To receive apologies for absence from Members.

Invitee:

Councillor Hywel Williams, Cabinet Member for Resources had advised he would be joining the meeting slightly later.

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 Paul Davies declared an interest that a family member worked in the Waste Enforcement Team.

Invitees:

Councillor Huw David – Leader of Council

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

Councillor Hywel Williams - Cabinet Member for Resources 

Councillor Rhys Goode - Cabinet Member for Future Generations and Wellbeing

Mark Shephard - Chief Executive

Carys Lord - Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change

Kelly Watson - Chief Officer Legal and Regulatory Services, HR & Corporate Policy

Deborah Exton - Deputy Head of Finance

Martin Morgans - Head of Partnership Services

Christopher Morris - Finance Manager – Social Services & Wellbeing / Chief Executive’s Directorate

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 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 2022-23.

The Chairperson thanked the Chief Officer Finance, Performance and Change and the whole Team for the comprehensive report and Members discussed the following:

·         How aligned the draft MTFS would be aligned with new objectives in the Corporate Plan and reflect the objectives next year.

·         While the principles underpinning the MTFS were sound, it would be useful when BREP met next year to see the calculations behind the conclusions to the draft budget proposals.

·         Pressures on back office functions.

·         The need for national legislative commitments e.g., Homelessness, Climate Change, Social Care, etc.to be fully funded from central government and the representations made by Cabinet and WLGA to make the case that national legislative commitments are fully funded.

·         Consequentials for funding Care and support in Parc Prison, Welsh Medium provision, Universal Primary Free Primary School Meals.

·         What work has been done to implement the Socio economic Duty.

·         What could be done to explore longer term building Council’s own housing capabilities to alleviate temporary accommodation, and exploration of solutions with RSL partners and bringing voids back into use.

·         Potential for exploring additional income generation, reviewing fees and charges, council tax collection rates based upon proposed increase and the council tax reduction scheme.

·         Inflation impact on pay costs, energy costs for Council buildings and contracts.

·         School places and availability and planning for future expansion for population needs.

·         Feasibility, deliverability and impact of 2% school budget saving on spend on education, potential for redundancies and impact on deficits.

·         Pressure from ceasing previous short term Grant funding in Social Care.

·         Maintaining safety net provision if a provider fails.

·         Pressures on Adult and Children Services and the need to protect.

·         Sufficiency of £700k for Homelessness Prevention.

·         Potential increase in fly tipping if Waste Enforcement Team cut and underspends in Communities.

·         Collaboration with Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and also with Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board.

·         Sharing office space e.g., with South Wales Police.

·         Property and building maintenance – potential assets for disposal, letting of Ravenscourt partially as it is partly used by the MASH Team and social workers working closely with them.

·         Pressures in HR, Legal and Finance impacting on Directorates, reviewing how things are done, improving efficiency and increasing digital use.

·         Workforce recruitment and retention and sickness absence levels, balancing filling key roles to deliver services but managing sickness.

·         Costs of Agency staff.

·         Digital transformation.

·         Procurement alignment with net zero carbon strategy.

·         Potential for using Reserves.

·         Increased rate of real living wage form June 2023.

·         Cost pressure for fully funding Ukrainian refugees post leaving host families.

·         A safe footpath to a school to replace need for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

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.