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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that subject to the additional budget being approved by Full Council as part of its budget considerations in February 2026 1. the proposals for the distribution of primary phase small school / small stream top ups, as set out in section 3.4.4 of the report are agreed; 2. the amendments to the class size tops up for the primary phase, as set out in sections 3.4.5 to 3.4.7, are agreed; 3. the amendments to the small school top ups for secondary phase, as set out sections 4.4.3 and 4.4.4, are agreed; 4. the amendments the Key Stage 4 options principle of component 1, inclusive of the teaching and learning top-ups, of the secondary phase formula in sections 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 are agreed; 5. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.1 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 6. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.2 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 7. a virement is proposed of £500k from the closed School’s budget to support the additional funding required. 8. £1 million additional funding is approved within the Councils Finance resource model for 2026/27 9. a further £300k is expected to be funded from the overall Schools delegated budget when the formula is rerun. 10. the additional funding required for the premises and capitation uplifts in the primary phase is implemented on a phased basis to be met by the funding released by the primary formula amendments; the amendments to the Scheme for financing schools as set out in sections 6.1.6 are agreed; 11. the changes are implemented as set out in section 6 for the Secondary phase, and phased over three years for the Primary phase: 20% in 2026/27, 50% in 2027/28 and 100% in 2028/29. The implementation of these changes be reviewed as part of the Formula Review Group’s ongoing work programme.
RESOLVED 1. That with effect from April 6th 2026 the average rent in Powys will increase by 4.3% (the average rent being £115.94 per week) for all 5,552 Council owned homes, excluding service charges. 2. That service charges charged to HRA tenants are amended with effect from April 6th 2026 (included in Table Two above) to allow the Council to recover the cost incurred in providing these services. 3. That the weekly cost from April 6th 2026 for all tenants receiving the Careline community alarm service in 2026-2027 is £4.68 per week. 4. That HRA garage rents in Powys with effect from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are increased by 4.3% to £15.70 per week. 5. That garage plot charges effective from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are £199.55 per annum (unless otherwise determined by individual plot agreements). 6. That the weekly occupation charge from April 6th 2026 charges for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in 2026-2027 will be increased by 4.3%, the average rent being £125.39. 7. That the charge for temporary accommodation increases, with effect from April 6th 2026, for the year 2026-2027, by 4.3%. 8. That all other rental, not detailed above, effective from April 6th 2026 will increase by 4.3%. Service charges continue to be recovered on an actual basis. Councillors Dorrance and Thomas returned to the meeting.
RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
RESOLVED to endorse the following: · Officers commence engagement with the local MPs and MSs. · Officers commence engagement with Town Councils to identify potential project to be funded the Pride in Place Impact Fund within 17 towns that already have an approved plan. · Officers consult with Local Partnership to outline the proposed approach. · Officers report to the Portfolio Holder on the outcome of this engagement prior to reporting back to UK Government in February 2026. · The approval of allocations is delegated to the Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and are subject to the appropriate budget virements being considered and approved.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under categories 3 and 7 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007). Councillor Richard Church left the meeting.
RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
RESOLVED to submit a Full Business Case (FBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to construct a new building for Sennybridge Primary School.
The Chair of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee and the Chair of the Finance Panel had sent their apologies.
The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 16th December 2025 as a correct record.
County Councillors Matthew Dorrance and David Thomas declared interests in item 6 Housing Revenue Account Rent and Related Charges.
