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1.1 Apologies were received from Councillor Williams.
2.1 The following declarations of interest were declared in respect of agenda item 5: • Councillor Cowles declared a personal interest as a Governor at both Abersychan School and Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. • Councillor Cowles declared a personal interest as his brother attends Abersychan School. • Victoria Horler declared a personal interest as a Governor at Ysgol Panteg. • Victoria Horler declared a personal interest as her children attended Ysgol Panteg. • Councillor Jones declared a personal interest as a Governor of Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. • Councillor Jones declared a personal interest as her Grandson attends Blaenavon Heritage VC Primary School. • Councillor Jones declared a personal interest as her Niece attends Ysgol Bryn Onnen. • Councillor Price declared a personal interest as her Granddaughter attends Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw. • Councillor Seabourne declared a personal interest due to being a Pupil Referral Unit Management Board Member. • Councillor Seabourne declared a personal interest as her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren attend Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw, Coed Eva Primary School and Blenheim Road Community Primary School and Nursery. • Councillor Seabourne declared a personal interest as a trustee of Torfaen Leisure Trust. • Councillor Thomas declared a personal interest as a Governor at Nant Celyn Primary School. • Councillor Thomas declared a personal interest as her Grandchild attends Cwmbran High School. • Councillor Watkins declared a personal interest as a Governor of Our Lady of the Angels Primary School and Cwmbran High School. • Councillor Clark declared a personal interest as a Governor of St. David’s Roman Catholic Primary School.
3.1 The minutes of the meeting held on 14/03/2024 were confirmed as an accurate record.
4.1 The Committee noted the action sheet.
The HoR&P gave a brief introduction to the report, highlighting the following areas: • This was a long-term capital strategy which had been started in 2010. During this time, there had been steady work undertaken in a number of areas in an attempt to meet the proposals set out within the report. • The removal of sixth forms within Torfaen and the creation of a new Coleg Gwent Learning Zone in Cwmbran had been undertaken as a part of this strategy. • This strategy considered the need for school expansions due to an increasing population. • There was a national need for specialist placements and work was being undertaken to increase capacity at Crownbridge School. • The strategy aimed to refurbish both Ysgol Bryn Onnen and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran, however, these had been temporarily paused due to cost increases. • There was no further expected growth within the Torfaen area unless there were new housing developments established, in this case the developers would be expected to help with any costs associated to an increase in required school places. • There needed to be work completed around a primary level Pupil Referral Unit due to ever increasing complex behavioural needs.. • There were conversations being held with St. Albans RC High School and the Archdiocese regarding the condition of the school buildings. Following Members’ questions and comments, the following main points were made: • HoR&P – Band A used to receive 75% funding from Welsh Government and 25% Local Authority funding, however, this had since been changed to 65% Welsh Government funding and 35% Local Authority funding. Band B received 75% Welsh Government funding and 25% Local Authority funding. Faith based schools received 85% Welsh Government funding and 15% funding from the Archdiocese. • HoR&P – There had been a review of the strategy priorities taken to Cabinet in 2017. This review had been made as the condition of a number of secondary schools had declined which needed to be of a higher priority than previously agreed in 2010. • HoR&P – The refurbishment of Ysgol Bryn Onnen and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran were currently of high priority but these were dependant on funding from Welsh Government. • HoR&P - Group 2 within the report were not listed in order of priority but these did need to be fitted into the investment. • HoR&P - The information used to estimate the number of placements needed at Crownbridge School was not exact, but it was the best information available. It would be ensured that the best use of placements and bases was undertaken. • DoE – The new Head of ALN & Wellbeing was due to start their role in the Autumn and their first piece of work would be looking at the long-term plan in respect of placements and bases. • HoR&P – The £8.3 million of capital receipt had been retained within the corporate capital funding pot. Priorities would be shared for Council decision on how to use this capital spend. There had been fair treatment with funding decisions by both Council and Welsh Government and the strategy had been provided with all funding needed so far. • HoR&P – There was no firm date in respect of the refurbishment of Ysgol Bryn Onnen and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran as there was currently work being undertaken to secure funding. The