Agenda and minutes

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 9 October, 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 October, 2017 were confirmed.

To submit a report by the Anglesey and Gwynedd Public Services Board Programme Manager in relation to the above.

Submitted – an update report by the Public Service Board Programme Manager on the work that has been done by the Public Services Board to form a Well-being Plan for the area of Anglesey Local Authority.

The Public Service Board Programme Manager reported that the main focus of the work of the joint Public Service Board between April 2016 and May 2017 was to produce an Assessment of Well-being for both Gwynedd and Anglesey.  This work will lead to the production of a Well-being Plan that will be published in May 2018.  In order to respond to the timetable within the Future Generations Act, a Draft Well-being Plan will need to be published by mid December 2017 and there will be a 12 week statutory consultation period during which workshops for Officers and visits to community groups will be held to evaluate views of residents of the Island.

The Leader of the Council reported that two meetings of the Board were held in October and November and discussions are ongoing to agree the Board’s Well-being objectives.  However, there has been a slippage of around 4 weeks in terms of publishing a Draft Well-being Plan for statutory consultation.  This reflects the challenge of working as a partnership but also highlights the commitment of Board members to produce an achievable and sound Plan for the residents of both Anglesey and Gwynedd.

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

·                Clarification was sought to the expectations of the Officers as regard to the period of consultation on the Well-being Plan as it was noted at previous meetings that the attendance figures who attended the workshops located at the 6 regions within Anglesey was disappointing.  The Programme Manager responded that during this consultation process it is intended that Officer’s will be attending community groups i.e. School, Age Cymru, Young Farmers Clubs together with an online consultation exercise.

·                Questions were raised as to when this Scrutiny Committee will be informed on the results of the consultation process.  The Programme Manager responded that as a statutory consultee this Scrutiny Committee and all Members will be afforded the result of the consultation.  She further said that she anticipated that a Draft Well-being Plan will be submitted for the County Council’s approval in due course. 

·                Clarification was sought as to whether the joint working with partnership organisations was effective in preparing for the Well-being Plan.  The Leader of the Council responded that there is a slippage of 4 weeks in working towards publishing the draft Plan for consultation but she expressed that the Well-being Plan must be sound and resilient to address issues within local communities.  The Programme Manager also said that the Board meets on a monthly basis at present which shows commitment by the partner organisations and both local authorities to produce an effective Well-being Plan. 

·                Members referred to the 9 main messages within the Well-being Assessment which was noted within the report and questioned as to how realistic are these goals.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) in relation to the above.

Submitted – a progress report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Partnerships, Community and Service Improvements) on the use of Welsh within the Council’s Administration.

The Portfolio Holder for Education, Youth, Libraries and Culture said that he was representing the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and the Welsh Language as Councillor I Williams was unable to attend the meeting. He said that the County Council adopted the Welsh Language Policy at its meeting held on 12 May, 2016 and whilst adopting the policy it was also resolved to adopt paragraph 3.2.4 of the Welsh Language Policy as noted within the report and states that a progress report will be presented to Scrutiny at the same time as the annual report on the operation of the Welsh Language Policy. The County’s Welsh Language Strategy also has a commitment towards working to ensure that Welsh is the County Council’s main language for administration for the period 2016-2022.

The Policy and Strategy Manager gave an overview of the work undertaken during the last 12 months as regard to the development and the promoting of the use of Welsh within the Council’s Administration. The short term aim is to increase the oral use of Welsh by encouraging staff to speak more Welsh, whether they are fluent Welsh speakers, good learners or less experienced learners; the workplace and informal settings can be used to practise. She noted that in September 2016, the Housing Service was the first service to be selected to work intensively with them by establishing a baseline of the use of Welsh within the service. An Action Plan was agreed with the Housing Service Management Team in order to reach objectives of the use of Welsh in the workplace. Language Champions were identified within the Housing Service and they have voluntarily produced and circulated a questionnaire and conducted sessions for their colleagues in order to establish their language needs and support. The Policy and Strategy Manager further reported that the next service to receive support as regard to encouraging staff to speak more Welsh within the workplace will be the Leisure Service and the Public Protection Service.

