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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED that they had considered the recommendations a) the overall draft 26/27 Budget position. b) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Movements. c) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Cost Pressures. d) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Reductions Proposals. e) the relevant elements of the Fees & Charges proposals. f) the relevant elements of the Multi-year Capital Programme. g) the Budget Engagement Feedback report. 2. To consider the proposal recommended by Cabinet on 13/01/26: a) A draft 26/27 Budget Requirement of £221.493m, resulting in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £7.47 per month for a Band D property (4.75%). (Noting that Ceredigion County Council would receive a grant of £38k towards the cost of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service levy. This would result in a decrease of 0.05% to the overall Council Tax, increase of £7.39 per month for a Band D property (4.7%). 3. To make recommendation(s) for Cabinet to consider on 10/02/26, as the Committee deems appropriate, in relation to the Budget. No further recommendations were made by the Committee for Cabinet to consider.
Councillors John Roberts and Catrin M.S. Davies apologised for their inability to attend the meeting and Carl Worrall apologised for having to leave the meeting at 11.15am.
There were no disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests (including whipping declarations) from Committee Members.
None
Decision as recorded
AGREED that they had considered the recommendations a) the overall draft 26/27 Budget position. b) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Movements. c) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Cost Pressures. d) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Reductions Proposals. e) the relevant elements of the Fees & Charges proposals. f) the relevant elements of the Multi-year Capital Programme. g) the Budget Engagement Feedback report. 2. To consider the proposal recommended by Cabinet on 13/01/26: a) A draft 26/27 Budget Requirement of £221.493m, resulting in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £7.47 per month for a Band D property (4.75%). (Noting that Ceredigion County Council would receive a grant of £38k towards the cost of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service levy. This would result in a decrease of 0.05% to the overall Council Tax, increase of £7.39 per month for a Band D property (4.7%). 3. To make recommendation(s) for Cabinet to consider on 10/02/26, as the Committee deems appropriate, in relation to the Budget. No further recommendations were made by the Committee for Cabinet to consider.
Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council and Councillor Gareth Davies, Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement presented the draft budget report for 2026/2027 to the Committee. Duncan Hall, Executive Corporate Lead Officer, Finance and Procurement then provided an overview of the funding settlement, key budget pressures, the proposed Council Tax increase, key projects contained within the Capital Programme and the significant gap between aspirations and available funding, financial resilience and identified risks. Duncan Hall, also advised Committee Members that: · Employee Pay awards are always a key budget variable, not determined by the Authority. For 26/27 pay awards are assumed to fall back and are estimated to cost c£4.1m. Unions have submitted a pay claim for 26/27 of £3,000 or 10% for every spinal point, 2 hours reduction in working hours per week and 1 additional annual leave day per year. As this point in time no National Employers’ offer had been made. · The largest Budget Reduction / Saving of c£1.6m was due to a reduction in the Employers Contribution rate in relation to the Dyfed Pension Fund. He advised that the latest triennial valuation undertaken by an independent actuary showed that the Ceredigion share of the Pension Fund had assets of c£559m and liabilities of c£429m, thereby meaning there was a surplus of c£130m or 30%. This position meant the Employers Contribution rate could reduce from 14.6% to 12.5% for the next 3 year period. Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions. The main points raised were as follows: • Members enquired whether the Local Government Borrowing Initiative (LGBI) funding to fill potholes could be used for surface-dressing and resurfacing of roads, referring specifically to the A482 between Lampeter and Aberaeron. Officers confirmed that the funding had been used for resurfacing and surface dressing schemes during 2025/26 and that a further programme of surface treatment would take place during the 2026/27 financial year. This investment had enabled Council budgets to be repurposed to hire two jet-patchers, and between the two functions circa 12,000 potholes were repaired during the year (Ceredigion accounted for almost 30% of all potholes repaired or avoided throughout the whole of Wales when the information was shared with Members in October 2025). It was noted that work funded via this scheme and investment from Ceredigion’s capital budget is prioritised, and that the estimated cost of the highways maintenance backlog is circa £56m. Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council noted that Ceredigion County Council has been lobbying the Welsh Government for sustained funding and for recognition within the funding matrix of the additional costs to maintaining rural roads. Officers also confirmed that sections of the A482 were scheduled for resurfacing in 2025-26 however it had been delayed due to the scheduled work by utilities which would have had a significantly detrimental impact upon the newly surfaced road. • Members enquired whether Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water or the local authorities were responsible for clearing drains and gulleys alongside the main roads. Officers noted that each location is unique, and that generally Ceredigion County Council are responsible for the gulleys; however the drainage systems may belong to either. Members were advised to report any concerns via the Clic portal and reminded that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may wish to recommend that additional funding is provided to the service in order to fulfil their aspirations. • Several Members enquired as to concessions for parking fees. It was noted that the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recommended in considering fees and charges for 2025/26, that the fees remain unchanged for two years. The Committee therefore agreed to include parking fees on its forward work programme for