Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Scrutiny Co-ordinator (copy attached) which seeks the Committee, based on the written and verbal information provided, to review the Cabinet’s decision of 22 September 2020.   

Vote taken: 10 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstentions

The Committee:

Resolved:  that detailed information be provided to all county councillors by early 2021 on the 21^st Century Schools programme, to include –

(i)           background to the funding and the prioritisation process followed to determine which schools merited benefiting from investment and when;

(ii)          details of the investment already made in the county’s schools and the current position; and

(iii)        a clear outline of future plans, subject to the availability of Welsh Government and Council funding, to make Denbighshire County Council schools fit for the 21^st Century

Following the Committee agreeing the above resolution the signatories to the call-in request indicated their agreement that the request to review the Cabinet decision should no longer proceed.

The Chair explained that in accordance with the council’s constitution the Committee had been convened to consider a call-in request submitted in respect of a decision taken by the Cabinet on 22 September 2020 relating to ‘21st Century Schools Programme – Band B Proposals’.  The Cabinet had resolved to –

·         approve the commencement of projects at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn / Denbigh High School, Denbigh; Ysgol Bryn Collen / Ysgol Gwernant, Llangollen and Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh as part of the first phase of projects for Band B of the 21st Century Schools Programme and the submission of these proposals to Welsh Government, and

·         to continue to seek additional funding for the second phase of projects of Band B and to review the position in 18 months to ascertain options for the delivery of some of these projects.

A call-in notice had been submitted by Councillor Paul Penlington, supported by four other councillors, calling for a review of the decision on the following grounds –

“…I wish to call in this decision in order that the authority can properly review PHS [Prestatyn High School] need as it stands in 2020 fairly alongside other schools.  As the largest secondary school in the county, and only secondary school in Prestatyn it has as good a case for improvement as others scheduled for Band B funding.”

The Scrutiny Coordinator introduced the report (previously circulated) setting out the ‘call-in’ procedure rules and basis of the ‘call-in’ request and she also explained the procedures to be followed at the meeting.  Reference had been made to the appendices to the report including the Cabinet report considered on 22 September 2020 together with a report on the ‘Process for Band B Submission’ which had been brought forward from the Committee’s next scheduled meeting given that it contained useful information relating to the current review of the Cabinet decision.

In the absence of Councillor Paul Penlington, Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor read out a statement on his behalf.  Councillor Penlington had submitted that –

·         the Cabinet decision had been based on Cabinet meetings as far back as 2017 and Prestatyn High School (PHS) had not featured at that time nor did it currently feature in any 21st Century Schools funding

·         when queried earlier in the year he was told PHS may possibly be considered in 2024 which was not robust enough to meet the needs of children in Prestatyn

·         councillors had not had an opportunity to scrutinise the process that led to the Cabinet decision on 22 September and had been excluded from any process that led to it over recent months, and he had been unable to join the discussion and properly ask questions at Cabinet due to council online meeting failures

·         the situation within PHS had changed significantly since 2017 and the school was in urgent need of substantial improvement, if not a completely new school

·         he had been advised pupil numbers were reducing which was incorrect – PHS had 1800 learners three years ago and a consistent 1500 learners since then

·         Prestatyn primary schools were struggling to cope with demand and with one secondary school there was potential for significant difficulties in the near future

·         the current and future financial climate was uncertain and without a definite commitment to PHS it may not receive any substantial improvement for years

·         as far as he was aware PHS had been built in 1956 with few enhancements since then and no major improvements and so required swift improvement.

The Lead Member Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Interim Head of Education and Principal Manager – School Support were in attendance.  The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4