Agenda item

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 Lead Member provided some background to the 21st Century Schools Programme and Band B proposals together with previous Scrutiny and Cabinet involvement in that process over the last three years.  For clarity Councillor Penlington had asked the question at Cabinet as to why Prestatyn High School (PHS) had not been included in the proposals and an explanation had been provided at that time which had been based on need and the prioritisation process.  With regard to the grounds for calling the review of the Cabinet decision the Lead Member responded as follows –

 

·         PHS pupil numbers – figures provided for over the last five years showed an overall decrease in pupil numbers.  Year 7 intake had been around 230/240 pupils during that period and prior to opening of the new Rhyl High School building had been around 260/270 pupils.  PHS share of secondary pupils across Denbighshire had reduced in relative terms from 25% to 21%

·         Prestatyn primary sector numbers – overall there were 2037 full time primary school places across the town and surrounding areas with 1,777 pupils attending resulting in 260 surplus places [12%].  Significant investment had been made in the primary sector in Prestatyn.  The Year 7 intake for 2020 showed that 77.3% came from English medium schools in the town, 6.3% from other Denbighshire schools and 16.4% from out of county.  Pupil numbers transferring from Rhyl to Prestatyn had reduced since 2016 and the new Christ the Word school would also have an impact on future pupil numbers

·         Condition of Buildings – when the Strategic Outline Plan was submitted in 2017 PHS was considered Condition C and Suitability C.  Compared to the eight secondary schools in Denbighshire – four had been identified as part of Band A (St. Brigid’s subsequently opted out) leaving one Category B (Ysgol Brynhyfryd), three Category C (St. Brigid’s, Ysgol Dinas Bran and PHS), and one Category D (Denbigh High School) which was seen as high priority.  The long list to Welsh Government had included investment for PHS and Ysgol Brynhyfryd.  On the balance of current issues of the remaining Category C schools St. Brigid’s and Ysgol Dinas Bran were seen as higher priority given the limited resources when the Strategic Outline Plan was submitted

·         Development of 5 year plan – following the decision arising from that assessment officers met with Prestatyn Member Area Group and Governors to discuss the immediate and short term needs of PHS which resulted in an agreed 5 year plan.  Priority areas included Site Fencing & Security; Walkway Access Corridor; Science; Technology & Welsh and Car Park and details of the issues to be addressed and positive progress made against those priority areas were provided.  Recent planned maintenance work to the value of £1.64m had taken place at the school and future work had been scheduled.

 

The Lead Member reiterated that the recommendation to Cabinet had been based on a prioritisation process of greatest need given the finite resources available.  The Council had worked closely with PHS in developing the 5 year plan to address areas of concern and the school fully supported the partnership working approach and recognised the investment being made outside of the 21st Century Schools Programme.  The Interim Head of Education added that he was in regular contact with the school and good progress was being made in progressing the 5 year plan.  Whilst the obvious preference was for a new school it was recognised that there was a prioritisation process and limited resources available and on that basis the Head teacher had been satisfied with the level of investment.  Councillor Hugh Irving, Chair of Governors at PHS confirmed there had been substantial investment in the school over the years and while there were obvious shortcomings it was accepted that a new school was the ideal and not possible given present circumstances.  Useful discussions had taken place with lead members and officers and a five year programme of investment had been agreed as the way forward.

 

During the course of debate the Chair invited questions from Committee members followed by call-in signatories and other non-Committee members.  Questions were raised with specific regard to PHS as referenced within the call-in notice together with other schools within the county including the condition of those schools and application of the assessment process together with the outcome of that process in terms of categorisation, rank order of priority and potential timescales for investment.  Clarity was also sought regarding the funding elements of the 21st Century Schools Programme and future projects.

 

The Lead Member, Interim Head of Education, Principal Manager – School Support and Head of Finance responded to members’ questions and comments as follows –

 

·         confirmed 12 pupils from Prestatyn were attending Year 7 in Rhyl from this September

·         explained the complexities of the PHS site given the size of the building and flow of pupils and the need to assess the impact on pupil numbers in future years taking into account the new Rhyl High School building and Christ the Word School in order to have robust data for future planning and ensure that as part of the overall process investment was made in the right schools at the right time

·         reiterated that PHS Governing Body and Head teacher were in regular discussions with the Lead Member and officers and were supportive of the level of investment and commitment provided to the school at the current time

·         stated that in terms of the Year 7 intake at PHS 16.4% were from out of county which equated to 39 pupils, the majority of which came from Flintshire schools

·         explained the change in WG funding for the 21st Century Schools Programme and intervention rates for different schemes resulting in the need to prioritise those projects identified in the Band B proposals – based on the assessment of schools PHS had not been identified for inclusion in Band B at any point and had been earmarked for future investment

·         elaborated upon the variety of works included in the 5 year plan for PHS which was currently being progressed in priority order as identified by the school and confirmed that the figures did not include external flood work

·         explained the changes to the criteria for 21st Century Schools Funding over time which was now based on the condition of the school environment for learners

·         further explained the prioritisation process and agreed to provide additional information and greater clarification of the schools assessment process and works required including a rank order of prioritisation for investment, but advised that it would not be possible to commit to timescales or specific projects given the future level of uncertainties in terms of criteria, finance and political decisions both at local and national level going forward

·         referred to the schools maintenance programme which totalled £9m for which £2.2m was available which could also be considered alongside the 21st Century Schools Programme and provide a wider picture of school investment

·         explained the reasoning behind the inclusion of Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant in the proposals and lessons learned from the projects undertaken in Band A

·         provided assurances that the council would continue to lobby WG for the additional funding to complete the second phase of Band B, which included Rhyl primary provision, and report back to Cabinet thereon in eighteen months’ time.

 

The Committee welcomed the investment already made in Denbighshire’s schools and was pleased to note future investment plans in that regard.  The Committee also considered that the clarification of the prioritisation process provided during the meeting had proved useful but felt that for greater clarity and transparency further information should be provided to all councillors on the 21st Century Schools Programme and Councillor Graham Timms put forward a proposition on that basis, seconded by Councillor Merfyn Parry.  Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor also supported the proposition and requested a timescale for submission of the information requested.  Upon being put to the vote the Committee –

 

RESOLVED that detailed information be provided to all county councillors by early 2021 on the 21st 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 21st 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.

 

[Councillor Paul Penlington joined the meeting at the close of debate just prior to the vote.]    

 

At this juncture (12.15 p.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.