Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all those present to this meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee including Members, Officers and representatives of Ysgol Bodffordd, Ysgol Henblas and Ysgol Corn Hir.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Councillor Richard Griffiths declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 3 on the agenda due to his niece’s children being pupils at Ysgol Henblas.

Councillor Dylan Rees declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 3 on the agenda as the Chair of the Governing Body of Ysgol Bodffordd.

Councillor Nicola Roberts declared a personal but not prejudicial interest in item 3 on the agenda due to her niece being a pupil at Ysgol Corn Hir.

Councillor Llinos Medi Huws (not a member of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee) declared a personal interest with regard to item 3 on the agenda.

To present the minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on 12 March, 2018.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee held on the 12 March, 2018 were submitted and were confirmed as correct.

The Chair thanked Councillor Dylan Rees, the Vice-Chair for chairing the meeting in his absence.

To present the report of the Head of Learning.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive incorporating the report on the outcome of the Statutory Consultation on the reconfiguration of primary education provision in the Llangefni area (Ysgol Corn Hir, Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Henblas) was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report set out two options for moving forwards with the modernisation process in the western area of Llangefni –

•           To build a new school to replace Ysgol Bodffordd, Ysgol Henblas and Ysgol Corn Hir, or

•           To build a new school to replace Ysgol Bodffordd and Ysgol Corn Hir and to maintain educational provision in Llangristiolus. This could involve maintaining Ysgol Henblas in its current form or as part of a multi-site school subject to assurances being given in a year’s time that standards at Ysgol Henblas are improving, that the current pace of improvement increases and the prospects with regard to pupil numbers remain constant.

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries Youth & Culture reported that the schools’ modernisation process involves assessing and weighing up the future of schools and the effect this will have on parents, children, teachers, school governors and a range of other stakeholders. It is often a contentious matter and is also one of the most challenging elements of the Council’s business. As the Portfolio Holder he acknowledged this, and he understood the concerns of parents and stakeholders. On the other hand what is being discussed is the future of schools perhaps for the next 50 years; a schools’ service that is sagging under the pressure of financial cuts; a maintenance backlog, the demands of the curriculum as well as a number of other issues. The Council must give serious consideration to making the schools system more effective so as to create an environment wherein both pupils and teachers can succeed, and also to making it more efficient so that resources are used effectively and all schools get a fair share of the budget. The Council has embarked on its modernisation programme in order to improve educational outcomes for children; in order to improve leadership standards and the quality of teaching and learning and to ensure there are leading sector schools in each area. The Portfolio Member for Education referred to the change drivers for modernisation that will influence any decision regarding the best provision for the area as set out in section 2 of the report. He also referred to the role of Elected Members in the modernisation process which encompasses both local and corporate responsibilities – requiring of them a duty to their individual communities but also a duty to provide strategic direction for the Council through firm and clear guidance. The Portfolio Member for Education said that notwithstanding there will be specific representations made on behalf of the three schools at this meeting, he trusted that the contents of the report would be scrutinised in facilitation of the process as a whole and also so as to assist the Executive in this particular matter, and generally for the future.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To present the report of the Statutory Director of Social Services.

The report of the Statutory Director of Social Services outlining the progress made to date against the Action Plan in response to the Annual Performance Review Letter of the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The updated Action Plan was provided at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Statutory Director of Social Services reported that the CSSIW which since January, 2018 has been known as the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) published its Annual Review Letter in June 2017.The letter summarised progress on key areas for improvements over the previous year and included feedback on annual engagement themes (Safeguarding and Carers); progress on recommendations arising out of CSSIW inspections as well as areas requiring additional focus. An Action Plan was formed to respond to each issue raised with a timeframe for completion and this was presented to the Corporate Scrutiny Committee in October, 2017.It was agreed at that time that an updated plan would be shared with the Committee’s members within 6 months in order to review the progress made.

     The Committee noted the information. The Committee sought clarification of whether there are any implications to the restructuring process which Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) has undergone. The Statutory Director of Social Services said that as a result of the restructuring, CIW will now be working on a national rather than regional basis with the aim of securing consistency throughout Wales in its approach across the range of its responsibilities. The inspections programme will continue and CIW remains in regular monitoring contact with Anglesey’s Children’s Services and is satisfied with the Authority’s progress to date. It is expected that the Authority’s Children’s Services will be re-inspected by the end of the year.  CIW has begun a programme of national thematic inspections including one in relation to Children in Care to which all authorities have responded. Anglesey is not among the six local authorities in which CIW will conduct more detailed fieldwork as part of this thematic inspection. 

It was resolved –

•           To note that Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) has changed its name to Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) as from 15 January, 2018.

•           To approve the April 2018 updated Action Plan as presented.

•           To note that CIW has confirmed in correspondence dated 23 February, 2018 that following evaluation, it will not be issuing an annual performance letter in 2018.

NO FURTHER ACTION WAS PROPOSED

To present the report of the Head of Adults’ Services.

The report of the Head of Adults’ Services which provided an update on developments in the Learning Disability Service with particular reference to the Service’s Transformation Programme was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report provided at Appendix 1 details of each of the five ongoing projects within the Transformation Programme including the current status of each project, impact on stakeholders, activity to date and next quarter’s planned activity.

The Committee noted the information and made the following points –

•           The Committee noted the importance of informing existing tenants at Llawr y Dref of the purpose of the Llawr y Dref Move On project and what it involves i.e. providing 3 individuals with a learning disability the opportunity to be assessed for a period of 3 to 18 months for independent living.

•           The Committee sought clarification of whether the In-House Day Services project has implication for the future of existing day centres. The Head of Adults’ Services said that the Learning Disability in-house day services in their entirety are being reviewed to assess whether they are capable of meeting the needs of users into the future, whether they are modelled in the right way and are in the right place and whether they provide appropriate support to enable individuals to be independent.

The Leader and Portfolio Member for Social Services said that Members were briefed a few months ago on the planned review of in-house day services.

The Chair said that it would be appropriate and that he was requesting that reports in relation to the review of in-house day services to be presented to Scrutiny in advance of any Executive decision on the matter.

It was resolved –

•           To accept the report as position statement on the Learning Disability Service

•           To support the planned developments to the service.

ADDITIONAL ACTION PROPOSED:  Reports in relation to the review of Learning Disability in-house day services to be presented to Scrutiny in advance of any Executive decision on the matter.

To present the report of the Scrutiny Officer.

The report of the Scrutiny Officer seeking the Committee’s nomination for a replacement member for Councillor Shaun Redmond on the School Progress Review Scrutiny Panel was presented. The report included at Appendix 1 the Panel’s terms of reference and meeting and reporting arrangements as supporting information.

It was resolved to nominate Mr Keith Roberts (The Catholic Church) to serve on the Schools’ Progress Review Scrutiny Panel.

To present the Committee’s Forward Work Programme 2017/18 to 2018/19.

The Committee’s Forward Work Programme for 2017/18 to 2018/19 was presented for comment and review.

The Chair informed the Committee that two additional meetings of the Committee to consider educational matters are expected to be scheduled into the Work Programme for July, 2018.

It was resolved to accept the Work Programme as presented, subject to noting the inclusion of two additional meetings for July, 2018.

NO ADDITIONAL ACTION WAS PROPOSED