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The Cabinet met on 24 February 2026 to consider budget, finance and library reports. It agreed to recommend a 2026/27 budget to Council, including a 6.09% Council Tax rise for Council services, and approved a new Fees and Charges Policy. It also approved a £3.334m addition to the capital programme, noted the 2025/26 revenue position, and noted the Welsh Public Library Standards assessment.
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Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 January 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 January 2026 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 27 January 2026 be approved and signed as a correct record.
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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- That the contents of the Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Return and Welsh Government Assessment for 2024-2025 be noted.
The Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Governance Services requested that Members note the contents of the Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Return and Welsh Government Assessment for 2024-2025. Discussion ensued as follows:- · Libraries were community hubs, with staff providing support to individuals on a variety of services and were thanked for the empathy and care that they provided to all library users. · In relation to staffing in Abergele Library, a recruitment process was being undertaken to fill the vacancy at the library. There was a pool of staff that worked in all the libraries across the County, who were familiar with the support service offered, and this provided resilience across the service. · The Cabinet Member advised that the report had been presented direct to Cabinet, as it was a positive report and a direct response to the Welsh Government’s Assessment, therefore there was little value that the Economy and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee could have added. RESOLVED- That the contents of the Welsh Public Library Standards Annual Return and Welsh Government Assessment for 2024-2025 be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Fees and Charges Policy be approved, subject to the following minor amendments within the report:- (i) That reference to the Localism Act in paragraph 3 of the report be replaced with the Local Government and Elections Act 2021. (ii) That paragraph 7.3 of the report be amended to ensure clarity on when consultation may be required as follows:- Any changes to prices must comply with the relevant legislation. Where legislation places a duty on the Council to undertake formal consultation, this will include consulting affected parties and considering their responses before any changes are implemented. The ‘Schedule of Fees and Charges’ in Annex A summarise the legislation applicable to each service area and the specific legal requirements will be reviewed with each service as part of the process.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning sought approval for the Fees and Charges Policy. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 23 February 2026 and supported the recommendation. The Cabinet Member advised that the report had been amended slightly as follows:- (i) Reference to the Localism Act in paragraph 3 of the report had been replaced with the Local Government and Elections Act 2021. (ii) Paragraph 7.3 of the report had been amended to ensure clarity on when consultation may be required as follows:- Any changes to prices must comply with the relevant legislation. Where legislation places a duty on the Council to undertake formal consultation, this will include consulting affected parties and considering their responses before any changes are implemented. The ‘Schedule of Fees and Charges’ in Annex A summarise the legislation applicable to each service area and the specific legal requirements will be reviewed with each service as part of the process. Discussion ensued as follows:- · If the introduction of the ‘super off peak’ parking charge was successful, it could be extended beyond July and August, as the tourism season was longer than those two months. · Fees and charges should cover the whole cost of a service. · The Policy provided a consistent approach with a benchmarking portal and cost calculator. · Appropriate fees and charges for services reduced the pressure on Council Tax. RESOLVED- That the Fees and Charges Policy be approved, subject to the following minor amendments within the report:- (i) That reference to the Localism Act in paragraph 3 of the report be replaced with the Local Government and Elections Act 2021. (ii) That paragraph 7.3 of the report be amended to ensure clarity on when consultation may be required as follows:- Any changes to prices must comply with the relevant legislation. Where legislation places a duty on the Council to undertake formal consultation, this will include consulting affected parties and considering their responses before any changes are implemented. The ‘Schedule of Fees and Charges’ in Annex A summarise the legislation applicable to each service area and the specific legal requirements will be reviewed with each service as part of the process.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the net addition of £3.334m to the total Capital Programme be approved. (b) That the total Capital Programme of £116.497m and the third quarter capital outturn position for 2025/2026 be noted.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning sought approval for the net addition of £3.334m to the total Capital Programme and requested that the outturn position be noted. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 23 February 2026 and supported the recommendations. RESOLVED- (a) That the net addition of £3.334m to the total Capital Programme be approved. (b) That the total Capital Programme of £116.497m and the third quarter capital outturn position for 2025/2026 be noted.
Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- (a) That the latest financial assessment of the estimated budgetary position for 2025/2026 be received and noted. (b) That the virements set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning sought approval for the virements, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report and requested that the latest financial assessment of the budgetary position be noted. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 23 February 2026 and supported the recommendations. The support provided by the Finance Team to all services was commended, as were services for addressing the financial pressures and challenges. RESOLVED- (a) That the latest financial assessment of the estimated budgetary position for 2025/2026 be received and noted. (b) That the virements set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That Council be requested to approve the recommended budget proposals, as set out in Table 5 of Appendix 1 of the report.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning sought support to request that Council approve the budgetary proposals, as set out in Table 5 of Appendix 1 of the report. The Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 23 February 2026 and supported the recommendations. Discussion ensued as follows: · Work had been undertaken to reduce the Council Tax increase from the mooted 12.5% to a more acceptable level that would address the resources required to meet the pressures and demands, with a 0% reduction for schools. · Local Authorities should be funded at an acceptable level by Welsh Government (WG) to meet ever increasing demands, with pay and pension rises fully funded, together with policy changes that required additional resources to implement. · The process for proposing the budget and Council Tax increase was inclusive, with all Members being invited to attend the Budget Working Groups and reports being presented to the Finance and Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet and Council, which were open for all Members to attend. · The Council had to deliver a balanced budget and suggestions of additional budget savings from services at this late stage was not feasible, any savings should be put forward at an early stage in the budget setting process so that they could be explored fully by the service, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member. RESOLVED- That Council be requested to approve the recommended budget proposals, as set out in Table 5 of Appendix 1 of the report.
Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
RESOLVED- That the Public and Press be excluded from the meeting under the provisions of Section 100A of the above Act during consideration of the following items as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 13 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that in all the relevant circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.
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.
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