Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
Apologies were received from Cllr Boes and Sarah McGill (Corporate Director, People & Communities).
Cllrs Moultrie, Hopkins, Humphreys and Reid-Jones, Patricia Arlotte and Celeste Lewis declared a personal interest in Item 6 as school governors.
The minutes of the 14th January 2025 meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
Members were provided with context for the scrutiny of the sections of the Council’s draft Corporate Plan 2025–28 and draft Cabinet 2025/26 Budgetary Proposals as they related to the portfolios and directorates within the remit of this Committee, prior to their consideration by Cabinet on 27th February and Council on 6th March. The Chair welcomed Cllr Chris Weaver (Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation & Performance), Chris Lee (Corporate Director, Resources) and Ian Allwood (Head of Finance). The Cabinet Member was invited to make an opening statement, following which Ian Allwood gave a presentation in which he outlined key points in the Corporate Plan and 2025/26 Budgetary Proposals. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; the discussion is summarised below: Members were advised that the allocation for minor repairs to primary and secondary schools came from earmarked reserves and was not a part of the Capital Programme. Members asked about funding for Youth Services from HRA in areas where there are many council properties, and were advised that officers did not believe HRA monies were spent on Youth Services but could confirm if requested to do so by Committee. Members wished to know how the Council could improve the representation of young people’s voices in the budget consultation, and were advised that this was something that was being discussed. Members were advised that last year’s budget consultation had included many controversial service change proposals, and the proposals in this year’s consultation had been fewer and less controversial. It was not concerning therefore that there were fewer responses to this year’s consultation. However, officers are always looking at ways to improve response rates. Members sought more information about the projected deficit in school budgets in March 2026, and were advised that last year the Council had been predicting a £10m deficit in school budgets for March 2025, but that this had not materialised due to additional monies becoming available for teachers’ pay and pension increases. Officers advised that schools are dealing with significant ALN pressures and that a significant number of schools remain in deficit, and that it is therefore prudent to predict a collective deficit for March 2026. Members wished to know whether monies raised by the UK Government’s VAT on private school fees would be ringfenced for education and passed on to local authorities. Officers advised that they were not aware of any announcement regarding ringfenced VAT on private school fees. Members were interested in knowing whether there was a real terms increase in school budgets above what was needed to cover pay awards, and were advised that there was little additional money available. Individual school budgets are determined by a formula that relates the money given to them to the size of the school population. Members discussed compensation for the increase in NI contributions and whether officers anticipated any negative impact from the compensation only covering 85% of the increased costs for directly employed staff. Officers advised that they were awaiting confirmation regarding the scale of compensation for the NI increase, and did not anticipate it becoming available until the summer. They assumed a level of 85% compensation as a matter of prudence. The compensation will be funded by the UK Government and distributed by Welsh Government. Members were advised that the impact of the NI increase was not significant compared to the budgetary gap as a result of the overall settlement being less than required to meet the Council’s commitments. Members were advised that all directorates are trying to control costs and reduce demand where possible, but budgetary planning requires anticipating where costs will grow. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
The Chair welcomed Cllr Ash Lister (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People) and Deborah Driffield (Director of Children’s Services). The Cabinet Member was invited to make an opening statement, in which he outlined the Budgetary Proposals relevant to his portfolio. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; the discussion is summarised below: Members wished to know about the areas of vulnerability resulting from the increasing NI costs, and were advised that officers work closely to ensure contracts are as effective and affordable as possible. The biggest pressures will be in external residential care due to the shape of the market with more children going into residential care. Members were advised that the decision to cease funding the Mind Of My Own app was to avoid entering a new 3-year contract as there is a free alternative available. Officers clarified that the reduction in Therapy Support Services did not mean a reduction in the amount of therapy provided but smarter commissioning of therapy services. Members were informed that funding increases in previous years had allowed Children’s Services to make service changes and that further service changes to improve efficiency, particularly around Early Help services, would be investigated. The lower funding increase this year reflects success in reducing both the number of Children Looked After and spend on agency social work staff. Plans to increase inhouse residential care are expected to have an impact on spending, and officers are still to hear what grants will be available from Welsh Government in relation to eliminating profit from care. Members were assured that all proposals regarding efficiency savings tie in with the Children’s Services Strategy and are achievable. Members discussed the target of 65% of care leavers in categories 2, 3 and 4 who have completed at least three consecutive months of employment, education, or training in the collection year, and were advised about the work being done in Children’s Services to understand and work differently with these young people, and that the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee will be charged with focusing on this group. Members discussed the Young Person’s Gateway and were advised that work is required to understand the needs of the young people affected who are often not ready to make the transition. There is shared interest in other service areas in delivering this work. Members were assured in relation to the Youth Justice Service that the Cabinet Member is confident that the KPI’s sit well with the Youth Justice Board, and informed that the Youth Justice Board will be producing an Annual Plan in the coming months. Members were advised that an Equality Impact Assessment was not required in relation to the Budgetary Proposals because there was no impact on the service. Members asked about the KPI around the percentage of families referred to Family Help, and were advised that Early Help is advertised in a number of ways including by reaching out to schools, and that work is being done to ensure families approach Early Help through the right pathway. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
