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 meetings of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 May 2023 and 5 June 2023 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 22 May 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 15 May 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 23 May 2023 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP be approved.
RESOLVED: a) That a report be presented to a future meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Parc Eirias 3G pitch and associated costs. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: b) That the net addition of £11.680m to the 2022/2023 capital programme be approved. c) That the final capital outturn position for 2022/2023 of £49.790m, which includes advance spending of £1.174m relating to 2023/2024 budgeted capital schemes be noted. d) That the remaining 2022/2023 capital programme of £41.363m be carried forward and added to the 2023/2024 capital programme. e) That the concerns highlighted by the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources in relation to the affordability of the capital programme be noted.
RESOLVED: a) That the Brickwork End of Programme report be noted. b) That the progress on the Brickworks site be noted. c) That progress on the Waste Transfer Station Project be presented to the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13 and 14, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RESOLVED: That the general update on the Brickworks site and Waste Transfer Station Project be noted. (Note: The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer left the meeting whilst this item was being discussed, as she knew one of the site tenants)
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Andrew Wood and Jenny Williams (Strategic Director – Social Care and Education)
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 May 2023 and 5 June 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 May 2023 and 5 June 2023 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 May 2023 and 5 June 2023 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 22 May 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the Informal Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs held on 22 May 2023 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Informal Meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Vice-Chairs held on 22 May 2023 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 15 May 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee meeting held on 15 May 2023 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 15 May 2023 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 23 May 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 23 May 2023 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 23 May 2023 be noted.
Councillor Harry Saville asked the Leader the following question: Commenting on Conwy County Borough Council’s applications to the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) for Aberconwy and Clwyd West constituencies, the Chief Executive, Rhun ap Gareth, advised the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee that “Update reports will be coming as a matter of course” (4th July 2022) and advised Council that he was “quite sure that, as part of the process of this application, that updates will be provided to scrutiny as to the journey of this application” (14th July 2022). Will the Leader explain why no updates have been provided almost a year later? The Leader provided the following response: A scrutiny topic selection form had been submitted regarding feedback on both LUF Bids. The Leader apologised that a report on the LUF for Aberconwy and Clwyd West constituencies had not been provided sooner and advised that a report would be presented as soon as possible. Members were advised that a report was presented to the Conwy Opportunities Board on the 22 June, 2023. The minutes of the meeting were being translated and would be available for the next Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Leader had been invited to attend the Local Area Forum (LAF) – Central to provide an update on the Parc Eirias bid and would be happy to attend any LAF as required UK Government had confirmed that there would be a third round of the LUF with £1.1bn of funding available. No information had been shared regarding the priorities and criteria and it was unknown whether funding would be allocated to areas that had been unsuccessful. The Leader had met with David Jones MP and had voiced concerns in respect of the lack of information. The MP subsequently wrote to the Under Secretary of State and would inform the Leader once any further information was available. The 31 March 2025 delivery date was challenging and no indication had been made as to whether this would be extended. Officers were also working to deliver Shared Prosperity Fund projects. In line with the protocol, Councillor Saville asked a supplementary question as follows: The Leader and the Chief Executive had been invited to the LAF – North to provide an update on the LUF bids. The LAF were informed on 21 March, 2023 that they would not attend, as no feedback had been received. However, Councillor Saville had received correspondence indicating that feedback was received by Conwy County Borough Council on 10 March 2023. Reassurance was sought from the Leader that engagement would take place with Members in respect of the round 3 bids as soon as possible. In response, the Leader advised that he was unsure of the exact date that feedback was received and apologised if there had been an oversight on his behalf. The Leader indicated that he would be happy to attend the LAF – North in order to discuss LUF bids. Assurance was provided that engagement would take place with Members at the earliest opportunity.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP 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: • As requested by Council, the next meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been moved from 7 August, 2023 to 21 August 2023. • A report on the Hybrid Working Policy would be presented to the Committee in September 2023. RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: a) That a report be presented to a future meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Parc Eirias 3G pitch and associated costs. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: b) That the net addition of £11.680m to the 2022/2023 capital programme be approved. c) That the final capital outturn position for 2022/2023 of £49.790m, which includes advance spending of £1.174m relating to 2023/2024 budgeted capital schemes be noted. d) That the remaining 2022/2023 capital programme of £41.363m be carried forward and added to the 2023/2024 capital programme. e) That the concerns highlighted by the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources in relation to the affordability of the capital programme be noted.
The Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits introduced a report on the outturn position for the Capital Programme 2022/2023 and the Strategic Director, Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. The Strategic Director advised Members of her concerns as to the affordability of the Capital Programme for 2023/2024 due to the increase in interest rates and the impact on borrowing costs and the revenue budget. A report would be presented to the next meeting providing further detail as to the costs associated with delivery of the programme. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted: • That caution should be exercised in respect of capital spend and additional borrowing costs. • It was confirmed that additional expenditure had been committed to the School’s Private Finance Initiative, which was an annual adjustment and that additional finances, which had been earmarked, were provided for the Financial Ledger Project. • It was recognised that a strategic approach was required in respect of Council assets, which would be addressed as part of the medium term financial plan and budget working groups. • It was confirmed that, of the net addition of £11.680m to the 2022/2023 Capital Programme, £1.152m was Capital Reserves and that 15% of the Coastal Risk Management Programme would incur borrowing costs. The remainder of the additions were funded from grant monies or other external funding. · Concern in relation to unsupported borrowing that had been approved during the last two years. • Concern was raised that, although the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid for Parc Eirias had not been successful, a commitment had been made to install a new 3G pitch without the submission of a separate business case. • The benefits of a 3G pitch were highlighted which included lower maintenance costs and the ability to generate additional income because of increased availability of the 3G pitch and other pitches on the Eirias complex. It was proposed that a report be provided to Members in relation to the Parc Eirias 3G pitch and associated costs. RESOLVED: a) That a report be presented to a future meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the Parc Eirias 3G pitch and associated costs. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: b) That the net addition of £11.680m to the 2022/2023 capital programme be approved. c) That the final capital outturn position for 2022/2023 of £49.790m, which includes advance spending of £1.174m relating to 2023/2024 budgeted capital schemes be noted. d) That the remaining 2022/2023 capital programme of £41.363m be carried forward and added to the 2023/2024 capital programme. e) That the concerns highlighted by the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources in relation to the affordability of the capital programme be noted.
The Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits introduced a report on the Financial Outturn 2022/2023 and the Strategic Director, Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. Thanks were extended to Officers for their hard work in reducing the overspend, as the final outturn position was more favourable than was forecast. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted: • Due to the difficult financial situation there should be a focus on delivering essential services. • It was confirmed that as borrowing costs had increased since the beginning of the Coastal Risk Management Programme (CRMP), Welsh Government funding would no longer be adequate to cover 85% of the costs for current schemes; it was intended to take this up with Welsh Government in relation to current and future schemes. • It was confirmed that other than Schools, interest accrued on reserves was not added to reserves, the benefits instead were realised in the revenue budget. • It was confirmed that the 2022/2023 Capital Programme would not incur any revenue costs until 2023/2024 and that the budget for 2023/2024 included assumptions, which factored in Minimum Revenue Provision and interest, however there would be future costs relating to interest rates. • Information on reserves and balances would be included within a future report. This would include proposals on the level of general balances that the Council should aim to hold. • Additional details regarding the use of school reserves would be included within this future report. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the report reflecting the final revenue outturn position for 2022/2023 be noted. b) That it be noted that the General Fund balance as at 31 March 2023 is £4.489m and the overall level of reserves and balances (including the general fund) is £42.892m.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: a) That the Brickwork End of Programme report be noted. b) That the progress on the Brickworks site be noted. c) That progress on the Waste Transfer Station Project be presented to the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.
The Leader introduced the end of programme report for the Brickworks Regeneration Programme and the Project Manager highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, the following was noted: • Disappointment that no employment opportunities had been delivered and that there was no strategic vision for the site. • It was confirmed that following the project closure, work would continue on future development opportunities. RESOLVED: a) That the Brickwork End of Programme report be noted. b) That the progress on the Brickworks site be noted. c) That progress on the Waste Transfer Station Project be presented to the Finance and Resources Scrutiny Committee on a 6 monthly basis.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13 and 14, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 12, 13 and 14, Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the general update on the Brickworks site and Waste Transfer Station Project be noted. (Note: The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer left the meeting whilst this item was being discussed, as she knew one of the site tenants)
The Principal Property Manager provided Members with an update on the Brickworks site. Discussions included the following: • Valuation of the site. • Site tenants. • Potential use for the site. Thanks and well wishes were extended to the Principal Property Manager who would shortly be leaving his post with Conwy County Borough Council. RESOLVED: That the general update on the Brickworks site and Waste Transfer Station Project be noted. (Note: The Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer left the meeting whilst this item was being discussed, as she knew one of the site tenants)
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.