Venue: Committee Room A - County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. View directions
Contact: Stephen Boyd 01597 826374
No. | Item | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor AW Davies, leader of the Conservative group and County Councillor CJ Gibson-Watt, leader of the Liberal-Democrat group. |
|||||
To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13th September as a correct record. Minutes: The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 13th September 2016 as a correct record. |
|||||
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. |
|||||
Draft One Powys Plan Annual Performance Evaluation 2015-16 PDF 107 KB To consider a report by the Leader, County Councillor Barry Thomas. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet received the draft One Powys Plan Annual Performance Evaluation for 2015-16. Cabinet felt that the self assessments were very honest and they thanked the officers involved in drafting the document.
|
|||||
Proposals for improvement to Performance Reporting and Evaluation PDF 86 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Performance. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet considered new arrangements for performance reporting and evaluation to offer a ‘joined up’ view of performance and a clear picture of performance in delivering against the Council’s key strategic priorities. The Strategic Overview Board chaired by the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Performance would act as the Council’s performance management board. The Chairs of the Scrutiny Committees expressed discontent that the proposal did not offer an external challenge and indicated that they may set up their own arrangements for monitoring performance.
|
|||||
Financial Overview and Forecast as at 31st July 2016 PDF 232 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: Cabinet considered the budget outturn report for the period ended 31 July. The report confirmed the serious financial position the Portfolio Holder for Finance had reported at the last meeting. The Chief Executive reported that following the decision taken at the last meeting, services were working on their budget recovery plans. Work was being undertaken to identify what was overspending by services and what was unachieved savings carried forward. Once Management Team had completed this work a report would be brought to Cabinet to consider how to put a stop to ongoing overspends. The Chief Executive also drew members’ attention to the projected pupil numbers which estimated a further 400 secondary school pupils lost by 2019 and the impact of this on school finances which would require political decisions to address. The Portfolio Holder for Finance reminded members that despite the financial pressures the Council was facing, it was the 4th best improving council in Wales, with improvements in 26 of 40 measures, while at the same time delivering substantial savings.
|
|||||
Iceland Bank Deposits PDF 89 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: Cabinet received details of the final position of the Council’s investment of £4,000,000 with two Icelandic banks. The Portfolio Holder advised that taking into account interest received the final amount received was £4,124,713. Cabinet recorded its thanks to the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the officers involved for recovering the Council’s investment. In terms of lessons learned, the Treasury Management Strategy was reviewed annually but Members were reminded that there were no risk free investments. The Strategic Director Resources advised that returns were now so low that for the first time next year’s budget would not include any cash income from investments.
County Councillor RG Brown abstained having missed part of the debate. |
|||||
Household Waste Recycling Centre Review - Consultation on Future Options PDF 88 KB To consider a report by County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability. Minutes: The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability reminded Cabinet that Council agreed in principle in February 2015 to close two of the five Household Waste Recycling Centre sites from April 2017 to realise a saving of £700,000. It was proposed to consult on a range of options from reducing opening hours to closure of two of the sites. Cabinet questioned why some options were being consulted upon when they would not deliver the required level of savings and the Portfolio Holder explained that the service may have to consider a combination of options to make the required savings. The consultation would make it clear that £700,000 savings would have to be found. Members asked that consideration also be given to the introduction of a nominal charge for the use of the HWRCs. A number of Members raised concerns over the potential of flytipping if centres closed.
|
|||||
To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on lessons learned and actions taken to respond to weaknesses identified during the investigation of inappropriate use of delegated budgets and non-compliance of policy by governing bodies. Members welcomed the report.
|
|||||
Ysgol Bro Hyddgen and Use of Delegated Funds for School Transport PDF 97 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance and County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education. Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on the transport of approximately 10 pupils from out of the county to Ysgol Bro Hyddgen that was contrary to the Council’s policy. Cabinet was advised that an investigation would be carried out in-house as the previous inquiry carried out by the independent barrister had set the parameters and these did not have to be gone over again. The Chief Executive advised that he had met the Chair of Governors and the Headteacher who had confirmed that they would take steps to comply with the policy. The Solicitor to the Council advised that he had now received details of the barrister’s costs of the Llanfyllin High School investigation and that he would forward these to Councillor Sandra Davies as previously requested.
|
|||||
Llanidloes High School and Use of Delegated Funds for School Transport PDF 98 KB To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance and County Councillor Arwel Jones, Portfolio Holder for Education.
Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on the transport of approximately 31 pupils from Newtown to Llanidloes High School in contravention of the Council’s policy.
|
|||||
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. |
|||||
Delegated Decisions Taken Since the Last Meeting PDF 38 KB To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. Minutes: Cabinet received for information details of delegated decisions taken since the last meeting. |
|||||
Forward Work Programme PDF 60 KB To consider the Cabinet forward work programme. Minutes: Cabinet noted the forward work programme. |
|||||
Exempt Items The Monitoring Officer has determined that categories 1 & 5 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 11.8 of the Council's Access to Information Rules) was that to make this information public would disclose information relating to:
(i) information relating to a particular individual
(ii) Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.
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 items of business on the grounds that there would be disclosure to them of exempt information under categories 1, 15 & 16 of The Local Authorities (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007).
|
|||||
Powys Library Service - options for a sustainable future and achievement of financial targets under medium term financial plan To consider a report by County Councillor Graham Brown, Portfolio Holder for Commissioning and Procurement. Additional documents:
Minutes:
Cabinet considered a report on the library service and the need to meet the savings targets of £100,000 in 2017/18 and £150,000 in 2018/19. The report set out details of negotiations undertaken with Town Councils to see whether local communities would be willing to take on the running of branch libraries, or contribute towards their direct costs on a 50% basis. Firm proposals had been received from Crickhowell High School, Presteigne & Norton Town Council and Knighton Community Centre and Knighton Town Council and partial agreement had been reached with the majority of the others. It was proposed that in those cases where confirmation had not been received by 31st October 2016, consultation on closure now takes place, and the offer of 50% funding from the library service withdrawn. Further discussion would be around complete community delivery or closure only. However, should a clear and viable proposal be put forward up to 31st October 2016, it was proposed that Portfolio Holder be given delegated authority to determine its viability, in consultation with the service and Strategic Director, and subject to an adequate business case being presented. “One off costs” to deliver these options would funded from reserves or management of change funding, to be determined by the Section 151 Officer. The length of the deal with community partners would be commensurate with Community Delivery, i.e. 5 years, subject to break clauses and reviews.
Members paid tribute to the Leisure and Recreation Services Manager and Principal Librarian for all their work in trying to reach agreements with Town Councils.
|
|||||
Equal Pay Settlement To consider a report by County Councillor Wynne Jones, Portfolio Holder for Finance and County Councillor John Powell, Portfolio Holder for HR. Additional documents:
Minutes: Cabinet considered a confidential report on equal pay claims.
|