Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from the Chief Executive and the Director of Education.

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 15 October 2024 as a correct record.

The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 29^th October 2024.

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 Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys.

Cabinet considered the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for the adopted Powys Local Development Plan for 2024.

The AMR demonstrated that the adopted LDP was largely continuing to deliver and meet the monitoring targets, with 40 of the 62 monitoring indicators showing positive policy implementation. 

Cabinet noted that 264 new dwellings had been completed in the monitoring period of which 97 were for affordable dwellings. This was lower than in the previous year and it was unlikely that the adopted LDP’s dwelling requirement figure of 4,500 new dwellings would be achieved over the Plan period (2011 – 2026). The issue of phosphates was holding up development in areas such as the Wye Valley and officers outlined the steps that were being taken to address this. The Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys advised that the Planning service met agents and developers four times a year to discuss issues. 

RESOLVED to approve the Annual Monitoring Report 2024 in Appendix 1 of the report with Annex 1 (Appendix 1a) and Annex 2 (Appendix 1b) in order for the AMR to be submitted to the Welsh Government by 31st October 2024 in accordance with the relevant legislation. It will be published concurrently on the Council’s website.

To receive and consider the Corporate Safeguarding Board activity report.

Cabinet considered the Corporate Safeguarding Board activity report. The Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys advised that he had attended the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee which had considered the report and had been able to give the Committee an assurance that the Board did look in depth at the issues raised in the report.

To consider a report by County Councillor David Thomas, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation.

Cabinet considered a report setting out the case for the Ystradgynlais locality to be included as a core area based on the size of its population, deprivation rates and travel times.

County Councillor Baynham, the joint leader of the opposition, challenged the proposal and called on the Cabinet to halt Sustainable Powys and begin discussions with Town and Community Councils. The Leader rejected Councillor Baynham’s assertions about the reasons why Ystradgynlais was being made a core area. Cabinet was advised that a series of meetings were being set up with Town and Community Councils in November.

                        RESOLVED to include Ystradgynlais locality as a core area.

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Annual Letter 2023/24

Cabinet considered the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Annual Report for 2023/24. The Ombudsman had received 54 complaints about Powys County Council and closed 53 of them. 18 recommendations had been made and 31% had been complied with within the timescales agreed. The others had been complied with outside the timescales agreed or remained outstanding. To improve this performance, the Corporate Leadership Team had agreed that Ombudsman recommendations would be added to the regulatory tracker. The Monitoring Officer was asked to update Cabinet at the next meeting on the number of recommendations yet to be actioned.

The Monitoring Officer was also asked to raise with the Ombudsman and the Standards Committee the use of the term “censure” in relation to the ruling of the Standards Committee on the conduct of a member as it was not clear to the public what this meant.

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Delegated decisions taken by Cabinet Members were noted.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

Cabinet noted the forward work programme.