Agenda and draft minutes

None

Councillor Chris James declared a personal interest with regards to any discussion relating to the Authority’s Education Staff.

Councillor Gareth Davies, Cabinet Member, declared a personal interest with regards to any discussion relating to the Fire Authority.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bryan Davies declared a personal interest with regards to any discussion relating to the Authority’s Education Staff.

Each Overview & Scrutiny Committee were asked to consider the draft 25/26 Budget report presented to Cabinet on 21 January 2025 and the associated impact on the respective Services within its remit. The Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on the 6^th of February 2025 at 1:30pm.  Cabinet had considered and agreed 9 recommendations in relation to the draft 25/26 Budget report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bryan Davies, presented the report on the draft budget for 2025/2026.  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, Councillor Gareth Davies, presented the remaining information. Duncan Hall, Corporate Lead Officer, Finance and Procurement, then provided a brief verbal update on the latest Budget situation.

The Leader of the Council raised an issue relating to the fire levy and the recent Independent Cultural Review of the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. It was stated that the Council as a constituent Authority would want to scrutinise the situation and to ask questions of the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority.

There was an opportunity for questions and input from Cabinet Members and officers regarding the relevant service areas.

The main points raised during discussion were:

-        Had the savings in relation to the review of schools been absorbed.

-        The proposals put forward by the Independent Group in relation to Council staffing, want to safeguard the schools budget.

-        How the funding formula for schools works.

-        Are there opportunities for staff to work collaboratively with other authorities.

-        Scrutiny should review services across the whole of the authority.

-        Questions were raised in relation agency staff.  A report on agency staff is due to be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee in March.

Following discussion, Committee Members were asked to consider the following recommendations.

Recommendations: For the respective Services that are within the remit of this Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1.    To consider:

a)    the overall draft 25/26 Budget position.

b)    the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Movements.

c)    the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Cost Pressures.

d)    the relevant elements of the Revenue Budget Reductions Proposals.

e)    the relevant elements of the Fees & Charges proposals.

f)      the relevant elements of the Multi-year Capital Programme.

2.    To consider the options recommended by Cabinet on 21/01/25:

a)    A draft 25/26 Budget Requirement of £209.109m, resulting in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £13.94 per month for a Band D property (9.7%), which would include provision for a £230k investment in the Planning Enforcement Service and a £481k investment in the Waste Collection Service.

b)    A draft 25/26 Budget Requirement of £209.234m, resulting in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £14.24 per month for a Band D property (9.9%), which would include provision for a £346k investment in the Planning Enforcement Service and a £481k investment in the Waste Collection Service.

3.    To make recommendation(s) for Cabinet to consider on 18/02/25, as the Committee deems appropriate,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

It was AGREED to confirm the minutes of the Committee meeting as a true record, There were no matters arising from those minutes.