The Chair welcomed Cllr Sarah Merry (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education), Melanie Godfrey (Director of Education & Lifelong Learning), and Richard Portas (Programme Director of School Organisation Planning). The Cabinet Member was invited to make an opening statement, in which she outlined the Budgetary Proposals relevant to her portfolio. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; the discussion is summarised below: The Chair read out a statement from Imogen Hopkins, Cardiff Foodbank, in which she expressed concern that the proposed increase in the cost of school meals would push families into hardship and increase demand on the Foodbank. The Cabinet Member responded that the increase was in line with inflation and that a review is being undertaken into the school meal service. Members were advised that, in terms of the absence of compensation for the NI increase in relation to commissioned services, the most vulnerable areas would probably be Home to School Transport and out of county costs. Members were informed that the efficiency savings from the Band B 21st Century Schools Programme would be fed into reserves. Members discussed the number of schools in deficit, and were advised that officers are working closely with schools and finance colleagues to help schools work towards balanced budgets. Officers could not say at this stage how many schools would be out of deficit by March 2026 but assured members that only a few schools are struggling. Members were advised that the service review will include a campaign to encourage take up of free school meals, through a social media campaign, marketing, and information sharing through Hubs. Uptake of universal free school meals is growing through word of mouth. Members discussed the development of a city-wide strategy for community-focused schools, based on best practice, and were advised that there were a number of pilots underway in the Southern Arc. Members discussed how a reduction in the number of home-educated pupils could be affected, and were advised that work is underway as part of the ALN review around support to reduce anxiety avoidance. There are many reasons parents choose home education and it is important to address these and make sure parents make the right choices. Members sought clarification around the increasing cost of home to school transport and were advised that it could be attributed to rising cost inflation and growing demand for places. Officers are looking at home to school transport as part of the service review. Members wished to know how the provision of healthy food in schools can be ensured, and were informed that this is why an in line with inflation increase in the cost of school meals had been proposed. It is desirable that school meals, as well as being healthy, should be attractive to children, and the review will have to weigh up cost, quality and choice. Members were keen to hear about a strategy to reduce non-attendance in secondary schools. Officers advised that attendance was improving but was not yet back to pre-Covid levels. Members were advised about work being done to support young people into school, and a strategy review with schools around exclusions and inclusion. Members discussed KPI’s around home education and EOTAS, and were informed about working being done to establish base data and around safeguarding. Members requested an update around school improvement and were advised that clarification had been received from Welsh Government around funding and that discussions were underway with partners. Members discussed home to school transport and were advised that it is being considered as part of the ALN Review. Members discussed the capital investment programme in relation to the former HMRC site at Ty Glas and the Churchlands site, and were advised that both projects will be coming forward this year. Members discussed the equality and diversity training programme and were assured that it would probably include training in unconscious bias. Officers agreed that there was a need to consider the barriers that led to parents choosing elective home education. Officers could not confirm whether there was a link between the number of fixed term exclusions reported and the number of children diagnosed with Additional Learning Needs. Members were advised that officers work closely with health and safety teams to ensure that the number of school closure days related to building issues is not too high. Members were assured that children leaving a school without starting at another are monitored and tracked by the Education Welfare team. Members were assured that the Finance team works closely with schools and their ongoing dialogue mitigates against any financial shocks. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
The Chair welcomed Cllr Peter Bradbury (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People), Melanie Godfrey (Director of Education & Lifelong Learning), and James Healan (Principal Youth Officer, Cardiff Youth Services). The Cabinet Member was invited to make an opening statement, in which he outlined the Budgetary Proposals relevant to his portfolio. Members were invited to ask questions and make comments; the discussion is summarised below: Members were advised that the 5-year strategy would be launched in September. Members wondered how Youth Services would cope if the team were successful in getting more children and young people to engage, and were assured that the service is flexible and adaptable, and that staff transfer from one locality to another as required. Members wished to know whether there was concern at the impact on the service should the increase in NI costs not be fully covered by compensation payments, and were advised that restructuring has made the service more financially resilient; while an increase in core funding would always be welcome, it would be necessary also to look at other service areas. Members discussed the need to get more young people involved in youth organisations and active in music and drama. They were advised that there is a thriving music scene in youth centres, and work is ongoing with third sector partner organisations which play a vital role in music strategy across the city. Members sought further information on the City Centre Youth Hub and were advised that it was a long-term ambition to deliver this in a state of the art new building. Various options are being considered and young people are being consulted. Members were advised that the plan was not considered to contradict the locality model as youth provision is being delivered across the city. Members enquired about priorities for next year’s budget and were advised that it was hope the 5-year strategy would be adequately funded and that Youth Services would be able to play a part in improving school attendance. RESOLVED: That the Chairperson writes to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Committee expressing their comments and observations captured during the way forward.
There were none.
Tuesday 11th March 2025 at 4:30pm.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.