Agenda and minutes

i.      Councillor Matthew Vaux, Cabinet Member apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.

ii.     Councillor Rhodri Evans, Chair of the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee apologised for his inability to attend the meeting due to other Council commitments.

iii.    James Starbuck, Corporate Director apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.

Condolences were extended to the family of Gwilym Tudur, founder of Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth who recently passed away.

i.      Councillor Gareth Davies declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to agenda item 163 (appendix 5, item 63) and a personal interest in relation to agenda item 170.

ii.     Councillor Alun Williams declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 167.

iii.    Councillor Endaf Edwards declared a personal interest in relation to agenda item 170 and in matters related to Council employees.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 January 2024.

Matters arising: There were no matters arising from the minutes.

None.

None.

None.

DECISION:

1.    To note the content of the report and feedback from the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

2.    To approve the Ceredigion Harbour Management Policy (Appendix A), subject to the following changes, as set out in the report:

Page 8:

“6.2 Both types of Commercial moorings, once allocated are not transferable to a third party without the Council’s prior written consent. Any transfers will be in accordance with 18.2 of this policy.”

Page 14:

“Mooring and Facility Transfers

18.1 There are no transfer rights in relation to Leisure Moorings or facilities within Ceredigion managed Harbours.

18.2 Transfers related to Commercial moorings are subject to the Council’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. Any consent given will be subject to the vessel currently allocated to the mooring remaining on the mooring following completion of the transfer.

Where consent is granted, a mooring transfer fee will be charged by the Council to the applicant taking on the mooring (please see current ‘Fees and Charges’). In addition to the transfer fee, the full mooring fees applicable to the vessel for the season will also apply (please see current ‘Fees and Charges’). Completion of the transfer will only take place on receipt of payment of these fees in full.”

Reason for the decision:

To adopt and implement a Harbour Management Policy which supports and facilitates the fair, consistent and transparent management of the harbours for the benefit of all harbour users.

DECISION:

To agree to award the contract to the Most Economically Advantageous Tender, subject to a 10-day statutory standstill period.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure the continued disposal of the county’s residual waste in accordance with the Council’s statutory obligations.

The report (Appendix A and B) relating to the item above is not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007. If, following the application of the Public Interest Test, the Council resolves to consider this item in private, the public and press will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration, in accordance with Section 100B(2) of the Act.

Members will be requested, when dealing with the items, to consider whether to exclude the public and press from the Meeting.

The report relating to item 160 on the agenda, Appendix A and B, is not for publication as it contains exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007. If, following the application of the Public Interest Test, the Council resolves to consider this item in private, the public and press will be excluded from the meeting during such consideration, in accordance with Section 100B(2) of the Act.

Members were requested, when dealing with the item, to consider whether to exclude the public and press from the Meeting.

DECISION:

That the item should remain exempt.

Not to exclude the public and press from the meeting.

Reason for the decision:

The document was not discussed in public.

To note the feedback from each Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

DECISION:

1.    To note that Mid & West Wales Fire Authority’s approved 24/25 Fire levy for Ceredigion County Council is £5.440m, being an increase of £584k (12%). After allowing for assumed Pension costs funding from WG, this equates to a 1.1% Council Tax increase for Ceredigion residents.

2.    To approve the schedule of Fees & Charges to be effective from 01/04/24 as outlined in:

          a)       Appendix 1

          b)       Appendix 2

          c)       Appendix 3

          d)       Appendix 4

3.    To recommend to Full Council, in relation to Council Tax Premiums from 01/04/24, that:

          a)       From 01/04/24, 25% of all monies raised from the Council Tax premiums on Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties (net of Council Tax refunds / costs) should be ringfenced and used to support the Community Housing Scheme, subject at all times that the total level of funding held in the Community Housing Scheme shall not exceed £2.0m and that any funding beyond this level in any given year shall be used to support the general budget position.

          b)       From 01/04/24, 75% of all monies raised from the Council Tax premiums on Second Homes and Long-Term Empty Properties (net of Council Tax refunds / costs) shall be retained and used to support the general budget position, in order to reduce the Council Tax burden on Ceredigion residents.

4.    To recommend to Full Council, for the 24/25 Budget, that:

          a)       The 24/25 Budget Requirement is £193.572m, which includes all the Budget Reduction proposals outlined in Appendix 5, but with the exclusion of Item 63 regarding the AHP Collection Service.

          b)       The level of 24/25 proposed Council Tax for County Council purposes is a 11.10% increase  (being 1.1% in relation to the Fire Authority Levy increase and 10.0% for all Council Services).

          c)       This would equate to a Band D increase of £172.45 (being £14.37 per month / £3.32 per week).

5.    To approve that the limit to be introduced for residual waste from 01/04/24 onwards would be 3 black bags (no larger than 60 litres each) per residential household per 3 weekly collection.

Reason for the decision:

To enable the 2024/25 Budget preparation to continue, so that Budget papers and Council Tax calculations can be prepared for the Full Council meeting on 29/02/24.

DECISION:

1.    To note the contents of the report.

2.    To recommend to Full Council:

          a)       the approval of the Treasury Management Strategy for Borrowing and Investments for 2024/25;

          b)       the approval of the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2024/25; and

          c)       that Council delegates authority to the Section 151 officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement, to amend the Treasury Management Strategy, and Investment Schedule, during the course of the year.

Reason for the decision:

To set a Treasury Management Strategy and Minimum Revenue Policy for 2024/25.

DECISION:

1.    To note the contents of the consultation report.

2.    To approve the publication of the statutory notice.

Reason for the decision:

To approve the consultation response document and the publication of the statutory notice in line with the requirements of the School Organisation Code – 011/2018.

DECISION:

1.    To note the contents of the consultation report.

2.    To approve the publication of the statutory notice.

Reason for the decision:

To approve the consultation response document and the publication of the statutory notice in line with the requirements of the School Organisation Code – 011/2018.

DECISION:

1.    To note the contents of the consultation report.

2.    To approve the publication of the statutory notice.

Reason for the decision:

To approve the consultation response document and the publication of the statutory notice in line with the requirements of the School Organisation Code – 011/2018.

DECISION:

1.    To note the contents of the consultation report.

2.    To approve the publication of the statutory notice.

Reason for the decision:

To approve the consultation response document and the publication of the statutory notice in line with the requirements of the School Organisation Code – 011/2018.

DECISION:

To approve the name Ysgol Dyffryn Aeron as the name for the new area school.

Reason for the decision:

To approve the official name.

DECISION:

To confirm the nominations outlined in the report as LA representatives on the Governing Bodies of the relevant School.

Reason for the decision:

To nominate representatives of the LA on Governing Bodies.

DECISION:

To approve the draft Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Framework.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure the Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Framework are up to date and fit for purpose.

Cabinet noted the report and the feedback from the Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

None.

Item considered under item 163.