Committee would be notified when this had commenced. • HoR&P - St. Albans RC High School had their own admissions authority and employed their own staff. As the site was owned by St. Albans, there was a different funding mechanism in place. There were a number of meetings held to try and resolve the issues with the condition of St. Albans. There was mounting pressure for the Local Authority to step in but this sat outside of guidance and regulations under Welsh Government. An appropriate resolution would be sought. • EMCF&E – The main responsibility for the stagnancy of the issues at St. Albans was due to the Archdiocese being unable to provide 15% funding. Unfortunately, the Local Authority was not in a position to be able to assist with these costs. It was suggested the comments that had been sent in by parents/carers and staff of St. Albans RC High School were forwarded to the Archdiocese for their consideration. • HoR&P - Due to the uptake in Welsh Medium education, other authorities had since decided to build their own Welsh language provisions. Whilst Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw continued to be a regional provision, the number of regional students was reducing year on year, which provided Torfaen with the capacity needed for any increased uptake of Welsh Medium education within Torfaen. • DoE - There were currently no specialist ALN placements through Welsh medium. There was an increasing pressure to establish this due to potential future need. • HoA&E – All contracts for new and refurbished schools were competitively tendered through the Property Construction Group to ensure the Local Authority was provided with best value for money. • HoA&E – There were sufficient contingencies and allowances within the funding provided by both the Council and Welsh Government. • HoA&E – There were no time limits on the funding available and there were no further delays expected on any current projects. Raising inflation rates provided a further motivation to keep any timescales on track. • HoR&P – The budget was typically spent once a project was completed. However, there was a defect period agreed with contractors to help address any issues. • HoA&E – There were varying warranties that covered between 12 months and 10 years. The first response to any issue would be to return to the developer. • HoR&P – Schools were worked with closely to establish the design of a school or any refurbishment. There were conversations held post occupation for management to disclose any issues. • HoA&E – The interactivity of the whiteboards in Croesyceiliog School were on the projector itself, which was what was chosen by the school during the project. • HoR&P – The issues raised regarding the canteen at Croesyceiliog School were management issues which could be discussed with the Local Authority but ultimately needed to be addressed within the leadership team at the school. • HoA&E – Any plans for these projects were drafted by an experienced architect. Governors, staff and pupils were able to be involved during the whole process. Pupil involvement was at the Headteacher’s discretion. • HoR&P – There were additional community benefits where contractors were completing work with similar schools which allowed further interactions with pupils. • HoA&E – It was difficult to predict the capacity needs for 10 years in advance. However, the live birth date was actively tracked and reviewed each year. • HoR&P – There would be consideration of any future schools stemming from new housing developments to be Welsh Medium provisions, but this would ultimately depend on parent choice. • HoR&P – Welsh Government funded the primary school provision at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw. Any potential funding opportunities were constantly applied for. • HoR&P - Education and Planning continually work together. It was not believed conversations of the Revised Local Development Plan would end as this would be a cycle. • HoA&E – Planning typically provided Education with a five-year plan which was incorporated into the yearly forecast. • HoR&P – When Victoria Primary School was closed, the building was re-purposed as the MYST centre. • HoR&P – There were no proposals currently to convert any English Medium schools to Welsh Medium school, but this suggestion had been included in the report to indicate that any options would be considered in the future if necessary. • HoR&P – It was known there would be a need for further Welsh Medium provision at the end of this decade which was the rationale for this being placed in group 2 within the report. • HoR&P – The location of the new Pupil Referral Unit had not yet been decided. Whilst the population was largely in the south of the borough, this was not necessarily where the demand would be. • HoR&P – The arrangements between Torfaen Leisure Trust and Cwmbran High School was managed between their organisations. • HoR&P – It was expected that the number of pupils on roll at Abersychan School would increase due to the new development at Mamhilad as currently there was an element of parental choice within these catchments. Mamhilad would be within West Monmouthshire School’s catchment, but those who wished to attend West Monmouth School from the Abersychan School catchment area would now not have as much ability to do so. • HoR&P – Listed buildings could cause complexities and