews.

Invitees

Lindsay Harvey, Corporate Director - Education and Family Support

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member - Education and Generation

Nicola Echanis, Head of Education and Family Support

The Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer submitted the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-19 and 2021-22 for consideration and asked the Committee to consider the information and determine whether it wished to make any comments or recommendations for consolidation and inclusion in the report to Cabinet on the draft budget proposals.

The Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support gave a presentation on the Education and Family Support budget headline issues. A 1% efficiency saving had been agreed by Council for 2017/18 across the Council. There was no WG funding to protect school budgets and there were 13 primary schools and 4 comprehensive schools with a budget deficit.  

The Education and Family Support budget was proposed at approximately £108 million for 2018/19 with £88 million delegated to schools, slightly higher than the all-Wales average. Bridgend retained less than the all-wales average for centrally-provided services.

He explained that business plans were required from all schools with either a 5% or £10k deficit and a formal deficit recovery plan had to be submitted which was closely monitored each month.

The Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support explained in more detail each saving identified for 2018/19 totalling £630k. He explained that there were significant pressures on home to school transport, out of county placements, ALN provision and the volatile grant situation. There had been a significant increase in the number of pupils with autism and a rise in those with social and emotional behavioural difficulties.  

The Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support explained that each school was required to have a charging policy in place although schools could not charge for activities that took place during school hours. 

BCBC was in the process of developing a new legal service for schools service level agreement. Several new requirements would be placed on schools and local authorities by the implementation of the ALN Reform Bill.

The Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support reported that the authority was often challenged on the level of funding for schools but the figure could not be compared for a host of reasons. Head Teacher salaries were also covered plus funds to “buy back in” and different calculations were used. He stressed the importance of managing surplus places. 

A Member thanked the Interim Corporate Director – Education and Family Support for the useful overview but raised concerns about a 1% efficiency saving. BCBC was traditionally a low funder of schools with funding for primary schools in 21^st position out of 22. Secondary schools were fifth from the bottom and schools started with a very low baseline. He was under the impression that the 1% efficiency saving had gone away and that it could cripple schools.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration explained that the 1% efficiency savings had been taken out of the draft budget for this year but they couldn’t make any promises after this year because they did not know how the settlement would look. It was recognised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None