Cabinet considered the draft Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-31, which included the Financial Resource Model (FRM) for 2026-31, a draft revenue budget for 2026-27 and draft Capital & Treasury Management Strategy for 2026-27 to 2030-31. Cabinet also considered the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committees and Finance Panel and the proposed responses. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation thanked the members and officers and, in particular the Budget Advisory Group, who had worked with the Cabinet to produce a balanced budget. He noted that the Council continued to face increased demand for services, inflationary pressures and additional services cost pressures which it was responding to through Sustainable Powys and place based planning. The budget proposal included additional funding of £5.6 million (5.7%) directly into schools delegated budgets and £1.8 million (9.4%) for the Education service which was above the level of increase received by the Council in Aggregated External Fund (AEF) and reflected the priority Education has from the Council. Proposals to remove £12.0 million from the revenue budget were focused on delivering services that were more efficient or that could be delivered at a reduced cost. Alternative sources of income and increased fees and charges had also been implemented. The aim was to limit the impact on the delivery of front-line services as much as possible within the financial constraints and to align with the Sustainable Powys principles. Balancing the budget was dependent upon a 4.9% increase in the Council Tax in 2026-27, generating £7.4 million, including £1.7 million from the increase in the council tax base. In proposing this increase, there had been careful consideration to affordability for Powys residents in light of the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis, together with the ongoing need to meet increasing demand and inescapable cost pressures on vital local services. The need to keep Council Tax levels affordable whilst continuing to provide efficient services had been informed by the budget consultation exercise. RECOMMENDED to Council to approve 1. The draft Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026-2031 as set out in Appendix A to the report. 2. The Draft Revenue Budget for 2026-27 with the inclusion of a 4.9% increase in Council Tax in 2026-27 shown in the Financial Resource Model in Appendix B and Table 4 of this report. 3. The Draft Fees and Charges Register in Appendices D and E. 4. The Draft Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2026-31 shown in Appendix H. 5. The Draft Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out on Appendix H. 6. The Draft Treasury Management Strategy and the Annual Investment Strategy in Appendix H. 7. The authorised borrowing limit for 2026-27 as required under section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003 is set at £556 million and the Operational Boundary is set at £540 million as set out in section 3.111 of this report. 8. The Prudential Indicators for 2026-27 as set out in section 3.107 to 3.114 of the report and Appendix H.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that subject to the additional budget being approved by Full Council as part of its budget considerations in February 2026 1. the proposals for the distribution of primary phase small school / small stream top ups, as set out in section 3.4.4 of the report are agreed; 2. the amendments to the class size tops up for the primary phase, as set out in sections 3.4.5 to 3.4.7, are agreed; 3. the amendments to the small school top ups for secondary phase, as set out sections 4.4.3 and 4.4.4, are agreed; 4. the amendments the Key Stage 4 options principle of component 1, inclusive of the teaching and learning top-ups, of the secondary phase formula in sections 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 are agreed; 5. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.1 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 6. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.2 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 7. a virement is proposed of £500k from the closed School’s budget to support the additional funding required. 8. £1 million additional funding is approved within the Councils Finance resource model for 2026/27 9. a further £300k is expected to be funded from the overall Schools delegated budget when the formula is rerun. 10. the additional funding required for the premises and capitation uplifts in the primary phase is implemented on a phased basis to be met by the funding released by the primary formula amendments; the amendments to the Scheme for financing schools as set out in sections 6.1.6 are agreed; 11. the changes are implemented as set out in section 6 for the Secondary phase, and phased over three years for the Primary phase: 20% in 2026/27, 50% in 2027/28 and 100% in 2028/29. The implementation of these changes be reviewed as part of the Formula Review Group’s ongoing work programme.
