To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

Councillor Jonathan Pratt declared a personal interest as his wife is a teacher employed by Bridgend County Borough Council, and as a member of HM Coastguard Search and Rescue in Porthcawl.

Councillor Norah Clarke declared a personal interest as a volunteer for Porthcawl RNLI and a member of Rest Bay Lifeguard Club. and that her son is a RNLI crew member and  a member of the Rest Bay Lifeguard Club.

Councillor Melanie Evans declared a personal interest as  a member of Pencoed Town Council.

Councillor Martin Williams declared a personal interest as a member of Coity Higher Community Council.

Invitees

Councillor Huw David – Leader

Councillor Jane Gebbie - Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help

Councillor John Spanswick - Cabinet Member Communities

Councillor Neelo Farr – Cabinet Member Regeneration

Carys Lord - Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change

Mark Shephard - Chief Executive

Janine Nightingale - Corporate Director – Communities

Deborah Exton - Deputy Head of Finance

Victoria Adams - Interim Finance Manager – Budget Management: Communities, Education and Family Support

The Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change presented a summary of the report, the purpose of which was to present the Committee with the draft Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2023-24 to 2026-27, which set out the spending priorities of the Council, key investment objectives and budget areas targeted for necessary savings. The strategy included a financial forecast for 2023-2027 and a detailed draft revenue budget for 2023-24.

The Chair thanked the Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change and invited questions.

Members questioned if delivery models would continue into the next financial year and in addition to Community Asset Transfers(CATs) and the City Deal, asked how the Directorate intended to develop alternative delivery models and with whom. Officers advised there was not anything in the pipeline for the year ahead, but it did not mean they would not look at others in future. Members discussed alternative delivery models in particular partnering with Town and Community Councils (TCC) and devolving more services to them. Officers agreed they would be happy to have an open dialogue and advised that the job description of the CAT Officer who liaises with TCCs had been broadened to include those type of discussions,  and  a corporate position on policy would be reported  to full Council / Cabinet Members.

Discussions were held regarding the significant reduction in volume of residual waste which was expected to benefit the Council financially over time and whether it would it make a return over the period of this MTFS. Officers advised when talking about reducing tonnage, it was a reduction on an increase and that it was still higher than it used to be pre Covid but was an indication it was moving downwards. Members questioned if more people were working at home whether there was a decrease in waste being generated at their offices and therefore was there an efficiency and saving. Officers informed Members there had been a small reduction in their waste arising at Civic but compared to the entire domestic network of properties they were two quite different scale issues. So, in terms of budgetary settings, any saving tonnage at the civic waste production bins was going to be negligible compared to the overall.

The  Committee referred to the Council’s strategy  to protect and invest in services provided to the most vulnerable  and make reductions where it could  have the least impact across Council services, and asked whether consideration had been given that it could be false economy for example to remove waste enforcement as it could lead to more fly tipping. They asked how many prosecutions had taken place and penalties issued on yearly basis with regards to fly tipping. Officers expressed they were uncomfortable with putting the waste enforcement team forward as although there may be initial savings not having the team could result in fly tipping , but they did need to produce a balanced budget, so appreciated Scrutiny’s consideration going forward. Officers advised the Enforcement team had only been in place for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

None