The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support submitted a report, with the view of providing Cabinet with information regarding Welsh Government’s (WG) Community Learning Grant and the East Hub project.

The background information section of the report, outlined that accommodation was secured for the North Hub in Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen and for the West Hub in Pyle Life Centre. However, there was no budget available to allow for a bespoke multi-agency hub for the east locality and as an interim measure, space was secured in Civic Offices for eight desks adjacent to the Safeguarding East Team. Since then, the Early Help Team had expanded from 14 to 23 staff, which had presented challenges for effective desk working/sharing, subsequently leading to an increase in off-site working and homeworking, which sometimes had in turn, a detrimental effect on issues such as information sharing and joint working.

He confirmed that in December 2018, Welsh Government (WG) invited local authorities across Wales to submit expressions of interest (EOI) against a £15m capital budget, to create community learning hubs. It was further recognised, that relocating the East Hub from the Civic Offices to Brynteg School, would significantly improve integrated working and funding for this purpose was subsequently approved.

The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support further explained, that a scheme had been developed in consultation with key stakeholders, which comprised of a new detached, single-storey building at the Brynteg school site.

Whilst there had been a problem with the tendering process in relation to proceeding with the scheme, this had now been overcome he added.

The Cabinet Member – Education and Regeneration, advised that the report exampled effective cross curricula working between the areas of Education, Social Services and Wellbeing of Future Generations. Whilst there had been planning and access issues at the new Hub site, he was pleased to confirm that these had now been overcome, and extended his thanks to the Headteacher of Brynteg Comprehensive for assisting here to this end.

The Cabinet Member – Future Generations and Wellbeing added that notwithstanding the above, she asked for reassurance that all issues of safeguarding at the school had been resolved, given that the area in question where the Hub was being relocated, had no less than 7 points of access/egress.

The Corporate Director – Education and Family Support advised that the primary concern had been to ensure that the site was made secure and this had been achieved through the erection of fencing around it at some strategic points, as well as the provision of a footpath near the Ewenny Road entrance. There had also been the provision of on-site parking for 6^th form pupils and a Safeguarding Strategy would also be put in place at the school, which would include set lockdown times for the closing of the school gates and re-positioning of the Reception area to a more central area of the school.

The Leader concluded debate, by extending his thanks to WG for the extra funding they had committed to the scheme.

RESOLVED:                  That Cabinet:

(1)    Noted the contents of the report.

Approved the development of the East Hub on the site of Brynteg School as indicated in the report.