Loading
The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That Agenda Item 5 - Budget Monitoring 2023/24 – be brought forward and taken at this time and that Agenda Item 4 – Work Programme – be considered as the final item on the agenda.
AGREED: (i) That the Committee notes the details of the Provisional Local Government Settlement 2024/25 and the budget forecast at Q2 and thank Officers for their detailed responses. (ii) That the Committee recommends that all scrutiny committees monitor the budget plans against service plans going forward.
AGREED: That the Committee (i) Supports the work which has been done to produce the refresh of the ICT and digital Strategy for 2024-2027. (ii) Notes the benefits to the local authority in the use of ICT and digital technology. (iii) Welcome further developments in ICT and digital technology and that a progress report to Committee be scheduled for later in the year.
AGREED: That the work programme as attached at Appendix 2 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Alison Tynan.
AGREED - That the minutes of the Meeting held on 14 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That Agenda Item 5 - Budget Monitoring 2023/24 – be brought forward and taken at this time and that Agenda Item 4 – Work Programme – be considered as the final item on the agenda.
AGREED – That Agenda Item 5 - Budget Monitoring 2023/24 – be brought forward and taken at this time and that Agenda Item 4 – Work Programme – be considered as the final item on the agenda.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: (i) That the Committee notes the details of the Provisional Local Government Settlement 2024/25 and the budget forecast at Q2 and thank Officers for their detailed responses. (ii) That the Committee recommends that all scrutiny committees monitor the budget plans against service plans going forward.
The Lead Member Finance and Performance submitted a report COFI/01/24 which informed Members of the Council’s current budgetary position at Quarter 2 2023/24 and proved an update on the Provisional Local Government Settlement 2024/25. The Lead Member introduced his report and responded to Members questions accordingly thereafter, with input from the Chief Officer Finance and ICT. During the debate a number of issues were referred to, including: · The medium term financial planning process involved forecasting over a 3 year period the future funding position. This included an estimate of unavoidable costs such as pay inflation. · It was important to have the most up to date information available to inform future budget assessments. Regular reviews and assessments were also necessary to ensure that budget predictions remained on track. · The ongoing pressures within adult and social care were difficult to predict and forecast. · The need to improve demand management and mitigation within social care. · A Member queried the consultation process with unions and staff. · A piece of work would be carried out in the future to consider options for some in house provision within the adult and social care services. · There was a general policy for cost recovery to ensure all income was maximised. · There was a limit to the extent in which the Local Authority could use its reserves due to ongoing pressures and Wrexham had a lower level than other local authorities. There were no plans to use any unplanned reserves this year. · The Lead Member for Finance & Performance gave an assurance that the budget would balance by the end of this financial year. · Details of the changes to the allocation of education grants from Welsh Government at local level had not yet been received, but this was something which would be discussed at Lifelong Learning Scrutiny on 31st January. · Additional processes and controls had been put in place to allow for more accurate measuring and forecasting, including more regular reporting, greater detail provided to SLT (Senior Leadership Team) and the Lead Member and strengthening of the internal financial business partner arrangement across Departments. Future pressures would remain but the strengthening of these processes would mean that future forecasts would be more accurate. · Members requested that the next report be aligned with Q3 budget monitoring information. Chief Officer Finance & ICT advised that an Information Report on the interim budget outturn position for 2023/24 would be circulated to all Members prior to June 2024. AGREED: (i) That the Committee notes the details of the Provisional Local Government Settlement 2024/25 and the budget forecast at Q2 and thank Officers for their detailed responses. (ii) That the Committee recommends that all scrutiny committees monitor the budget plans against service plans going forward.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: That the Committee (i) Supports the work which has been done to produce the refresh of the ICT and digital Strategy for 2024-2027. (ii) Notes the benefits to the local authority in the use of ICT and digital technology. (iii) Welcome further developments in ICT and digital technology and that a progress report to Committee be scheduled for later in the year.
The Lead Member for Corporate Services submitted a report COGC/02/24 which provided an overview of progress under the existing ICT & Digital Strategy 2020-23 including an evaluation of the Council’s digital inclusion initiatives supporting customers across Wrexham County Borough. The Lead Member introduced her report and responded to questions accordingly thereafter with input from the Chief Officer Governance and Customer and the ICT Service Manager. (The Head of Digital, Customer and Cymraeg had given her apologies). During the debate a number of issues were referred to including: · The positive work that had been undertaken to ensure that Wrexham embraced the Smart City initiative. Officers confirmed that this involved using data to help make informed decisions about the future. It was noted that technology could be used to make savings and the Smart City approach could be integrated with other departments. · Work was currently being undertaken to ensure Wi-Fi was available in public buildings. · The need to recognise that not all residents and service users had digital skills and the need to ensure that these individuals were not excluded. Officers confirmed that lots of work was taking place to ensure that non digital clients were supported where necessary. Members suggested that Housing Estate Offices could also be used to support hard to reach individuals. · AI was an emerging technology which had the potential to provide many benefits to support the employee e.g. preparation of executive briefings, case notes. As with all technology, appropriate controls would need to be in place for it to be incorporated successfully. · Migration to Microsoft 365 involved migrating emails to the Microsoft cloud which would enable the authority to work collaboratively on one document with other public bodies, eg Police and Health. Co-pilot could then be used to pull information together to assist Officers in producing reports. AGREED: That the Committee (i) Supports the work which has been done to produce the refresh of the ICT and digital Strategy for 2024-2027. (ii) Notes the benefits to the local authority in the use of ICT and digital technology. (iii) Welcome further developments in ICT and digital technology and that a progress report to Committee be scheduled for later in the year.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: That the work programme as attached at Appendix 2 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
The Chief Officer Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/04/24s) asking Members to consider the Committee’s Work Programme. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report and drew Members’ attention to the Work Programme at Appendix 2. The following proposed changes were noted: · Workforce Monitoring Report – rescheduled from December to the meeting in March 2024. · All Member Workshop on the duties of the Well-being of Future Generations Act – provisionally scheduled for May 2024. · Impact of Budget Mitigation Measures – Topic Selection Form (attached at appendix 1) be agreed and scheduled for March 2024. · As there were no items of business scheduled for the February 2024 meeting, it was agreed that the meeting be cancelled. AGREED: That the work programme as attached at Appendix 2 be agreed subject to the aforementioned amendments.
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.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.