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The committee considered the impact of budget cuts on schools in 2024/25, including falling school balances and staff leaving through redundancy and redeployment. It also considered a report on staff well-being in schools, and heard from staff at Darland High School. The committee asked for future reports to include teacher-to-pupil ratios, asked for an information report on school closing balances, and asked the Executive Board to fund the three-year licensed deficit in full from Council funds.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Karen Evans COEEI, co-opted member Sian Hatton-Jones and Councillors Alison Tynan and Jerry Wellens.
AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 February 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare the existence and nature of any personal interest in respect of any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declarations were made: Agenda Item 6 Councillors Dana Davies, Frank Hemmings, Becca Martin and Ross Shepherd. Personal and Prejudicial – LEA appointed school governor. The Councillors claimed the exemption set out in paragraphs 12 (2) (a) (iii) of the Member Code of Conduct and remained in the meeting for the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That the work programme set out in report COGC/34/25s be agreed.
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.
Dana Davies: Personal and prejudicial interest on Impact of Budget Cuts to Schools
LEA appointed school governor. Declared as personal and prejudicial. Claimed the exemption in paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the Member Code of Conduct and stayed in the meeting for the discussion and vote.
Frank Hemmings: Personal and prejudicial interest on Impact of Budget Cuts to Schools
LEA appointed school governor. Declared as personal and prejudicial. Claimed the exemption in paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the Member Code of Conduct and stayed in the meeting for the discussion and vote.
Becca Martin: Personal and prejudicial interest on Impact of Budget Cuts to Schools
LEA appointed school governor. Declared as personal and prejudicial. Claimed the exemption in paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the Member Code of Conduct and stayed in the meeting for the discussion and vote.
Ross Shepherd: Personal and prejudicial interest on Impact of Budget Cuts to Schools
LEA appointed school governor. Declared as personal and prejudicial. Claimed the exemption in paragraph 12(2)(a)(iii) of the Member Code of Conduct and stayed in the meeting for the discussion and vote.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/34/25s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. Members were reminded that a Workshop in respect of Education Estate was scheduled for 27 May 2025. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Lead Member and senior officers would review the work programme with a view to scheduling items for the 25/26 municipal year, for the Committee’s consideration at the June meeting. It was requested that should there be no item identified for the September meeting, this could be used as a work programme planning meeting. AGREED – That the work programme set out in report COGC/34/25s be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That Agenda Item 6 be brought forward and taken at this time.
AGREED – That Agenda Item 6 be brought forward and taken at this time.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That future reports in respect of this matter include information relating to teacher/pupil ratio. (ii) Requested that an information report in respect of Schools closing balances be shared. (iii) That Executive Board be requested with regard to the three year licenced deficit that the total value / cost be realistically specified and met fully from Council funds and note that the Scrutiny Committee supports no interest charged on licenced deficits. (iv) That the Chair and Vice-Chair review the topic request form for Agency staff (Schools) to consider tabling as item in the Work Programme 2025-26.
Members’ declarations of personal interest in respect of this matter are set out under Minute 41 above The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COFI/20/25s) to update on the interim schools budget position at the end of the 2024/2025 financial year and associated impact. Presenting the report the Lead Member referred to the cut in real terms of 5% applied to school budgets for 2024/25. He reported that whilst the challenge was met by many schools during that financial year the pressure remained within the education system. This pressure was further exacerbated by a falling birth rate. Schools had received their indicative budget for 2025/26 in February and Officers were working closely with them to develop sustainable budget plans. The Lead Member reported that during the 2024/25 financial year a total of 40 staff left their positions within schools as part of the redundancy and redeployment process. It was expected that for 2025/26 there would be 52 redundancies and 8 fixed term contracts ending. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Member and Officers present. During debate the following matters in particular were highlighted: · The impact of declining birth rates on school’s ability to meet their budget plan. · Concern regarding the use of one year fixed term contracts for new teachers and the impact on stability in schools. · The benefits of informal voluntary redundancy conversations across school staff ahead of the commencement of the formal process. The HR Officer confirmed that this was permitted in the policy and was an approach supported by teaching unions. Officers communicated the redundancy and redeployment policy and supporting guidance to schools in the Autumn and Spring terms. · Leaving costs associated with staff leaving posts at schools which was previously met via the £200,000 set aside from school budgets. Noted that during the last year the balance of £203,976 was met by the Council in order to support schools with this process. · Queried whether this support would be available for the coming year. The Lead Member confirmed that the political discussion would continue with colleagues. · The additional issue of the timing of finalised admissions numbers communicated