Agenda and minutes

Barry Rees, Corporate Director apologised for his inability to attend the meeting due to being on other Council duties.

i.      Staff were thanked for their efforts in helping all impacted by the poor weather in recent weeks.

ii.     Congratulations were extended to Stevie Williams on his success at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

iii.    Congratulations were also extended to Dr Rhodri Llwyd Morgan on his appointment as the Chief Executive of the National Library of Wales.

iv.   Best wishes were extended to Sulwyn Jones, Environmental Operative on his retirement following 44 years of service to the local authority.

Councillor Keith Henson declared a personal and prejudicial interest in relation to Former Primary School, Cribyn in item 149 and withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was being discussed.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Special Cabinet held on 21 December 2023.

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

None.

None.

None.

DECISION:

1.      To note that the Mid & West Wales Fire Authority’s budget increase is likely to mean a £497k cost pressure on the Council’s 24/25 Budget (which is the equivalent of c1.1% Council Tax increase for Ceredigion residents).

2.      That Cabinet’s proposal in relation to Council Tax Premiums is 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.

3.      To note that the draft 24/25 Budget Requirement is currently £192.470m.

4.      To note that the current draft 24/25 Budget Requirement would result in a Council Tax increase (for the Ceredigion County Council component) of £4.15 per week (£17.99 per month) for a Band D property.

5.      That when the 24/25 WG Final settlement is issued:

a)      The value of any further specific grants transferred into RSG will be passported through to the relevant Service’s budget, where appropriate.

b)      Any other specific changes should be directly targeted to the affected Service(s), as and where appropriate.

c)      Any other change(s) to the AEF will be dealt with by an adjustment to the Leadership Group budget.

6.      To note that the Medium-Term Financial Strategy will be updated further after the Chancellor’s Spring Budget on 06/03/24.

7.      To note the proposed schedule of draft Fees & Charges as set out in Appendix 8, these will be formally considered by Cabinet on 20/02/24.

8.      To recommend the Multi-Year Capital Programme for approval as set out in Appendix 10.

9.      To recommend the Capital Strategy for approval as set out in Appendix 11.

10.   To note that any new or alternative options for the draft 24/25 Budget should be considered during the Budget Scrutiny meetings and that the Section 151 officer would need sufficient time in advance to fully model any potential impact(s) and to provide an opinion on the robustness of any proposal(s).

11.   To refer this Cabinet report for the views of the Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committees, so that their formal feedback can be considered by Cabinet on 20/02/24, in order for Cabinet to then make their final recommendations on the 24/25 Budget Requirement and the level of Council Tax increase for 24/25 to Full Council on 29/02/24.

Reason for the decision:

To enable the 2024/25 Budget preparation to proceed.

DECISION:

1.    To approve the principle of disposal/sale of the following assets:

i.    Former Primary School, Cribyn

ii.   Former Beulah School

iii.  Former Primary School, Cilcennin

2.    To defer the principle of disposal/ sale of Former Sewage treatment Works, Pontgarreg to allow for further consideration.

Reason for the decision:

To generate capital receipts from surplus assets.

DECISION:

To approve:

1)    the principle of the awarding of the HSG Emergency TA Support contract

2)    that delegated authority be given to all of the following collectively to approve awarding/ sign off of the contract to the successful tenderer:

•        Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection

•        Cabinet Member, Finance & Procurement

•        CLO - Finance & Procurement (& Section 151 Officer)

•        CLO - Porth Cymorth Cynnar

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that the Council can award the HSG contract for Emergency Temporary Accommodation Support in a timely manner and ensure the provider is able to take up the new contract from 1 April 2024.

None.