A brief presentation was afforded by two Language Champions from the Housing Service to the meeting. They said that 8 Language Champions have voluntarily afford their service to promoting and encouraging the use of Welsh within the Housing Service. A recommendation was made during discussions to create a generic email address within the service for the Welsh Champions so that staff have the opportunity to share ideas or ask for any assistance needed. Menter Môn was arranged to attend a staff meeting of the Housing Service to promote the Welsh Language and share the history of the language over centuries. The Language Champions gave feedback on a recent ‘Welsh Wednesday Session’ arranged for staff within the Housing Service to the meeting.

The Chair thanked the two Language Champions for their presentation and commitment to improve the use of Welsh within the Housing Service.

The Committee considered the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by 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 3 Scrutiny Panels have been established and all now meet regularly; this report focuses on the progress made as regards to the Scrutiny Panel – School Progress Review. The Education and Leisure Scrutiny Committee established the Panel on the 21st November, 2012 and it arose from recommendations made by Estyn on the quality of education services for children and young people on Anglesey. The Senior School Standards and Inclusion Manager provides guidance to the Panel as regard to schools that may be appropriate to be invited to appear before the Panel. The criterion used to select schools are based on the national school categorisation framework, school performance and Estyn reports and the aim is to have a good mix of primary/secondary schools of different pupil ratio.

The Senior School Standards and Inclusion Manager reported that training was given to the Elected Members on the Panel following the local government election held last May. The training also focused on the methodology of how a Head teacher administers the school and whether that Head teacher has a vision to make improvements and raise academic tests and examinations within their school. The training also looked upon the role of Estyn and the expectations Estyn has from schools. The role of GwE, which has been commissioned by Education Authority to support schools performance was also discussed within the Panel. Monitoring reports are received from GwE on individual schools which afford the required support and guidance when a school is not performing as expected. The Panel also evaluate and monitor the performance of the schools on a regular basis.

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

•   Clarification was sought if the Chair and the Panel Members are satisfied with the work carried out by the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel. Members of the Panel said that the work of the Panel has been very constructive and has afforded members the opportunity to monitor good performing schools and to challenge schools that have not been performing as expected. Statistics and data as regard to key stage evaluation are also discussed and monitored within the Schools Review Panel.

•   Questions raised as to whether suggestions can be made to strengthening the work of the Panel. Members of the Panel said that two of the membership of the Panel have visited GwE in Caernarfon recently; it was considered that it was vitally important that they were able to see and understand the work afforded by GwE for the improvements and support of schools. It was considered that GwE have the expertise and knowledge to support schools. It was also considered that Panel Members should also be afforded the opportunity to visit schools.

•   Clarification was sought whether the Scrutiny Committee was satisfied with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – the report of the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to May 2018.

The Head of Learning wished to amend the reference made at the meeting to be held on 10^th April, 2018 as regard to a report on the Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Joint Committee – Gwynedd and Môn; it is now referred to as the Additional Learning Needs Partnership.  The Scrutiny Officer noted that it is intended that a progress report be afforded to the Committee every 6 months on the Additional Learning Needs Partnership.

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to May 2018.

ACTION : None

To consider adopting the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item as it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

It was RESOLVED to adopt the following :-

“Under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, to exclude the press and public from the meeting during the discussion on the following item as it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 12A of the said Act and in the attached Public Interest Test.”

To submit a report by the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

Submitted – the report of the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

The Committee was afforded the progress made by Oriel Ynys Môn since April 2017 in regard to the themes incorporated with the Council’s Corporate Plan.  Visitor data and details of exhibitions were reported to the Committee as regard to the Oriel Ynys Môn Business Plan.

Following detailed discussions and suggestions to improve the visitor numbers and to reduce the dependence of grant funding from the Charitable Trust was discussed.

It was RESOLVED to accept that the progress against the targets within the Business Case and Transformation Plans for Oriel Ynys Môn are progressing appropriately.

ACTION : That progress reports be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee on a regular basis.