Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 25 January 2023 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.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Sian Grady.
Councillor Cheryl Carlisle declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as a member of her family is in receipt of direct payments. As the interest was considered prejudicial, Councillor Carlisle left the meeting whilst Direct Payments was being discussed. The Vice Chair (Councillor Harry Saville) took over as chair. Councillor Mandy Hawkins declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as her husband works for the Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) Service. Councillor Hawkins was not required to leave the meeting, as no discussion took place regarding ERF staff. Councillor Chris Hughes declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as his son receives 1:1 Teaching Assistant (TA) support. Councillor Hughes was not required to leave the meeting, as no discussion took place regarding TA support. Councillor Goronwy Edwards declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as his son works for the Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) Service and his daughter-in-law works for the Social Care Service. Councillor Edwards was not required to leave the meeting, as no discussion took place regarding staff within ERF and Social Care. Councillor Gareth Jones declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as he is the Chair of the Cartrefi Conwy Board. Councillor Jones was not required to leave the meeting, as no discussion took place regarding Cartrefi Conwy. Councillor Harry Saville declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 i) (Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024), as Councillor Saville’s mother-in-law owns a company that is used by Conwy County Borough Council for home to school transport. As the interest was prejudicial, Councillor Saville left the meeting whilst home to school transport was being discussed.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 25 January 2023 be noted.
The minutes of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 25 January 2023 were submitted. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Conwy Opportunities Board held on 25 January 2023 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.
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: - The meeting scheduled for Monday, 8 May 2023, had been moved to Monday, 22 May, 2023 due to it being a bank holiday for the King’s Coronation. The Office Accommodation Strategy would also be presented to this meeting. - A report relating to Mochdre Commerce Park had been given a provisional date of 3 April 2023. 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 Finance, Revenue and Benefits introduced the Revenue Business Cases and Budget Reductions for the Draft Budget 2023/2024. The report identified options for consideration in determining a strategic direction, which would allow the Council to set a balanced budget in March 2023. The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources highlighted the following points: · Figures within the report assumed that all Business Cases would be supported. · Business Case 1 (National Living Wage – Care Fees) set out a range of options, which were included within table 3 (Appendix 1 of the report). · Business Case 6 (Developing Autism Provision across the Authority) had been withdrawn as grant funding had been received for 2023/2024. · Conwy County Borough Council’s (CCBC) in year Council Tax collection rates have consistently been between 97% and 97.8% over a number of years. - Figures within the report assumed an overall Council Tax collection rate of 98% (to include arrears). - Arrears had increased within the last few years. · It was strongly advised that reserves and balances were not utilised to support the budget. Heads of Service presented their Business Cases. The following was discussed: Residential / Nursing Care Fees • Concern was raised that option C (outlined within appendix 2 of the report) did not include many additional Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) nursing hours. - In response, the Head of Service - Integrated Adult and Community Services advised that option C (Laing and Buisson national benchmarking) was based on national data and did not reflect the needs of Conwy County. - Option B provided additional nursing EMI hours, which reflected the current need and demographic in Conwy. • It was queried whether care providers were supportive of option B (which was outlined within appendix 2 of the report) - In response, the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education advised that care providers favoured option C as Laing and Buisson was a national benchmarking approach. - An annual meeting with care providers in respect of fee setting was imminent. It was hoped that a robust model that was within budget could be achieved. • Concern was raised that Conwy nursing homes required more nursing hours than the national average. - In response, the Head of Service - Integrated Adult and Community Services advised that the proposed care hours was a reflection of the local market. - Conwy County had an ageing population and were facing staffing issues. Domiciliary Care • It was suggested that the £1 mid-year uplift, which was applied in 2022 in order to address fuel costs should be taken into consideration. - In response, the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education advised that option A (outlined within appendix 2 of the report) included the £1 as part of the inflationary uplift. - Option B (outlined within appendix 2 of the report) applied the inflationary uplift on top of the £1 mid-year uplift. - The additional £1 was provided to staff in order to address fuel costs. At this point in the meeting, as the Chair (Councillor Cheryl Carlisle) had declared an interest in Direct Payments and left the meeting, the Vice-Chair took over proceedings. Direct Payments • Concern was raised that care workers paid via direct payments did not always receive pay increases. - In response, the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education advised that the direct payments process was being reviewed. Councillor Cheryl Carlisle returned to the meeting and continued chairing the proceedings. Children, Family and Safeguarding Service • Concern was raised in respect of the costs and implications of utilising placements in England. - In response, the Chair advised that work had begun on the Bwthyn Y Ddol child assessment centre, which would seek to address the issue. Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Teaching Assistants / Hwb Programme / Home Tuition • Reassurance was sought that there was a strategic understanding of the financing of Education and Schools and that reforms, such as amalgamation of schools were being considered. - It was suggested that an independent review of Education finance was required. - In response, the Cabinet Member for Education referenced the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme and advised that some smaller schools had been closed. - The Head of Education Services advised that the number of ALN Teaching Assistants was based on learner requirements and that a lesser number of schools would not reduce the need. • In respect of the Hwb programme, it was queried as to how schools would manage the 30% contribution. - In response, the Head of Education Services advised that the Business Case had been discussed and agreed at the School Budget Forum. • Head Teachers had raised concerns in respect of the pre-existing revenue funding shortfall of £5m alongside the additional 5% of additional cuts. - It was queried as to whether any additional Business Cases would be submitted, particularly in respect of the £5m shortfall. - In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits advised that close working had taken place with schools and the Education Service and that proposed budget cuts for 2023/2024 had been reduced from 10% to 