Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Mrs Christina Williams – Co-opted Member - Secondary Schools Sector and ALN declared a personal interest in Item 5 – ALN & Inclusion Service 2025/2026 : Current Situation, Challenges and Next Steps and following legal advice she was able to take part in the discussion and voting thereon.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the following meetings:-

·             Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March, 2026.

·             Minutes of the Election of Chair and Vice-Chair held on 12 May, 2026.

The minutes of the following meeting were confirmed as correct:-

·         Minutes of the meeting held on 17 March, 2026;

·         Minutes of the Election of Chair and Vice-Chair held on 12 May, 2026.

Action points arising from the meeting held on 17 March, 2026:-

·         Update on the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Anglesey 2022/2026

• That a letter be sent to the UK Government on behalf of the Council, outlining its concerns and to request that they reconsider the recent changes to the Local Growth Funding as regards to capital and revenue funding grant formula in Wales which will have an impact on revenue funded post and services on Anglesey.

Correspondence has been forwarded by email to the relevant Cabinet Minister – awaiting response.

·         That a letter be sent to Welsh Government on behalf of the Committee, highlighting concerns as regards to clarity and implications of the CJC’s future decision-making role in relation to the Local Growth Funding.

Correspondence has been forwarded by email to the relevant Cabinet Minister – awaiting response.

Councillor Douglas M Fowlie said that at the meeting held on 17 March, 2026 he raised whether the invitation to the representatives from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board could be brough forward within the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.  The Head of Democracy responded that the representatives from the Health Board will attend a meeting of this Committee in September rather than in November.

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

The Welsh Language Annual Report was presented for the Committee’s consideration and for comment prior to its submission for delegated approval by the Portfolio Member for publication.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that in accordance with the Welsh Language Standards Regulations 2015 the Council must prepare an Annual Report regarding the compliance with the standards.

The following were points of discussion by the Committee:-

·         Questions were raised as to how the Council intends to improve the Welsh provision in areas where there is a lack of consistency i.e. Leisure Services.  The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that a complaint was received about inconsistent use of Welsh at a Leisure Centre fitness class.   He noted that the Welsh Language Commissioner found failure to comply with standards and enforcement action was taken.  An action plan has been put in place to address the finding and is currently awaiting approval by the Welsh Language Commissioner.   He further said that additional MônActif fitness courses are being afforded within the Leisure Centres and targeted provisions are put in place to increase the confidence of staff in affording these fitness courses through the Welsh language.  The Policy and Welsh Language Manager said that the leisure sector is an area which needs to be reviewed as regards to the use of the  Welsh language and the Council is taking a proactive approach in working in partnership with external partner to maximise opportunities.

·         Questions were raised whether the Welsh awareness sessions will be mandatory for staff.  The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that the first Welsh awareness session was well attended, and it is an intention to convene additional sessions in the future.  He accepted that the Welsh awareness sessions need to be advertised broadly and to encourage Welsh speakers to also attend these sessions.  The Policy and Welsh Language Manager agreed that the sessions need to be advertised broadly and to give opportunity for people to understand their Welsh language potential.   She noted that there is currently no intention to make the Welsh language course mandatory for staff, however, there is a language awareness session for each new member of staff, and these sessions make them aware of the help and support available to improve and develop their language skills.

·         Reference was made that during the review of the Welsh Language Policy this Committee sent a letter to Welsh Government emphasising that the Welsh place names of properties need to be protected.  Questions were raised  whether further correspondence should be sent to the new Welsh Government.  The Policy and Welsh Language Manager said that the response from the previous Welsh Government was supportive, but it did not afford additional legislation for Local Authorities to protect Welsh place names.  The Chief Executive said that it would be more appropriate to send further correspondence to Welsh Government following the Senedd’s summer recess and maybe allow discussions with the relevant Cabinet Minister as regards to the commitment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the purpose of the report is to provide an annual update on the progress made as regards to  Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

The Senior Manager (Primary) reported that the report summarises the performance of Anglesey’s WESP for 2025/2026 and highlights the main developments, risks and next steps.  The report highlights the effective use of funds to sustain language centres and strengthens engagement with secondary schools, the support for ‘workforce capacity’ grant applications and a partnership with Coleg Menai to model and develop bilingual pedagogy.  The report also refers to the increase in development activities e.g. Taith i Iaith, WESP project groups in schools, and collaboration with the National Centre for Learning Wales.  Any possible changes to grants after 2026 could threaten the continuity of the provision especially language centres and secondary support.  The report refers to Transport costs which are increasing, with financial and carbon implications, and there is a need for long term solutions to reduce costs.  Recruitment/language proficiency challenges, and the risk to secondary school arrangements regarding the numbers that a registered for GCSE Welsh first language. 

