Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service.

To receive.

        Apologies for absence were received from Councillors

      P. Baldwin, H. Cunningham, D. Davies and J. Millard.

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations made.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Members considered the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Option 2 be endorsed, namely:

-        The register of Fees & Charges for 2024/2025 be approved together with the following discretionary fees & charges:

·       a fee uplift of 5% in line with the assumption for inflation within the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS);

·       the alternative fees proposed as detailed in paragraphs 5.1.4 to 5.1.14 of the report; and

·       Planning Fees as attached at Appendix 2.

-        Delegated power and responsibility be granted to the Interim Director of Social Services for setting the fees and charges for 2024/2025 relating to the provision of external social care as detailed in paragraph 5.1.6 of the report.

-        The core price increases relating to Aneurin Leisure Trust attached at Appendix 3 be approved.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

Bridging the Gap Business Cases

The Leader of the Council proposed that the following be agreed:

Ø CS01 – Members Allowances – To reduce the budget for Employers Superannuation Contributions - £12,000.

Ø CS03 – Resources Department – Review of staffing structures - £157,000.

Ø CS04 – Budget reductions to Inflationary Increases & Transformation Budgets, reduction to inflationary uplifts to supplies & services across all portfolio budgets and increase to grant income for Universal free school meals - £1,946,000.

Ø CS05 - CCTV - Budget Review and reduction to staffing budget & supplies and services to reflect expenditure - £40,173.

Ø CS07 - Corporate Services / Commercial and Customer – Departmental Review of staffing Structures - £347,100.

Ø CS09 - Corporate & Performance - Review and reduction of staffing budgets to reflect reduced contractual hours - £22,100.

Ø CS10 - Every service would be required to achieve budget reductions of 1% in addition to the other budget proposals - £1,000,000.

Ø CS11 - Increase Discretionary Fees & Charges by a minimum of 5% - £100,000.

Ø CS12 - Increase council tax by 4.95% - £361,000.

Ø CS14 – Co-opted Members Allowances - Reduce budget to reflect expenditure - £12,000.

Ø ECON02 - Economy / Business & Regeneration – maximisation of grant funding - £17,000.

Ø ECON03 - Review of Service Delivery / Alternative Service Delivery / Income Generation - £50,000.

ØED02 - 10% reduction in the contribution to the EAS - £34,000.

ØED04 - Cash flat Management Fee to Aneurin Leisure Trust - £135,670.

Ø ED05 - Schools Budget - Cash flat / Budget cut to Individual Schools Budget - (ISB) - £1,051,000. However, specific cost pressures totalling £864,000 (ALN provision, increase in pupil numbers and the new Welsh School) were agreed which would equate in effect to a 1.6% uplift to the ISB (Individual School’s Budget) and would be funded by the Council.

Ø ED06 - Review of Staffing Budgets & maximisation of grant funding - £107,460.

Ø ENV01 - Public Protection - Review of Staffing Structures - £100,000.

Ø ENV09 - Trade Waste - Increase Trade Waste prices to Businesses by 5% - £2,220.

Ø ENV11 - Waste Services - Charging an Admin Fee related to delivering replacement Residual Bins and Recycling Bags – this proposal would be implemented on a trial basis in order that its implementation could be monitored and evaluated - £3,662.

Ø ENV12 - Household Waste Recycling Centres - Review of operating days /hours this proposal would be implemented on a trial basis in order that its implementation could be monitored and evaluated - £34,000.

Ø ENV15 - Review of Staffing Budget - Budget reduction relating to a deleted post - £45,000.

Ø SS01 - Adult Services - Newly created Social Care and Housing Support Commissioning Service - £57,000.

Ø SS02 - Adult Services - Rationalisation/Reduction of Staffing Levels- £113,000.

Ø SS04 - Adult Services - Reduction in domicillary care Packages through improved quality assurance measures -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.