Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Rosemarie Harris and Phyl Davies.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 15^th January 2019 as a correct record.

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

There were no declarations of interest reported.

To consider a report by County Councillor Aled Davies, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Countryside and Transport. Comments from the Finance Scrutiny Panel will follow.

Cabinet considered the budget for 2019 - 2020, the medium term financial strategy for 2019 – 2024 and the capital programme for 2019 – 2024 (copy filed with the signed minutes).

The Portfolio Holder for Finance advised that the budget attempted to protect the services valued by residents and prioritised the council’s Vision 2025. It maintained the funding for developing key priorities within Vision 2025 such as the mid-Wales Growth Deal, building 250 extra homes and using the council’s spend to support county businesses with greater use of the Powys pound. An additional £1m would be passed on to schools delegated budgets and the budget also protected the investment made in Children’s and Adults services. It was recognised that the council of the past was no longer affordable and  significant changes were being made by transformational changes to the council’s operating model. The budget did not rely on reserves or one-off sources of funding. The level of reserves was assessed as being at an acceptable level and in line with the Council’s policy of maintaining a 3% minimum general fund reserves. The Portfolio Holder for Finance referred to the CIPFA independent assessment which found that the council had appropriate procedures in place to set a robust budget but which had noted risks, particularly the achievement of savings.

County Councillor John Morris presented the findings of the Finance Scrutiny Panel. The Panel viewed the proposed budget as the highest risk they had looked at and had concerns over its deliverability. The Panel was concerned that the role of the Improvement and Assurance Board and its focus on social care had led to enormous budget pressures on other services. The Panel considered that a lack of pace of transformation was a risk and that not enough use had been made of capital receipts to fund transformation. The Panel welcomed the new schools funding formula but regarded schools deficits as a major risk and questioned whether the current mix of schools was affordable.

In response, Cabinet was advised that a small number of schools was skewing the overall position. The Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language did not regard the new funding formula as a replacement for transformation. It was acknowledged that there were significant risks in the budget but all Welsh councils were facing similar challenges. An additional £2.5m was being put into reserves to meet potential challenges next year. There were tight rules on the use of capital receipts which could only be used for existing budgets. Transformation had started and the Council would be significantly smaller as a result.

To consider a report by County Councillor James Evans, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Housing and Public Protection.

Cabinet considered Council Housing Rents, Garage Rents and all property and tenancy related service charges.  It was proposed that with effect from April 2019 the average rent in Powys increase by 2.4% + £1.30. The effect of this is that rent increase for:

·       3518 homes the increase is greater than 2.4% but less than 2.4% + £1.30 per week

·       174 homes the increase is greater than 2.4% + £1.30 but less than 2.4% + £2.00 per week

·       1608 homes the increase will be 2.4% plus £2.00 a week.

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

Cabinet considered a proposal to establish a Local Authority Trading Company to allow the commercial trading of council activities within the public and private sectors. The Articles of Association would be broadly drafted to give flexibility in the services that could be included. Approval was also being sought to complete a business case to establish if the current activity within the Heart of Wales Business Solutions (HWBS) is the first area to transfer into the LATC.

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

Cabinet considered the financial outturn report for the period ended 31^st December 2018.

The Chair of the Finance Panel advised that the Panel would be regularly monitoring these reports to look at how overspends were being tackled.

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

Cabinet considered the Capital Programme update for the period ended 31^st December 2018.

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

Cabinet considered the Treasury Management report for Quarter 3.

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture.

Cabinet considered the Annual Report from the Welsh Government on the Library Service, for the year 2017-18, as required under the Welsh Public Library Standards. Powys Library Service had met 11 of the 12 core entitlements in full, and partially achieved the 12th. The service had met 5 of the quality indicators in full, 1 in part, and failed to meet four.

County Councillor Pete Roberts outlined the three recommendations from the Scrutiny review. A written response was required within 2 months.

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

Cabinet considered an update report on day time activities for older people. The report outlined the work undertaken to date and the planned future work to ensure that the service was provided and sustainable at a reduced cost.  The report also described work undertaken with 3^rd sector day services for older people. The Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care acknowledged the importance of the centres in providing respite for carers. He noted that some of the changes outlined in the report depended on the Capital budget being approved by Council.

To consider a report by the Director of Social Services.

Cabinet considered the 6 monthly report from the Chair of the Corporate Safeguarding Group.

To consider a report by the Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board.

Cabinet considered the report of the Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board.

To receive for information the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board meetings held on 29^th November 2018 and 9^th January 2019.

The Cabinet received the minutes of the Improvement and Assurance Board held on 29^th November 2018 and 9^th January 2019.

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

There were no items of correspondence.

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Cabinet noted the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

Cabinet received the forward work programme. The Chair reminded Portfolio Holders and officers of keeping the programme up to date to assist Scrutiny with its work.

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.

Cabinet was advised that the confidential report was being withdrawn so there was no need to pass the resolution.

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

This item was deferred.