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There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gareth Jones and Mike Priestley.
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The Leader introduced the Capital Programme Monitoring Reports 2023/2024 and the Strategic Director, Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. The Strategic Director noted that, given the significant additional cost pressure due to rising interest costs, it was important that Members considered whether the existing capital was affordable. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • It was suggested that funded schemes should be prioritised, along with those that would result in long-term savings for the Council. • It was confirmed that a report in respect of the financial implications of the Coastal Risk Management Programme (CRMP) would be presented to the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee in due course. • Whilst previous scores awarded to business cases would be reviewed, consideration would be given to changes in priority and the fact that some scores were awarded a number of years ago. • Future reports would include implications of decisions for Council Staff. • It was confirmed that the reprioritisation of the Capital Programme would be subject to the democratic process, with the final decision being made by Council. • The long-term impact on the revenue budget would be considered. • Advice offered by the Council’s Treasury Advisors was consistent with the general view. The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources would confirm the cost of the Treasury Advisors and circulate the information to Members. • Concern in respect of the risks associated with cuts to rural areas, including the impact on the Welsh language and culture. • In respect of the net addition of £13.285m to the total Capital Programme, it was confirmed that the majority was grant funding that had been committed as part of the CRMP scheme. Recommended to Cabinet: a) That the net addition of £13.285m to the total Capital Programme be approved. b) That the total Capital Programme of £126.344m and the first quarter capital outturn position for 2023/2024 be noted. c) That an instruction be issued to services and budget holders to temporarily pause new capital activity until an exercise is undertaken to assess priorities in light of affordability.
The Leader introduced the Business Planning Framework 2024/2025 and the Strategic Director, Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: · Implications of the additional day’s annual leave awarded to staff included productivity and the need for additional cover. · Work was ongoing in respect of managing the high level of staff absence and it was agreed that the Head of People and Performance would provide an update to Members. · It was confirmed that the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) would be invited to provide a presentation to Members in respect of the funding formula. · Discussions were ongoing between the WLGA and the Welsh Government (WG) in respect of a possible review of the funding formula. · It was suggested that discussions were also required with the UK Government as adequate funding was not provided to the WG. · There had been no indication that the financial shortfall faced by the WG would impact on Local Government finances, however there may be an impact on grant funding. · It was suggested that productivity be considered as part of the budget setting process. · It was requested that pressures faced by the three biggest services (Social Care, Environment, Roads and Facilities and Education) be included within the report. · Whilst it was confirmed that public engagement would take place regarding the Council’s finances, this was not referenced within the Business Planning Framework. Therefore, it was proposed that communication and engagement with the public be included. Recommended to Cabinet: a) That the timetable and process for the Business Planning Framework for 2024/2025 be approved subject to the inclusion of communication and engagement with the public. b) That the scale of the potential funding gap in planning for the 2024/25 budget be noted, whilst accepting that, in the current context, financial planning continues to be extremely difficult.
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