Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chair confirmed that no items from the Cabinet Board would be scrutinised.

None received.

None received.

·       17^th October 2023

The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th October 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17^th October 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

Members considered the report as circulated within the agenda pack.

The Chair outlined that comments from the meeting will form part of the formal consultation response to the budget. Members were reminded of their obligation as part of the budget consultation process to put forward any other proposals for budget savings which are not included within the report so that officers can give them consideration as soon as possible.

Members were reminded that they should consider the elements of the budget which fall under the remit of this scrutiny committee.

Members went through the relevant budget lines.

Member queried if there had been any public feedback concerning the closure of the cash desks. It was confirmed that there had been no public feedback. Officers outlined the alternative arrangements in place.

Officers confirmed that there will be HR support provided to some of the regeneration external facing projects. For example, Freeports, and that this would be recharged as appropriate.

Member sought confirmation regarding job losses. Officers confirmed there will be job losses however there will be no impact on current staff. There will be no job losses to incumbent post holders. If there is any resulting pressure on teams, this will be managed through management of change.

Officers outlined the proposals for maximising services within the Registry Office. Members were pleased to see the use of innovative ideas coming forward.

Officers advised members that fees relating to licenses were mandatory across Wales.

Members sought clarity with regards to recharging of services identified. Officers confirmed that the request for the Council to undertake legal work in non-contentious issues for organisations, for example Town and Community Councils, has increased. Therefore, the authority will be recharging for this work.

Members sought information concerning the reallocating of South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) funding. It was confirmed that the Council provides a number of services to CJC. Previously, the sums of money received for these services have been placed into a general account, however theses sums will now be considered ongoing income from a budgeting point of view.

With regards to the review of mobile telephony, this will considered phone that are not being fully utilised. There is also an ongoing review of photocopiers, and where prints are less than £3000 per year copiers will be removed.

It was confirmed that income relating to Service Level Agreements, relates to external organisations. There will also be additional SLA’s put in place in relation to CCTV which will result in additional income.

It was noted that the Council Tax premiums on second homes will be considered by Cabinet in March. Officers have been prudent in potential income from this item, if approved by Cabinet. For the purpose of the policy, long-term is considered to be at least one year.  

There were no additional budget proposals put forward by members at the meeting

Following scrutiny, the report was noted.

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

There were no items scrutinised.

There were no items scrutinised.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

The Forward Work Programme was noted.

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 no urgent items.

There were no urgent items.

To resolve to exclude the public for the following item(s) pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 and the relevant exempt paragraphs of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the above Act.

This item was not required.

This item was not required.

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

There were no private items scrutinised.

There were no private items scrutinised.