Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2022 and 5 December 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Informal Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
RESOLVED- a) That an update be provided to the Finance and Recourses Overview and Scrutiny Committee, on 20 February 2023, by the Chair of the Asset Management Task and Finish Group in respect of the future remit and makeup of the group. b) That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kay Redhead, Stephen Price, Nigel Smith and Aaron Wynne.
Whilst not declared at this point in the meeting, Councillor Harry Saville declared an interest in Agenda Item 9i) Local Government Provisional Settlement and Indicative Budget 2023/2024, in respect of discussions regarding home to school transport, as Councillor Saville’s mother in law owned a company that was used by Conwy County Borough Council for home to school transport. As the interest was prejudicial, Councillor Saville left the meeting whilst this matter was discussed.
The Chair extended her condolence to the family of Brian Bibby, a member of Social Care staff, who had recently passed away. Mr Bibby had been an extremely hard working and dedicated member of the team and would be greatly missed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2022 and 5 December 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2022 and 5 December 2022 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2022 and 5 December 2022 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Informal Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
The minutes of the Informal Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs meeting held on 20 December 2022 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Informal Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
The minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 20 December 2022 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 20 December 2022 be noted.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- a) That an update be provided to the Finance and Recourses Overview and Scrutiny Committee, on 20 February 2023, by the Chair of the Asset Management Task and Finish Group in respect of the future remit and makeup of the group. b) That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer presented Members with the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP. The following changes were highlighted: · Reports relating to Dinerth Road had been removed from the FWP; the Programme Board would now consider an options appraisal and a review of the actual scope of the programme. Once this had been undertaken, a revised programme would be scheduled on the FWP. · As requested, progress reports from the Workwise Project had been scheduled for April, August and December 2023. · Reports on the Brickworks site and the establishment of a Housing and Homelessness Programme Brief had been scheduled for 20 February 2023. Members raised the following: • It was suggested that the Budget Working Group be listed within the FWP. - In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits advised that following completion of the budget setting process, in March, 2023, the Budget Working Group would be arranged on a more formal basis. • An update was requested in respect of the Asset Management Task and Finish Group. - The Chair of the Task and Finish Group advised that he was meeting with relevant Officers, the Leader and Deputy Leader to discuss how to proceed. - Concern was raised that matters would not be considered by a politically balanced group. - Members were reminded that the Committee had previously resolved that discussions take place with the Chair of the Asset Management Task and Finish Group, the County Valuer and Asset Manager, Leader and Deputy Leader in order to agree on how to proceed with the Asset Management Task and Finish Group. - Concern was also raised that decisions may be taken regarding the Council’s assets, such as Bodlondeb, without Member input. - The Chief Executive assured Members that no decisions would be taken without Member input and that an update would be reported to democracy in due course. - Discussions regarding assets would also be undertaken at the Budget Working Group. - It was suggested that school assets be considered as part of the Task and Finish Group. - In response, the Cabinet Member for Education advised that the Social Care and Education Capital Programme Board considered school assets. In addition, there were statutory regulations relating to school closures. • An update was requested regarding Corporate Joint Committees (CJC) and the transfer of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) to the North Wales CJC. - The Chief Executive advised that CJC’s had been established under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. - CJCs would have responsibility for strategic development planning, regional transport planning and promoting the economic well-being of their area. - The transfer of the NWEAB was ongoing, and due to several complexities, not much progress had been made. A report would be presented in due course. - Each CJC had its own Section 151 officer, Monitoring Officer and Chief Executive. - Clarification was awaited in respect of scrutiny and Standards Committee arrangements. RESOLVED- a) That an update be provided to the Finance and Recourses Overview and Scrutiny Committee, on 20 February 2023, by the Chair of the Asset Management Task and Finish Group in respect of the future remit and makeup of the group. b) That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits introduced