Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED that the minutes of December 2024 meeting were approved as an accurate reflection of the meeting, subject to the noting that Mr G Morgans GMB had not received an official invite to the meeting.
RESOLVED: • Provide feedback on the draft 2025/26 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2025/26 Budget Consultation.
Due to Apologies received from the Chair of the Committee, County Borough Councillor M Webber MBE, Councillor A Morgan OBE chaired the meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the minutes of December 2024 meeting were approved as an accurate reflection of the meeting, subject to the noting that Mr G Morgans GMB had not received an official invite to the meeting.
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of December 2024 meeting were approved as an accurate reflection of the meeting, subject to the noting that Mr G Morgans GMB had not received an official invite to the meeting.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: • Provide feedback on the draft 2025/26 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2025/26 Budget Consultation.
The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members, advising of the opportunity for the Committee to formally respond to the second phase of the Council’s 2025/26 Budget Consultation. The Service Director advised that the Joint Consultative Committee is requested to comment on the draft 2025/26 Revenue Budget Strategy, as part of the second phase of the 2025/26 Budget Consultation process. Through a bilingual PowerPoint presentation, the Service Director - Finance and Improvement Services provided Members of the Committee with an overview of the 2025/26 Draft Revenue Budget Strategy which included: The Council’s Current Financial Position (2024/25); Phase 1 Budget Consultation – Headlines; Provisional Local Government Settlement 2025/26 – Headlines/Implications for Rhondda Cynon Taf; Cabinet Proposed Budget Strategy 2025/26; and Next steps and key dates. The Committee was then requested to provide their feedback and observations on the proposed 2025/26 Revenue Budget Strategy. Council Tax Members of the Committee were in support of the proposed increase in Council Tax of 4.5% and noted that this would contribute to protecting Council services and jobs. The Chair fed back that the position needs to be carefully balanced between Council Tax providing a level of funding to contribute to the Council continuing to deliver the services needed by residents and the ability of residents to pay, with the level proposed being considered as reasonable by Cabinet. Schools Budget A Member noted feed back they had received from schools in respect of the on-going pressures being faced and the difficulties in identifying and delivering further budget efficiencies. Members welcomed the proposed increase to the school budget and were reassured that the proposed budget strategy is based on schools being fully funded. One Member fed back that whilst in support of the proposed increase in funding for schools, it was important to recognise the consequential impact on non-school services, in that some of these service areas would not receive the same level of additional funding. It was noted that this was another example of the difficult balancing act that needed to be considered when setting the Council’s budget. Efficiencies Members fed back the difficulties faced in identifying and delivering efficiency savings on an on-going basis and whether further efficiencies would be deliverable. Members of the Committee also fed back their support for non-staffing related efficiencies and non-compulsory redundancies where opportunities become available. Fees and Charges Members agreed in principle with the fees and charges proposals. One Member noted the fine balance needed between generating additional income to contribute to supporting service delivery and the fee levels remaining affordable for service users, and referenced the Leisure for Life membership fee as an example and the potential for customers to move to non-council operated gyms if the membership price was considered to be unaffordable. A Member commented on the proposed increase to car parking charges in Aberdare and Pontypridd and the increased costs office-based Council staff will incur as a result. The Chair fed back the option to purchase an annual parking permit which would equate to a 50p a week increase and requested that, subject to the proposals being agreed, officers communicate information on the availability of annual parking permits to Council staff as well as the general public. Reserves Members supported the on-going utilisation of the Council’s reserves to support the setting of balanced budgets and noted the importance of this approach to help protect Council jobs. Other general comments were in respect of the budget setting process and the information used to estimate pay award levels for 2025/26. The Service Director- Finance and Improvement Services fed back that estimated pay levels for 2025/26 had been informed by discussions with Welsh Government and the Welsh Local Government Association, and were considered to be adequate based on the information available at this point. Discussions also covered funding to be provided by the UK Govt to support the public sector with the additional cost of employers national insurance contributions and the current position in respect of the Rhondda Cynon Taf School cleaning contract. The Chair provided an update on the latest position in respect of additional funding for public sector employer national insurance contributions and the Service Director indicated that an update on the School cleaning contact would be obtained and fed back separately. Following conclusion of the discussions the Committee RESOLVED: • Provide feedback on the draft 2025/26 Revenue Budget Strategy as part of phase 2 of the Council’s 2025/26 Budget Consultation.
Members of the Committee took the opportunity to place on record their gratitude to the Council’s Cabinet committee in relation to the recent decision in respect of residential Care homes with reference to Ferndale House.
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.
Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.