an in-depth analysis of various options with costing models in order to present solutions for consideration prior to the 2027/28 budget setting process. Members were also advised that should business and shop-owners wish to bring in their own parking reimbursement schemes that this could be implemented outside of the budget setting process. It was also confirmed that there had been a shortfall in Off street Parking income of just over £200k in 2024/25 (excluding Parking on the Prom) and that this was forecast to fall slightly in 2025/26 to a shortfall of just over £100k. • Members requested an update upon budgeting considerations for parking charges on the Promenade in Aberystwyth. Officers confirmed that a contactor was on site and that it was anticipated that it would be in place by Easter, and that a target of £500k had been set for the 2026/27 financial year (being £400k in the existing 25/26 Budget and an additional £100k being included in the proposed 26/27 budget). • Members enquired as to the dredging schedules for the Ceredigion Harbours - specifically the ongoing dredging costs and the overspend on the Aberaeron Coastal Defence Scheme. Duncan Hall, Executive Corporate Lead Officer, Finance and Procurement confirmed that the Coastal Defence Scheme was a one-off capital project and as such the projected overspend would not affect the 2026/27 budget. He noted that the financial situation was fluid with all avenues being explored so that not all of the overspend would fall on the Council, and it was anticipated that the situation would crystalise and be reported within the 2025/26 financial year-end reports. It was also noted that the Coastal Defence Scheme in Aberaeron safeguarded circa 200 properties from flooding, and it was also confirmed that harbours are dredged on a needs basis rather than to a specified schedule. The dredging cost was noted as being a cost to the Service’s budget. • Members noted that the sea-defence work in Borth is working well however there are 2 areas of concern where reprofiling may be required. It was also noted that the projected cost for the Aberystwyth Coastal Defence Scheme was circa £27m, and that Ceredigion’s contribution towards this was estimated to be around £4m. As such, Ceredigion County Council would need to set aside funds over a number of years in order to establish a reserve for its contribution to the scheme and to plan for future needs. This was highlighted as one example of why the £1m item was being included in the proposed 26/27 Budget to start providing match funding for key upcoming Capital projects. • Members enquired as to the income generated from utility companies for emergency and planned road closures, noting that a recent workshop held with the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency had identified that they experienced similar frustrations to those experienced by Ceredigion County Council. The Chair of the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee confirmed that the utility companies had been sent an invitation to attend a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the challenges relating to road closures. • Members enquired as to the long-term sustainability of the grant funding which had facilitated the continued provision of the Rhydeinon Household Waste Site. Duncan Hall, Executive Corporate Lead Officer, Finance and Procurement noted that the ethos behind this scheme was to effectively tax manufacturers that produce packaging that’s not particularly recyclable. Over time, as more packaging becomes more recyclable, the level of tax would reduce, and therefore the grant income available would also reduce. He also noted that this was an UK wide scheme, however it had been confirmed on the previous Friday that Welsh Government had become involved with the distribution of the funding and there was a change in methodology for Wales. As such, a prudent approach to the budget would be required and the latest position would need to be understood in more detail before considerations could be made. • Members enquired whether there was potential to increase income generation from outdoor and pavement trading areas. Officers noted that the service was in the process of inviting tenders and promoting opportunities, with an increased target of circa £100k for 2026/27 across all street licences and events. Councillor Bryan Davies, Leader of the Council noted that the Council should proceed with caution in order to ensure that these businesses did not have a significant impact upon other established businesses in the area. • Members enquired as to the cost / benefit of hiring or purchasing equipment. They were reminded that a report on this matter had been presented to the Committee in December 2025. • A Member asked how the Council could ensure more boats start using Aberaeron Harbour. There was a discussion around the current negativity and views were echoed that Businesses in the town were already seeing the benefit from the Aberaeron Coast Protection Scheme. Therefore the wider economic benefits and the number of visitors using the new Breakwater and then spending time in the town were plain to see. There was a conclusion that the positive aspects of the scheme need to be emphasised more. Finally, it was noted that the fee for hire of County Hall, Aberaeron may need to be removed from the current listing of fees and charges Committee’s recommendation: Following discussion, Committee Members AGREED that they had considered the recommendations a) the overall draft 26/27 Budget position. b) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Movements. c) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Cost Pressures. d) the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Reductions Proposals. e) the relevant elements of the Fees & Charges proposals. f) the relevant elements of the Multi-year Capital Programme. g) the Budget Engagement Feedback report. 2. To consider the proposal recommended by Cabinet on 13/01/26: a) A draft 26/27 Budget Requirement of £221.493m, resulting in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £7.47 per month for a Band D property (4.75%). (Noting that Ceredigion County Council would receive a grant of £38k towards the cost of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service levy. This would result in a decrease of 0.05% to the overall Council Tax, increase of £7.39 per month for a Band D property (4.7%). 3. To make recommendation(s) for Cabinet to consider on 10/02/26, as the Committee deems appropriate, in relation to the Budget. No further recommendations were made by the Committee for Cabinet to consider.
It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 17.12.25. Matters arising: None.
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