The Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change delivered a presentation on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021-22 to 2024-25 in order to set the scene for future years’ savings requirements and budget pressures.  She informed the Forum that as at quarter 2, an overspend of £2m was forecast.  She highlighted the financial impact of covid on the Council and that financial support had been provided by the Welsh Government in relation to the impact of covid.  Monthly claims had been submitted by the Council to the Welsh Government, with claims of £5m paid to date to cover the partial contribution of the purchase of ICT equipment and the loss of income for quarter 1. The Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change informed the Forum of the current funding pressures facing the Council, which had seen the Council Tax Reduction Scheme being £300,000 over budget and the collection rates of Council Tax impacted upon.  She stated that the most optimistic budget scenario would be a £11m shortfall and there was likely to be new potential priorities in relation to business and the economy, homelessness, health and wellbeing, digitalisation and on the level of Council Tax collected.

The Consultation, Engagement and Equalities Manager highlighted the consultation process on the budget consultation, which this year had seen a decline in responses from previous years, due to the impact of covid.  It was aimed that the consultation is as wide reaching as possible, and the team are continuously looking for ways to engage with the public and improve participation.  However due to the impact of Covid-19  this year the capacity to engage with residents face to face is greatly restricted, and it was more it was more important than ever to ensure there is participation so that all residents and communities across the county borough have a voice in the consultation process.

The Consultation, Engagement and Equalities Manager outlined the proposed timeframe for the Fit for the Future Budget consultation 2020 which is 19 October 2020 to 13 December 2020, focusing on seven key areas:

• Responding to the Covid-19 pandemic;
• Business and the economy;
• Health and wellbeing;
• Customer access to Civic offices;
• Digitalisation;
• Council Tax levels;
• The future.

She stated the survey aims to gain views from residents about which services have been most important to them during lockdown, how the council have performed during the Covid-19 pandemic, and what is important as we start to plan for the future, asking residents what the future priorities should be and it should implement these.  She informed the Forum that Town and Community Councils will be provided with the electronic link to the consultation, e-poster and the explainer video.  Paper copies are available where requested.  She stated that the consultation will be available in a variety of formats, including online and paper, standard, easy read, youth version and large print and during the live period, officers will be available to remotely attend Town and Community Council meetings.  The Consultation and Engagement team will liaise with Town and Community Council Clerks directly to arrange attendance at meetings and will develop a calendar of events for the live period, so all requests to attend meetings or events should be made as soon as possible.  Meetings and events will not take place after the closing date of 13 December 2020.  The Consultation, Engagement and Equalities Manager informed the Forum that the MTFS 2020 Budget Consultation Report will be presented to Cabinet in January 2021.

A member of the Forum questioned how the Council could improve digital connectivity with Town and Community Council Clerks.  The Interim Chief Officer – Finance, Performance and Change commented that the Digital Board had a great deal of work to roll out, but would consider how it could improve digital connectivity with Town and Community Council Clerks.    

RESOLVED:            1. That the Town and Community Council Forum

received and considered the report and gave consideration to engagement during the live period.

2. That the Town and Community Council Forum noted

the presentation by the Interim Chief Officer –

Finance, Performance and Change.

3. That consideration be given by the Digital Board as

to how it could improve engage digital connectivity

with Town and Community Councils.