Cabinet considered changes to the School Funding Formula and the scheme for financing schools following a consultation. Cabinet also considered the recommendations from the Learning and Skills Scrutiny Committee and the proposed responses. The aims of the proposals were to support transparent and equitable funding arrangements for Primary, Secondary and All age schools to · Create a more equitable provision for all learners across Powys. · Support the aspirations of the transformation programme. · Support all learners including helping offset the effects of disadvantage. · Support a collaborative schools’ community which offers effective professional learning to facilitate the self-improving system. · Support inclusion and bilingualism and promote access to excellence for all learners. The Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys recognised that subsidising small schools was not equitable and that the Council needed to press on with school transformation. However, what was proposed was more equitable than the current position and would ensure that no learner was penalised by being in a small school. An amendment was made to Section 6 for the phasing of the primary element of the formula changes in response to the Scrutiny recommendation. RESOLVED that subject to the additional budget being approved by Full Council as part of its budget considerations in February 2026 1. the proposals for the distribution of primary phase small school / small stream top ups, as set out in section 3.4.4 of the report are agreed; 2. the amendments to the class size tops up for the primary phase, as set out in sections 3.4.5 to 3.4.7, are agreed; 3. the amendments to the small school top ups for secondary phase, as set out sections 4.4.3 and 4.4.4, are agreed; 4. the amendments the Key Stage 4 options principle of component 1, inclusive of the teaching and learning top-ups, of the secondary phase formula in sections 5.4.3 and 5.4.4 are agreed; 5. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.1 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 6. the reduction in funding in relation to 17.1.2 will release funding to be reallocated within the overall delegated budget. 7. a virement is proposed of £500k from the closed School’s budget to support the additional funding required. 8. £1 million additional funding is approved within the Councils Finance resource model for 2026/27 9. a further £300k is expected to be funded from the overall Schools delegated budget when the formula is rerun. 10. the additional funding required for the premises and capitation uplifts in the primary phase is implemented on a phased basis to be met by the funding released by the primary formula amendments; the amendments to the Scheme for financing schools as set out in sections 6.1.6 are agreed; 11. the changes are implemented as set out in section 6 for the Secondary phase, and phased over three years for the Primary phase: 20% in 2026/27, 50% in 2027/28 and 100% in 2028/29. The implementation of these changes be reviewed as part of the Formula Review Group’s ongoing work programme.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED 1. That with effect from April 6th 2026 the average rent in Powys will increase by 4.3% (the average rent being £115.94 per week) for all 5,552 Council owned homes, excluding service charges. 2. That service charges charged to HRA tenants are amended with effect from April 6th 2026 (included in Table Two above) to allow the Council to recover the cost incurred in providing these services. 3. That the weekly cost from April 6th 2026 for all tenants receiving the Careline community alarm service in 2026-2027 is £4.68 per week. 4. That HRA garage rents in Powys with effect from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are increased by 4.3% to £15.70 per week. 5. That garage plot charges effective from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are £199.55 per annum (unless otherwise determined by individual plot agreements). 6. That the weekly occupation charge from April 6th 2026 charges for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in 2026-2027 will be increased by 4.3%, the average rent being £125.39. 7. That the charge for temporary accommodation increases, with effect from April 6th 2026, for the year 2026-2027, by 4.3%. 8. That all other rental, not detailed above, effective from April 6th 2026 will increase by 4.3%. Service charges continue to be recovered on an actual basis. Councillors Dorrance and Thomas returned to the meeting.
County Councillors Matthew Dorrance and David Thomas declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item and left the meeting while it was being considered. Cabinet considered changes for Council Housing Rents, Garage Rents and all property and tenancy related Service Charges, for the financial year 2026-27. Cabinet noted that the Tenants Scrutiny Panel did not agree with the proposed rise of 4.3% and had argued for a lower rise. However, Cabinet accepted that inflation in the housing and construction sectors was running higher than the proposed rise and that a rise of 4.3% was necessary to continue to deliver a high quality service. RESOLVED 1. That with effect from April 6th 2026 the average rent in Powys will increase by 4.3% (the average rent being £115.94 per week) for all 5,552 Council owned homes, excluding service charges. 2. That service charges charged to HRA tenants are amended with effect from April 6th 2026 (included in Table Two above) to allow the Council to recover the cost incurred in providing these services. 3. That the weekly cost from April 6th 2026 for all tenants receiving the Careline community alarm service in 2026-2027 is £4.68 per week. 4. That HRA garage rents in Powys with effect from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are increased by 4.3% to £15.70 per week. 5. That garage plot charges effective from April 6th 2026 for 2026-2027 are £199.55 per annum (unless otherwise determined by individual plot agreements). 6. That the weekly occupation charge from April 6th 2026 charges for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in 2026-2027 will be increased by 4.3%, the average rent being £125.39. 7. That the charge for temporary accommodation increases, with effect from April 6th 2026, for the year 2026-2027, by 4.3%. 8. That all other rental, not detailed above, effective from April 6th 2026 will increase by 4.3%. Service charges continue to be recovered on an actual basis. Councillors Dorrance and Thomas returned to the meeting.
