Cost of Living Support Icon

Agenda Item No. 10

 

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

 

Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee: 26th March, 2018

 

Report of the Head of Democratic Services

 

Co-Opted and Observer Membership of the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee

 

Purpose of the Report

  1. To advise Committee of the current vacancy position regarding non-voting observer representatives on the Scrutiny Committee and the appointment of the member to the co-opted Church in Wales' position.

Recommendation

To seek Committee's views in respect of the non-voting observer vacancy positions on the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee and to note the appointment of the co-opted member for the Church in Wales sector.   

Reason for the Recommendation

In light of current vacancies and following the recent confirmation of an appointment to the Church in Wales position.

Background

  1. Each Scrutiny Committee of the Council is entitled to recommend to Full Council the appointment of a number of individuals or organisations in  non-voting observer co-optee capacities.  
  2. The Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee has also appointed co-opted members with voting rights representing religious faiths and parent governors as required by law and guidance from the National Assembly of Wales. 
  3. At the Annual Meeting on 24th May, 2017, the following positions were appointed to the Learning and Culture Scrutiny Committee:

Co-opted Members (with voting rights) - 

One representative each from Roman Catholic Church, Church in Wales, Parent Governor - Primary Sector and Parent Governor - Secondary Sector.

 

Non-Voting Observers -

One representative appointed from the following sectors - Primary, Secondary, Special, Headteachers, Welsh Medium Education, Free Churches and Vale Youth Forum (of which two representatives are invited).

Relevant Issues and Options

  1. The vacant co-opted member position (with voting rights) for a Church in Wales representative had been vacant for more than 12 months.  However, the position has recently been filled by Mr. Andrew Rickett, Diocesan Director for Education for the Diocese of Llandaff. 
  2. With regard to the vacancies for non-voting observers, the Governor Support Unit had sought to fill non-voting positions on the Scrutiny Committee through two advertising campaigns which had taken place in April and November 2017.  Nominations for the vacant positions for the Headteacher representative, Primary Sector representative, Secondary Sector representative, Special School representative and Welsh Medium sector representative were invited as follows:
      • Nominations for the Headteacher position were restricted to existing Vale Headteachers from all schools within the Vale;
      • Nominations for the Primary position were restricted to existing teachers from all schools within the Vale primary sector;
      • Nominations for the Secondary position were restricted to existing teachers from all schools within the Vale secondary school sector;
      • Nominations for the Special school position were restricted to existing teachers within the Vale Special Schools sector; and
      • Nominations for the Welsh Medium sector position were restricted to existing teachers from within Welsh Medium schools within the Vale.
  1. Nominees were invited to submit information about themselves, limited to a single typed sheet of A4.  A copy of the invitations sent during the process (April and November) are attached as Appendix 1 to this report.
  2. Of note and as in the case of the Free Churches sector, the Special and Headteacher observer positions have been vacant for a number of years.
  3. Following the invitation process, only one application has been received (this being from the Welsh Medium school sector).  The application received was also from a retired teacher as opposed to an existing teacher from within the Welsh Medium sector.  The positions were restricted to teaching staff employed within the county in order that they could provide the Committee with up to date advice, on current challenges facing the profession, legislative changes, current good practice and specialist knowledge.  However, following discussions with the Headteachers' steering group, a number of staff at Ysgol Y Deri have indicated an interest in representing the Vale's Special school.
  4. Therefore, in light of the above and with only one nomination having been received in total (for the Welsh Medium school sector), Committee is asked to consider whether any further advertisement of vacancies should take place.
  5. The Committee, if minded to do so, may take the view to advise Full Council of the current position and may consider recommending that in view of the lack of responses received, the vacant positions as outlined above be not invited to be filled, at this stage, until interest is expressed from the various sectors in the future.  

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

  1. Parent Governor Representatives and Church Representatives within (Wales) Regulations 2001, Regulation 4 and Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 govern the appointments of non-elected members of the Authority to Committees.

Crime and Disorder Implications

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

  1. None as a direct result of this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

  1. The Council's Scrutiny arrangements are designed to support effective scrutiny of the cross-cutting Corporate Plan actions.

Policy Framework and Budget

  1. Membership of Scrutiny Committees is a Full Council decision.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

  1. No Ward Member consultation is required.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee

  1. Learning and Culture

Background Papers

Council Constitution

Contact Officer

Mrs. Karen Bowen, Democratic and Scrutiny Services Officer, Tel: 01446 709856

Officers Consulted

Paula Ham Director of Learning and Skills

Head of Finance

Head of Strategy Community Learning and Resources

Head of Achievement for All

Head of Governor Support Unit

Legal Services

Responsible Officer:

Jeff Wyatt, Head of Democratic Services