Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Phyl Davies and Heulwen Hulme.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 361 KB

To authorise the Leader to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 3rd November and 10th November as correct records.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on 3rd and 10th November 2020.

 

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.

Council Tax Base for 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 470 KB

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

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the Council Tax base for 2021-22. Cabinet was advised that the estimated collection rate was 98.4%,a reduction of 0.1% to that used within 2020-21 calculation. This had been reduced having regard to the current on-going pandemic and impact this would have on collection of Council Tax during 2021-22.

                                                          

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    That the calculation of the Council Tax Base for the whole of its area for the year 2021-22 of 62,584.26 be approved, and

 

2.    That the calculation of the Council Tax Base for each Town and Community Council contained within 4.2 of the report, be approved to meet the legal requirement of the Council to set a Council Tax Base for 2021-22.

 

5.

School Budgets 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 947 KB

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

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report on school budget positions for 2020-21. Cumulative school deficits had been recognized as a significant risk to the Authority’s finances and had been highlighted as a significant concern by Estyn  Warning notices had been issued to schools projecting deficits of greatest concern in July 2019 and since then these schools had been working with Schools Service, Challenge Advisers, HR and Finance officers to put recovery plans in place to improve their budget positions. Whilst the Covid-19 pandemic had impacted on the delivery of recovery plans, the co-operation between Governing Bodies, Headteachers and officers of the Authority and the additional funding put into schools by the Cabinet was starting to show benefits. As at 31st March 2020 the total cumulative reserve for schools was in a deficit position of £910k, an in-year improvement of £2,258m on the position in May 2019. All bar one of the secondary schools were close to breaking even and there were plans to invest in and reconfigure that school.

 

Cabinet noted the report and commented that grants should be considered cautiously when included in schools budget plans.

 

6.

Treasury Management Quarter 2 Report pdf icon PDF 645 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the Treasury Management report for the second quarter of 2020/21. The Head of Finance reported that the council did not currently hold significant levels of investment as interest rates were so low, the Council was currently using cash to support the capital programme rather than undertaking borrowing and incurring additional cost.

 

RESOLVED that the report be received.

 

7.

Delegated Decisions pdf icon PDF 243 KB

To note the delegated decisions taken by Portfolio Holders.

Minutes:

Cabinet received for information details of delegated decisions taken in the last two months.

8.

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).

 

9.

Partnership Working in Brecon

To consider a report by County Councillor Rachel Powell, Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture and County Councillor Phyl Davies, Portfolio Holder for Education and Property.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the confidential report.

 

                        RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report.