significantly higher costs in respect of refurbishments. • HoR&P – There was sufficient space at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw for the expected increase in Welsh Medium education. • HoR&P – The current surplus across the West Monmouth School cluster was higher due to the expected new primary school and increased cluster. Surplus over 15% was monitored each year. • HoR&P – There had never been a significant security or safeguarding incident within Torfaen, however, there had been a review undertaken of security over the last year. • DoE – There would be a review of lockdown procedures undertaken in the near future. • DoE – Estyn inspections looked at security and safeguarding in detail. • HoR&P – The annual maintenance grant covered any security upgrades. • HoR&P – Schools are expected to prepare an annual health and safety plan. The main responsibility for health and safety remained with the governing body. • HoR&P – Property Services were present on school sites at all times. . The Chair thanked the EMCF&E, DoE, HoR&P and HoA&E for their contributions to the meeting and they left the meeting. Recommendations On completion of their scrutiny activity, the Committee concluded by offering the following comments and recommendations for consideration: Recommendation 1 – Members supported the potential for a new co-located primary/secondary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) and recommended that identification of a suitable location be considered as a priority. Members suggested that it be located centrally within Torfaen in order to provide suitable and fair access for all pupils. Recommendation 2 – Members were pleased to hear that some headteachers had previously used their discretion to include pupils, staff and governors in the design phase of new and refurbished school buildings; however Members recommended that all schools be encouraged to do this, as the views of all stakeholders were critical to its success. Recommendation 3 – Members referred to the numerous emails received from parents/carers and staff at St Alban’s RC High School, regarding the condition of their school buildings. Members recommended that a summary of the main points of the above emails be forwarded on by the Executive Member for Children, Families and Education to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese, for their consideration. Recommendation 4 – Members recommended that the Executive Member for Children, Families and Education raise the issues regarding the condition of the buildings at St Alban’s RC High School directly with the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, in order to highlight the urgency of finding a funding agreement. Recommendation 5 – Members were concerned by the condition of some school buildings within Torfaen and recommended that a programme of visits be developed by the Education Department, in order for the Education O&S Committee to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the conditions of our school buildings. Recommendation 6 – Members referred to the Head of Resources and Planning’s clarification that Cwmbran High School should be within Group 2 of the Post-2024 Capital Investment Priorities (Appendix 1 of the report), not Group 3. Members therefore recommended that this amendment be made prior to the proposals being submitted to Cabinet and Welsh Government. Recommendation 7 – Members were concerned by the length of some warranties related to new and refurbished school buildings and therefore recommended that contingency funding and procurement arrangements be strengthened, where possible, in order to provide further protection to schools and TCBC in terms of any faults/issues related to these buildings. Recommendation 8 – Members were concerned by the number of school admission appeals, some of whom were from within catchment areas. Members recommended that school places continue to be robustly monitored, including Crownbridge School, in order to ensure that enough places were available to the appropriate pupils. Recommendation 9 – Members recommended that officers review the service level agreements that the LA and schools have in place with partners, such as Torfaen Leisure Trust, in order to ascertain who is financially responsible, where associated school buildings are part of a site, and the variety of maintenance works necessary. Members commented that they would like to receive regular progress updates regarding the following two issues, which would be added as standing items on all future agendas for their quarterly briefings with the Executive Member for Children, Families and Education: • The ongoing conversations between the LA, St Alban’s RC High School, the Archdiocese and Welsh Government in relation to the future of St Alban’s RC High School. • The condition of all school buildings, particularly Ysgol Bryn Onnen and Ysgol Gymraeg Cwmbran, where planned refurbishments had been delayed. Members also commented that Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision for Welsh-medium pupils should be prioritised and that they looked forward to the opportunity to consider scrutinising ALN provision as a whole as part of their scrutiny programme for 2024/25, should the item be chosen during the Committee’s visioning session.
7.1 The date of the next meeting was noted.
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