The Corporate Director Education and Family Support presented an update on the outcome of the bid submitted to Welsh Government in respect of the Welsh-medium capital grant and advised on the way forward in respect of the scheme development.

He reported that in March 2018, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance made available £30m across Wales for projects dedicated to supporting and growing the use of the Welsh language in education.  This funding would assist the delivery of Welsh Government’s ongoing commitment to achieve a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and was in addition to the existing allocation announced for Band B of the 21^st Century Schools and Education Programme.  Consideration was given to how best to increase the number of Welsh speakers within the Borough.  It had been identified that there is a lack of Welsh-medium childcare, which resulted in a decision to centre proposals on Welsh-medium sessional, child and wraparound care. 

He reported that a bid of £2.6m was submitted to create Welsh-medium childcare provision in Bettws, Ogmore Valley, Bridgend Town and Porthcawl.  He stated that preliminary work has commenced on developing each of the projects and a project team and steering group had been established.  The project team will deliver the construction element of the scheme and work has commenced on the initial stages of the project focusing on options appraisal in respect of developable land.  The purpose of the steering group will be to support the development and delivery of the Welsh-medium capital programme. 

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration in commending the proposals commented that a good deal of planning had gone into identifying the locations and he looked forward to seeing the results.  The Leader commented that this was excellent new for the authority and he recognised that the Welsh Government had matched their ambition and the the ambition of this authority with the award of funding.

RESOLVED:          That Cabinet:

(1)  Noted the outcome of the bid submitted to Welsh Government in respect of the Welsh-medium capital grant bid; and

(2) Approved the approach to the scheme development.   

The Head of Shared Regulatory Services reported on the outcome of the three year review of the Gambling Statement of Principles, which is the framework which governs the way this authority undertakes its duties as the licensing authority for gambling.  Approval of the Statement of Principles for the next three year period from 2019 is a Council function. 

He reported that the Council is required to publish a policy statement known as the Gambling Statement of Principles every three years which has been reviewed and a draft consultation undertaken.  He stated that the Council must undertake a statutory consultation exercise, which is prescribed by regulations with statutory consultees such as the Gambling Commission, Chief Officer of Police, one or more persons who are likely to be affected by the exercise of the authority's functions under the Act.  This comprises elected Members, Town and Community Councils, Trade representatives, machine suppliers, safeguarding organisations (including problem gambling), the Public Service Board and Community Safety Partnership.  Consultation took place between 31 August 2018 and 9 November 2018, which resulted in three valid responses being received.  The Head of Regulatory Services outlined the proposed amendments to be made to the Statement of Principles.  

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help in commending the Statement of Principles was pleased to note that the Government had announced a change to the stakes involved in gaming machines known as “Fixed Odds Betting Terminals”.  He also commented on the negative impact of gambling on mental health and on families. 

RESOLVED:            That Cabinet endorsed the Statement of Gambling Principles, incorporating the proposed amendments 1-3 referred to in paragraphs 4.8.1 to 4.9.2 in the report and forwarded it to Council for approval and publication in accordance with the regulations. 

The Head of Children’s Social Care sought authority to enter into an Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) with Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council (RCT) and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council (Merthyr) to manage and oversee the commission of a Cwm Taf regional service for an Independent Professional Advocacy (IPA) and Independent Visiting (IV) service for eligible Children and Young People.

The Head of Children’s Social Care reported that the Council has a statutory duty to provide an Independent Professional Advocacy Service for eligible Children and Young People, notably Looked After Children, Children in Need and those in Child Protection.  She stated that the Welsh Government has established a ‘National Approach’ to Children’s Advocacy based on regional commissioning, the provision of an Active Offer of advocacy for eligible CYP, and an option to include a complimentary Independent Visiting service.  To remain compliant, the CYP Advocacy Service required a change in regional commissioning from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board to Cwm Taf University Health Board.  She stated that Cwm Taf, is currently receiving a service from National Youth Advocacy Service as their provider and are re-tendering for this service to start from April 2019.  The proposal is for a regional IAA with joint procurement of services starting from 1st April 201with RCT acting as Lead Authority for the regional procurement exercise, with BCBC officers participating in the tender process and evaluation panel.   

