Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cllr Debbie Harvey

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2020 were confirmed as a true record. 

The Leader presented the report that provided Cabinet with an update of the Corporate Risk Register for the end of Quarter 3 (31^st December 2019). 

The report asked Members to consider the contents of the report and note the changes to the risk register for the end of quarter 3.

It was noted that the Council’s Risk Management Strategy and Corporate Risk Register enables the administration and officers to effectively identify, manage and monitor those risks which could prevent achieving the objectives set out in the Corporate Plan 2017/22 and its Statutory Duties as a local authority.

The report confirmed that every year and as part of the Council’s planning arrangements, service areas review their current risks and look forward at new or emerging risks that would prevent the administration from achieving its objectives as part of the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The report noted that 12 risks remain on the Council’s Corporate Risk Register requiring monitoring from Cabinet and the Senior Leadership Team.

The remaining risks will continue to be monitored through the Council’s service areas and Corporate Management Team.  The Leader confirmed that mechanisms are in place to escalate any new or existing risk to the Corporate Risk Register. 

At the end of Quarter 3 (1^st October to 31^st December 2019) the Council had 7 High risks (15 to 25) and 5 Medium Risks (5 to 14).  In comparison to quarter 2 there were no new risks and no risks were closed.  However, one risk had decreased from High to a Medium level risk. The risk that had risk score decrease was Brexit and the decision to leave the European Union as of 31^st December 2020 (Risk score decreased from 16 to 12)

The Leader stated that in light of the recent Corona Virus outbreak, the Council will be adding this particular risk to the Corporate Risk Register which will be reported in the next quarter (May 2020).  The Leader confirmed that the Council’s Civil Contingencies and partners in the Gwent Local Resilience Forum, are undertaking necessary planning in line with the Welsh Government and UK Government guidelines.

The report asked Cabinet to agree the contents of the Quarter 3 Risk Report and continue to monitor progress of actions taken to reduce the impact of the risks in the report.

Decision:

Cabinet approved the contents of the Corporate Risk Register and agreed to monitor the progress of actions taken to address the risks identified in the report.

The Leader confirmed that the Education Achievement Service (EAS) operates on a regional basis carrying out the school improvement role on behalf of the five Local Authorities in the South East Wales Consortium (SEWC).

The report confirmed the EAS Business Plan consists of four key strands:

o   Developing a high-quality education profession – inspirational leaders working collaboratively to raise standards;

o   Strong and inclusive schools committed to excellence, equity and wellbeing;

o   Robust assessment, evaluation and accountability mechanisms, supporting a self-improvement system;

o   EAS Business Development.

Regarding the Local Authority core contribution to the EAS, the Leader confirmed Newport’s contribution for 2020/21 is £803,293, compared with a contribution of £815,526 in 2019/20.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills confirmed thatthe strategic priorities for Newport identified within the EAS Business Plan for 2020/21 are in line with the recommendations of the 2018 Newport Education Service’s Estyn report and dovetail with key objectives of teams within Newport City Council’s Education Service. 

The Cabinet Member reported that the strategic priorities for the EAS that specifically relate to Newport are:

·         To improve provision and outcomes for learners eligible for Free School Meals in all key stages;

·          

·         To reduce variance in outcomes, teaching and leadership, particularly at Key Stage 4;

·         To ensure a consistent approach to Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision, in line with the requirements of the Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2019, through the implementation of a Leadership/ALN Review framework in collaboration with Local Authority inclusion services, and,

·         To reduce persistent absenteeism, particularly in secondary schools, and so improve secondary school attendance.

The Cabinet Member confirmed the draft Business Plan had already been the subject of extensive consultation with key stakeholders.  The Cabinet Member was particularly pleased to report that the consultation process had included the views of school councils across the region thereby ensuring the voices of children and young people in Newport’s schools had been included in the process.

EAS CX – assurances that payment will be made to EAS.

Cabinet was asked to:

1.    Ensure that the Business Plan and accompanying Annex document enables appropriate support and challenge for schools and that it addresses the areas for improvement that have been identified within Newport’s Education Strategic Plans, and,

2.    Approve the EAS Business Plan 2020/2021 and the Newport Local Authority (LA) Annex 2020/2021

Decision:

Cabinet approved the EA Business Plan 2020/21 and the Newport Local Authority Annex 2020/21.

The Leader confirmed that the Education Achievement Service (EAS) operates on a regional basis carrying out the school improvement role on behalf of the five Local Authorities in the South East Wales Consortium (SEWC).

The report confirmed the EAS Business Plan consists of four key strands:

o   Developing a high-quality education profession – inspirational leaders working collaboratively to raise standards;

o   Strong and inclusive schools committed to excellence, equity and wellbeing;

o   Robust assessment, evaluation and accountability mechanisms, supporting a self-improvement system;

o   EAS Business Development.

Regarding the Local Authority core contribution to the EAS, the Leader confirmed Newport’s contribution for 2020/21 is £803,293, compared with a contribution of £815,526 in 2019/20.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Skills confirmed thatthe strategic priorities for Newport identified within the EAS Business Plan for 2020/21 are in line with the recommendations of the 2018 Newport Education Service’s Estyn report and dovetail with key objectives of teams within Newport City Council’s Education Service. 

The Cabinet Member reported that the strategic priorities for the EAS that specifically relate to Newport are:

·         To improve provision and outcomes for learners eligible for Free School Meals in all key stages;

·          

·         To reduce variance in outcomes, teaching and leadership, particularly at Key Stage 4;

·         To ensure a consistent approach to Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision, in line with the requirements of the Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2019, through the implementation of a Leadership/ALN Review framework in collaboration with Local Authority inclusion services, and,

·         To reduce persistent absenteeism, particularly in secondary schools, and so improve secondary school attendance.

The Cabinet Member confirmed the draft Business Plan had already been the subject of extensive consultation with key stakeholders.  The Cabinet Member was particularly pleased to report that the consultation process had included the views of school councils across the region thereby ensuring the voices of children and young people in Newport’s schools had been included in the process.

EAS CX – assurances that payment will be made to EAS.

Cabinet was asked to:

1.    Ensure that the Business Plan and accompanying Annex document enables appropriate support and challenge for schools and that it addresses the areas for improvement that have been identified within Newport’s Education Strategic Plans, and,

2.    Approve the EAS Business Plan 2020/2021 and the Newport Local Authority (LA) Annex 2020/2021

Decision:

Cabinet approved the EA Business Plan 2020/21 and the Newport Local Authority Annex 2020/21.