Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Condolences were extended to the family of Dr Jeff Jones, former Assistant Director of Ceredigion County Council who has recently passed away.

i.     Councillor Clive Davies declared a personal interest in relation to item 150.

ii.    Councillor Gareth Davies declared a personal interest in relation to item 151.

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet held on 24 January 2023.

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

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DECISION:

1.       To approve the Fees & Charges to be effective from 01/04/23 (with the exception of School Meals), as outlined in:

a)  Appendix 1

b)  Appendix 2

c)  Appendix 3 (with the exception of the proposed entrance fee under the Museum Service Fees and Charges, which was withdrawn)

d)  Appendix 4

with the further exception of the following item:

·     That the proposed Car Parking Fees & Charges in Tregaron and Llandysul are removed from Appendix 3, so that there would continue to be no Car Parking charges in those towns for a further 12-month period during 2023/24.

2.       To approve the School Meals Fees & Charges change as outlined in   Appendix 2 to be effective from 01/09/23.

3.       To delegate authority to the Corporate Lead Officer: Schools & Culture in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills to increase the School Meal price to align with any increased outcome following the WG unit rate review, with any change to only be effective once the Universal free school meal offer has been fully extended to all Primary School years.

4.       To delegate authority on an ongoing basis to the CLO Porth Cymorth Cynnar, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Leisure and Wellbeing Centres, to vary the Fees & Charges for the Wellbeing Centres to run short term/time limited promotional offers.

5.       To note the feedback from each Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committee and to agree to the recommended changes proposed by the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Thriving Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Fees and Charges.

Reason for the decision:

To consider Fees and Charges as part of the Council’s budget setting process.

DECISION:

1.     To recommend to Full Council that following consideration of the recommendation from the Thriving Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee regarding the continuation of free Car Parking in Llandysul & Tregaron, that the potential £40k cost associated with this should be funded from the £400k Provision set aside for Pay and Energy Inflation risks and that this approach is only possible under a Council Tax option that is no lower than 7.3%.

2.     To recommend to Full Council that the 23/24 Budget Requirement is £180.101m and that the level of Council Tax proposed for 23/24 for County Council purposes is a 7.3% increase (including 1.3% in relation to the Fire Authority Levy increase).

3.     To note the Feedback from each Budget Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and to note that each of the thematic Committees recommended a 7.3% increase to the Council Tax for 2023/24 (including 1.3% in relation to the Fire Authority Levy increase) and a 23/24 Budget requirement of £180.101m.

Reason for the decision:

To enable the 2023/24 Budget preparation to continue, so that Budget papers and Council Tax calculations can be prepared for the Full Council meeting on 02/03/23.

DECISION:

a)    To approve the Treasury Management Strategy outlined in the report for Borrowing and Investments.

b)    To approve the Investment Schedule as set out in Appendix B.

c)     To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix C.

d)    To delegate 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.

To recommend to Full Council:

e)    the approval of the Treasury Management Strategy for Borrowing and Investments for 2023/24; and

f)      the approval of the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2023/24.

Reason for the decision:

To set a Treasury Management Strategy and Minimum Revenue Policy for 2023/24.

DECISION:

1.     To approve the proposed implementation and delivery arrangements of the Fund as set out in the report.

2.     To approve in principle that the Council sign up to an Inter Authority Agreement with Gwynedd County Council.

Reason for the decision:

To allow Ceredigion County Council to proceed with Gwynedd County Council to receive the Arfor Funding and for officers to be able to establish implementation arrangements as soon as possible.

DECISION:

To approve an additional contribution of £100,000 to Cardigan Building Preservation Trust and review the existing funding agreement.

Reason for the decision:

To enable the project to be completed and deliver the original aims and objectives of the redevelopment proposals.

DECISION:

To approve the following pay rates effective from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024:

1)    Senior part-time Coroner:

i.       Retention Salary of £21,120 p/a to cover retention/out of hours service availability.

ii.      Using the agreed daily rate of £465, to pay the Coroner an annual salary of £11,625 including training days.

Total: £32,745 per annum (plus on-costs).

iii.    Office expenses/business support allowance – £5,000 p/a.

2)    Assistant Coroner:

The daily rates will be:

•        full day: £397; and

•        half day: £199.

Reason for the decision:

Compliance with relevant legislation and JNC Circulars, mitigation of challenge and safeguarding public funds.

DECISION:

1.     To approve the Ceredigion Deprivation and Equity Strategy.

2.     That an annual report on progress against the Ceredigion Deprivation and Equity Strategy be presented to the Schools, and the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

3.     To note the feedback from the Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that schools have an appropriate and evidence-based strategy to support disadvantaged pupils.

DECISION:

To approve Officers’ replies to consultation responses; advertising the proposals to the public, and should no objections be received, the making of the necessary Traffic Regulation Order and the publication of a subsequent Notice of Making in the press to this effect.

Reason for the decision:

The proposed changes to speed limit arrangements are on the broad grounds provided by the Welsh Government for this national scheme; of road safety, reduction in the severity of injuries, and the encouragement of Active and Sustainable Travel.

Cabinet noted the report.

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

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

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

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

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

None.