to schools. School budgets were based on pupil numbers at September but admission numbers were confirmed in March. · Whilst the 3 year indicative finance plan was helpful it remained a starting point as it was based on no inflation increase or change to staffing or pupil numbers. · Requested that an update be provided in respect of the WG’s work on the national supply pool for school staff. It was reported that work on developing a National Supply Pool for Wales had now ended, following a pilot which would not be rolled out further. · Requested that future reports include information in respect of pupil/teacher ratios. · Recommended that the current practice of not charging interest on licensed deficits continue. The COFI confirmed that there were currently no proposals to change that. · Noted that individual school balances would be reported to Executive Board on 10 June 2025 as part of the 2024/2025 revenue outturn report. Requested that the information be shared with committee members. · Consideration to be given to the timing of this report to enable the committee to have sight of the information ahead of the Executive Board. The COFI explained that historically the information was provided to the June Executive Board and to report prior to that date would be problematic in closing down accounts. · Thanks conveyed to Officers for their work in supporting schools in reviewing their budget allocation and developing a robust budget plan. AGREED – (i) That future reports in respect of this matter include information relating to teacher/pupil ratio. (ii) Requested that an information report in respect of Schools closing balances be shared. (iii) That Executive Board be requested with regard to the three year licenced deficit that the total value / cost be realistically specified and met fully from Council funds and note that the Scrutiny Committee supports no interest charged on licenced deficits. (iv) That the Chair and Vice-Chair review the topic request form for Agency staff (Schools) to consider tabling as item in the Work Programme 2025-26.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That Member/Officer Well-being best practice be shared as a topic in Member Development. (ii) That the Committee receive regular updates from the Well-being Task & Finish Group once constituted. (iv) That Committee receive a further report in 12 months time to include the outcome of the new survey exercise and an insight into those projects / initiatives which offer the most benefit. (v) That Union representatives be invited to future well-being related meetings. (vi) That the Head teacher, Deputy Head teacher and staff of Darland High School be thanked for their contribution to the Well-being agenda.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COEEI/14/25s) to review the current arrangements in place across schools to monitor staff well-being. It was reported that the Local Authority as the employer, provided practical and useful support to schools. The day-to-day well-being of school staff was supported by school leaders and Governing Bodies also had a duty to have regard for the well-being of their Head teacher as well as the wider staff in schools. There were lots of excellent examples of good work being done across schools in Wrexham. Joanne Lee, Head teacher and Lisa Easton, Assistant Head teacher at Darland High School addressed the Committee and outlined their approach to support staff well-being by way of informal approaches and policy and strategy development. Members were invited to ask questions. During debate the following matters in particular were highlighted: · That the initiatives outlined by Darland staff be welcomed. · Noted that the sharing of such good practice was undertaken by the Healthy Schools Team. · Noted that the Buddy Boxes for Head teachers had been developed through one off funding from the CAMHS In-Reach project. Whilst this funding did not continue it was hoped that this had provided ideas for schools to consider taking forward. · The HR Officer provided an overview of the package of counselling support available for all staff through the employee assistance programme. · Ideas such as the scheduling of e-mails to arrive at an appropriate time be welcomed and taken on through the Council. · The importance of support for Head teachers, Deputy Head teachers and senior leaders. · The Head teacher of Darland paid tribute to the work of HR colleagues, the network of senior leaders and governing bodies in providing support. · Suggested that next time this matter was scheduled for consideration by committee that trade unions be included. · Noted that the school staff survey data was held and managed by the school and leadership in school so that they could direct support appropriately. · The proposal to develop and undertake a local authority-led schools staff well-being survey to gather key information for the local authority to use to monitor well-being and inform further support for schools was welcomed. · The accessibility of well-being support for teachers given potential difficulties associated with releasing staff arising from cost and limited budgets. · The initiatives in the report were welcomed but more information requested in the next report about which initiatives were successful. · Assurance provided that all schools were currently signed up to the SLA for HR & OD services, which included access to HR professional support which covered employee well-being. Requested that should this change the committee be updated. · Requested that the committee receive feedback on the work of the Task and Finish Group when scoped. · Suggested that consideration be given to the opportunity to co-ordinate Time to Talk days to ensure that teachers could access support. AGREED – (i) That Member/Officer Well-being best practice be shared as a topic in Member Development. (ii) That the Committee receive regular updates from the Well-being Task & Finish Group once constituted. (iv) That Committee receive a further report in 12 months time to include the outcome of the new survey exercise and an insight into those projects / initiatives which offer the most benefit. (v) That Union representatives be invited to future well-being related meetings. (vi) That the Head teacher, Deputy Head teacher and staff of Darland High School be thanked for their contribution to the Well-being agenda.