Minutes:
Committee
received the report of the Corporate Directors’ Group on the Budget Proposals
for 2018/19. Members noted that the
report had been updated as a result of additional monies received from Welsh
Government. In addition the Director of
Finance and Corporate Services advised that Welsh Government had given a 2 year
indicative budget, with a further -1% for 2019/20. Also more of the specific grants were now
included in the settlement.
Members
then made the following comments:-
·
The low increase in the Authority’s Council Tax (3.7%) was welcomed.
·
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Celtic Leisure savings - The reduction in savings from £100k to £50k was
raised and Members were advised that the Sports Council for Wales was out for
consultation in relation to the Swimming Grant and that should this be cut it
would impact on Celtic Leisure. In
relation to the Aberafan Seafront as a whole the
Chief Executive advised that the area had seen an increase in the number of
visitors and that it was necessary to maintain this going forward. The Pontardawe
Swimming Pool, run by Celtic Leisure, needed investment as the pool was old and
needed upgrading. The situation in
relation to Celtic Leisure would continue to be monitored closely.
·
The proposal to retain the free Christmas parking was supported, however
Members felt that the £3.50 charge at the Gnoll
Country Park could result in indiscriminate parking outside nearby houses and
the possibility that emergency services would be prevented from accessing.
Members asked whether consideration could be given to placing double yellow
lines on nearby streets and to increase policing by the Authority. Officers advised that the proposals would
result in an additional income of £30k and that the charges would also cover
events at the Park. In addition Members
were reminded that income generation would play an increasing part in setting
the budget going forward. Officers would
look at ways of reducing/eliminating the potential problem of off street
parking. Some Members felt that, in relation to the parking charges at the Gnoll, the cost of a season ticket of £52 was good value at
an average cost of £1 per week.
·
Members asked whether the 2018/19 pay award for staff had been finalised
and were advised that the Trade Unions were currently consulting their
Membership. It was anticipated that the
Trade Unions would respond in March.
·
The report referred to ‘savings and efficiencies’, some Members felt
that these should be referred to as ‘cuts’, in order to highlight to members of
the public the year on year financial pressures on the Authority by Welsh
Government. The Director of Finance and
Corporate Services agreed that going forward the definitions should change to
either ‘cuts’ or ‘income generation’ as appropriate.
·
In relation to the delegation of Fees and Charges to Corporate
Directors, some Members were not happy with this proposal. The Director however advised that this had
been a longstanding recommendation, to assist in the operational issues around
services particularly where notice of increases needed to be given.
·
Members queried whether the anticipated savings of a. £950k through the
introduction of Direct Payments and b. £100k through Community Based Mental
Health Services
were achievable?
Members were advised that this Authority was leading the way in Wales
with a view to the use of Direct Payments, however it was not yet known whether
the £950k savings would be realised. If
not then the savings would be found elsewhere in the Directorate. Members noted that there were issues around
the integrated mental health teams, however this would not have an impact on
the proposed savings. Lower level
support commissioning would be brought forward.
·
In relation to the Asset Based approach Members asked whether it would
realise the anticipated £685k and what would be the position if this did not
happen. Officers advised that work was
ongoing to address this.
·
In relation to Pontardawe Arts Centre, Members
felt that this provided a valuable service to the Social Services, Health and
Wellbeing Directorate in relation to the early intervention and prevention
service and referred to the cut in subsidy proposed by the Authority. The Chief Executive advised that the initial
proposal to cut the subsidy had been in discussion for over 12 months. It was now necessary that Business Cases for Pontardawe Arts Centre, Cefn Coed and Margam Park be developed as soon as possible. Members were reminded that the Friends of Pontardawe Arts Centre were able to apply for grants that
the Authority was unable to access.
Members asked that, as the Friends of the Centre was a relatively new
Group, the cut in subsidy be deferred for 12 months? The Chief Executive advised that the
Authority required a firm proposal for the Centre, but confirmed that Officers
would work with the Friends to develop the Business Case and to identify
funding streams.
(At
this point in the meeting Councillor A.Llewelyn
disclosed an interest in the item as he represents the Council on the Fire
Authority.)
·
Members felt that the Authority should promote the good work and
services it provides and that it supports financially such outside bodies as the
Fire Authority.
·
Members asked how the percentage increase in Council Tax compared with other Local Authorities and were
advised that this information was not yet available.
·
In relation to ENV21, Members asked what the implications were for the Environment
Directorate following the decision not to allocate a further one off grant and
were advised that the allocation in the 2017/18 financial year had been a one
off grant for improvements to roads and footpaths, grass cutting and street
cleansing throughout the County Borough area.
·
Members noted that the General Reserves had increased from £17.34m to
over £20m and asked if some of the £3m additional Reserves could be used to off set the increase in parking charges at the Gnoll, or Cefn Coes Museum of the reduction in subsidy for the Pontardawe Arts Centre?
Officers advised that this was due to a better than expected Settlement
and the 98% collection rate in Council Tax. Going forward additional finances would be
required to support the Member’s Community Fund and the work on tourism. It was noted that Reserves had been
utilised for such things as the landslips at both Pantteg
and Cwmavon Road.
·
Members asked whether the Fire Authority had responsibility for culverts
and agreed that increased liaison was required with the Fire Authority to
provide a more effective service.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by Cabinet.