Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee

The Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee was due to consider five items on 8 October 2026: progress on the Response Plan to Our Bravery Brought Justice, the Youth Service's five-year strategy, the draft Gwynedd Culture Plan, an amended work programme, and two members to attend performance challenge meetings. No minutes have been published, so this summary sets out what the reports propose, not what the committee decided.

1. Proposed

   The report asks the committee to note and scrutinise progress, comment on the response to its January 2026 recommendations, and note a suggestion on future scrutiny of the plan. The report says 43 of the 55 work-streams, or separate pieces of work, are complete or built into normal services, and that all work within the Council's control should finish by the end of 2026.

   Why

   The Council says it will implement all 27 recommendations of the Child Practice Review (a review of the case by the North Wales Safeguarding Board), published in November 2025, and go further. The report says it was not possible for the Council to act on the one recommendation aimed at the Health Board. It also says culture change will take a long time to embed.

   Based on the minutes, Our Bravery Brought Justice Scrutiny Committee Report (1), Appendix 1 - Progress on Scrutiny Committee Recommendations, Appendix 1a - Trauma Informed and Children's Rights Work Programme, Appendix 2 - Progress Report Jan-July 2026, Appendix 4 - Whats Changed Infograph, Appendix 6 - Chair's Quarterly Reports, Appendix 8 - OBBJ Recommendations

2. Youth Service five-year strategy for 2027 to 2032

   Proposed

   The report asks the committee to consider the draft strategy and offer observations before it is adopted. The strategy sets seven objectives, including supporting young people's mental health, preventing youth homelessness and widening access to youth work across the county.

   Why

   The strategy is part of a Council Plan project to extend play and social opportunities for children and young people. All councils must draft a five-year plan based on evidence of need. The report says it was shaped by workshops in six towns, responses from 832 young people, and eight focus groups in secondary schools.

   Based on the minutes, 28078-Scrutiny_Committee_Report-_The_Youth_Service_2026 (English), 2) Additional Questions for the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee (English), 3) Gwynedd Youth Work Strategy (ENG)

3. Gwynedd Culture Plan: draft vision and action plan

   Proposed

   The report asks the committee to scrutinise the draft plan before it is adopted, and to recommend matters that should be considered. It sets out a draft vision, six principles and a draft action plan for culture in Gwynedd, and asks whether the vision is ambitious enough and how progress will be measured.

   Why

   The report says the Council has no vision or plan for culture. It says the sector asked for action rather than a long strategy document, and cites workshops and events since 2025. A commissioned study estimates that culture adds £316.07 million a year to the county's economy.

   Based on the minutes, 08_10_26 Culture Plan-EN, Appendix 3, Appendix 2, Appendix 1

4. Amended scrutiny work programme for 2026/27

   Proposed

   The report asks the committee to adopt an amended work programme for 2026/27. It moves the Secondary Education Finance item from this meeting to 10 December 2026, at the Education Department's request.

   Why

   The Education Department asked for more time to draw up proposals to respond to the financial situation and challenges. The Chair agreed to the change so that scrutiny can add value. The committee had already planned a six-month update on safeguarding recommendations, due on 16 March 2027.

   Based on the minutes, 2026-10-08 Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee Forward Programme 2026-27

5. Nominating two members to attend Education Department performance challenge

   Proposed

   The report asks the committee to nominate two members to attend the Education Department's performance challenge meeting on 3 November 2026. Under a pilot, two members from each scrutiny committee attend one department's meeting and report back to their committee.

   Why

   Performance challenge meetings are internal reviews of each department's performance, covering Council Plan priority projects and day-to-day measures. The Scrutiny Forum recommended that this committee's representatives attend the Education Department's meetings.

   Based on the minutes, 2026-10-08 Elect Representatives for Performance Challenge Meetings - Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee, Appendix1 - Template - reporting back from performance challenge meetings

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. 1

   Apologies

2. 2

   Declaration of Personal Interest

3. 3

   Urgent Business

4. 4

   Minutes

   Papers: 28052-Minutes 18_06_2026-EN, 28053-Minutes_14_07_2026-EN
5. 5

   Update on the Progress of the Response Plan: Our Bravery Brought Justice

   Part of an issue followed across 9 meetings

   Papers: Our Bravery Brought Justice Scrutiny Committee Report (1), Appendix 1 - Progress on Scrutiny Committee Recommendations, Appendix 1a - Trauma Informed and Children's Rights Work Programme, Appendix 2 - Progress Report Jan-July 2026, Appendix 4 - Whats Changed Infograph, Appendix 6 - Chair's Quarterly Reports, Appendix 8 - OBBJ Recommendations
6. 6

   The Youth Service'S 5-YEAR Strategy

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 28078-Scrutiny_Committee_Report-_The_Youth_Service_2026 (English), 2) Additional Questions for the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee (English), 3) Gwynedd Youth Work Strategy (ENG)
7. 7

   Gwynedd Culture Plan

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 08_10_26 Culture Plan-EN, Appendix 3, Appendix 2, Appendix 1
8. 8

   Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee Forward Programme

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: 2026-10-08 Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee Forward Programme 2026-27
9. 9

   Performance Challenge Meetings

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: 2026-10-08 Elect Representatives for Performance Challenge Meetings - Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee, Appendix1 - Template - reporting back from performance challenge meetings

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