Executive Board Meeting 16th January 2015 Y Llwyfan, Carmarthen 11.30 – 1.00 Record of Meeting Present: Eifion Evans (EE), Ceredigion; Betsan O’Connor (BOC), ERW; Rob Sully (RS), Carmarthenshire; Kate Evan- Hughes (KEH), Pembrokeshire; Ian Roberts (IR), Powys; Chris Sivers (CS), Swansea; Geraint Rees (GR), WG; Sarah Fulthorpe (SF), WG; Edna Davies (ED), Pembrokeshire; Mike Gibbon (MG), NPT; Graham Jones (GJ), ERW; Matthew Holder (MH), ERW; Ruth Lee (RL), ERW Apologies: Aled Evans, NPT; Alan Tudor Jones; Mererid Stone. 1. Record of Last Meeting

 The record of meeting was confirmed as accurate save for Ty Llidiard being removed from the minutes as the matter had been dealt with.  Alun Charles be asked to sit, as an independent officer, on the Executive Board. RS to contact Alun.  Sian Pascoe had undertaken an overview report on MEAG. The report was forwarded to WG for their information and action. GR to take back the concerns of the board to WG with regard to the cut in budget for MEAG.  RS provided information and an update on ESF funding and informed the board that there was a delay in the programme. As a region, a bid had been submitted however no further information had been received to date.  To note that Pembrokeshire would possibly lead on ESF but confirmation yet to be received.  To note that all the work being undertaken on ESF is based on a regional skills programme. Agreed Actions 1. To accept the record of meeting as a true record. 1. RS contact Alun Charles to ask if he would like to sit on the Executive Board. 2. Lead Director and Managing Director Report  Members briefing to be chaired by Portfolio Members  Draft Business Plan and its structure discussed  GR suggested common set of strategies for each region and the responsibility for the different strands. EE noted the new grant streams which were discussed with the civil servants in WG yesterday. Important to note that ERW are working along those agreements already, making recommendation to reduce the internal audit requirements.  RS queried when information will be issued on the guidance for the grants. Letter will be issued today to the Directors providing the figure for the one grant. Terms and conditions to be sent out early next week.  To note the positives on the Leadership Development Programmes.  EE provided information on the Robert Hill Review and Estyn’s visit with positive outcomes. EE thanked everyone for their time and commitment in attending interviews and providing all necessary information. Robert Hill’s report was very positive, however, there were recommendations to undertake. Many recommendations have already been met. EE and BOC met with Steve Vincent, Brett Pugh and Owen Evans from WG and following that meeting, no further action required.  Estyn’s visit the following week was again very positive, however, there were recommendations which would have to be incorporated in to ERW’s Business Plan.  To note that the Estyn report would be published end of April, beginning of May.  An overview report to be produced for all regions in Wales.  To note that Sir Gar PR will be undertaking developing a new website to improve ERW’s communication.  BOC will undertake a regional response with regard to School Holiday dates.  RLP membership – RS believes that one member is sufficient to sit on the group. To note that KEH sits on the sub-groups. 3. Finance – Agreement and Guidance for Financial Administration of Funding Received from Welsh Government to Partner Authorities within ERW  MH was in attendance to discuss the above document which had been circulated to all members of the board.  Very important that we get this right and to ensure that we are compliant with Wales Audit Office

Executive Board 16th January 2016 requirements.  Statutory Responsibility on each LA on WESP, regardless that the WEG grant is delegated to LAs directly. It is the legal responsibility of each LA. All 6 LAs across the region are in a totally different place with regard to Welsh Language. Also there are political differences.  BOC to undertake review o WESPS and include in Business Plan.  SLA from FFT for next year – Board agree to BOC to speak to FFT and negotiate a better price, currently not efficient however essential that ERW remain with FFT to provide Headteachers with a further option and would give consistency across Wales.  Date had been agreed for Directors to look at regional formulas. The document currently going through legal and then will go to Joint Committee for agreement.  Internal Audit will be auditing the accounts for ERW. John Haswell had e-mailed all authorities informing them of this. 4 out of the 5 LAs had responded and agreed to this.  MH asked if Directors would go back to their finance officers to thank them for all work undertaken during the audit.  To note that WG were doing spot checks on the Challenge Cymru grant. MH was asked to look at £70,000 worth of invoices for WG spot check, which was impossible due to lack of manpower. GR to take these concerns back to WG. Agreed Actions 2. 2. BOC to undertake a review of WESPS

3. 3. BOC to negotiate a better price with FFT

4. Data Agreement  Data Agreements distributed and information on DEWi provided which falls under the data agreement.  To note that this had gone through the WASPI group.  This is for performance data only with FSM headline. 5. Rewarding Excellence – HR Paper  GJ provided a paper on the Rewarding Excellence programme and gave a verbal update.  Professional Development and Performance Appraisal the main issue of the paper.  Full implementation of this programme would begin in September 2015 following various phases and piloting in certain schools.  To note that MG had piloted this project in his school. Concerns were expressed if the programme was to be implemented this September, possibly looking at delaying or go to pilot in the 2nd or 3rd phase.  Agreement in principal, however extend the timeline to a 3rd phase. Not all schools on the same level, some a lot slower in undertaking and informing staff of initiatives.  GR – synergy of a shared response is a good one, however GJ must be confident that this has been legally passed as this programme is only running in England.  GJ noted that all regions were behind ERW.  ERW is the pilot region in this.  EE to speak to other Lead Directors in the forthcoming ADEW meeting to get them on board with this initiative.  GJ to liaise with WG for feedback. Agreed Actions 4. 4. EE to speak to Directors in ADEW meeting re. the programme.

5. GJ to liaise with Welsh Government for feedback.

The meeting closed at 1.00pm

Date of next meeting: 13th February 2015 Y Llwyfan 9.30 – 12.30

Executive Board 16th January 2016