Decision details

The Director, Education and Inclusion Services provided the Cabinet with the decision of the Central South Consortium Joint Committee to consider shared education advisory services in partnership with the other four councils in the region for at least the next three years.

The Director spoke of the independent review of the Consortium, which had been commissioned by the ISOS Partnership and drew Members’ attention to the appendices of the report, where the review and implementation plan, which had since been approved by the Joint Committee, was outlined. Members were pleased to note that the report evidenced that the educational performance of the Central South Region had significantly exceeded that of the other three Regions.

The Cabinet were informed that the report had also been presented to the Council’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on the 12th February 2020 where Members welcomed the review by ISOS but emphasised that the opportunity for local authority scrutiny functions to challenge the performance of the Consortium needed to be improved.

The Director informed Members that should the Council wish to withdraw from the Agreement, the earliest they could do so is 31st March 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services spoke positive of the outcome of the review, commenting on the importance of identifying areas for improvement. The Cabinet Member stated that the report would provide stability in a period of significant change to the educational sector in Wales.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the contents of this report; and

2.    To support the decision of the Central South Consortium Joint Committee to continue to deliver shared educational advisory services in partnership with the other four councils in the region for at least the next three years.