The Cabinet

They cover a Voice of the Child Strategy, an equality plan report, workforce and health and safety reports, a planning monitoring report, and two capital budget reports. No minutes have been published yet, so this summary sets out what the reports propose, not what was decided.

1. Voice of the Child Strategy

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Cabinet approve the Voice of the Child Strategy and note that a corporate action plan will be developed to support it.

   Why

   The report says the strategy sets a corporate framework so that the rights and views of children and young people shape Council decisions, and it responds to inconsistent practice between services. The report says it places no new operational duties on school governors.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report 131026 - Voice of the Child Strategy, Appendix 1 - The Voice of the Child Strategy 29 9 26

2. Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28: annual report 2025-26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Cabinet note the content of the 2025-26 annual report and approve it, along with the 2024-28 Equality Plan.

   Why

   The Equality Act 2010 requires the Council to report each year on its equality plan. The report says most of the work planned for the first year has been achieved. It also includes workforce figures for 2025-26, such as the gender split, and notes that the pay gap review has slipped to next year.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report and Annual Report, Appendix 1 - Employment Information 2025-26

3. Annual report on the workforce

   Proposed

   The report asks the Cabinet to approve the annual workforce report for 2025/26.

   Why

   The report says the workforce fell from 5,895 to 5,794 people during 2025/26, which it links to financial pressures on local government. Staff turnover was 9.3 per cent and sickness absence rose to 13.01 days per person. It says the high sickness level remains a corporate priority.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report, Appendix 1 - Age Profile (2025-26)

4. Annual report on health, safety and well-being

   Why

   The report does not ask for a decision. It is submitted so that members have an overview of health and safety matters in 2025/26. The report says reported incidents rose to 4,347 in 2025/26, which it puts down mainly to better reporting, while the most serious incidents, reportable under RIDDOR (the rules that require employers to report serious workplace injuries), fell to 41. A Health and Safety Executive visit on pesticide storage found no need for formal enforcement. A new digital reporting system was introduced across all services in January 2026.

   Based on the minutes, Health and Safety Report EN

5. Annual monitoring report on the Local Development Plan 2025-26

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Cabinet receive Annual Monitoring Report 8 and agree to send it to the Welsh Government by the end of October 2026.

   Why

   The Local Development Plan sets the county's rules for land use and new buildings, and the Council must report on it to the Welsh Government every year by 31 October. The report says 118 homes were completed in 2025/26, and 91 of them were affordable. It also says 24.4 per cent fewer homes have been built since 2011 than the plan's trajectory predicted. At the Planning Policy Working Group on 16 September, members raised concerns about the effect of the Wylfa project on jobs and housing demand, and about the Plan's status after January 2027.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report, Appendix 1 - Annual Monitoring Report 8, Appendix 2 - Planning Policy Working Group

6. Capital Strategy: funding for flood, school and other schemes

   Proposed

   The report recommends that the Cabinet approve £1.49M for flood prevention on North Promenade in Barmouth and £583,000 for Ysgol Bontnewydd. It also recommends £6.86M and £4.11M for the next phase of the Sustainable Schools programme, and moving £3.5M out of the existing asset plan to help fund them.

   Why

   The Barmouth flood scheme now looks closer to £35M than the original £23M, and the Ysgol Bontnewydd scheme has risen to £17.67M, with the Welsh Government funding 97 per cent. The report says match funding (the Council's share needed to unlock a government grant) is required, and that the £16M available cannot cover every request, so priorities will need to be set.

   Based on the minutes, Capital Strategy

7. Capital programme 2026/27: end of August review

   Proposed

   The report asks the Cabinet to accept the end-of-August review of the capital programme.

   Why

   The capital programme is the Council's spending on buildings, roads and other assets, and the report puts planned spending for 2026/27 at about £123.5M, with 58 per cent from specific grants. About £12.0M of spending has been moved (re-profiled) from 2026/27 to later years, and the report says no funding was lost where schemes slipped.

   Based on the minutes, Cabinet Report - Capital Review August 26-27

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. 1

   Apologies

2. 2

   Declaration of Personal Interest

3. 3

   Urgent Items

4. 4

   Matters Arising from Overview and Scrutiny

5. 5

   Minutes of the Meeting Held on 15 September

   Papers: 20260915 - Minutes
6. 6

   The Voice of the Child Strategy

   Papers: Cabinet Report 131026 - Voice of the Child Strategy, Appendix 1 - The Voice of the Child Strategy 29 9 26, Appendix 2 - The Voice of the Learner in Education, Appendix 3 - The Voice of the Learner in Children's Services, Appendix 4 - The Children and Young People's Voice Forums, Appendix 5 - Strategic Integration and Governance, Appendix 6 - Results of the Engagement with Children and Young People, Appendix 7 - Composite Impact Assessment - Voice of the Child Strategy
7. 7

   Strategic Equality Plan 2024-28, Annual Report 2025-26

   Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

   Papers: Cabinet Report and Annual Report, Appendix 1 - Employment Information 2025-26
8. 8

   Annual Report - Workforce

   Papers: Cabinet Report, Appendix 1 - Age Profile (2025-26)
9. 9

   Annual Report on Health, Safety and Well-Being

   Papers: Health and Safety Report EN
10. 10

    Annual Monitoring Report Local Development Plan 2025-2026

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Cabinet Report, Appendix 1 - Annual Monitoring Report 8, Appendix 2 - Planning Policy Working Group
11. 11

    Capital Strategy

    Papers: Capital Strategy
12. 12

    Capital Programme 2026/27 – End of August Review (31 August 2026 Position)

    Part of an issue followed across 2 meetings

    Papers: Cabinet Report - Capital Review August 26-27

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