The Leader welcomed the inclusion of the Independent Visiting Service for

children in the procurement exercise. 

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet approved the proposal to enter into an Inter-Authority Agreement with RCT and Merthyr, and noted that approval to award the regional Independent Professional Advocacy and Independent Visiting service contract will be sought via Delegated Powers (under BCBC’s Scheme of Delegation) once the procurement and evaluation process has been undertaken.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support sought approval for the appointment of Local Authority Governors to the school governing bodies listed. 

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet approved the appointments as listed in   paragraph 4.1 of the report.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support sought approval to discontinue with the decision of Cabinet of 21 November 2018 in respect of pursuing Option 3 for the financial delivery of Band B of the School Modernisation Programme.  He apprised Cabinet of the change to the Band B capital grant intervention rate; and sought approval to pursue Option 2 for the financial delivery of Band B of the School Modernisation Programme, prior to submission to Council.

He reported that the Policy and Planning Framework sets out areas where principles should be applied in practice.  The principles which are relevant to Band B are the size of primary schools and value for money, efficiency and effectiveness.  He informed Cabinet of the background to the school modernisation programme wherein the Council in September 2006 approved a vision for its schools to make them fit for purpose in the 21^st century.  Since then, the school modernisation programme has been established as one of the Council’s main strategic programmes.  He stated that Band A schemes, which are funded on a 50/50 basis with the Welsh Government are due for completion in 2018-19 and he outlined the schemes which had been completed.  Work was nearing completion on the remaining scheme within Band A at Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Calon Y Cymoedd.

He reported that a priority list of schemes for delivery within the Band B timescale was identified.  Cabinet in October 2017 received a report on thethe outcome of the work of the school modernisation workstream and the revised SOP submission and gave approval to discontinue the original Band B schemes and approved schemes to promote the Welsh language and building condition.  It also gave approval to undertake options appraisal work during the Band B period in order to prepare for Band C.  The Council submitted a bid to the Welsh Government for the creation of Welsh-medium child care facilities, the Council has received approval in principle funding of £2.6m.  On 6 December 2017, the Welsh Government gave approval in principle to the Council’s second wave of investment of £68.2m.  In January 2018, the Council approved in principle the financial commitment required for Band B.  He stated that Cabinet was advised in November 2018 of the Welsh Government’s review of the Mutual Investment Model.  

He reported that the Welsh Government had announced a change to the capital grant intervention rate where its contribution for Band B has increased to 75% for special school and pupil referral units and 65% for all other schemes.  The Mutual Investment Model intervention rate would remain at 75%.  He stated that officers had reviewed the financial implications of the options and that match funding of £23m was requested to meet the four primary schools identified to be met from general capital funding, with the balance being met from Section 106 funding.  He outlined a comparison of MIM and capital grant schemes together with 4 funding options and an analysis made of options 2 and 3. 

The Cabinet Member Education and Regeneration in commending option 2 being pursued commented that the Council has a good track record of delivering schools through the traditional route.  The Deputy Leader commented that Band B is the Council’s flagship project and that the proposals are driven by demand for school places and better educational outcomes for children.  He stated that an off the shelf model delivered through the MIM would not be appropriate for the authority.               

RESOLVED:           That Cabinet:

(1)            Discontinued with the decision of Cabinet made on 21 November 2018 in respect of pursuing Option 3 for the financial delivery of Band B of the School Modernisation  Programme;

(2)            Noted the change to the band B capital grant intervention rate;

(3)            Gave approval to pursue Option 2 for the financial delivery of Band B, subject to sufficient resources being identified and allocated to meet the match-funding commitment; and

Gave approval for a report to be submitted to Council to amend the capital programme to reflect the above.