Cabinet

Cabinet was due to consider seven reports on 14 January 2025, covering a school build, a regional advocacy service, the budget, council financial rules, emergency road repairs and beach lifeguards. The minutes for this meeting have not been published yet, so no decisions are recorded here.

1. Heronsbridge School and Harwood House: design and build tender

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The school is part of the School Modernisation Programme, and the Welsh Government and Council approvals are now in place. The report says costs have risen, so the Council must fund more of its 25% share, and the planned January 2026 opening date is no longer achievable. The tender would have a price cap of £2m for design and £53.5m for construction, and Cabinet will see a further report before any main contract is awarded.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Heronsbridge School

2. Regional advocacy and independent visiting service for children and young people

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The Council must provide this advocacy and visiting service for eligible children under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, and Welsh Government requires a regional model. The current contract ends on 30 June 2025 with no option to extend, and the budget is £116,760, of which £91,780 is Council money.

   Based on the minutes, Regional Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for Children and Young People

3. Draft Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-26 to 2028-29

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The provisional settlement from Welsh Government gave Bridgend a 4.0% rise in funding, but the report says cost pressures are high. The draft includes pay and price pressures of £10.6 million, service pressures of £14.454 million, budget cuts of £9.105 million and a council tax rise of 4.5%. The report says the most likely savings target is £40.242 million over four years, and that the strategy aims to protect the most vulnerable people.

   Based on the minutes, Draft MTFS Cabinet 2025-2029 Final, Appendix A Budget Pressures, Appendix B Budget Reduction Proposals 2025-2029, Appendix C WBFGA Template 2025-29

4. Budget monitoring: quarter 3 revenue forecast 2024-25

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The report gives Cabinet an update on the revenue budget (day-to-day spending) at 31 December 2024, which forecasts spending and income for the year. It projects a net underspend of £6.787 million, but directorates are forecast to overspend by £6.965 million, mainly in social services, additional learning needs (extra support for pupils with learning needs) and home to school transport, and a £1.441 million shortfall is expected against budget reduction targets.

   Based on the minutes, Budget Monitoring 2024-25 - Quarter 3 Revenue Forecast, Appendix 3 Revenue Budget Monitoring end December 2024

5. Financial Procedure Rules: further changes

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   After Council asked for further review on 20 November 2024, officers and Cabinet Members proposed three more changes. These are: a £500,000 cap on the rule for reporting extra costs on contracts; a month, not 'promptly', to notify changes to spending limits; and advance payments to third sector organisations (voluntary and community groups) where hardship is shown. The report says there are no financial implications.

   Based on the minutes, Report to Cabinet on Update to FPRs January 2025, Appendix 1 BCBC Financial Procedure Rules 2025 January Tracked, Appendix 2 BCBC Financial Procedure Rules 2025 January Clean

6. Emergency culvert repairs on the A4061 at Nantymoel

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Storm Bert on 24 November 2024 caused a culvert (an underground drain) to collapse, and water washed material from unstable ground onto the A4061 at Bwlch-y-Clawdd road, which was closed. The Council's own workforce lacked the skills, so a contractor already working nearby was used, and the Corporate Director Communities approved the award under delegated powers, which let a senior officer decide without a Cabinet vote. The estimated cost is £131,000, and the Council will apply to Welsh Government's emergency funding scheme, or the cost will be paid from Communities budgets.

   Based on the minutes, Bwlch road

7. Beach and water safety lifeguards with the RNLI

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The RNLI has run lifeguards on Rest Bay, Coney/Sandy Bay and Trecco Bay under two earlier agreements, and the report says the RNLI dealt with 686 incidents over five years and that 12 lives were saved. Without lifeguards, the beaches would lose their Blue Flag award, an international mark for clean beaches, and the RNLI has said it will not continue without a Council contribution. Option 3 freezes the sum and cuts service further, while Option 4 adds about £3,000 a year plus CPI to keep the current cover.

   Based on the minutes, RNLI Cabinet report

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 1

   Apologies for Absence

   Minute

   Apologies for absence were received from xxxxxxxxxx

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

3. 3

   Approval of Minutes

   Papers: Minutes , 19/11/2024 Cabinet, Minutes , 10/12/2024 Cabinet
4. 4

   School Modernisation Programme Heronsbridge School and Harwood House - Procurement

   Papers: Cabinet Heronsbridge School
5. 5

   Regional Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for Children and Young People

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Regional Advocacy and Independent Visiting Service for Children and Young People
6. 6

   Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025-26 to 2028-29

   Part of an issue followed across 9 meetings

   Papers: Draft MTFS Cabinet 2025-2029 Final, Appendix A Budget Pressures, Appendix B Budget Reduction Proposals 2025-2029, Appendix C WBFGA Template 2025-29
7. 7

   Budget Monitoring 2024-25 - Quarter 3 Revenue Forecast

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Appendix 1 - Monitoring of Prior Year Budget Reductions Carried Forward into 2024-25, Appendix 2 - 2024-25 MTFS Budget Reductions Risk Tracker December 2024, Appendix 3 Revenue Budget Monitoring end December 2024, Budget Monitoring 2024-25 - Quarter 3 Revenue Forecast
8. 8

   Update to the Council's Financial Procedure Rules

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Report to Cabinet on Update to FPRs January 2025, Appendix 1 BCBC Financial Procedure Rules 2025 January Tracked, Appendix 2 BCBC Financial Procedure Rules 2025 January Clean
9. 9

   Urgent/Emergency Works To Culvert At A4061 Bwlch-Y-Clawdd Road, Nantymoel Following Landslide During Storm Bert, 24th November 2024

   Papers: Bwlch road
10. 10

    The Provision Of Beach And Water Safety Services In Partnership With The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: RNLI Cabinet report
11. 11

    Urgent Items

12. 12

    Exclusion of the Public

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

• John Spanswick, ChairpersonLabourPresent
• Eugene Caparros, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Hywel Williams, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Jane Gebbie, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Martyn Jones, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Melanie Jayne Evans, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Neelo Farr, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Paul Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent

Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.