the Local Government Provisional Settlement and Indicative Budget 2023/2024. The report presented the indicative budget for 2023/2024 following the announcement of the Local Government Provisional Settlement on 14 December 2022. It was noted that the Council’s budget included the levy for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and that the levy was subject to a 9.9% increase in 2023/2024. The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources highlighted the following points from the report: · The Aggregate External Finance (AEF) allocated to Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) within the provisional settlement was £198.413 million. The average increase across Wales was 7.9%, whereas CCBC had seen an increase of 7.3% (compared on a like for like basis) which was sixteenth in ranking across Wales. - In actual cash terms, the AEF of £198.413m was £15.102m (8.24%) more than the £183.311m received in AEF for 2022/23. - £1.307m of the additional funding was specifically to cover the borrowing costs of the two approved Coastal Risk Management Programme schemes. (Colwyn Bay Waterfront Project Phase 2 and Penrhyn Bay). - The additional monies to support CCBC pressures was therefore £13.795m. · CCBC had lost out in the settlement (£1.373m) as a result of demographic changes following the 2021 census data and it was likely that a further reduction would be made in 2024/2025. · As a result of world events and economic conditions, inflation rose steeply from Spring 2022, which had resulted in the budget being under considerable financial pressure in 2022/2023; the budget was currently forecast to be overspent by approximately £10m, as a result of pay, inflation and service pressures. - Much of the pressure was ongoing and would continue into 2023/2024 and beyond. - The latest estimated resource shortfall for 2023/2024 was £21.528 million. · The high level list of revenue business cases (included within Appendix 3 of the report) represented unavoidable costs and service pressures, which had been rigorously challenged. · The vast majority of the additional budget demand supported front facing services (£20.006m out of a total £20.293m). · Following approval of the budget planning framework and in light of the financial outlook, the Leader and Portfolio Holders, had given a strategic steer for services to plan for budget reductions of up to 10%. - Following the announcement of the provisional settlement and confirmation of additional funding for both Education and Social Care, the Leader and Portfolio Holders, reduced the planning assumption for Education and Social Care down to 5%. - If all budget reductions were realised, a saving of £12.227m would be achieved. · CCBC held the lowest level of reserves and balances across Wales. - The pandemic and economic conditions had highlighted how important it was to maintain balances to protect the Authority when unforeseen events occurred. · For 2023/2024, Welsh Government (WG) had only assumed a Band D Council Tax rate of £1,466.20 which was a 1% increase on the 2022/2023 standard spending for council tax. - Given the low increase in the Council Tax assumption, it was highly unlikely that CCBC would remain in an underfunded position, for Council Tax, in 2023/2024. - Table 9 (included within Appendix 1 of the report) set out options in respect of Council Tax increases of 10%, 12.5% and 15%. - CCBC had around 55,800 dwellings subject to Council Tax, of which around 21,400 were subject to a single person discount and around 10,500 households were in receipt of the Council Tax reduction scheme. · CCBC continued to face significant shortfalls in 2024/2025 and would need to act on the strategic considerations set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy once the 2023/2024 budget had been set, in order to find the level of savings that would be required to balance the budget in future years. · Risks associated with the indicative budget for 2023/2024 were highlighted. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: · The Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits advised that options to pay for Council Tax over an 11 or 12 month period were being explored, as opposed to the current 10 month period as this would reduce monthly payments. · It was requested that Members be provided with information in respect of affordability issues for Council Tax Payers, along with the impact of a Council Tax increase in respect of arrears and collection costs. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that a report published by the House of Commons in December 2022, which set out the impact on households could be appended to the final budget report, and information on the impact of Council Tax increases on the collection rate and arrears could also be provided. - It was suggested that data be requested from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB). · It was suggested that the way in which services were delivered should be reviewed and delivered in a more efficient manner that would justify a Council Tax increase. - In response, the Leader advised that £70m of savings had been made over the last 10 years and that services continued to be delivered. · Concern was raised in respect of the increase in the levy paid to the North Wales Fire Authority and it was queried whether the increase could be rejected. - In response, the Leader confirmed that the original proposal had been 14%, however a levy of 9.9% had been agreed. - In future, discussions were required at an earlier stage with CCBC and the Fire Authority working together. - It was noted that the