Agenda and decisions

There were no apologies.

No declarations of interest had been raised.

No urgent matters had been raised.

To receive the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 January 2025 (copy enclosed). 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2025 be received and confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report by Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval of the draft interim statement on the authority’s response to the current consultation on the National Park Proposal.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      agrees the interim statement as presented in Appendix 1 to the report, and

(b)      approves the interim statement as the authority’s response to the current National Resources Wales consultation on the National Park proposal.

To consider a report by Councillor Julie Matthews, Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities (copy enclosed) presenting the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) Annual Letter for consideration and seeking Cabinet’s agreement to report back to the PSOW on any considerations and proposed actions as a result of the Annual Letter.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      considered the data in the letter, alongside the Council’s data, to understand more about performance complaints, including any patterns or trends and the organisation’s compliance with recommendations made by the Ombudsman, and

(b)      agreed that any considerations and proposed actions as a result of the PSOW Annual Letter were reported back to the PSOW at the earliest opportunity.

To consider a report by Councillor Julie Matthews, Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities (copy enclosed) detailing the changes to the Contract Procedure Rules to align with the Procurement Act 2023 to enable continuation of compliant procurement across the Council.

RESOLVED that Cabinet acknowledge the changes to the Contract Procedure Rules to enable continuation of complaint procurement across the Council.

To consider a report by Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s review and approval of the Council’s statutory response to the PPA report and actions it intends to take and recommendation of the same to Council for approval.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      note and welcome the Panel Performance Assessment Report (Appendix 1 to the report);

(b)      reviewed and approves the statutory statements (Section 4.7 and 4.8 in the report) the Council was required to make in response to the Report and the action the Council intended to take, the ‘Action Plan’ (Appendix 2 to the report), and in doing so reviewed and approves the response to recommendations for change provided by the Governance and Audit Committee (Appendix 2 to the report), and

(c)      recommend approval of the Statements and Action Plan to Council on 20 February 2025.

To consider a report by Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s support of the proposals to set a balanced budget for 2025/26 prior to Council on 20 February 2025.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      supports the proposals outlined in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025/26 – 2027/28 (Appendix 1 to the report), detailed in Section 4 of the report, in order to set the budget for 2025/26;

(b)      approves the average Council Tax rise of 5.29% for council services plus an additional 0.71% for the increase in the levy to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority; this equates to an overall uplift of 6.00% proposed (paragraph 4.5 of the report);

(c)      delegates authority to the Head of Finance and Audit, in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance, to adjust the use of cash reserves included in the budget proposals by up to £500k if there was movement between the draft and final settlement figures in order to allow the setting of Council Tax in a timely manner;

(d)      supports the strategy for use of reserves as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the report, and

(e)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Cumulative Well-being Impact Assessment as set out in Section 7 of the report.

To consider a report by Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed budget strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      note the budgets set for 2024/25 and progress against the agreed strategy, and

(b)      approves the set-aside of £3.956m to earmarked reserves, as detailed in paragraph 4.4 of the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet’s forward work programme be noted.

To consider a joint confidential report by Councillors Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care and Diane King, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet approval to award the Regional North Wales Domiciliary Care Agreement as set out in the report following the completion of an Open Invitation to Tender for the provision of Domiciliary Care to Adults and to Children and Young People.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)      approves the acceptance of the tenders submitted by 97 suppliers and the rejection of the tenders submitted by 3 suppliers for the reasons detailed within the Contract Award Recommendation Report (Appendix 1 to the report), and

(b)      confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Wellbeing Impact Assessment (Appendix 2 to the report) as part of its consideration.