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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 the allocation of Lead Members’ areas of responsibility be noted with immediate effect. Reason for decision To provide information on Lead Members and their respective responsibilities determined by the Leader of the Council.
RESOLVED – (i) That the service measures from Business Assessments, as detailed in Appendix 1 to report COFI/03/24, contributing £1.3m to the budget position in 2024/25 be approved. (ii) That the saving of £5.4m be applied to school budgets. (iii) That the corporate measures totalling £3.9m and the assumed overall impact on the budget for 2024/25 be noted. (iv) That Members make urgent representations to Welsh Ministers over the impact on the school budgets with reference to Grant Funding, together with the potential impact on schools following concerns raised by the Schools Budget Forum. Reasons for decisions (i) To approve the second set of items to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024/25 and beyond. (ii) To note the corporate items contributing to the budget position, including the assumed change to MRP policy that will be formalised as a separate report recommending Council approval.
RESOLVED – (i) That Wrexham continues to use a Target Rent for each type of property applying 6.7% to current target rents for 2024/25. (ii) That for properties that are below the Target Rents for 2024/25 – an increase of rent of 6.7% be applied. (iii) That for properties at or above the Target Rents for 2024/25 – no rent increase be applied. (iv) That an increase of 6.7% for garage rent to £9.72 (49 week basis) be applied. (v) That an increase of 6.7% for garage plots (annual charge £64.40) be applied. (vi) That an increase of 6.7% for warden charge to £4.07 per week be applied. (vii) That an increase of 6.7% for charges for Travellers’ plots to £102.34 and £121.08 per week for larger plots (53 week basis) be applied. (viii) That the cessation of the Assisted Garden Scheme operated from 2024/25 financial year be approved. (ix) That the HRA budget for 2024/25m as set out in Appendix 1 to report COH/01/24, be approved. (x) That the HRA Business Plan 2024/25 be approved for submission to Welsh Government, as detailed in Appendix 5. (xi) That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution. Reasons for decisions (i) To set the overall rent levels of Council house dwellings for 2024/25 in accordance with the WG rent policy and ensure that the HRA operates with appropriate levels of balance. (ii) To comply with WG’s requirement to produce an annual HRA Business Plan and demonstrate that there is sufficient budget to continue to undertake planned works to ensure that all properties are maintained to the appropriate standard for tenants. (iii) This matter is to be dealt with as an urgent item in order to ensure that the revised rent is implemented with effect from April 2024. There is a requirement under Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 that two months’ notice of a rent increase is given to contract holders. Any delay in serving the notice could impact on the start date of the revised rent with a detrimental impact on the HRA for 2024/25.
RESOLVED - That the progress made with the Decarbonisation Plan since the last update be noted, and the key priorities in paragraph 4.10 of report COET/01/24 be supported. Reason for decision To enable Executive Board Members to review progress on the delivery of Wrexham Council’s Decarbonisation Plan, and further progress our commitments to tackling the Climate Emergency and Decarbonisation agenda.
RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.
The Leader vacated the Chair, and the Vice-Chair, Councillor David A Bithell, presided over the next items on the Agenda to enable the Leader to present Agenda items 5 and 6 in his capacity as Lead Member for Finance and Performance. (Councillor David A Bithell in the Chair)
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the allocation of Lead Members’ areas of responsibility be noted with immediate effect. Reason for decision To provide information on Lead Members and their respective responsibilities determined by the Leader of the Council.
The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (MP/01/2024) to inform the Executive Board of changes to the Lead Members’ area of responsibility. RESOLVED - That the allocation of Lead Members’ areas of responsibility be noted with immediate effect. Reason for decision To provide information on Lead Members and their respective responsibilities determined by the Leader of the Council.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That the service measures from Business Assessments, as detailed in Appendix 1 to report COFI/03/24, contributing £1.3m to the budget position in 2024/25 be approved. (ii) That the saving of £5.4m be applied to school budgets. (iii) That the corporate measures totalling £3.9m and the assumed overall impact on the budget for 2024/25 be noted. (iv) That Members make urgent representations to Welsh Ministers over the impact on the school budgets with reference to Grant Funding, together with the potential impact on schools following concerns raised by the Schools Budget Forum. Reasons for decisions (i) To approve the second set of items to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024/25 and beyond. (ii) To note the corporate items contributing to the budget position, including the assumed change to MRP policy that will be formalised as a separate report recommending Council approval.