5%. - The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) had indicated that they would undertake a peer review of Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) finances, to include schools and Education. - The Head of Education Services advised that schools had not been encouraged to submit a Business Case in respect of the resource shortfall. - Business Cases had been submitted in respect of pressures that directly affected schools. - The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that it would not be possible to submit further Business Cases as there was a requirement to set the budget for 2023/2024 on 2 March, 2023. - It may be necessary, in exceptional circumstances for some schools to submit an application for a loan. However, due to CCBC’s financial circumstances, licensed deficits would not be encouraged. Home to School Transport • It was suggested that CCBC should utilise their own vehicles as opposed to using private taxi firms in order to cut costs. • In respect of Motability vehicles, it was suggested that parents be encouraged to transport their children to school and that petrol costs could be covered. • It was confirmed that work was taking place in order to review the home to school transport model. • The Cabinet Member for Education advised that the Welsh Government (WG) had recognised home to school transport as an area of concern and had established a Task and Finish Group in order to seek to address the issues. Maintenance of Highway Electrical Assets • It was queried as to why proposed maintenance did not form part of the overall budget for maintenance. - In response, the Head of Neighbourhood Services advised that the maintenance referred to reactive maintenance and monitoring of lighting columns. - A Capital Business Case had been submitted in respect of the replacement of 16,000 columns. Waste Contracts – Indexations • Concern was raised in respect of recycling containers not being suitable for windy weather. - In response, the Head of Neighbourhood Services advised that improved recycling containers were now available and would be considered. - Other Local Authorities had adopted the recycling system used by CCBC. Energy Costs Increase • Energy costs in respect of Coed Pella were requested. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that the cost of energy for 2021/2022 was £185k. - Energy costs were monitored regularly. Disability Sport Officer • Concern was raised that CCBC were meeting the shortfall following the withdrawal of funding from Disability Sport Wales. Principal Play Officer • Further information was requested in respect of the risk that CCBC would fail to meet its statutory responsibilities. - The Head of Economy and Culture advised that Community and Voluntary Support Conwy (CVSC) had previously been commissioned to deliver the service; however, this was now delivered by CCBC. - Information in respect of the risk of failing to deliver statutory requirements would be circulated to Members. Temporary Accommodation and associated homelessness pressures. • It was suggested that the only viable solution in respect of homelessness was to build houses. • It was queried as to whether the WG funding for homelessness, that had been transferred to reserves, would be utilised. - In response, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that the transfer of money had been a technical accounting adjustment for an advance payment for a block booking of emergency accommodation. - The underlying budget remained the same. · Details were requested in respect of the costs of security within Bed and Breakfasts (B&B). - In response, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory advised that security was no longer required at B&Bs. - Security was provided at three temporary accommodation sites, one of which would cease shortly. Security for the remaining two sites had been paid for from an accommodation budget and a WG grant. - The need for security continued to reduce following the Covid-19 pandemic. Replacement of Lost Income for Enforcement Team · It was queried whether income generated could be utilised to address the shortfall. - In response, the Head of Finance advised that enforcement activity had been paused during the Covid-19 pandemic and that enforcement had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Members discussed the following in respect of budget reduction proposals: · £3m out of an identified £5.6m of savings had been supported in respect of the 2022/2023 budget. - It was queried as to why some of the £2.6m of savings not made in 2022/2023 had not been included for 2023/204. - In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Benefits advised that services had been asked to identify savings of 10% other than schools and Social Care, who had been asked to identify savings of 5%. - The hard work carried out by Heads of Service in order to identify savings was recognised. · It was queried as to why budget reduction proposals in respect of grounds maintenance and grass cutting were less than those put forward in 2022/2023. - In response, the Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities (ERF) advised that the budget was considered on a year by year basis. - An overspend was identified for 2022/2023, however, proposed savings were achieved. - The ambition for 2023/2024 was to meet the 10% budget reductions. · Assurance was requested in respect of budget reductions that had not yet been identified. - In response, the Strategic Director – Social Care and Education advised that assurance could not be provided that schools and Social Care could identify and meet the requested savings. - Proposals from schools were due to be returned on 14 February, 2023. Members discussed the following in respect of indicative Council Tax increases: · The Leader advised that the Council was required, by law to provide a balanced budget and the only way to secure essential services was to impose budget cuts and to increase Council Tax. · Taking into account proposed budget reductions, the level of Council Tax increase required to produce a balanced budget was 12.45%. - Further work would be carried out in order to seek to reduce the required increase. • It was suggested that including budget contingences should be considered. • Reference was made to the lower level of Council Tax increases proposed by other Local Authorities. • It was suggested that outsourcing of services should be reviewed in order to realise long term savings. • The Council Tax increase should be as low as possible in order to support residents. The following was proposed and seconded: • That no indicative Council Tax figure be proposed until further information and findings were provided. • That an indicative Council Tax increase of 12.25% was not supported and that Cabinet and Officers seek to identify a lower level of Council Tax increase. Following a vote it was: RECOMMENDED TO CABINET: a) That the Revenue Business Cases submitted by services (to include Domiciliary Care (Option B) and Residential / Nursing Care Fees (Option B) be supported. b) That budget reduction proposals be supported in principal other than for Social Care and Education, as budget reductions had not yet been identified. c) That reserves and balances should not be utilised to support a balanced budget. d) That no indicative Council Tax figure be proposed until further information and findings are provided. Note: Councillor Harry Saville declared a personal interest in the above item, as his mother-in-law owns a company that is used by Conwy County Borough Council for home to school transport. As the interest was considered prejudicial, Councillor Saville left the meeting whilst home to school transport was being discussed. Note: Councillor Cheryl Carlisle declared a personal interest in the above item, as a member of her family is in receipt of direct payments. As the interest was considered prejudicial, Councillor Carlisle left the meeting whilst Direct Payments was being discussed. .
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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