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Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor J Wilkinson and from County Councillors I McIntosh (Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Planning and Housing) and B Baynham (Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Engagement and Regulatory Services) |
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Disclosures of Interest To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: The Committee received the following disclose of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting:
County Councillor J Pugh disclosed a Personal and non Prejudicial interest in Item 5 (Accommodation in Powys for Asylum Seekers) as one of his businesses involved property letting. |
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Declaration of Party Whips To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.) Minutes: The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011. |
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Revenue and Capital Forecast as at 30th June 2021. PDF 549 KB To receive and consider the Revenue and Capital Forecast as at 30th June, 2021 together with an update from Heads of Service. Additional documents: Minutes: · Revenue and Capital Forecast as at 30th June 2021.
Issues Discussed: · At Quarter 1 the projected position was a £700k surplus. There are a number of elements in the report showing the delivery of cost reductions. At that point 30% were achieved, 51% assured, and 19% were now considered to be unachievable. Appendices A and B give more detail around each service.
· Highways, Transport and Recycling
· Q1 was showing a net deficit of over £1m, but this has improved in Q2 to a deficit of £663k due to additional support from the Welsh Government hardship fund. Covid has had an impact on the level of income possible and it is expected that there will be an overspend at year end, but the Service is working to reduce this. There are some opportunities in year to mitigate this in year by reducing services or spend but this is a last resort. · Of the unachieved savings the largest element is the £549k reduction in respect of transport. The pandemic has delayed this saving the Service is expecting to achieve £100k to £150k by year end. Bus routes will also be reviewed. There has been some pressure also in the waste service due to shuttling staff due to the social distancing requirements for operational staff. This week the Service has returned to three in a cab so the additional shuttling of staff is no longer required. Waste and transport are the areas with the greatest challenge to achieve savings, but some of these will need to be rolled forward. · The Portfolio Holder commented that improvements in the budget had been made since Q1 and changes including digital transformation were being considered. Operational changes were being considered as the Service was moving into the new centre at Abermule shortly.
· Questions:
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Accommodation in Powys for Asylum Seekers PDF 168 KB To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language and Economic Development, Housing and Planning and to make recommendations / observations to the Cabinet.
Additional documents:
Minutes: · Report of the Portfolio Holders for Adult Social Care and Welsh Language and Economic Development, Housing and Planning – Accommodation in Powys for Asylum Seekers.
The Chair welcomed Steve Lakey and Susan Lane (Clearsprings) together with Dr Ailsa Dunn (Hay, Brecon, Talgarth Sanctuary for Refugees) to the meeting.
Issues Discussed: · It is important to use every lever available to the Council to do all that it can to provide a good offer to migrants and asylum seekers. The Council is working with others to develop good plans to meet its obligations to assist people who face extreme difficulty. · The report is to seek Cabinet approval for the Council to work with the Home Office and its agent Clearsprings. The request is initially for six private family sized homes to be secured in Powys for asylum seekers. These properties would be sourced and managed on behalf of the Home Office by Clearsprings. · Where there is a decision to deny asylum this could have an impact on the Council. Community engagement is an important part of the proposal to ensure community cohesion although this proposal is on a much smaller scale than seen elsewhere in the UK. · Welsh Government has established a working group on which Powys is represented to draw up a common approach to the resettlement of asylum seekers. · Due to working with Syrian Refugees previously the Council has experience of resettling people from troubled regions and there are well established multi-agency networks in place to help support and advise as necessary. The Council's Education and Social Services teams and Powys Teaching Health Board have been involved. No concerns have been raised to date. Clearsprings have indicated that they would review the success of the project after twelve months. · This proposal will have no immediate demand on social housing and there will be minimal financial impact on the Council.
· Questions:
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Scrutiny Work Programme To note that future meetings of the Committee will be held as follows:
Minutes: The Committee noted that future meetings of the Committee would be held as follows:
The Committee also noted that a work planning meeting would be held on 18th November, 2021. Members were asked to consider the items for consideration at that meeting for addition to the work programme. A copy of the current reserve items would be circulated to the Committee. Working Groups should also be discussed at the meeting.
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