Cabinet considered a report on the progress made in the Council’s approach to tackling privately owned empty properties, in support of ‘Stronger, Fairer, Greener.’ The report set out the actions being taken by the Council through a mix of incentives and enforcement to bring empty properties back into use. Cabinet noted that the empty properties premium would be considered later in the year.
Cabinet considered a report on repairs and maintenance of the Council’s housing portfolio. In July 2022, the repairs and maintenance of the Council’s housing portfolio was transferred from a private sector joint venture Heart of Wales Property Services (HoWPS), to Housing Services to provide these services directly. Since then, major improvements had been made in the service delivered as evidenced by performance data, feedback from tenants and in the improvement in the turnaround times for void properties. The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for a Fairer Powys thanked the staff of the service for their work. He confirmed that the service was recruiting apprentices. He apologised to residents who had been unable to access out of hours reporting service over Christmas. The Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital and Community Services advised that improvements would be made to the out of hours reporting service.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
Cabinet considered the Strategic Risk Register report for quarter 2. There were 12 non-confidential risks on the register and the report set out a summary of progress since last quarter, to give assurance that mitigating actions were being actioned and monitored. RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
Cabinet noted the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to endorse the following: · Officers commence engagement with the local MPs and MSs. · Officers commence engagement with Town Councils to identify potential project to be funded the Pride in Place Impact Fund within 17 towns that already have an approved plan. · Officers consult with Local Partnership to outline the proposed approach. · Officers report to the Portfolio Holder on the outcome of this engagement prior to reporting back to UK Government in February 2026. · The approval of allocations is delegated to the Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and are subject to the appropriate budget virements being considered and approved.
Cabinet considered a report on the Pride of Place Impact Fund Powys County Council would receive £1.5m to: • Develop shared spaces • Revitalise local high streets • Improve public spaces. The report set out proposals to engage with each of the 17 Powys towns with an approved plan on potential projects. RESOLVED to endorse the following: · Officers commence engagement with the local MPs and MSs. · Officers commence engagement with Town Councils to identify potential project to be funded the Pride in Place Impact Fund within 17 towns that already have an approved plan. · Officers consult with Local Partnership to outline the proposed approach. · Officers report to the Portfolio Holder on the outcome of this engagement prior to reporting back to UK Government in February 2026. · The approval of allocations is delegated to the Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and are subject to the appropriate budget virements being considered and approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under categories 3 and 7 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007). Councillor Richard Church left the meeting.
RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following items of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under categories 3 and 7 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007). Councillor Richard Church left the meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
Cabinet considered the confidential report on the Strategic Risk Register. RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the current Strategic Risk Register and is satisfied with progress against mitigating actions for quarter 2.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to submit a Full Business Case (FBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to construct a new building for Sennybridge Primary School.
Cabinet was asked to consider submission of a Full Business Case (FBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to construct a new building for Sennybridge Primary School. Officers confirmed that Welsh Government officials had been involved and were comfortable with the submission. Members asked about the active travel plan and its cost and were advised that the no funding could be allocated for works outside the boundary of the school in the submission. Funds may be available through the Regional Transport Plan managed by the CJC. Officers would work with the CJC on this and with Highways to ensure that accessibility was as good as possible. It was confirmed that a report on the school’s Welsh medium status would be brought to the next meeting. The local member, County Councillor Edwin Roderick, thanked the Cabinet for their support and he noted the positive impact the school was having on the Welsh language in the community. RESOLVED to submit a Full Business Case (FBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to construct a new building for Sennybridge Primary School.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
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