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The Committee considered an update on the Belonging Strategy and the year-end performance report on the Council Plan 2025/26 for education-related objectives. It agreed to write to all schools backing the Belonging Strategy, approved its forward work programme as amended, and noted feedback on the performance report. Councillors also resolved to exclude the press and public for part of the meeting, and the minutes of those confidential items are not in the papers provided.
Councillor Fran Lister declared a personal interest in Agenda Items 7 and 9 – Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26 and Secondary Schools in Statutory Categories – St. David’s High School and Flint High School. Councillor Ryan McKeown declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9 – St. David’s High School and Flint High School. Lisa Allen declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Legal Advice in respect of the Proposal to Modernise the Catholic School Estate. Wendy White declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 8 – Legal Advice in respect of the Proposal to Modernise the Catholic School Estate.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 18 June 2026 and be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings held on 18 June 2026 and be approved as a correct record.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.
The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented a report (agenda item 5) on the current Forward Work Programme and progress with actions from previous meetings. RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: (a) The Committee note the actions undertaken to support and inform the development the Belonging Strategy to date; and (b) That a letter be written to all Schools to outline the Committees support of the Belonging Strategy and that the Committee would actively encourage all schools to adopt the Strategy and including it in their individual development plans.
The Senior Manager (Inclusion & Progression) presented the report (agenda item 6) to update the Committee of the work of the Education & Youth Portfolio in relation to the development of a Belonging Strategy. Councillor Preece requested that an update on the Belonging Charter, being developed to sit alongside the Belonging Strategy, be added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme. In response to comments made by Councillor Mackie, the Chief Officer (Education & Youth) referred to a letter which was being sent to the Chief Medical Officer from the Welsh Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Education in Wales, in response to the Chief Medical Officer Annual Report, which highlighted a range of issues schools were having to manage because of the increasing complexity of presentations, particularly in young children. She said that she would check the status of the letter and circulate a copy to the Committee once it had been sent to the Chief Medical Officer. The Senior Manager (Inclusion & Progression) welcomed the suggestion from Councillor Lister that the Belonging Charter, specifically its aims, be used as a recruitment tool in the future. In response to a question from Councillor Crease, the Chief Officer suggested that a copy of the action plan be circulated to the Committee during the autumn term, inviting comments and feedback to assist in shaping the Strategy. In response to comments by Lisa Allen, the Chief Officer suggested that the video shared during the Headteacher conference be shared with the Committee. Following comments from Councillor Preece the committee supported the suggestion that a letter be written to all Schools to outline the Committees support of the Belonging Strategy and that the Committee would actively encourage all schools to adopt the Strategy and include it in their individual development plans. RESOLVED: (a) The Committee note the actions undertaken to support and inform the development the Belonging Strategy to date; and (b) That a letter be written to all Schools to outline the Committees support of the Belonging Strategy and that the Committee would actively encourage all schools to adopt the Strategy and including it in their individual development plans.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the comments and observations of the on the Council Plan End of Year Performance Report be noted.
The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) presented the report (agenda item 7) to provide the Committee with an overview of performance at the year-end position (2025/26) for the objectives relevant to the Education, Youth and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee. In response to comments from Councillor Preece, it was suggested that the following feedback be provided to the Performance Team following the meeting:- • That the details of the report around the frequency of reporting to Overview & Scrutiny be amended to reflect that reports would be presented quarterly in the future; and • How do the open risks link to the open and live risk register, specifically around funding and resources. The recommendation was supported. RESOLVED: That the comments and observations of the on the Council Plan End of Year Performance Report be noted.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985 – TO CONSIDER THE EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC (Link to recording) RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as the following items were considered to be exempt by virtue of Paragraph 16 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Fran Lister: Personal interest on Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26
Personal interest in the Council Plan End of Year Performance Report 2025/26. The minute gives no further detail.
Fran Lister: Personal interest
Personal interest in the report on Secondary Schools in Statutory Categories: St. David's High School and Flint High School (agenda item 9). The minute gives no further detail.
Ryan McKeown: Personal interest
Personal interest in the report on Secondary Schools in Statutory Categories: St. David's High School and Flint High School (agenda item 9). The minute gives no further detail.
Lisa Allen: Personal interest
Personal interest in the legal advice on the proposal to modernise the Catholic school estate (agenda item 8). The minute gives no further detail.
Wendy White: Personal and prejudicial interest
Personal and prejudicial interest in the legal advice on the proposal to modernise the Catholic school estate (agenda item 8). The minute gives no further detail.
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