As noted above.

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

None received.

·      To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting held on 10 April, 2018.

·      To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting held on 5 May, 2018.

The minutes of the following meeting were confirmed :-

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 10 April, 2018.

·      Minutes of the meeting held on 5 May, 2018.

To submit a report by the Head of Housing Services.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Housing Services in relation the Communities First activities and performance during 2017/18 and outline plans for 2018/19. 

The Service Manager (Housing, Strategy, Commissioning & Policy) reported that the Annual Report highlights the funding Communities First receives from both this Authority and Welsh Government.  One of the main programmes funded by Welsh Government is Tackling Poverty Programme, Communities for Work Programme and LIFT Programme which aims at improving the prospects of people living in the most disadvantaged communities across Wales.  She noted that historically Communities First has worked in partnership with the Housing Services to drive forward their programmes.  The Communities First was first set up to deliver support to the most deprived wards in Anglesey however since the announcement in February 2017, by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children that the Communities First Programme would be phased out by March 2017, Môn Communities Forward now delivers support and advice across most ward across the Island.

Mrs Rita Lyon – Chief Executive Officer (Môn Communities Forward) said that Communities First has now been rebranded to Môn Communities Forward.  She noted that Môn Communities Forward has secured funding from Wales European Funding Office (WEFO) to provide an ‘In Work Support Programme’ targeting people who are in employment but are underemployed i.e. people who are in part-time employment or those seeking to improve their employment.  Môn Communities Forward are opening a new office in Menai Bridge this month to afford support and services to the Seiriol area.  The Chief Executive Officer (Môn Communities Forward) wished to amend the report before the Committee which such read that ‘Communities for Work Programme’ – 72 people engaged with the project and 18 people into employment.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·      Clarification was sought as to the achievement of the LIFT programme offered by Communities First.  The Chief Executive Officer (Môn Communities Forward) responded that the LIFT was a Welsh Government pilot programme for a period of 3 years.  Anglesey was one of 9 Communities First Cluster areas identified aimed at people who are temporarily out of work; people who have spent more than six months out of work or training; people who face the greatest barriers to becoming employable i.e. young single parents, adults with few or no formal qualifications, people with poor employment records and individuals with disabilities.  The LIFT programme on Anglesey has worked with 402 individuals and moved 144 people back into employment over the period of the scheme which came to an end in March 2018.  She noted that the scheme has now been replaced by the Communities to Work Plus which is funded through WEFO. Further clarification was sought as to how many people stay in employment and whether Môn Communities Forward are able to monitor and support these individuals. The Chief Executive Officer (Môn Communities Forward) responded that monitoring of people who have been returned to work through the Môn Communities Forward are monitored every six  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Head of Economic Development and Regulation in relation to the above.

(Local Members for the Twrcelyn and Seiriol Wards were invited to the Committee in respect of this item).

Submitted – a report by the Head of Economic Development and Regulation in relation to the above.

The Regeneration Manager reported that the County Council’s aspirations is to drive community regeneration through developing holistic town and community plans for the Island’s main settlements.   He noted that Anglesey’s five recognised towns have different characteristics and this has impacted on the level of public sector regeneration investment in each town.  Key characteristics that can impact on such investments were highlighted within the report to the Committee.  He further noted that all five towns have benefited from past capital regeneration investment such as that secured by the Council from the Welsh Development Agency and Welsh Government ‘Môn a Menai’ programme.  Welsh Government (WG) main capital regeneration funding has been subject to greater levels of geographic targeting in recent years, with WG increasingly requiring a prioritization of its reducing resources on a smaller number of more strategic settlements.  Holyhead and Llangefni have recently attracted significant levels of capital investment through WG, European Union and Lottery funds, but it is proving more difficult for the Council to secure similar funding for projects in smaller and less deprived towns.  The Officer noted that the Executive Committee recently agreed that Officers should lobby for regeneration funds to be made available for small towns and rural areas.  EU rural funding programmes continue to provide scope for investment in smaller settlements, but these generally have more limited budgets e.g. LEADER, Rural Community Development Fund (RCDF) and Tourism Amenity Infrastructure Scheme (TAIS).  A table listing some key projects/issues that are underway or under consideration in Amlwch and Beaumaris were listed within the report before the Committee.

·           Questions raised by the local Elected members for the Twrcelyn Ward :-

Matter raised as to why the Amlwch area is not prioritised for regeneration projects similar to other Towns on the Island with similar population.  The Members referred specifically to the Rhosgoch site, land near Maes Mona, Amlwch Leisure Centre, Amlwch Harbour (potential use for EU fisheries funds for fishing harbor facilities improvements), Empty Buildings i.e. Octel site and Council owned facilities (Amlwch Port) that require dire funding to allow the town of Amlwch to attract employment opportunities and tourist to the area.  Concerns were expressed that no funding has been sourced towards regeneration projects within the Amlwch area and neighbouring villages.  The Local Members said that no timeframe has been noted for capital investments in Amlwch. 

The Regeneration Manager responded that as regard to the level of investment in Amlwch the aim of the Amlwch Area Regeneration Plan is to provide a visually engaging document that identifies deliverable improvements for the Amlwch area based on engagement with local communities about their priorities. He noted that whilst Llangefni has a similar population and similar figures of unemployment and benefit claimant, the Tudur Ward in Llangefni has been identified as a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Manager in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Manager in relation to the above.

