Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Apologies
To receive apologies for absence.
Minutes:
Apologies received: G Breeze.
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2. |
Disclosures of Interest
To receive any disclosures of interests by
Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.
Minutes:
There were no disclosures of interest by
Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.
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3. |
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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4. |
Draft 2025-2026 Budget
To scrutinise the Draft Medium-Term Financial
Strategy 2025-2030, Draft 2025-26 Budget and Capital Programme for
2025-2030.
Attached, in relation to the Cabinet’s
Budget proposals to Council are the following documents:
Minutes:
General
The Committee noted, observed, or requested
that:
- The budget was balanced between
further efficiencies and protecting services residents depend
upon.
- All services were doing as much as
possible to make savings where possible.
- The Council were awaiting National
Insurance settlement information from Welsh Government
- The Workforce and Development Plan
demonstrated demands on staffing and related issues. Vacancy
management provided an overview for wages and inflation assumptions
to be forecast in the budget.
- Number of roles to be reduced was
constantly evolving with limited agency staff usage.
- Second and empty homes in Powys
could bring in an income, however significant challenges and notice
had to be provided to change a premium and was suggested to
evaluate impacts across Wales before a decision was made.
Highways, Transport
and Recycling
The Committee noted, observed, or requested
that:
- Page 153 ( appendix F) –
Sustainable Powys public transport had Welsh Government funding set
aside to enhance the service and to ensure communities were kept
mobile.
- A staffing and back-office
restructure would be undertaken to ensure consistency across the
service area. Artificial Intelligence would be reviewed to
determine how it could provide support to staff.
- Part of the transformation fund an
additional role was added to help the Councils journey through net
zero around electric vehicle education, infrastructure and on
street parking.
- Certain grant funding was set aside
for statutory services including ‘Rights of Way’
and investment would be made into
bridges to avoid legal action.
- All possible avenues were explored
to ensure school transport continued during road closures including
trains. Work with Transport of Wales ensured limited closures.
- Waste Awareness Officers supported
and guided residents with recycling and advising that recycling
bins were to be put out for collection every week.
- Profit sharing agreement was an open
book approach, If a contractor made a profit over and above the
submitted price, it was shared 50/50 with the Council.
- Page 153 ( appendix F) – the
adjusted base budget stayed in place for the service until it was
suggested it was removed as a cost reduction.
- Longer term investment and
adaptations to flooding were needed.
- More information was needed around
the public transport budget element as it was unclear how it would
be sustainable for the Council. Work
was ongoing with Welsh Government, Transport for Wales and
partners.
- Page 22 (item 3.77 table 5) –
HTR had significant budget pressures and explained that all
services had been tasked to keep services to a minimum to reduce
costs. A wide variety of areas were being investigated including
Trunk Road Agency efficiencies and a resource strategy for
recycling currently out for engagement.
Planning, &
Regulatory Services
The Committee noted, observed, or requested
that:
- Neuadd Brycheiniog be considered for
social housing due to homelessness pressures. A paper providing all
options would be available later in the year.
- The Gwalia building had been sold
without contents which had been reused, recycled and reduced and
importantly stressed that it was not sold under pressure with a
full asset review imminent. ...
view the full minutes text for item 4.
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5. |
Reports PDF 108 KB
Report Title
|
Appendix
|
Scrutiny Report – Budget
Questions
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Attached
|
Cabinet report to
provide the overall context for the budget setting
process
|
Attached
|
ERC Scrutiny 2025-26 PowerPoint
|
Attached
|
Medium Term
Financial Strategy 2025-2030
|
A
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Finance Resource Model
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B
|
Cost
Reductions
|
C
|
Fees and Charges Report 2025
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D
|
Fees and Charges
Register
|
E
|
Council Pressures
|
F
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Reserves
Policy
|
G
|
Capital and Treasury Management Strategy
2025-2030
|
H
|
Impact
Assessments
|
I
(4.2)
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Additional documents:
Minutes:
|
6. |
Impact Assessment PDF 658 KB
Impact Assessment – Overarching Council
Budget Proposal
|
Appendix I
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Minutes:
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7. |
Scrutiny Recommendations
To consider and confirm the Scrutiny Committee
recommendations to Cabinet on the Draft 2025-2026 Budget.
Minutes:
Increases for public transport and in
particular bus services, following concerns were highlighted:
·
Future risks around grant funding and how long contracts may have
to be set for.
·
Rural transport would be key in realising many of the aims of
‘Sustainable Powys’.
·
Train travel was a viable option for in-county travel and should
not be ignored in future appraisals.
·
The proposed budget increase was significant, and the committee
would welcome more information on what the outputs from such a rise
in costs would be.
Scrutiny’s
Recommendation to Cabinet
|
Accept
(plus, Action &
timescale)
|
Partially
Accept
(plus, Rationale, Action
& timescale)
|
Reject
(plus,
Rationale)
|
1.
High-level conversations were requested to be pursued with relevant
bodies to discuss and call for options that may lead to the Fire
Authorities budget requests being met directly through their own
mechanism for council tax precept levies, as was the case for the
Police and Town and Community Councils. A clear narrative for those
with council tax bills how their bill is made up clearly showing
the element that relates to the Fire authority.
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2.
Support was given to increase public transport; however, the
committee were unable to agree the budget line as more information
was required about the source of the funding.
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3.
An advertising campaign be considered to ensure residents are fully
aware of all council services offered (especially the financial
support team).
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4.
Review be conducted on the co-location of services to identify
additional savings.
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5.
For a report on all asset sales/ disposals and Community Asset
Transfers to be provided to ERC for scrutiny.
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6.
Review on empty and second homes to be conducted and to evaluate
impacts across Wales to determine if the council could increase
income.
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7.
Reinforce that the shared prosperity fund is vital to be received
by third parties.
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