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Cabinet considered the Council's capital programme and budget options for 2026/27, and recommended a £22.408m capital programme to Council. It approved the draft Housing and Homelessness Strategy for public consultation, and agreed how to deliver the £1.5 million Pride in Place Impact Fund. It also agreed to lower the quorum for the National Joint Committee for adoption and fostering services to 40%.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Hannah Fleet.
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 January 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 January 2026 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 January 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The Leader advised that the Chief Executive’s appraisal had been undertaken on 27 January 2026.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.
Members were presented with the Forward Work Programme for the Cabinet. RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Forward Work Programme be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the 2026/2027 Capital Programme of £22.408m (net of specific grant funding) be recommended to Council for approval. (b) That discussions are held between the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources and the Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities, before the Capital Programme is recommended to Council for approval, in terms of the re-allocation of Capital Programme schemes in order to support the Coastal Defence Asset Maintenance scheme.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning sought approval to recommend to Council the Capital Programme for 2026/2027. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 19 January 2026 and supported the recommendation, with a request that further information be provided at Cabinet in respect of the proposed refurbishment programme of four operational depots. In relation to the above, the Cabinet Member for Environment, Roads and Infrastructure provided the following update:- · Builder Street – 3 portable buildings at £100k each including an office, welfare/canteen/toilets for 100 staff at a total cost of £300k. Builder Street was likely to remain in use long term as an Open Spaces base for coastal west. · Bron y Nant – Options were being explored on refurbishment of portable buildings compared to replacement. Replacement of 3 portable buildings at £100k each including an office, welfare/canteen/toilets for 100 staff at a total cost of £300k. Bron y Nant may be vacated if a new waste depot at brickworks was built in full. However, the minimum estimated occupation of Bron y Nant was 3 to 5 years. · Plas yn Dre - 2 portable buildings at £100k each including an office, welfare/canteen/toilets for 40 staff at a total cost of £200k. There was an ongoing project to relocate the depot to a site on Betws Road, with a minimum estimated continued occupation of the site of 2 years. · Blackmarsh Road - Significant refurbishment works required at the site to the roof at a total cost of £188,000. The site would likely remain as a base for fleet workshop, stores and street lighting for the foreseeable future. Members thanked the Cabinet Member for the update and acknowledged that the upgrades would provide safe and appropriate spaces for staff. Discussion ensued as follows:- · The Cabinet Member for Education advised that the capital spend for schools was essential in terms of the programme of improvements for school sites. · In terms of the supporting the Coastal Defence Asset Maintenance, the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that one option would be for the Strategic Director to discuss with the Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities, before the Capital Programme was recommended to Council for approval, in terms of the re-allocation of Capital Programme schemes in order to support the Coastal Defence Asset Maintenance scheme. · It was noted that £100k of Capital Programme borrowing would likely result in £10k a year in revenue spend. RESOLVED- (a) That the 2026/2027 Capital Programme of £22.408m (net of specific grant funding) be recommended to Council for approval. (b) That discussions are held between the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources and the Head of Environment, Roads and Facilities, before the Capital Programme is recommended to Council for approval, in terms of the re-allocation of Capital Programme schemes in order to support the Coastal Defence Asset Maintenance scheme.
Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the options for the indicative Council Tax increase and the budget reductions to be applied to services as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be noted. (b) That the risks identified in section 8 within Appendix 1 of the report be accepted and noted.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning requested that Members note the indicative Council Tax increase, budget reductions and the risks in Appendix 1 of the report. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 19 January 2026 and support the recommendation. Discussion ensued as follows:- · The Chief Executive advised that, in relation to actioning the recommendations of the Resilience Strategy, the Board had met and a Research Officer had been appointed, together with other posts, to assist with capacity in order to move at pace. · Social Care and Education had been made a priority in terms of funding. · Work was being undertaken to ensure that the Council Tax rise was kept as low as possible. · It was acknowledged that the Council Tax rises over the past few years impacted on residents, especially during the cost-of-living crisis. · Local Authorities were responsible for providing services to their residents and should be appropriately funded; Members did not want to past on costs to residents. RESOLVED- (a) That the options for the indicative Council Tax increase and the budget reductions to be applied to services as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be noted. (b) That the risks identified in section 8 within Appendix 1 of the report be accepted and noted.
Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2026-2031 be approved for public consultation.
The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regulatory and Audit sought approval for the Housing and Homeless Strategy 2026-2031 for public consultation. The Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 19 January 2026 and supported the recommendation. Discussion ensued as follows:- · The Housing Team were commended for the work undertaken in improving housing solutions, with the importance of the lived experience acknowledged. · The relationships between the Council and the Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) had improved. · In terms of the need to build more social housing, work was ongoing with the RSLs in terms of delivering appropriate accommodation, with the Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) funding being accessed to purchase suitable homes. · Thanks were extended to Councillor Emily Owen, previous portfolio holder for housing, together with Councillor Stephen Price, current portfolio holder for housing for the work they had undertaken. RESOLVED- That the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2026-2031 be approved for public consultation.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the use of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Conwy Community Regeneration and Supporting Local Business Key Fund delivery models as the mechanism for managing the Pride in Place Impact Fund projects, in accordance with the approvals and delegations agreed by Cabinet on 22 August 2023 be approved. (b) That the existing Conwy UKSPF Local Partnership Panel be repurposed into a new Pride in Place Impact Fund Panel. (c) That the indicative allocation of the £1.5 million capital grant across the following themes be approved: (i) £500,000 for Community Spaces (ii) £500,000 for Public Spaces (iii) £500,000 for High Street and town centre revitalisation
The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy and Communications sought approval for a number of recommendations in relation to the UK Pride in Place Impact Fund. The Cabinet Member confirmed that the proposals would utilise delivery mechanisms that had previously been successfully employed for the UKSPF Community Regeneration and Supporting Local Business Key Fund. It was acknowledged that those areas of deprivation, which had not received funding, could be targeted in terms of working with the communities and having projects that met grant conditions ready for submission when funding was made available. RESOLVED- (a) That the use of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Conwy Community Regeneration and Supporting Local Business Key Fund delivery models as the mechanism for managing the Pride in Place Impact Fund projects, in accordance with the approvals and delegations agreed by Cabinet on 22 August 2023 be approved. (b) That the existing Conwy UKSPF Local Partnership Panel be repurposed into a new Pride in Place Impact Fund Panel. (c) That the indicative allocation of the £1.5 million capital grant across the following themes be approved: (i) £500,000 for Community Spaces (ii) £500,000 for Public Spaces (iii) £500,000 for High Street and town centre revitalisation
Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the reduction of the quorum of the Joint Committee to 40%, with at least 3 regional areas represented be agreed. (b) That the entry into and signing of the Deed of Variation to enable the above be authorised. (c) That delegated authority to complete and execute the Deed of Variation be given to the Monitoring Officer, including authority for the Monitoring Officer to make any minor variations and amendments, if required, before completion.
The Cabinet Member for Children and Safeguarding sought approval to reduce the quorum of the National Joint Committee for the National Adoption Service for Wales and Foster Wales, to authorise the Deed of Variation, with delegated authority given to the Monitoring Office to make any minor amendment, if required, to the Deed of Variation. In response to the Chair of the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Cabinet Member for Children and Safeguarding advise that she would provide the attendance figures for previous meetings of the Joint Committee. RESOLVED- (a) That the reduction of the quorum of the Joint Committee to 40%, with at least 3 regional areas represented be agreed. (b) That the entry into and signing of the Deed of Variation to enable the above be authorised. (c) That delegated authority to complete and execute the Deed of Variation be given to the Monitoring Officer, including authority for the Monitoring Officer to make any minor variations and amendments, if required, before completion.
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The minutes record no declarations of interest.
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