Agenda item

·        To present the External Audit Annual Improvement Report for the Isle of Anglesey for 2015/16.

·        To present the Certificate of Compliance for the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s 2016/17 Improvement Plan.

•           The WAO’s Annual Improvement Report for 2015/16 in relation to the Isle of Anglesey County Council was presented for the Committee’s consideration. The report summarised the audit work undertaken at the Council since the publication of the last report in December 2015 and includes a summary of the findings from reports issues by other relevant regulators namely, CSSIW; Estyn and the Welsh Language Commissioner.

Mr Gwilym Bury confirmed that taking into consideration the work carried out at the Council by the relevant external review bodies in 2015/16 the Auditor General concludes that overall, the Council has continued to make progress in priority areas while restructuring its leadership and governance arrangements, that it remains self-aware and that it is likely to comply with the requirements of the Local Government Measure 2009 and secure improvement during 2016/17. Whilst the Auditor General makes no statutory recommendations, the report does make proposals for improvement in some of the areas reviewed.

Mr Gwilym Bury, WAO reported on the detailed findings with regard to the key areas assessed in relation to Performance, Use of Resources and Governance including services where improvements had been made as well as areas where performance and/or arrangements require further improvement.

The Committee considered the information presented and made the following points:

•           With regard to Estyn’s evaluation of school performance, the Committee noted the percentage of pupils achieving five A* to A grades or equivalent in Anglesey has declined since 2012 and in 2015 and is lower than the Wales average. The Committee was concerned by this downward trend particularly in the context of the Energy Island initiative and the highly skilled employment opportunities this is likely to create and sought confirmation that measures to improve pupils’ attainment levels are being implemented. The Committee was informed that the Wales Audit Office has issued a report on the quality of the School Improvement Services provided by the North Wales Consortium (GwE). The Committee deemed that it would be helpful for it to consider the report on GwE given that it links into school performance along with any Action Plan prepared by the consortium in response to the report as well as information about the support and improvement services that GwE provides from an Anglesey specific perspective.

•           The Committee noted that as well as assessing and reviewing performance and having oversight over the arrangements and processes that underpin performance, it should be looking to extend its perspective by receiving comparative information more often which would be helpful to the Committee in putting performance in context.

•           The Committee asked in the context of the CSSIW’s Performance Evaluation report for 2014/15 and the Council’s use of resources, that it be updated on the position with regard to the Council’s services for children and adults’ services. The Committee noted that in light of the national funding problems in relation to adult social care provision and issues around the financial viability of an increasing number of social care providers, it could be helpful to know how the Council’s financial plans are helping to address this issue. (Mr Richard Barker declared an interest in this context as a trustee of a social care provider).

It was resolved to accept the Annual Improvement Report for 2015/16 and to note its contents.

ACTIONS ENSUING:

•           The Committee to be provided with and to consider the WAO report on the quality of the School Improvement Services provided by the North Wales Consortium (GwE) together with the consortium’s resultant Action Plan.

•           The Committee to be provided with information in relation to how the Council’s use of resources and financial plans are taking account of current funding issues with regard to adult social care and children’s services.

•           The Certificate of Compliance for the Isle of Anglesey County Council’s 2016/17 Improvement Plan in confirmation of the Council having discharged its duties under the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009, and having acted in accordance with Welsh Government guidance was presented and was noted by the Committee.