Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 August 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 14 and 16, 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.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Frank Bradfield.
Whilst not declared at this point in the meeting, Councillor Gareth Jones declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 11i) (Mochdre Commerce Park – update) as his daughter works for the law firm representing Conwy County Borough Council. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Jones remained in the meeting whilst the matter was discussed and voted upon.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 August 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 August 2025 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 August 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme 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: · A report on the cost of employing agency and temporary workers within schools for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 would be presented to the meeting on 20 October 2025. · Proposed amendments to the Expenses Policy would also be presented to the meeting on 20 October 2025. RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined forward work programme be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Service Change introduced the Corporate Resilience Strategy 2025-2030 and the Chief Executive highlighted key points from within the report. The strategy outlined a programme and workstreams, which aimed to support significant financial and capacity challenges. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Members were supportive of funding two fixed term research posts, which would support resilience and savings within the Council. - Whilst it was suggested that a Council Tax increase be considered to fund the posts in future, it was also noted that Council Tax increases had a significant impact on residents. - It was suggested that consideration be given to making the posts permanent. • It was confirmed that capital receipts would be utilised to drive resilience and that this approach had been endorsed by the Welsh Government (WG). • Figures in respect of projected savings relating to the Corporate Resilience Strategy would form part of the Medium-Term Financial Plan. - Not all benefits would be financial, with improved capacity and governance being an important factor. - The use of the magic notes application could realise savings of £250,000 and improve resilience. - The research posts would identify savings opportunities. - It was suggested that a budget could be made available to services for spend to save initiatives. • Other work was taking place that was not included within the Resilience Strategy, which included support for the elderly. • A suggestion that the Financial Management workstream should include data management and that the Customer and Democracy workstream should include communities. - Resilience would be an ongoing issue and consideration would be given to providing a longer term vision. - The Resilience Strategy needed to be in line with the Corporate Plan. - Data would allow informed decisions on future savings proposals. - All workstreams were brought together within the strategy, which would continue to be developed. • Accessibility considerations would form part of all proposals in order to ensure that services were available to all residents including the elderly, disabled and those who did not have access to the internet. • A Temporary Workforce Framework was in place and workforce planning was ongoing. • The Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Service Change advised that a significant amount of work had taken place over the last three years whilst the strategy was developed. - Valuable feedback from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Peer Review had formed the basis of the Strategy. • In respect of governance concerns, it was advised that the procurement board was successfully reviewing contracts up to the value of £25,000. - Spend controls had been in place for 12 months. - Overview and Scrutiny would have the opportunity to review the work of the Programme Board. - It was proposed and seconded that the Chair of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and one other non-coalition member be appointed to the Resilience Strategy Programme Board. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the Chair of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee and one other non-coalition member be appointed to the Corporate Resilience Programme Board. b) That the Corporate Resilience Strategy and associated Resilience Programme be approved. c) That an allocation of £135,000 per year for a 2-year period, from capital receipts to fund two fixed term research posts be approved.
The Leader introduced the Business Planning Framework 2026/2027 and the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. The report presented the planned timetable and governance arrangements in relation to the Business Planning Framework for 2026/2027, which would set the budget, together with a high-level indication of the financial outlook for the forthcoming year. Preliminary information from the Welsh Government (WG) suggested that Local Government would receive a 2% increase as the intent was to provide a new incoming government with a funding reserve of approximately £300 million to allocate at its discretion. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: · The Leader would keep Members informed in respect of ongoing meetings with the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). · The provisional Local Government Settlement was expected in November 2025, which was earlier than usual. · The difficult financial situation was recognised. - It was not possible to reduce services further. - If the Welsh Government settlement remained as indicated and the remaining gap were to be met by Council Tax alone, there would need to be a significant increase. · It was suggested that consideration be given to stopping all non-essential spend, including non-discretionary home to school transport, investment in the North Wales Economic Ambition Board and the Communication Strategy. - In response, the Leader advised that following a review of home to school transport, changes had been implemented. - Only a very small percentage of services were not essential, and savings would not be significant enough to reduce council tax. - Local Authorities received less funding than the NHS, but were still required to deliver essential services. - The Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Service Change advised that the Communication Strategy was essential to keep residents informed. - All Members had the opportunity to put forward an alternative budget. · It was suggested that the WG should have increased income tax to protect Council services, including support for disabled residents. · It was also suggested that the closure of small schools would realise long term savings. · It was confirmed that, whilst the projected 2% funding increase from the WG would apply to all public bodies, only Local Authorities had a legal obligation to set a balanced budget prior to the start of the subsequent financial year. · The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources confirmed that last year’s spend compared to budget allocation could be shared within Budget Working Groups and included within future reports. · Whilst not referenced within the report, a public consultation would take place. - A meeting between the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources, the Head of People and Performance and the Strategy, Performance and Engagement Manager would discuss how to improve the consultation process. It was proposed and seconded that a public consultation be carried out in order that feedback from residents can inform decisions. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That subject to a public consultation being undertaken, the timetable and process for the Business Planning Framework for 2026/2027 be approved. b) That the scale of the potential funding gap in planning for the 2026/2027 budget be noted, whilst accepting that, in the current context, financial planning continues to be extremely difficult.
Callum Morrisey, Chair of Conwy Youth Council spoke in favour of the report. The Cabinet Member for Culture, Governance and IT introduced a report, which sought to Co-opt representatives from the Conwy Youth Council to Overview and Scrutiny Committees. The Head of Democratic Services highlighted key points from within the report and set out the different types of Co-opted Members (i.e. statutory and non-statutory). In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Members were supportive of young people having a say on matters affecting their communities and that there was a need to attract a younger demographic to the County. • Safeguarding concerns in respect of Youth Council representatives remaining in the room for exempt items due to the nature of matters being discussed. It was proposed and seconded that: • Youth Council representative attendance for exempt items at the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee be considered on a case-by-case basis. • Youth Council representatives should not be in attendance for exempt items considered at the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Following a vote it was RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: a) That a representative of the Youth Council be co-opted without voting rights as a member of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. b) That the co-opted representative of the youth council should not take part as a member of the committee where the matter under discussion is an exempt item under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
The Cabinet Member for Culture, Governance and IT introduced the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report 2024/2025 and the Scrutiny and Committee Services Officer highlighted key points from within the report. The report provided an overview of the scrutiny function in Conwy County Borough Council, as well as the work undertaken by each of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees (O&SCs) during 2024/2025. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: · It was recognised that there was an imbalance in the number of meetings held for each Scrutiny Committee. - Individual O&SCs would have more ownership of their Forward Work Programmes. - Meetings had taken place to set annual Forward Work Programmes for each O&SC. · The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which scrutinised the work of the Conwy and Denbighshire Public Services Board met twice annually. - Minutes and Agendas were available for viewing. - Additional data could be included within future reports to monitor the effectiveness of the committee. RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: That the Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report for 2024/2025 be approved.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 14 and 16, 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.
The Committee went into closed session to discuss the reasons that the item was exempt. RESOLVED: That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 14 and 16, 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.
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.
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