The Lead Member for Finance and Performance submitted a report (COFI/03/24) asking Members to approve a second set of measures and processes to deliver a balanced budget in 2024/25 and note corporate measures to contribute to reducing the budget gap. The Lead Member presented the report and together with the Chief Finance Officer, responded to questions accordingly. A debate ensued and the following points were highlighted: · Collectively, Members acknowledged the difficult situation, and referenced the impact that these proposals would have. · Confirmation that an additional Executive Board meeting would be taking place on 20 February to consider further budget information. · With regards to the in-year budget, Members were reminded that in quarter 1, the forecast at that time was that there would have been an overspend of £23.8m. A lot of work had been done over the summer to reduce that forecasted figure, and the latest report in quarter 3 was projecting a £5.4m overspend which highlighted the considerable progress that had been made. · Confirmation that a review of the fleet and logistics model within the Environment Department was being undertaken, in line with the carbon emergency and national requirements to move fleet to more sustainable resources. Whilst the outcome of this review would result in being smarter, there would be no change to the way that services were delivered. · Confirmation that some community groups and volunteers had been in contact with the Department regarding the delivery of some of the country parks services. A review would be taking place, but Members were reassured that this was to look at ways of being smarter about how services were delivered. · Recognition that the budget issues were not local to Wrexham, and that all Local Authorities were facing the same difficulties. RESOLVED – (i) That the service measures from Business Assessments, as detailed in Appendix 1 to report COFI/03/24, contributing £1.3m to the budget position in 2024/25 be approved. (ii) That the saving of £5.4m be applied to school budgets. (iii) That the corporate measures totalling £3.9m and the assumed overall impact on the budget for 2024/25 be noted. (iv) That Members make urgent representations to Welsh Ministers over the impact on the school budgets with reference to Grant Funding, together with the potential impact on schools following concerns raised by the Schools Budget Forum. Reasons for decisions (i) To approve the second set of items to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024/25 and beyond. (ii) To note the corporate items contributing to the budget position, including the assumed change to MRP policy that will be formalised as a separate report recommending Council approval.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Mark Pritchard, resumed Chair of the Meeting from this point in the proceedings.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED – (i) That Wrexham continues to use a Target Rent for each type of property applying 6.7% to current target rents for 2024/25. (ii) That for properties that are below the Target Rents for 2024/25 – an increase of rent of 6.7% be applied. (iii) That for properties at or above the Target Rents for 2024/25 – no rent increase be applied. (iv) That an increase of 6.7% for garage rent to £9.72 (49 week basis) be applied. (v) That an increase of 6.7% for garage plots (annual charge £64.40) be applied. (vi) That an increase of 6.7% for warden charge to £4.07 per week be applied. (vii) That an increase of 6.7% for charges for Travellers’ plots to £102.34 and £121.08 per week for larger plots (53 week basis) be applied. (viii) That the cessation of the Assisted Garden Scheme operated from 2024/25 financial year be approved. (ix) That the HRA budget for 2024/25m as set out in Appendix 1 to report COH/01/24, be approved. (x) That the HRA Business Plan 2024/25 be approved for submission to Welsh Government, as detailed in Appendix 5. (xi) That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution. Reasons for decisions (i) To set the overall rent levels of Council house dwellings for 2024/25 in accordance with the WG rent policy and ensure that the HRA operates with appropriate levels of balance. (ii) To comply with WG’s requirement to produce an annual HRA Business Plan and demonstrate that there is sufficient budget to continue to undertake planned works to ensure that all properties are maintained to the appropriate standard for tenants. (iii) This matter is to be dealt with as an urgent item in order to ensure that the revised rent is implemented with effect from April 2024. There is a requirement under Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 that two months’ notice of a rent increase is given to contract holders. Any delay in serving the notice could impact on the start date of the revised rent with a detrimental impact on the HRA for 2024/25.
