Agenda and draft minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors D Selby and J Brignell-Thorp (Cabinet Assistant).

To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 25^th March 2025 as a correct record.

The Leader was authorised to sign the minutes of the last meeting held on 25^th March 2025 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 David Thomas, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation.

Cabinet received the financial forecast for the year ended 31^st March 2025 as at 28^th February 2025. The Leader noted a correction required in paragraph 5.2.3 in respect of HM Prison and Probation Service. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Transformation and officers were congratulated on delivering the budget on track with a small projected underspend.

Cabinet noted the importance of services delivering agreed cost reductions or, where this was not possible, alternative savings. The impact of any potential trade war in respect of interest rates and increased costs was being monitored.

The report set out details of grants received and virements required.

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet notes the current budget position and the projected full year forecast to the end of March 2025.

2.    That the grants set out in Appendix C of the report are noted.

3.    That the virements set out in section 5.2 of the report are approved. 

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

Cabinet considered an update on the financial position of the Council’s capital programme for 2024/25 as at 28^th February 2025. The Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys apologised that the anticipated level of capital receipts had not been achieved. He would be looking to improve this in 2025/26 and had proposed bringing sales information to Cabinet on a monthly basis.

The report also set out details of budget virements requiring Cabinet approval.

                     RESOLVED

1.    That the contents of this report are noted.

2.    That the virements in section 5 of the report are approved by Cabinet.

To consider a report by County Councillor Jake Berriman, Cabinet Member for a Connected Powys.

Cabinet considered a revised Corporate Complaints Policy. The Policy had been considered by the Governance and Audit Committee. A report on lessons learned from past complaints would be brought forward to Cabinet later in the year.

          RESOLVED to approve the revised corporate complaints policy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. 

To consider a report by the Leader, County Councillor James Gibson-Watt.

Cabinet considered proposals to progress the Marches Forward Partnership with Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys and Shropshire Councils.   This was an informal partnership between the four local authorities focusing on three priorities:

1. A high productivity city, town and rural based economy
2. A green economy trailblazer economy
3. Healthy and connected places.

To achieve the proposed collective ambition, and commitment to drive economic growth and prosperity across national boundaries, the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP) was seeking funding for a £440 million real terms revenue and capital investment programme over the next 15 years, supported by £1.5 million of capacity funding over the next three years from the UK and Welsh Governments. The capacity funding would be utilised to set up a dedicated Marches Programme Development Office to enable co-working, programme development and governance arrangements.

The Leader confirmed that as this was an informal partnership, decisions would be made by the constituent councils. He also confirmed that a Scrutiny mechanism would be developed. The Cabinet Assistant for the Nature Emergency asked for a definition of the growth the partnership was looking to achieve and the Director of Economic Development and Growth advised that this would be defined in the Green Growth Development Strategy. The proposal was welcomed by the Cabinet members and by County Councillor Baynham.

                     RESOLVED

1.      To approve the ‘Marches Proposition’, in Appendix 3, as the agreed vision and collective ambition for the Marches Forward Partnership. 

2.      To take forward the informal governance arrangements, set out within Appendix 2 of the Marches Proposition, as a basis for collective delivery and resourcing.

To note the delegated decisions taken since the last meeting.

Cabinet noted the delegated decisions taken by Cabinet Members since the last meeting.

To consider the Cabinet forward work programme.

Cabinet noted the forward work programme.

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.

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).

To consider a report by County Councillor Pete Roberts, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys.

Cabinet considered the submission of a revised Outline Business Case (OBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to construct a new 120 place primary school to replace Sennybridge C.P. School’s current building. The proposal would also move the school along the Welsh language continuum.

Cabinet noted that this would be a very significant investment in the community supported by the place-based planning model.

Cabinet sought assurance on the controls that would be put in place for oversight and delivery of the contract, the escalation process, financial management and performance. Officers gave assurance that if there were any issues with the delivery of the contract these would be escalated through the Transforming Education Programme Board and the Capital Oversight Board. Cabinet also asked about the Active Travel Plan and the Head of Transforming Education advised she would bring the Active Travel Plan to Cabinet in the next few months along with the Community Benefits Plan.

County Councillor Edwin Roderick spoke in favour of the proposal as the local member noting that he had been campaigning for investment in the school for years. He advised that in the discussions he had been having locally there was support for moving the school along the Welsh language continuum, but he asked that this be done in stages. 

RESOLVED

1.    To submit the revised Outline Business Case (OBC) to the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme for investment to develop a new 120 place primary school to replace Sennybridge C.P. School’s current building.

2.    To develop an options paper to explore moving the school along the Welsh language continuum. Discussions with the school to take place to support this work. If required, a proposal paper will be brought back for Cabinet consideration in due course.