Issue - meetings

21ST CENTURY SCHOOLS BAND B PROGRESS

With regard to declarations of interests, it was noted that some Members of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee were also School Governors.

Consideration was given to the report of the Education Transformation Manager which was presented to provide Education and Learning Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to scrutinise progress in line with the delivery of the Band B Programme.

The Corporate Director of Education spoke to the report and highlighted the main points contained therein. 

A Member commented that an excellent job had been done in lengthening the life of Tredegar Comprehensive School by 10-15 years, however, he felt that other school buildings in the Borough would face the same problems in the future.  He referred to paragraph 2.4 of the report, investment objective 3 - to establish effective management and provision of school places by having the right schools in the right places at the right time.  He enquired if consideration had been given to the 70 to 100 extra pupils attending schools in Tredegar over the next 5-6 years.  The Corporate Director of Education said annual reports were prepared and presented to Scrutiny Committees to look at the management of school places.  In the past a lot of work had been undertaken to reduce surplus places, the current position was now in the region of 10% surplus places in both secondary and primary sector. The availability of places, across the school estate, was being closely monitored.  There were some schools now experiencing sufficiency issues and this would be considered within the Band B planning arrangements to ensure appropriate places for the demand coming through the system.  The Member said the team should be congratulated on the work undertaken on the 21^st Century Schools Programme.

A Member referred to the Band B funding forecast for the Welsh-medium school proposal and enquired regarding the £7.5 million funding.  The Director explained this was the latest cost estimate from Technical Services, the new build would be in the region of £7.5 million, and this was 100% funded by the Welsh Government.  The Directorate had raised the likely cost pressures associated with the delay due to Covid-19 with the Welsh Government and had received positive feedback around the potential for additional resources should the proposal proceed.  This was not a cost pressure for the Council it was one that the Welsh Government would need to address. 

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee considered and accepts the report as presented.