Agenda and minutes

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.

No requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received for the Corporate Director of Education.

To receive any declarations of interest or dispensations.

No declarations of interest or dispensations were raised.

To consider the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th March, 2025.

The decisions of the Special Cabinet Meeting held on 5^th March, 2025 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the decisions be received as a true record of proceedings.

To consider the report.

Consideration was given to the report to approve attendance to the WLGA Annual Conference to be held 18th – 19th June, 2025 at Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

RESOLVED that Councillors H. Cunningham & S. Edmunds be approved to attend.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Policy & Partnerships.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support the draft Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report 2024/25 for publishing (Option 1).

Consideration was given the report of the Service Manager Public Protection.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet approves the adoption of the Blaenau Gwent Empty Property Strategy (Option 1).

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

RESOLVED that the report be accepted as provided (Option 2).

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Education Transformation & Business Change.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet support the alternative Option 3 recommended by the People Scrutiny Committee held on the 1^st April, 2025, namely:-

      i.          That Cabinet approve the Blaenau Gwent Admissions Policy for Nursery and Statutory Education 2026/2027; and

     ii.          That Cabinet do not support the Consultation on the Catchment Area Review, and agreed that a separate report on the catchment area review be submitted for further scrutiny, considering the concerns raised about topography, demographics, access to transport, parental choice, friendships of pupils being broken, the active travel review, and also the need to consider the consultation responses contained within the current report. The overriding concern was to support cluster working and give children the best chances in life.

Consideration was given to the report of the Service Manager Education Transformation & Business Change.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Cabinet approves the update on the Blaenau Gwent 10-year Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (Option 1).