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 minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 November 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 27 October 2025 be noted.
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 Audit Wales Information Governance (Arrangements for Managing Freedom of Information Requests) report and action plan be referred to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content had been acknowledged and that proactive steps had been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Abdul Khan, Trystan Lewis and Andrew Wood.
None.
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 3 November 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 November 2025 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 November 2025 be approved and signed as a correct record.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 27 October 2025 be noted.
The minutes of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 27 October 2025 were submitted. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee held on 27 October 2025 be noted.
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.
Members were presented with the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP. 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 Culture, Leisure and Governance Services introduced the Performance Self-Assessment, April to September 2025 and the Strategy, Performance and Engagement Manager highlighted key points from within the report. The Performance Self-Assessment provided a mid-year analysis of progress and challenges with key performance objectives and governance areas. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Whilst staff sickness absence had improved, the use of agency staff did not appear to have decreased. - The figures may reflect a delay in data processing. - Agency staff were utilised within Waste Services due to on-going difficulties in recruitment and retention. - It was suggested that additional staff were required within Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) such as street cleaning staff who could also provide cover for refuse collections. - A bank of casual staff could be explored. - The Strategy, Performance and Engagement Manager would provide an update on the use of agency staff to Members via e-mail. • The rising cost of living was a national issue impacting residents' ability to pay Council Tax. - The Welsh Government (WG) was reviewing the support available for individuals experiencing financial hardship. • It was queried how many prosecutions and fines had come about as a result of the CCTV provision. - It was suggested that a report could be requested via a Scrutiny topic selection form. • Further details were requested in respect of fly-tipping, such as the scale of the problem, repeat offenders and associated costs. - It was suggested that a report could be requested via a Scrutiny topic selection form. • It was confirmed that work was ongoing in relation to re-introducing concerts and events at Parc Eirias. • It was confirmed that there were inconsistencies in data capture in respect of safeguarding training completion rates. • Members would receive a response to a query regarding the former Civic Offices, Colwyn Bay, which had been vacant since its sale in 2021. • In response to a suggestion that spend on home to school transport was too high, it was confirmed that a business case had been submitted in respect of a travel trainer who would work with families to encourage independent travel. - An appeals process was in place, including one for those users with disabilities. It was confirmed that financial details, together with other benefits of amalgamation were included within reports outlining proposed school amalgamations. • Consideration was being given to the development of a training hotel in Llandudno as part of the North Wales Growth Deal’s 'Academi Croeso' tourism campus initiative. • An update on Destination Conwy was presented annually to the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee. - Corporate Joint Committees would have their own scrutiny arrangements. - Work was ongoing in respect of the Gwynedd and Eryri Sustainable Visitor Economy Strategy and there would be opportunities to raise views in respect of Conwy. • The Strategy, Performance and Engagement Manager would provide an update to Members on the annual number of apprenticeships offered and their target cohorts. • The increase in negative media sentiment had been related to a variety of factors including change in leadership. • Capacity issues within specific service areas was highlighted in the report, along with a list of hard-to-recruit positions. - Mitigating actions had been put in place alongside recruitment efforts. • It was confirmed that child protection conferences had not always been held within timescales due to parental availability. • Capacity constraints were the reason for the low number of adopted Place Plans in towns within Conwy County. - Promoting the benefits of Place Plans would continue. • Concerns were raised that educational performance was not being adequately measured. - It was noted that there had been challenges in recent years in terms of what councils were permitted to publish on school standards and an absence of consistent, benchmarkable data. - Conwy had a good Estyn profile. - Outcomes relating to the new curriculum could be measured via exam results. - Positive outcomes for pupils also related to personal development. - A school progress report would be presented to the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee in February 2026. - WG were developing a national data framework. • A new School Attendance Policy had been adopted. - The allowance of 10 sessions of unauthorised absence per term was WG policy. - The Council had implemented an internal monitoring process along with an attendance dashboard. - Whilst school attendance had improved, it was recognised that further work was required. • It was confirmed that data from the County Conversation survey would be included within the next Performance Self-Assessment update. - Staff survey responses had not yet been reviewed. • Consideration would be given to facilitating home adaptations for illnesses such as motor neurone disease. • Disappointment was expressed in relation to the deferral of the West Conwy Health Centre by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) until 2028/2029. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: That the Performance Self-Assessment, April to September 2025 be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning introduced a report on the Local Government Budget 2026/2027 and the Strategic Director, Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. The report set out the current information relating to the ongoing budgetary process and forthcoming process to set a balanced budget for 2026/2027 in March 2026. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • Large Council Tax increases placed considerable strain on residents. • The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) were lobbying Welsh Government (WG) in relation to the withholding of funds for Local Authorities. - Representatives from different political parties, as well as Local Authority Chief Executives, were engaged in discussions. - Nine Local Authorities had received the minimum financial uplift in the indicative settlement. - The Leader had met with the Minister for Finance, Mark Drakeford MS, and would hold further discussions with Leaders of other rural authorities. • The need to set realistic budgetary estimates. • Whilst some services were not statutory, there was an expectation that they be delivered by the Local Authority. • It would be challenging to identify further efficiency savings. • Despite no plans to do so, the current position would warrant a Council Tax increase of approximately 16.75%. - It was confirmed that forthcoming savings proposals would incorporate the results of recent work undertaken to review fees and charges. - Opportunities to maximise various grant income sources would be explored further. • It was confirmed that measures had been implemented to manage the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) waiting list, ensuring the safety of those awaiting assessment. • It was suggested that the proposed settlement implicitly encouraged the Council to raise Council Tax. • It was suggested that a media campaign for residents be considered to keep them informed of the Council’s financial situation. - The Leader would be producing information videos for the public and had set up an e-mail address for residents to share their views. - Residents would be encouraged to contact WG to air their views regarding the budget. RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the outline budgetary position for 2026/2027 ahead of the draft Local Government settlement be noted. b) That the risks identified in Appendix 1 (section 7) of the report be noted and accepted.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Audit Wales Information Governance (Arrangements for Managing Freedom of Information Requests) report and action plan be referred to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content had been acknowledged and that proactive steps had been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regulatory and Audit introduced an Audit Wales report on arrangements for managing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and the Head of Audit and Procurement highlighted key points from within the report. Audit Wales had carried out a review of Commissioning Services in Conwy and following protocol, the report and responding action plan was shared with the relevant Scrutiny Committee prior to consideration by the Governance and Audit Committee. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • It was confirmed that the action plan had identified the need to collate and analyse regular FOI request topics and provide information on the Council’s website. • Responding to FOI’s was a legal requirement mandated by the Information Commissioner’s Office. • It was suggested that improved information sharing with Senedd Members could reduce the need for them to submit FOI requests. • Improvements to Information Governance capacity could be achieved through the action plan, which would be monitored by the Strategic Leadership Team. RESOLVED: That the Audit Wales Information Governance (Arrangements for Managing Freedom of Information Requests) report and action plan be referred to the Governance and Audit Committee, to provide assurance that the content had been acknowledged and that proactive steps had been made to address the recommendations included within the report.
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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