Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee

The Committee will consider Estyn's inspection report on the Council's education and youth services, a report on school reserves, and the joint archive project with Denbighshire. It will also consider the Corporate Risk Register, the Annual Performance Report 2025/26 and its forward work programme. No decisions are recorded because the minutes have not yet been published.

1. Forward work programme and action tracking

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Committee considers the draft forward work programme and approves or amends it. It also recommends that the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair, may change the programme between meetings, and that the Committee notes progress on outstanding actions.

   Why

   Overview and scrutiny committees use the programme to plan future items. Requests for information made at earlier meetings are tracked as action points.

   Based on the minutes, Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking (EY&C), Enc. 1, Enc. 2

2. Estyn inspection of education and youth services

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Members accept the findings of the Estyn report and ensure a robust action plan is developed within the required timescales. It also recommends that Members consider the resources needed for that plan and support revising the Portfolio Quality Board and the reporting to this Committee.

   Why

   Estyn inspected the education service in July and the youth service in June 2026. It judged that the education service causes 'significant concern' and placed it in the 'requiring follow up' category, with five recommendations on safeguarding, school finances, scrutiny, leadership and partnership working. The youth service needs no formal follow-up but has three recommendations, which will be added to its service improvement plan.

   Based on the minutes, Estyn Report on Education & Youth Services in Flintshire

3. School reserves at 31 March 2026

   Proposed

   The report asks the Committee to review the level of school reserves at 31 March 2026 and the overview of schools' current financial position.

   Why

   Flintshire schools' net reserves were a deficit of £3.482m at 31 March 2026, a fall of £3.936m on the year before. The report puts this down to high inflation, rising demand for support for learners with additional learning needs, falling pupil numbers and reduced school budgets. It says seven of the 11 secondary schools are in deficit, and describes the secondary position as 'of significant concern'.

   Based on the minutes, School Balances, Enc. 1 for School Balances, Enc. 2 for School Balances

4. Denbighshire and Flintshire joint archive project funding

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Members agree in principle to provide additional funding for the project. The amount depends on the outcome of external fundraising and will come back to Cabinet in a further report.

   Why

   The report says the current archive buildings are unsuitable, lack storage and are costly to run, and that one new building in Mold would bring the joint service together. A further £264,000 has been requested from the Heritage Fund, and about £620,000 from Welsh Government is being sought. The remaining £303,000 would come from Flintshire (£170,000) and Denbighshire (£133,000), and the Heritage Fund decision on the delivery phase is due in the week beginning 21 December 2026.

   Based on the minutes, Denbighshire and Flintshire Joint Archive Project, Enc. 1, Enc. 2, Enc. 4

5. Corporate Risk Register, quarter 1 2026-27

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Committee acknowledges the risks on the Corporate Risk Register and is assured that the actions to manage each risk are adequate. The only risk relevant to this Committee is REY01, the financial viability of schools, which keeps its score of 25 out of 25.

   Why

   The register lists risks that could significantly affect the Council's ability to deliver services, and this report covers the position at 30 June 2026. The report says school balances worsened further in 2025/26, to a net deficit of £4.8m, and that it is unclear what the new investment in additional learning needs support will do to them. Mitigating actions include monitoring meetings with schools in financial difficulty, and Council approval is needed before schools with deficits recruit staff.

   Based on the minutes, Corporate Risk Register 2026-27 – Quarter 1 (EY&C OSC), Enc. 1

6. Annual Performance Report 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Committee supports the Annual Performance Report 2025/26 and notes the performance achieved during the year. The full Council must approve the report before it is published.

   Why

   The report is required by two laws: the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. It covers the Council's achievements and areas for improvement in 2025/26, including its budget, risks, governance, equality and Welsh language work. It says a panel performance assessment, which looked at how well the Council uses its resources and governs itself, found that the Council met its statutory performance requirements.

   Based on the minutes, Annual Performance Report 2025/26 (EY&C OSC), Enc. 1

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest (including Whipping Declarations)

2. 3

   Minutes

   Papers: Minutes - 02.07.26, Minutes - 17.07.26
3. 4

   Urgent Matters as Agreed by the Chair

4. 5

   Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking

   Papers: Forward Work Programme and Action Tracking (EY&C), Enc. 1, Enc. 2
5. 6

   Estyn Report on Education & Youth Services at Flintshire County Council

   Papers: Estyn Report on Education & Youth Services in Flintshire
6. 7

   School Balances

   Papers: School Balances, Enc. 1 for School Balances, Enc. 2 for School Balances
7. 8

   Denbighshire and Flintshire Joint Archive Project

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Denbighshire and Flintshire Joint Archive Project, Enc. 1, Enc. 2, Enc. 3, Enc. 4, Enc. 5, Enc. 6, Enc. 7
8. 9

   Corporate Risk Register 2026-27 - Quarter 1

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Corporate Risk Register 2026-27 – Quarter 1 (EY&C OSC), Enc. 1
9. 10

   Annual Performance Report 2025/26

   Papers: Annual Performance Report 2025/26 (EY&C OSC), Enc. 1

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.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• Gina Maddison, Vice-ChairLabourSent apologies and a substitute
• Allan Marshall, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Andrew Parkhurst, ObserverLiberal DemocratIn attendance
• Bill Crease, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies and a substitute
• Carolyn Preece, Committee MemberFlintshire People's VoicePresent
• Christine Jones, ObserverLabourIn attendance
• Dave Hughes, LeaderLabourIn attendance
• Dave Mackie, Committee MemberTrue IndependentsPresent
• Dave Vernon, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• David Coggins Cogan, ObserverLiberal DemocratIn attendance
• David Evans, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• David Healey, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies and a substitute
• Debbie Owen, ReserveIndependentPresent as a substitute
• Fran Lister, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Gladys Healey, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies and a substitute
• Ian Hodge, Committee MemberReform UKPresent
• Ian Roberts, ObserverLabourIn attendance
• Linda Thomas, ObserverLabourIn attendance
• Mared Eastwood, Cabinet MemberEagleIn attendance
• Richard Jones, ObserverIndependentIn attendance
• Richard Lloyd, ReserveLabourPresent as a substitute
• Ryan McKeown, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Sean Bibby, ReserveLabourPresent as a substitute
• Ted Palmer, Cabinet MemberLabourIn attendance
• Tina Claydon, ReserveLabourPresent as a substitute

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