Council could not reject the levy as it had now been agreed. · It was queried as to whether Social Care budget cuts would impact upon the delivery of statutory responsibilities. - In response, the Head of Service - Integrated Adult and Community Services advised that savings that had been identified were realistic and did not impact on the Council’s statutory duties. - Social Care was facing additional pressures due to the impact of actions taken by the Health Board. - The Cabinet Member for Integrated Adult and Community Services advised that CCBC was working closely with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) in order to provide packages of care that would free up bed spaces within hospitals. - The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Safeguarding advised that Social Workers were aware of statutory responsibilities, however, areas such as placements for children looked after were difficult to pre-empt due to a constant fluctuation in numbers. · It was requested that Council Tax increases of 5% and 7.5% be considered. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that 1% of Council Tax equated to £662,000, therefore if an increase of 5% was considered, the shortfall would increase by £3m. · Information was requested in respect of proposals to reduce home to school transport costs. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that a business case had been submitted to address inflationary pressures. - Work was ongoing in respect of driving down spending. - The Cabinet Member for ERF – infrastructure advised that a group had been established to review home to school transport. - Non-statutory routes, hazardous routes and distances from schools were being considered. · In respect of funding provided by the WG for Council Tax, it was queried as to whether the issue of underfunding was likely to be resolved. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that for 2023/2024 WG had increased the Council Tax assumption by 1%. - It was confirmed that following the setting of Council Tax for 2023/2024 CCBC would no longer be underfunded in respect of Council Tax. · Reference was made to the requirement of setting a balanced budget. - The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources confirmed that CCBC was required, by law, to set a balanced budget. - If a balanced budget was not set then a Section 114 (S114) notice would be issued, which would result in pausing all non-statutory Council activities. - A S114 had been considered, however this was no longer likely. - Council Tax increases and budget cuts would be higher than anticipated. • It was suggested that Members should consider budget reductions in respect of democratic/Member costs, in line with budget reduction imposed on other services. - There was some flexibility in respect of the number of Cabinet Member posts and the number of Scrutiny Committees. - The Cabinet Member for Democracy and Governance advised that Member salaries were determined by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) and that not accepting the full salary was an individual decision. - The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Council currently received a salary, however as the Vice-Chair was also the Chair of a Scrutiny Committee, this represented a saving. - Officers were not asked to take a cut in salary as part of budget reductions and it was suggested that the salary paid to Members helped to attract a younger and more diverse demographic. - The Democratic Services Committee considered IRPW recommendations on an annual basis. - Committees were appointed at Council on an annual basis. - Concern was raised in respect of the proposals for an additional 40 Members of the Senedd which was not in line with the cuts faced by Local Authorities. . The following recommendations were proposed and seconded: • That the overall shortfall of £21.528m be noted and that it be acknowledged that only essential and unavoidable business cases be submitted. • That the Council Tax increase be kept as low as possible. • That further information be provided on how schools will meet the proposed budget reductions and the implications of the reductions. • That lines 5 and 6 of the risk table (table 12) within appendix 1 of the report be amended to include risks to schools. • That the assumptions relating to pay pressures as outlined in paragraphs 5.7 to 5.15 of the report, which had been adopted in preparing the indicative budget be noted and approved. Following a vote it was: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the overall shortfall of £21.528m be noted and that it be acknowledged that only essential and unavoidable business cases will be submitted. b) That the Council Tax increase be kept as low as possible. c) That further information be provided on how schools will meet the proposed budget reductions and the implications of the reductions. d) That lines 5 and 6 of the risk table (table 12) within appendix 1 of the report be amended to include risks to schools. e) That the assumptions relating to pay pressures as outlined in paragraphs 5.7 to 5.15 of the report, which have been adopted in preparing the indicative budget be noted and approved. Note: Councillor Harry Saville declared an interest in the above item, in respect of discussions regarding home to school transport, as Councillor Saville’s mother in law owned a company that was used by Conwy County Borough Council for home to school transport. As the interest was prejudicial, Councillor Saville left the meeting whilst this matter was discussed.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.