Cabinet

Conwy's Cabinet, the councillors who run the council day to day, considered a revised 2025/26 budget after the Welsh Government's final funding settlement. It agreed to ask the full Council, which includes all councillors, to approve the budget, which lowers the proposed Council Tax rise from 9.4% to 8.95%.

1. Revised 2025/26 budget and Council Tax increase

   Decided

   Cabinet resolved to ask the full Council, which includes all councillors, to approve the revised budget proposals set out in Table 2 of the report.

   Why

   The Welsh Government's final settlement, published on 20 February 2025, added new grants, including £30m for Pathways of Care Transformation in social services, and Conwy's estimated share of about £970,000 is not yet confirmed. This lets the council remove £610,000 of one-off money, which can be spent only once, and use the remaining £360,000 to lower the proposed rise, which the report says keeps the budget balanced on an ongoing basis. A Member argued that the rise should not have been lowered, to guard against risks such as wage growth, inflation and fees, but the minute records the reply that the reduction was small, would ease pressure on households, and that the risks had been taken into account.

   Based on the minutes, alternative revenue budget and council tax increase 202526 - cover, Appendix 1 Final LG Settlement CSHLG to LAs (E), Appendix 2 - proposed budget 202526

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

   An apology for absence was received from Councillor Dilwyn Roberts.

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest: Code of Local Government Conduct

   Minute

   None.

3. (NOTE: The following item had not been specified on the agenda, but was considered as a matter of urgency with the agreement of the Chairman under the provisions of paragraph 100(BA)(6)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 in order to avoid further delay in dealing with the subjects.)

4. 4.a

   Revised Draft Revenue Budget and Council Tax increase 2025/2026

   Decision as recorded

   RESOLVED- That Council be requested to approve revised budget proposals as set out in Table 2 of the report.

   Minute

   Following the Welsh Government’s announcement of the final settlement, the Leader presented the revised draft revenue budget and Council Tax increase for 2025/2026. Approval was sought to recommend that Council approved the revised budget proposals, as set out in Table 2 of the report. Discussion ensued as follows:- · A Member considered that the Council Tax should not have been reduced from 9.4% to 8.95% and should have been set at a higher rate in order to guard against future risks including wage growth, inflation and fees. · In relation to the above, the reduction was small and would reduce some financial pressure for residents who were already facing rising household costs. The risks had been recognised and had been taken into account in terms of delivering a balanced budget in order to provide services, whilst reducing the Council Tax burden for residents. · There had only been an overspend in Social Care and that was as a result of the service being demand led, with £14m being allocated to that service in recognition of those demand led pressures. RESOLVED- That Council be requested to approve revised budget proposals as set out in Table 2 of the report.

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Appendix 1 Final LG Settlement CSHLG to LAs (E), Appendix 2 - proposed budget 202526, alternative revenue budget and council tax increase 202526 - cover

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.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• Alan Hunter, County CouncillorGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupIn attendance
• Anne McCaffrey, County CouncillorAelodau Annibynnol Cynghreiriol/Allied IndependentsIn attendance
• Cathy Augustine, Committee MemberPlaid Cymru a’r Blaid WerddPresent
• Charlie McCoubrey, LeaderGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupPresent
• Cheryl Carlisle, County CouncillorConservativeRecorded
• Chris Cater, Committee MemberGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupPresent
• Chris Hughes, County CouncillorLabourRecorded
• David Gerard Carr, County CouncillorCynghrair Dinasyddion yn Gyntaf / Citizens First AllianceIn attendance
• Dilwyn Owain Roberts, Committee MemberPlaid Cymru a’r Blaid WerddSent apologies
• Emily Owen, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Geoff Stewart, Committee MemberGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupPresent
• Goronwy O. Edwards, Committee MemberGrŵp Annibynnol Sir Conwy / Conwy County Independent GroupPresent
• Gwennol Ellis, County CouncillorPlaid Cymru a’r Blaid WerddIn attendance
• Jo Nuttall, County CouncillorConservativeIn attendance
• Julie Fallon, Committee MemberGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupPresent
• Nia Owen, County CouncillorPlaid Cymru a’r Blaid WerddIn attendance
• Nigel Smith, Committee MemberGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupPresent
• Penny Andow, Committee MemberHeb ei Alinio / Non-alignedPresent
• Samantha Louise Cotton, County CouncillorConservativeIn attendance
• Sharon Doleman, County CouncillorGrŵp Annibynnol Cyntaf Conwy/Conwy First Independent GroupIn attendance
• Sian Grady, County CouncillorGrŵp Annibynnol Sir Conwy / Conwy County Independent GroupIn attendance

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