Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Corporate Plan and Performance (copy enclosed) detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed budget strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       notes the budgets set for 2016/17 and progress against the agreed budget strategy;

(b)       approves the transfer of £1m from the Corporate and Miscellaneous budget to the Budget Mitigation Reserve in order to facilitate the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan which requires an additional cash contribution of £1m for 2018/19 in order to mitigate and smooth the effects of the projected funding reductions over a number of years, and

(c)        having considered the Strategic Investment Group’s recommendations with regard to the Ysgol Llanfair 21st Century Schools project, Cabinet –

·         supports the submission of a Business Case for Ysgol Llanfair (Appendix 5 to the report) new school building to the Welsh Government

·         formally approves the overall budget of £5.369m as detailed in the business case

·         supports in principle the proposed purchase of land at Llanfair to facilitate the development of the new school.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report detailing the latest financial position and service budgets for 2016/17.  He provided a summary of the Council’s financial position as follows –

·        a net underspend of £1.070m was forecast for service and corporate budgets

·        68% of savings had been achieved to date (target £5.2m) with a further 2% making good progress; 25% would be deferred and achieved in 2017/18 with only 5% of savings not being achieved within the timeframe

·        highlighted current risks and assumptions relating to individual service areas

·        a general update on the Housing Revenue Account, Housing Capital Plan and the Capital Plan (including the Corporate Plan element).

Cabinet was also asked to approve the transfer of £1m from the Corporate and Miscellaneous budget to the Budget Mitigation Reserve to facilitate the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan together with the Strategic Investment Group’s recommendations with regard to the Ysgol Llanfair 21st Century Schools project.

The following matters were raised during debate –

·         the Leader was pleased to note progression of the business case for Ysgol Llanfair and stressed the importance of ensuring those involved were provided with regular updates.  Officers provided assurances that there was regular communication with the Governing Body and following Cabinet approval of the project recommendations a clear timescale would be developed and shared.  The Governing Body had already been engaged in the early design stages for the new school building.  It was agreed that Cabinet’s decision with regard to the Ysgol Llanfair project be subject to a press release

·         it was agreed that reference to Pentrecelyn be removed from future reports on this item and that individual report recommendations be numbered appropriately

·         reference was made to the Education Secretary’s views in supporting small rural schools and whether there would be an impact on the Council’s school reorganisation proposals as a result of her recent announcement.  Councillor Eryl Williams advised that those issues would be subject to further debate at the appropriate time as part of future areas reviews and when considering Band B proposals as part of the 21st Century Schools Programme.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       notes the budgets set for 2016/17 and progress against the agreed budget strategy;

(b)       approves the transfer of £1m from the Corporate and Miscellaneous budget to the Budget Mitigation Reserve in order to facilitate the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Plan which requires an additional cash contribution of £1m for 2018/19 in order to mitigate and smooth the effects of the projected funding reductions over a number of years, and

(c)        having considered the Strategic Investment Group’s recommendations with regard to the Ysgol Llanfair 21st Century Schools project, Cabinet –

·         supports the submission of a Business Case for Ysgol Llanfair (Appendix 5 to the report) new school building to the Welsh Government

·         formally approves the overall budget of £5.369m as detailed in the business case

·         supports in principle the proposed purchase of land at Llanfair to facilitate the development of the new school.