Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff crynodebau eu hysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion, sef ei gofnod swyddogol o'r hyn a benderfynodd cyfarfod. Maen nhw fel arfer yn ymddangos ychydig wythnosau ar ôl y cyfarfod.
None.
Councillor Adan declared in interest under Item 6.
Minutes from 11 December 2024 were accepted as a true record.
The Leader introduced the draft budget proposals report to Cabinet colleagues. The draft local government settlement was announced on the 11 December 2024. The 2025/26 budget gap before savings was £4.329m (£21.375m over the medium term). The Council was required to manage this shortfall to both produce balanced annual budgets and deliver sustainable future finances that ensured the Council continued to deliver services to residents in Newport and meet its priorities. Residents, and other stakeholders would have the opportunity to provide feedback for Cabinet’s consideration before they recommended their final budget proposals to full Council. This report, set out the draft budget proposals including pressures and investments, budget savings and an increase in local council tax. Councillors D Davies, Corten and Lacey put forward their support for the report. To access a full recording of the comments made by elected members please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Decision: That Cabinet: 1. Agreed the following draft proposals for public consultation: i) Budget savings proposals in Appendix 4 (summary table) and Appendix 10 (detailed proposals). ii) A council tax increase of 6.7%, a weekly increase of £1.29 - £1.72 for properties in Band A to C, the most common bands in Newport, as set out in paragraphs 3.7. iii) Proposed fees and charges in Appendix 6. iv) The budget investments shown in Appendix 2, including those for schools. 2. Approved: v) The use of the Transformation Reserve to fund the implementation costs of the proposals listed in Appendix 5, totalling £199,000. 3. Noted: i) The savings implemented under delegated authority in Appendix 5. ii) The position on developing a balanced budget for 2025/26, noting that the position will be subject to ongoing review and updates between now and the February Cabinet when the final budget was agreed.
The Leader introduced the report on the November 2024 revenue monitoring position, which reflected a forecast underspend of £4.573m, taking into account the contingency budget. The most significant areas of service area overspending were within Housing and Communities, due to the demand for temporary accommodation, within Education, due to increased costs of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) / special school transport, and expenditure on local ALN provision, and within Children’s Services. Schools were projected to overspend on their revenue funding by £3.8m, therefore, close monitoring was required to ensure that schools were taking action to ensure that deficit positions were avoided wherever possible. Welsh Government recently announced additional in year funding for schools that would improve the position, albeit individual allocations were not yet known. Councillors Drewett, D Davies, Clarke and Lacey put forward their support for the report. To access a full recording of the comments made by elected members please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Decision: That Cabinet: 1. Noted the overall budget forecast position outlined within this report 2. Noted the overall shortfall in the delivery of savings accepted as part of the 2024/25 revenue budget. 3. Noted the overall position in relation to schools, acknowledging the risk that further individual deficit positions could emerge by the end of the financial year. 4. Noted the forecast movements in reserves. 5. Approved the recommended reserve transfers, as set out in 4.3 6. Noted the risks identified throughout the report and in the Head of Finance comments, such as the demand issues being experienced within Homelessness and Children’s Services.
The Leader presented the Capital Programme monitoring and additions report for November 2024. The first section outlined the movement in the capital budget since the last report was presented to Cabinet in November, which was the September 24/25 monitoring and additions report. The report also detailed the level of capital headroom currently available, which could be used to support new schemes and emerging priorities. Whilst the level of headroom currently appeared reasonable, there remained a need to tightly control its use, so that the Council was able to respond to critical issues, as and when they emerged. This required clear prioritisation of only the most pressing and urgent issues. The report confirmed the Council complied with its Prudential indicators, with the exception of two indicators set for 2024/25 as outlined in the report. Councillors D Davies and Adan supported the report. To access a full recording of the comments made by elected members please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Decision: That Cabinet: 1. Approved the additions to the Capital Programme requested in the report (Appendix A). 2. Noted the predicted capital expenditure outturn position for 2024/25. 3. Noted the amendments and indicative slippage for the capital programme. 4. Noted the available remaining capital resources (‘headroom’) and the earmarked usage of that resourcing. 5. Noted the inclusion of the Treasury Management prudential indicators, included within the report. 6. Noted the use of the headroom as noted in the report.
The Cabinet Member for Assets and Infrastructure advised Cabinet colleagues of the results of the public consultation regarding 20mph speed limits in the city, The report set out the background to the introduction of the 20mph default speed limit across the city and the decision by Welsh Government (WG) to undertake a “listening phase” following a national petition calling for the revocation of the 20mph speed limit. Allied to the listening phase WG produced updated guidance and criteria for where 20mph limits would be appropriate including such factors as residential density, pedestrian and cyclist activity and locations of facilities such as schools. A decision to proceed would enable the “Notice of Proposals” to be published as the first stage of the traffic order process to bring these roads to a 30mph posted speed limit. As a statutory consultation, these proposals may then attract comments in support or objection from the public. The reporting and resolution of these comments were also considered within the report. Councillor Lacey supported the report. To access a full recording of the comments made by elected members please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Decision: That Cabinet: 1. Considered and noted the contents of this report 2. Approved the publication of a Notice of Proposals in order to increase to 30mph the speed limit on the highways and sections of highways identified in this report.
The Leader introduced the report of the Mid-year Assessment Report of service area progress against their Service Plans 2024/25, which supported the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2022-27 and its four Well-being Objectives. This report provided a summary of the progress which service areas have made in the first six months of 2024/25 (1st April to 30th September 2024). As well as highlighting positive examples noted in the service plans, the report acknowledged the challenges and risks in key areas of customer services, housing and homelessness, additional learning needs and social care. All of these are high priority areas for the Cabinet to support and improve the services offered to residents. Councillors D Davies, Lacey, Clarke, Adan and Corten supported the report and praised the work and team effort of Council employees under their respective portfolios. The Chief Executive added that from an officer’s perspective there were challenges as outlined in the previous items on the Agenda. There were challenges in light of the budget and staff were to be praised for their hard work. To access a full recording of the comments made by elected members please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Decision: Cabinet agreed the Mid-year Assessment report of service area performance.
The Leader introduced the report to Cabinet colleagues, which required an independent panel to assess the Council’s arrangements to ensure it was: · exercising its functions effectively, · using its resources economically, efficiently and effectively, and · had effective governance arrangements in place for securing the above. The Welsh Local Government Association was appointed to support in the preparation and delivery of the Assessment. The Assessment was scheduled to take place in March 2026 and further updates would be provided throughout the year. To support this work, the National Resident Survey (in collaboration with Data Cymru, WLGA) would be completed in the summer 2025. The results of the survey would be considered in addition to evidence of the Council’s engagement, complaints and consultation activity. Decision: Cabinet agreed that the Panel Performance Assessment would take place in March 2026 and that the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director (Transformation and Corporate) would take such steps as were necessary to set this up.
The link to the One Newport Summary Document was included for information. https://sway.cloud.microsoft/NIbMYPjPesXOu2Qv?ref=Link This document provided an update from the One Newport Partnership.
This was the regular monthly report on the work programme. Decision: Cabinet agreed the Work Programme.
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.