The Lead Member for Housing submitted a report (COH/01/24) to seek agreement on the budget for the Housing Revenue Account for 2024/25, approve the resulting rent levels and to approve the HRA Business Plan 2024/25 for submission to Welsh Government. The Lead Member presented the report and highlighted the main points contained within it. A discussion ensued, and the following points were raised: · Confirmation that there was a 16% reduction across all areas, but services within the capital programme continued to be prioritised. · Importance of publicising the contact details for the Wrexham and Flintshire Care and Repair service. · Disappointment that the Assisted Gardening Scheme was being ceased. The Lead Member advised that this issue was discussed in detail at the Wrexham Tenant and Member Partnership meeting in December, and some suggestions were made with regards to how tenants would be supported. · Clarification sought regarding the number of void properties, and the length of time that properties were empty for. The Lead Member advised the Board that whilst significant progress had been made in relation to empty properties, there was still work to be done to improve the situation even further. RESOLVED – (i) That Wrexham continues to use a Target Rent for each type of property applying 6.7% to current target rents for 2024/25. (ii) That for properties that are below the Target Rents for 2024/25 – an increase of rent of 6.7% be applied. (iii) That for properties at or above the Target Rents for 2024/25 – no rent increase be applied. (iv) That an increase of 6.7% for garage rent to £9.72 (49 week basis) be applied. (v) That an increase of 6.7% for garage plots (annual charge £64.40) be applied. (vi) That an increase of 6.7% for warden charge to £4.07 per week be applied. (vii) That an increase of 6.7% for charges for Travellers’ plots to £102.34 and £121.08 per week for larger plots (53 week basis) be applied. (viii) That the cessation of the Assisted Garden Scheme operated from 2024/25 financial year be approved. (ix) That the HRA budget for 2024/25m as set out in Appendix 1 to report COH/01/24, be approved. (x) That the HRA Business Plan 2024/25 be approved for submission to Welsh Government, as detailed in Appendix 5. (xi) That this matter be dealt with as an urgent item of business in accordance with Section 5 (Rule 5.8.10) of the Council’s Constitution. Reasons for decisions (i) To set the overall rent levels of Council house dwellings for 2024/25 in accordance with the WG rent policy and ensure that the HRA operates with appropriate levels of balance. (ii) To comply with WG’s requirement to produce an annual HRA Business Plan and demonstrate that there is sufficient budget to continue to undertake planned works to ensure that all properties are maintained to the appropriate standard for tenants. (iii) This matter is to be dealt with as an urgent item in order to ensure that the revised rent is implemented with effect from April 2024. There is a requirement under Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 that two months’ notice of a rent increase is given to contract holders. Any delay in serving the notice could impact on the start date of the revised rent with a detrimental impact on the HRA for 2024/25.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED - That the progress made with the Decarbonisation Plan since the last update be noted, and the key priorities in paragraph 4.10 of report COET/01/24 be supported. Reason for decision To enable Executive Board Members to review progress on the delivery of Wrexham Council’s Decarbonisation Plan, and further progress our commitments to tackling the Climate Emergency and Decarbonisation agenda.
The Lead Member for Housing submitted a report (COET/01/24) to provide an update on the delivery of the Decarbonisation Plan. The Lead Member presented the report and highlighted the main points contained within it. A debate ensued and the following comments were raised: · Recognition that good progress was being made. · Clarification sought regarding the Strategic Transport Working Group, and whether there was an opportunity for them to meet. The Lead Member commented that it was important not to duplicate work that was being done elsewhere, but he would speak to the Chief Officer to gauge his view as to whether it would be beneficial for the Working Group to meet. · Confirmation that an e-learning module on Decarbonisation and Climate Change would be mandatory for all staff and Elected Members. RESOLVED - That the progress made with the Decarbonisation Plan since the last update be noted, and the key priorities in paragraph 4.10 of report COET/01/24 be supported. Reason for decision To enable Executive Board Members to review progress on the delivery of Wrexham Council’s Decarbonisation Plan, and further progress our commitments to tackling the Climate Emergency and Decarbonisation agenda.
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