Agenda, decisions and minutes

Declarations of interest were received from:

Cllr S Reynolds, Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Personal, Prejudicial (will leave the room when this item is discussed)

Cllr J Henton, Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Personal, Chair of Historical Society

Cllr S Pursey, Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Personal,

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Cllr S Reynolds, Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Trustee of Canolfan Maerdry – Personal, Prejudicial (will leave the room when this item is discussed)

Cllr J Henton – Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Chair of Dyffryn, Clydach and Bryncoch Historical Society, Personal. Dispensation to speak and vote on this item.

Cllr S Pursey – Cabinet Agenda Item – Trustee of Taibach Community Library, Personal. Dispensation to speak and vote on this item.

Cllr S Reynolds, Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Trustee of Canolfan Maerdry – Personal, Prejudicial (will leave the room when this item is discussed)

Cllr J Henton – Cabinet Agenda Item 6 – Chair of Dyffryn, Clydach and Bryncoch Historical Society, Personal. Dispensation to speak and vote on this item.

Cllr S Pursey – Cabinet Agenda Item – Trustee of Taibach Community Library, Personal. Dispensation to speak and vote on this item.

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

Budget 2024/25

Following scrutiny, the recommendation was supported to Cabinet.

Third Sector Grant Funding - Award of Grants for 2024 – 2025

Following scrutiny, the amended recommendation was supported to Cabinet.

Budget 2024/25

Members considered the report as circulated within the Cabinet agenda pack.

The Chief Executive outlined the challenging budget position for2024/25. An extensive exercise has been carried out for increasing income and decreasing expenditure for the year, whilst maintaining jobs and services within the Council. It was noted that Welsh Government have published the provisional settlement prior to the meeting. The proposed settlement for 2024/25 is going to worsen the budget position beyond what is detailed within the report. The intention is for officers to carry out an assessment in readiness for January to formally report on the analysis undertaken on the impact of the provisional budget. Further, how the Council can further bridge the increased gap in the Council’s resources for 2024/25. 

Members queried why the request for permission to consult has been considered late in December and why it was not sought earlier so that consultation could begin sooner? Officers confirmed that they have been working to ensure that all income generation and expenditure proposals were fully explored before consultation begins.

Officers have consulted on some specific proposals within the report. Officers outlined which items have been out to public consultation. Where things, have been able to go out to consultation earlier, this has been done.

Members queried items in the budget which indicate covering core expenditure from grants, and if this would have a knock-on effect in delivering front line services. Officers advised that it was for individual consideration by directorates and about ensuring that the grant was maximised for full use within the budget.

Members raised the current inflation and pay award ongoing concerns and queried if the 4% provision in the budget was sufficient. Officers advised that the 4% has been benchmarked with the other 21 local authorities in Wales and it is consistent with others forecast. Officers were confident that this would be sufficient.

Page 2 of the report which indicates that the budget supports local policy initiatives prioritised by the Rainbow Coalition. These initiatives are referring to those that have been agreed within the Corporate Plan.

Page 4 outlines a £3.5m gap. Officers advised that this is the £3.5m which was used to balance the 23/24 budget which now needs to be placed within this year's budget.

Page 11 refers to delivering local and Welsh Government policies. Members queried if there are there any policies planned to come from Welsh Government that we know are not going to be funded. Officers advised that they were not aware of any at the moment. However, it was noted that the overall settlement doesn’t fund what we currently require.

Officers confirmed that the 7.5% increase in income receipts, assumes that each income line with have a 7.5% increase, however it would be up to individual directorates to determine how they achieve this. For example, it could be a mixture of increased charges and increase in volume.

Members queried, based on the change in the revenue grant indicated by Welsh Government 0.3%, members queried what this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Any urgent items at the discretion of the Chairperson pursuant to Section 100BA(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

There were none.

There were none.