Agenda and minutes

People Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 28th February, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: virtually via Microsoft Teams - if you would like to attend this meeting live via Microsoft Teams please contact committee.services@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

Contact: Email: deb.jones@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Simultaneous Translation

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

 

Minutes:

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

 

2.

Apologies

To receive.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were reported for Councillor K. Chaplin and Mr. Tim Baxter.

 

3.

Declarations of Interest and Dispensations

To receive.

Minutes:

Councillor D. Wilkshire declared an interim in Item No. 9 - Business Case to purchase 2 properties for use as

Residential Children’s Homes.

 

4.

People Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 339 KB

To receive the decisions of the People Scrutiny Committee held on the 17th January, 2023.

 

(Please note the decisions are submitted for points of accuracy only).

Minutes:

The decisions of the People Scrutiny Committee held on 17th January, 2023 were submitted.

 

It was reported that Councillor J. Holt’s apologies had been omitted.

 

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the decisions be accepted as a true record of proceedings.

 

5.

Action Sheet pdf icon PDF 191 KB

To receive

Minutes:

The Action sheet arising from the meeting held on 17th January, 2023, was submitted.

 

The Committee AGREED that the action sheet be noted.

 

6.

Blaenau Gwent Estyn Local Government Education Services (LGES) Inspection Outcome pdf icon PDF 528 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Education.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Education.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted as provided (Option 2).

 

7.

Blaenau Gwent Admissions Policy for Nursery and Statutory Education 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 537 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director Education.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Corporate Director of Education / Service Manager Education Transformation and

Business Change.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the policy document be accepted (Option 1).

 

8.

Forward Work Programme: 18th April 2023 pdf icon PDF 396 KB

To receive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to report of the Scrutiny & Democratic Officer.

 

The Committee AGREED that the Forward Programme for the

meeting 18th April 2023 be noted.

 

9.

Business Case to purchase 2 properties for use as Residential Children’s Homes

To consider the report of the Interim Head of Children's Services.

Minutes:

Having regard to the views expressed by the Proper Officer regarding the public interest test, that on balance the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and that the report should be exempt.

 

RESOLVED that the public be excluded whilst this item of business is transacted as it is likely there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 14, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972 (as amended).

 

Consideration was given to report of the Interim Head of Children’s Services.

 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report which contained information relating to the financial/business affairs of persons other than the Authority be accepted; and the Committee:

 

·       Support the business case for the purchase of 2 properties to be developed into a children’s residential home. The identified revenues savings to be built into Bridging the Gap to support the Council’s budget pressures in 2024/25 and future years (Part 1 Option 1); and

 

·       Support the purchase of the 2 properties above market value and the use of the capital contingency fund to fund the £65,000 shortfall in capital costs for the purchase (Part 2 Option 1)