Cabinet

Cabinet agreed the first steps towards a new model for school improvement services, following a Welsh Government review. Members approved developing four core elements of a new model, with further reports on costs and final models due in Spring 2025, and gave the Director of Education delegated authority to act with the portfolio member.

1. Future direction for school improvement services

   Decided

   Cabinet approved the development of four core elements of a future operating model. It also approved further reports on specific financial implications and final models, to be presented to members in Spring 2025. It approved delegated authority (power for an officer to act without a further meeting) for the Director of Education, in consultation with the Portfolio member for Education.

   Why

   A Welsh Government review in January 2024 found that school leaders had serious concerns about the value added by regional consortia, and asked councils for plans by November 2024. The report estimates the new service will cost about £500k, to be met from the current core contribution and grant funding, with detailed costs to follow later. During the meeting, members asked about governance, cost, capacity and the advantages over the current model, but the minute does not record the answers.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Appendix 1, Appendix 2, iia

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies for absence

   Minute

   No apologies were received.

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   No declarations were received.

3. 3

   Future Direction for School Improvement Services

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: 2.1 The development of the four core elements of a future operating model, as outlined in Section 4, be approved. 2.2 Further reports detailing specific financial implications and final models be presented to members in Spring 2025, be approved. 2.3 The giving of delegated authority to the Director of Education in consultation with the Portfolio member for Education, be approved.

   Minute

   Councillor G Lewis introduced the report. The following questions were raised: · What detail is available at present regarding what the new governance arrangements will look like under this new model? · At this stage, in terms of the new model, do we have assurances that it will be more cost effective for the local authority? · Do all school leaders accept that this is the best way forward for school improvement? · Are you confident that the local authority has the capacity to deliver school improvement? · What improvements do you think we’ll see by moving to that model? · What are the advantages of the new model as opposed to the existing model? · Will local authority partnerships continue? Cllr G Lewis made a comment regarding the report, referring to budgets and finances. Resolved that: 2.1 The development of the four core elements of a future operating model, as outlined in Section 4, be approved. 2.2 Further reports detailing specific financial implications and final models be presented to members in Spring 2025, be approved. 2.3 The giving of delegated authority to the Director of Education in consultation with the Portfolio member for Education, be approved.

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1, Appendix 2, iia
4. 4

   Any Other Business Deemed Urgent by the Chair

   Minute

   No other business was deemed urgent by the Chair.

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.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Brent Carter, ChairLabourPresent
• David Jones, Vice-ChairLabourPresent
• Andrew Barry, OthermbrsIndependentRecorded
• Anna Williams- Price, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Lewis, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Geraint Thomas, OthermbrsIndependentRecorded
• Jamie Scriven, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Louise Minett-Vokes, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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