The following were points of discussion by the Committee:-

·         Reference was made to the identified risks and mitigations within the report and specifically that the Transport funding is increasingly challenging.  Questions were raised as to the software that was to be used to lower costs, and more detail is required within the report as regards to these costs.  The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that the transport modelling work is ongoing, however, there are two language centres that pupils need to be transported which is costly.  The Senior Manager (Primary) said that solutions are been undertaken and considered in lowering transport costs each year and he noted that immersion for pupils into language centres is a priority.   The Director of Education, Skills and Young People assured that more details of the transport costs will be included in the Annual Report for 2026/2027.

·         Questions were raised as to the reasons why more pupils are registering for second language Welsh GCSE. The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language responded that pupils have the right to choose their preferred language courses, and some pupils may consider that they would have a better grade within their GCSE’s.  He said that there is a plan in place to encourage more pupils to choose first language courses.  However, there will be changes introduced in two years with Welsh Language and Welsh Literature examinations being combined into one GCSE for pupils in the Welsh medium and bilingual schools and a Welsh Second Language GCSE will be discontinued and a new GCSE in Welsh will be created for learners in English medium settings. The Senior Manager (Primary) said that one school has plans to change their language category and it is hoped that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the purpose of the report is to provide assurance and an overview of the current performance of the ALN & Inclusion Service.  He noted that the ALN & Inclusion Service was established in May 2017, as a joint service between Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.  The current contract with Gwynedd Council will come to an end on 31 August, 2026, and a consultation process on the service’s structure for this Authority has recently been completed. 

The Senior Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service Manager reported that a transitional period currently is undertaking in preparing this Council to provide a new ALN & Inclusion Service for Ynys Môn from September 2026.  She noted that the report provides details of the previous year, and she said that a new funding formula has been introduced in the primary sector for the ALN Service.  Systems are in place to monitor quality within schools to evaluate their own provision.  She highlighted the challenges facing the service and especially with the increase in the demand for the service since the pandemic.  The workload of ALN & Inclusion Service Co-ordinators has seen increased demand within the schools; funding is also a national challenge within the service.  The recruitment of professional staff is also a challenge.  She further said that since the end of 2021, and in partnership with Children’s Service, education hubs have been established within the five secondary schools on Anglesey.  These hubs primarily support year 10 and 11 pupils who are not coping in the mainstream education provision.  A review of this model was commissioned in December 2023, and strengths were identified especially with the integrated/multiagency work that enriches the provision.  There is also close collaboration surrounding hard-to-place learners due to complex emotional and behavioural needs.  She further referred that attendance of pupils is of national concern.  Substantial work has been undertaken to improve attendance over the past year, allocating additional welfare hours through the Welsh Government Attendance Grant to target the attendance improvements of specific individuals within schools.   

The following were points of discussion by the Committee:-

·         Reference was made to the challenges in the training and recruitment of Educational Psychologists and Support Officers has been an issue for several years.  The Chief Executive said that there are currently TUPE procedures been undertaken with the transitional of staff from the current provision between both this Authority and Gwynedd Council.  The Senior Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service Manager said that currently the University in Cardiff affords a course for Educational Psychologists; discussions are currently being undertaken with Bangor University on the possibility of the University being able to offer such a course.  She noted that it is still a challenge in recruiting Welsh speaking Psychologists.  Further questions were raised as to whether collaboration will continue with Gwynedd Council.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

The report of the Scrutiny Manager setting out the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s indicative Forward Work Programme 2026/20267  was presented for consideration.

It was RESOLVED:-

• To agree the current version of the forward work programme for 2026/2027;

• To note the progress thus far in implementing the forward work programme.