Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions

Contact: Stephen Boyd  01597 826374

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 59 KB

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 3rd and 11th July as correct records.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 3rd and 11th July 2017 as correct records.

3.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of interest from Members relating to items to be considered on the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest reported.

4.

Financial Overview and Forecast as at 31st July 2017 pdf icon PDF 172 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented the financial overview and forecast report for the period ended 31st July 2017. 52% of the £11.78m budget savings for the year had been achieved as at 31st July. All services must aim to deliver their targets in order to achieve a balanced budget by year end.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care reported that the service had a high level of confidence of delivering its savings. The service was looking to spread the savings for reablement over longer than 1 year but if this was not possible it would have to look at other ways of making the saving. He also cautioned that the Bupa announcement on the transfer of care homes may put a strain on the budget.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Education advised that she would be bringing a paper to Cabinet on home to school transport.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services advised that following the outcome of the CSIW inspection, the service would be reviewing its budget position and savings strategy as part of the service improvements needed as part of the wider Improvement Plan. She reported a significant rise in the number of looked after children and that the service was looking to invest to save in Bannau/Camlas.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance also reported on a number of budget virements requiring Cabinet approval.

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision

1.    That the contents of the report are noted by Cabinet

2.    That Cabinet supports appropriate action by services to curtail or reduce the reported forecasted service deficits.

3.    To approve the following budget virements: 

Physically Disabled to Older People £211k

Learning Disabilities to Older People £311k

Ladywell House £336k

 

To monitor the Council’s financial performance and ensure that spending remains within approved limits and that the 3% minimum general fund reserve is maintained.

 

 

 

 

 

5.

Capital Programme Update for July 2017 pdf icon PDF 112 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the revised capital programme and proposed virements. The Portfolio Holder for Finance noted that the capital programme would play an important part in delivering the Cabinet’s 2025 vision.

 

County Councillor Phil Pritchard had written to the Cabinet asking for the recommendation to vire money out of the 21st Century Schools budget to be deferred, saying that the lay-out plans for the Welshpool Church in Wales Primary School did not provide enough space to grow in the future. The Portfolio Holder for Education said she could not agree with Councillor Pritchard’s request noting that state of the art schools were being planned with a surplus capacity of 15.6% whilst Welsh Government guidelines advised surplus capacity of between 5 and 15%.

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision

1.    The contents of the report are noted.

 

2.     That the capital virements set out in Section 3 of the report are approved and those above £500k submitted to full council for approval.

To outline the capital budget provision as at 31st July.

 

To ensure appropriate virements are carried out.

 

 

 

6.

Response to the Full Council Amendment on the Rise in Charges for Meals and Attendance at Day Centres (older people) pdf icon PDF 116 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered its response to the amendment passed at the last Council meeting calling on the Cabinet to restore charges for attendance and meals at Council Day Centres to their pre-April 2017 levels with immediate effect. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care explained that Cabinet had to balance the need to support those who attended the centres and the financial strain on the service, noting that the charges did not cover the costs. He reminded members of the weekly cap placed by Welsh Government on costs of domiciliary care and attendance at day centres and of the system of assessments in place to ensure that those in financial hardship were not prevented from attending. Having reviewed the original report and the points raised in the Council debate and noting that the decision had not been called in by Scrutiny, he was not recommending any change to the decision taken by Cabinet in March 2017. He did invite members to visit day centres and see how meals were provided.

 

In supporting the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, the Cabinet noted that charges were in line with national benchmarking and that in many parts of the county residents did not have access to day centres. 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

To uphold the original decision made by Cabinet in respect of Option 2 and 3 outlined in the report of the 14th March 2017 to:-

·         charge £15 for Day Centre attendance

·         charge £7.50 for the provision of a two course meal and all day refreshments including cake and biscuits.

To take advantage of the opportunity

provided by Welsh Government to

provide additional income to support

the funding of the service (as outlined in the March 14th Report).

 

That Option 2 could result in significant additional cost to the Council and that the savings plan for Day Time Opportunities would be jeopardised.

 

For all the reasons outlined in para 7.1.

 

7.

