Agenda and minutes

i.      Councillor Keith Henson, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management apologised for his inability to attend the meeting.

ii.     Councillor Ceris Jones, Chair of the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee apologised for her inability to attend the meeting.

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

Thanks were extended to all involved in the three meetings held last week between representatives of the County Council and Town and Community Councils.

There were no disclosures of personal/ prejudicial interests. <AI4>

To confirm as a true record the Minutes of the previous Meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 November 2024.

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

None.

None.

None.

DECISION:

i.      To note the responses received during the Public Consultation.

ii.     To approve the Ceredigion Language Strategy subject to the changes highlighted in the strategy (appendix 2).

iii.    To note the content of the Integrated Impact Assessment (appendix 3).

Reason for the decision:

Ensure compliance with a statutory duty in accordance with the requirements of the Welsh Language Standards, (Standard 145 and 146) to develop and publish a Welsh Language Strategy.

DECISION:

To confirm the nomination outlined in the report as LA representative on the Governing Body of the relevant School.

Reason for the decision:

To nominate representatives of the LA on Governing Bodies.

DECISION:

1.    To note that the Cabinet decision 3/9/24 is not capable of implementation.

2.    To approve that Cabinet 3/9/24 decisions C50, C51, C52 & C53 are amended as follows:

“the statutory consultation process to cease to maintain the provision at Ysgol Craig yr Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, Ysgol Llangwyryfon and Ysgol Syr John Rhys with effect from 31 August 2025”, shall instead be treated as an informal consultation on the reorganisation and future of the schools”.

Reason for the decision:

Ceasing to maintain the schools as from 31 August 2025 is not an option as the timetable is deemed not to be achievable.

DECISION:

i.      To approve the Direct Payments Policy (Appendix 1).

ii.     To note the feedback from the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reason for the decision:

The policy will enable the Council to discharge its duties in relation to the provision of direct payments.

DECISION:

To approve the ending of the Innovate contract to pursue other options to service the Planned Care Children’s Specialism.

Reason for the decision:

The reason for the decision is to end the contract and implement more cost-effective alternatives, in light of a proposed increase, for the continued delivery of a safe service.

DECISION:

i.      To recommend that Council adopt the Corporate Parenting Charter.

ii.     To note the feedback from the Healthier Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure that all officers, commissioners, Elected Members and partners of the local authority understand their corporate parenting responsibilities. We want to deliver sensitive, high-quality services that promote fairness and equity for looked after children and care leavers. We want these children to have all the life opportunities we would have for our own children. This group of people need to grow up without stigma.

DECISION:

To award places on the All Wales Sustainable Catering Packaging Products Framework, which will run for a period of 3 years (with an option to extend for a further 1 year), as follows:

Reason for the decision:

An Open tender process compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations has been undertaken and all received bids being evaluated in a fair and transparent manner. This is an important National Framework on which Ceredigion has taken the lead. Through the Framework’s alignment with the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, it will help achieve a more sustainable Wales through public sector procurement.

The report (Appendix 1) 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 114 on the agenda, Appendix 1, 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 the item should remain exempt and whether to exclude the public and press from the Meeting.

DECISION:

Having considered the public interest test, 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.

DECISION:

1.    To approve the Council Tax Base for Council Tax setting purposes of 34,421.81 in accordance with the calculations as set out in Appendices 1 & 2.

2.    To note the Council Tax Base for Revenue Support Grant purposes of 32,663.32.

3.    To approve the schedule of instalments for Dyfed Powys Police Authority Precept payments in 2025/26 as being - 12 equal instalments paid on the last working day of each month commencing April 2025.

4.    To approve the schedule of instalments for Ceredigion Town and Community Councils Precept payments in 2025/26 as being - 3 equal instalments on the last working day of April 2025, July 2025 and October 2025.

Reason for the decision:

The Council has a legal obligation to set its tax base for the forthcoming year.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

Cabinet noted the report.

None.