The Scrutiny Manager reported that working in partnership has become an important part of the Authority’s working practices, providing additional resilience to the Authority’s service delivery capacity.  A number of reports over the past few years have drawn attention to the need for improvement and strengthened scrutiny of partnership arrangements in public services.  She further said that the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 highlights the need to strengthen scrutiny of partnerships and puts long-term sustainability at the forefront of how public services are designed and delivered and also places emphasis on public bodies working in partnership to ensure better outcomes now and in the future.  The Scrutiny Manager further said that the County Council has extensive experience of working in partnership at local, regional and national level.  With increasing pressure on public finances, the Council has clear guidelines in place for determining when to establish partnerships, which service(s) and the outcomes expected of them and for the sound management of the relationship.  She noted that the Executive at its meeting held on 14^th March, 2016 approved a Corporate Partnerships Policy document as a foundation for the authority’s partnership working and also as a framework to guide partnership monitoring arrangements.  She further noted that the Council maintains a Register of all key partnerships which is reviewed on a regular basis. 

The Scrutiny Manager referred to the 2018/19 Forward Work Programme and noted that the task of scrutinising partnerships needs to be done in a managed way focusing on key strategic partnerships which enable the Council to deliver on its objectives and priorities.  A list of the main partnership working was included within paragraph 5.9 of the report. 

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·      Questions raised whether there are important organisations which have not been included within the ‘Register of Partnerships’.  The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) responded that it is important not to duplicate work as regard to these organisations.  She noted that other departments within the Council deal and support some organisations i.e. Educational and Social Services organisations.  She further said that the list of ‘Register of Partnerships’ should include the main partnerships that receive  funding from the authority;

·      Clarification was sought as to the amount of funding these organisations receive from this authority.  The Scrutiny Manager responded that once this Committee has decided as to the main partnerships to be included on the ‘Register’ the information as regard to funding, which should include ‘staff capacity and availability’, will be afforded to the Committee in due course;

·      Clarification was sought as to how the Authority intends to monitor these partnerships that it supports.  The Scrutiny Manager responded that this Authority has a framework to monitor partnership working with organisation; a contract is signed between the organisation, which is dependent on the nature of the partnership, and this Authority.  She expressed that some partnerships  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a progress report by the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel and Supporting Officers.

Submitted – a progress report by the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel and Supporting Officers in relation to the above.

The Chair as the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel reported that since the last progress report submitted to this meeting on the 6 February, 2018, the Panel has met on 5 occasions.  It was expressed that the Panel considers it appropriate that it monitors the Learning Services Delivery/Improvement Plan and it is considered that its Terms of Reference will need to be strengthened. 

The Senior Standards & Inclusions Manager reported that the Scrutiny Panel has focused on the following since 6^th February, 2018 :-

·      Four primary schools and one secondary school has been before the Panel at various dates;

·      Before every meeting, the Panel are given school’s performance data and a written summery report from the Senior Standards and Inclusion Officer.  The Panel also makes good use of information received by GwE’s Officer who is available at each meeting to discuss the support given to the schools to address underperformance. 

·      On 9^th February, the Panel received essential updates regarding WG policy on the development of Welsh throughout the Education system.  The Panel received an overview of challenges facing certain schools, together with summary of steps taken to meet the department Welsh in Education Action Plan 2017 – 2021.

·      On 20^th April, the Panel considered challenges and lessons to be learnt in opening new schools. 

·      On 8^th June, the Panel reviewed improvements of a school that was first seen in October 2017.  The Panel was reassured that the school was on track to make good progress against the six recommendations identified by Estyn.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) said that the work of the Schools Progress Review : Scrutiny Panel is paramount to the challenge and improve standards within the Island schools.  The examination results from the authority’s secondary schools will gauge the improvements within education so as to comply with Estyn’s expected criteria.  

The Portfolio Holder for Education reiterated that the work of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel has been paramount to challenge and improvement of schools.  He noted that one school has been before the Panel on two occasions. He expressed that schools have not been completing honest and accurate self-appraisals to GwE’s expectations.  The Portfolio Holder for Education said that Welsh Charter has come a long way to ensure that Welsh becomes the everyday language of choice; the Welsh Government Policy expects that all schools follow the Welsh First Language Curriculum and that Second Language Welsh qualification will not be available in future years.  

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·      The role of School Governors as well as the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel is paramount for improvements in education on the Island.  The Portfolio Holder for Education totally agreed that the role of elected members as School Governors is essential;

·      Clarification was sought as to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To nominate a Member on the following Panels :-

·      Finance Scrutiny Panel

·      Children’s Transformation Board

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer with regard to nomination of one Member of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to serve on the Finance Scrutiny Panel and the Education Transformation Board.

The Scrutiny Officer reported that due to the appointment of Councillor Robin Williams as the new Portfolio Holder for Finance the Committee needs to nominate a new Member to replace Councillor Williams on the Panel and the Board.

It was RESOLVED to nominate :-

·      Councillor John Griffith on the Finance Scrutiny Panel;

·      Councillor Margaret M Roberts on the Education Transformation Board.

ACTION : As noted above.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to June 2019.

The Scrutiny Officer said that a special meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee is to be held on the 9^th July, 2018 to consider the Anti-Poverty Strategy.

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to June 2019.

ACTION : As noted above.