Electoral Reform in Local Government in Wales pdf icon PDF 619 KB

To consider a response to the Welsh Government consultation on electoral reform in local government in Wales.

Minutes:

Welsh Government had issued a consultation paper on Electoral Reform in Local Government in Wales and had asked for responses by 10th October. It was agreed that a meeting of political group leaders should be arranged to consider the paper.

 

 

8.

Children's and Adult Services Quarterly Safeguarding Report pdf icon PDF 257 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Stephen Hayes, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and County Councillor Rachel Powell, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the quarterly safeguarding report for Adult Services and Children’s Services. Safeguarding was overseen on a regional basis through the Mid & West Wales Safeguarding Board(MAWWS), with one Board for Children (CYSUR) and one for Adults (CWMPAS) with cross-cutting issues managed jointly across both. 

 

It was noted that National Safeguarding Week was taking place 13 – 17 November and MAWWS considering how best to publicise.

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That Cabinet accepts the safeguarding update in line with its safeguarding responsibilities.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business and this report provides assurance to Cabinet of work that is underway both locally and regionally on important safeguarding matters.

 

9.

Treasury Management Review 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the Treasury Management review for 2016/17. The Portfolio Holder for Finance paid tribute to the work of the Treasury Manager and her team.

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That the contents of the report are approved.

Statutory requirement

 

10.

Treasury Management Report for Quarter 1 pdf icon PDF 179 KB

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet received the Treasury Management report for quarter 1.

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That  the Treasury Management Quarterly Report be received

To ensure Cabinet remains informed about current Treasury Management performance

 

11.

Growing Mid Wales Partnership Minutes pdf icon PDF 322 KB

To receive for information the draft minutes of the last meeting of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership meeting held on 28th July 2017.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the draft minutes of the last meeting of the Growing Mid Wales Partnership held on 28th July 2017. The partnership with Ceredigion County Council, Welsh Government and private and public sectors sought to promote the region’s interests and priorities for economic development. It was agreed that Cllr Jonathan Wilkinson as Portfolio Holder for Housing and Countryside Services should be invited to future meetings.

 

The Leader also reported that she and members of the Cabinet had held a very useful meeting with Jake Berry MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government to discuss cross border co-operation.

 

12.

Correspondence

To receive such correspondence as in the opinion of the Leader is of such urgency as to warrant consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of correspondence reported.

 

 

13.

Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Minutes:

Cabinet received details of delegated decisions taken by Portfolio Holders since the last meeting.

14.

Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

Minutes:

Cabinet received for the forward work programme and were reminded of the need to populate from December on. The Portfolio Holder for Education advised that was unable to be present at the next meeting on 10th October and that any reports coming forward in her name would be deferred until 7th November. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care advised that there would need to be a report on residential care homes in the next few months.

15.

Exempt Items

The Monitoring Officer has determined that category 3 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules applies to the following items. His view on the public interest test (having taken account of the provisions of Rule 14.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

These factors in his view outweigh the public interest in disclosing this information. Members are asked to consider these factors when determining the public interest test, which they must decide when considering excluding the public from this part of the meeting.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED to exclude the public for the following item of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under category 3 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).

 

16.

Cultural Hub - Update Report

To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Property and Waste.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report on the costs of the Cultural Hub which had been examined by the team overseeing the project. The majority of costs around significant work had been verified and a funding shortfall of £481,899 identified which it was recommended should be funded from the capital budget. The Cabinet was reassured by the work undertaken by the project team overseen by the Project Board in identifying the costs.

 

The Leader advised that a topping out ceremony had been arranged for 27th  October and she asked for all Cabinet members and Brecknockshire County Councillors to receive an invitation to attend. She also announced that the name of the cultural hub would be Y Gaer.

 

 

RESOLVED

Reason for Decision:

That the funding shortfall of £481,899.00 based upon known costs is funded from the Capital budget

To ensure the project is funded to enable continuation to completion.

 

17.

Community Asset Transfer, Newtown

To consider a report by County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Property and Waste.

Minutes:

The Leader advised that this report was being withdrawn to allow for further discussion.

 

Children’s Services

The Chief Executive gave an update on the CSSIW inspection of Children’s Services.