• Decision details
  • Decision details

    Decision status: Recommendations Approved

    Is Key decision?: No

    Is subject to call in?: Yes

    Decisions:

    The Director, Education and Inclusion Services provided an update to Members on the projects to improve education in the Cynon Valley, following the report brought before Cabinet in September 2018. The projects were:

    ·         The investment in a new school for Hirwaun Primary School; and

    ·         Improving Welsh medium education provision in the Cynon Valley.

     

    The Director advised that following the report to Cabinet in September 2018, significant investment been put in to the development of Hirwaun Primary School, totalling £10.2M, following the approval of funding by Welsh Government. The Director advised that the school building was now complete and that staff and pupils had moved in after half term in November 2020.  It was explained that Phase 2 was underway with the demolition of the junior block and that the new on-site Flying Start provision had also been completed and opened in January 2021.

     

    In respect of the investment in YGG Aberdar, the Director advised that Welsh Government had since approved funding totalling £4.5M, including the funding to create a new Meithrin. Members were informed that a consultation was currently being undertaken prior to the submission of a planning application.

     

    The Director went on to speak of the investment in Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun and the plans to increase its capacity. The Director advised that plans had significantly advanced and that the planning application for the project had been submitted with the on-site start date currently programmed for April 2021. The Director advised that total estimated cost presented to Cabinet in September 2018 was £10.2M but following further development, the project costs for the proposals now totalled £12.1M. However, the Director added that following changes to the funding package, which meant that the WG 21st Century Schools Band B grant intervention rate had increased from 50% to 65%, the Council’s contribution to the overall investment had in fact decreased from an estimated £5.1M to £4.2M.

     

    Furthermore, the Director advised of the following additional investment made throughout the Education portfolio:

    ·         In excess of £2M investment through the successful delivery Council’s Capital and School Modernisation Programmes; and

    ·         £250k has been secured from the Welsh Government’s Welsh Medium Capital Grant to reopen a Meithrin on the site of Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Abercynon. 

     

    Following the conclusion of the Director’s presentation, the Director of Finance and Digital Services proposed the following amendment to recommendation 2.2 of the report for Cabinet’s consideration:

    ·         To note and approve the variations to the Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun proposals since the last report and agree to propose the required Council contribution via prudential borrowing be submitted to Council (subject to the approval of the Final Business Case).

     

    The Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services thanked the Director for the positive report and was happy to support the recommendations with the amendment. The Cabinet Member commented that the report demonstrated the Council’s commitment to investing in the Education portfolio and significantly increasing Welsh Medium provision within the Borough and was pleased to note that although the scope and cost of the Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun development had increased, the Council’s contribution had decreased as a result of the changes made to Welsh Government’s Intervention Rate. The Cabinet Member looked forward to works commencing, following the successful completion of Hirwaun Primary School.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Adult Community Services & Welsh Language welcomed the report and was pleased to note the further investment in to Welsh Medium education facilities in RCT.

     

    The Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Well-being & Cultural Services echoed earlier comments in relation to the significant investment in Education provision. The Cabinet Member spoke of the importance of investing in Welsh Medium education in order to make the schools easily accessible via early year learning and was pleased to note that RCT continued to contribute to Welsh Government’s ambition of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

     

    The Cabinet RESOLVED:

    1.    To note the progress made to date on the projects; and

    2.    To note and approve the variations to the Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun proposals since the last report and agree to propose the required Council contribution via prudential borrowing be submitted to Council (subject to the approval of the Final Business Case).

     

    Publication date: 25/02/2021

    Date of decision: 25/02/2021

    Decided at meeting: 25/02/2021 - Cabinet

    Effective from: 04/03/2021

    Accompanying Documents: