Cabinet

The Cabinet agenda for 15 September 2026 covers the 2027/28 budget outlook, the 2025/26 year-end reports, in-year budget monitoring and a range of other reports. The minutes of this meeting have not been published, so no decisions are recorded here. The items below show what each report proposes.

1. Budget outlook for 2027/28

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Cabinet receives an update on the budget position for 2027/28 and notes the work to find savings. It describes the position as a serious and major budget challenge.

   Why

   The revised additional budget requirement is £27.866m, up by £0.107m since July. The report says the Council could face a shortfall of £19.046m to £21.986m on its central planning assumption, because the level of Welsh Government funding is not yet known. Without enough savings, the Council would not be able to set a legal and balanced budget.

   Based on the minutes, Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2027/28

2. Council Plan performance at year end 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report asks Cabinet to review the End of Year Performance Report and give comments before it goes to full Council.

   Why

   Only one of the Council's 18 objectives is rated red overall, which means it is off track. It is 'Supporting people to retain their housing and live well, ensuring homelessness is rare, brief, and unrepeated'. The report says the Council must set out actions to improve performance, under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

   Based on the minutes, Council Plan End of Year Performance Reporting 2025/26, Enc 1

3. Corporate self-assessment for 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report asks Cabinet to approve the Corporate Self-Assessment for 2025/26 and the actions to address areas for improvement. It also asks Cabinet to endorse progress on last year's actions.

   Why

   The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 requires the Council to assess its own performance each year. Each of the nine themes scored 4 out of 5, but the assessment lists areas to improve, such as the use of data and performance management. Members held a workshop in May 2026 to challenge the scores.

   Based on the minutes, Corporate Self-Assessment 2025/26, Enc 1

4. Revenue budget monitoring, month 4

   Proposed

   The report asks Cabinet to note the Month 4 position and the measures being taken to improve it. It also asks Cabinet to approve the use of unearmarked reserves (money not set aside for a specific purpose) to pay for two temporary posts at the Connects Centre.

   Why

   The Council Fund is projected to overspend by £7.090m this year. A £2.704m budget risk reserve would reduce this to £4.386m. The biggest pressures are in Social Services (£4.390m) and Streetscene and Transportation (£1.739m), and the report sets out action plans for both.

   Based on the minutes, Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2026/27 (Month 4), Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3, Enc 4, Enc 5

5. Capital programme monitoring, month 4

   Proposed

   The report asks Cabinet to approve the overall report and the carry forward of unspent budget into 2027/28. It also asks Cabinet to approve a £0.100m additional allocation to repair the route used by the Tour of Britain cycle race.

   Why

   Changes in this period added £24.172m to the programme budget, mostly from new Welsh Government grants. Spending to the end of July was £15.733m, and the projected underspend on the Council Fund is £4.929m.

   Based on the minutes, Capital Programme Report 2026/27 (Month 4), Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3

6. Treasury management annual report 2025/26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Cabinet approve the draft Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26 and send it to County Council on 22 September 2026 for final approval. Treasury management is how the Council manages its cash, borrowing and investments.

   Why

   The Governance and Audit Committee reviewed the draft on 22 July and raised no specific issues for Cabinet. The report says the Council borrowed £25m from the Public Works Loan Board, a government lender for councils, and did not reschedule any debt because early repayment charges were too high. It also says the treasury team stayed within the limits set in the 2025/26 Strategy.

   Based on the minutes, Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26., Enc 1

7. Audit Wales report on temporary accommodation

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Cabinet note the Audit Wales review and support the actions to address its three recommendations. These actions include a new procurement approach for temporary accommodation from April 2027 and a refreshed plan to prevent homelessness.

   Why

   Audit Wales found that councils spend a lot on temporary accommodation for homeless people, that it often does not meet people's needs, and that councils cannot show it is good value. A North Wales regional briefing says Flintshire's temporary accommodation numbers rose from 488 in April 2025 to 618 in April 2026, the largest rise in the region. The report says the Council is already acting, for example by setting up a Prevention Team and commissioning an independent review of its homelessness services.

   Based on the minutes, Audit Wales Report on Temporary Accommodation, Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3, Enc 4

8. Social Partnership Duty annual report 2025-26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Cabinet approve the Social Partnership Duty Annual Report for 2025-26. It says the recognised trade unions contributed to the report and endorse it.

   Why

   The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 requires councils to involve trade unions when setting wellbeing objectives and making major decisions, and to report on this each year. The report describes the Council's long-standing work with UNISON, GMB and UNITE, and says this works well at corporate level but is harder at portfolio level. The organisational change and redundancy policy is due for renewal this year, which the report says will allow current practice to be reviewed.

   Based on the minutes, Social Partnership Duty report

9. Investment Zone research and manufacturing grants

   Proposed

   The report recommends that Cabinet approve two new grant schemes under the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone: one for research and development, and one for manufacturing growth. It also asks Cabinet to give delegated powers (authority for officers to decide without a further Cabinet vote) to the Chief Officer (Place and Growth) to launch, run and change the schemes.

   Why

   The Investment Zone is a partnership between the UK Government, Welsh Government, North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, and the Flintshire and Wrexham councils. It aims to secure £160m of funding, create 6,000 jobs and attract £1bn of private investment in advanced manufacturing. The report says the grants would fund projects such as prototypes and equipment, with a cap of £1m per project and up to 50% public funding, and that the manufacturing grant would be used only in exceptional circumstances.

   Based on the minutes, Investment Zone Research, Development and Innovation grants

10. Local toilet strategy: interim progress

    Proposed

    No report was available for this item, so its proposal cannot be summarised.

    Why

    The agenda lists this item, but the report was not among the documents provided.

    Based on the minutes

11. Traffic Regulation Order, Well Street, Buckley

    Proposed

    No report was available for this item, so its proposal cannot be summarised.

    Why

    The agenda lists this item, but the report was not among the documents provided.

    Based on the minutes

Written by AI from the reports on the agenda, before the minutes are published. Reports say what council officers recommend; the meeting can decide differently. Once the minutes are out, this becomes a summary of what was decided.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

2. 3

   Minutes

   Papers: Cabinet Minutes - 14.07.26
3. 4

   Urgent Matters as Agreed by the Chair

4. 5

   Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2027/28

   Part of an issue followed across 4 meetings

   Papers: Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2027/28
5. 6

   Council Plan End of Year Performance Reporting 2025/26

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Council Plan End of Year Performance Reporting 2025/26, Enc 1
6. 7

   Corporate Self-Assessment 2025/26

   Part of an issue followed across 8 meetings

   Papers: Corporate Self-Assessment 2025/26, Enc 1
7. 8

   Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2026/27 (Month 4)

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Revenue Budget Monitoring Report 2026/27 (Month 4), Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3, Enc 4, Enc 5
8. 9

   Capital Programme Report 2026/27 (Month 4)

   Papers: Capital Programme Report 2026/27 (Month 4), Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3
9. 10

   Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Treasury Management Annual Report 2025/26., Enc 1
10. 11

    Audit Wales Report on Temporary Accommodation

    Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

    Papers: Audit Wales Report on Temporary Accommodation, Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3, Enc 4
11. 12

    Social Partnership Duty report

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Social Partnership Duty report
12. 13

    Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone Research and Development and Manufacturing Growth Grants

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Investment Zone Research, Development and Innovation grants
13. 14

    Local Toilet Strategy – Interim Progress Report

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Enc 1, Enc 2, Enc 3, Local Toilet Strategy – Interim Progress Report
14. 15

    Traffic Regulation Order, Well Street, Buckley

    Papers: Traffic Regulation Order, Well Street, Buckley, Enc 1, Enc 2
15. 16

    Exercise of Delegated Powers

    Part of an issue followed across 9 meetings

    Papers: Delegated Powers Sheet

16. Local Government (Access TO Information) Act 1985 - to Consider the Exclusion of the Press and Public

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Declarations are read from the minutes once they are published.

The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.

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