Combined Governance & Audit Committee / Joint Scrutiny Committee

The committee considered the quarter 3 update on the council's Corporate Risk Register and the draft revenue budget for 2026/27. It approved the recommendations in both reports. The revised budget deficit for 2026/27 is £0.509 million, and officers said no extra cuts to school budgets are planned.

1. Quarter 3 update on corporate risks

   Decided

   The committee approved the recommendations in the report.

   Why

   The Corporate Risk Register lists the council's main risks and how they are being managed. The report proposes raising two risk scores: CRR4, because online training was completed less than expected, and CRR12, because of the current position on SPF funding. Officers told the committee that some red actions reflect delays in timescales rather than a lack of progress.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Appendix 1

2. Draft revenue budget 2026/27

   Decided

   The committee approved the recommendations in the report.

   Why

   After a better-than-expected Welsh Government settlement, the council's revised budget deficit (the shortfall between planned spending and expected income) for 2026/27 is £0.509 million. The figure assumes a 5% council tax rise, which Cabinet and Council have yet to decide. Officers said the pressures come from updated pupil numbers and the September 2025 pay award, that years two and three are estimates, and that no extra cuts to school budgets are planned for 2026/27.

   Based on the minutes, Committee Report, Appendix 1, Appendix 4

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

   Apologies received from Cllr A Barry

2. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   No declarations were made

3. 3

   Quarterly Update on Corporate Risk Quarter 3 2025/26

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that; The recommendations as contained within the report be approved.

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr D Sammon Following questions from the committee officers confirmed the following: · The Corporate Risk Register is a living, dynamic document; Some actions marked red relate to timescale drift rather than lack of progress. · Q3 report is a snapshot; monitoring continues every quarter and through performance reporting. Resolved that; The recommendations as contained within the report be approved.

   Part of an issue followed across 3 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1
4. 4

   Draft Revenue Budget 2026/27

   Decision as recorded

   Resolved that: The recommendations as contained within the report be approved.

   Minute

   Presented by Cllr Williams-Price Following questions from the committee officers confirmed the following; · Pressures relate to updated pupil numbers and the September 2025 pay award not fully reflected in the previous MTFP. · Years 2–3 remain estimates and will be updated once the 2026 pay award is known. · No additional cuts to school budgets are planned for 2026–27. · Additional demands in Appendix 4 represent growth, not reductions. · Schools' difficulties acknowledged but funding levels are not being reduced by the Council. Resolved that: The recommendations as contained within the report be approved.

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Committee Report, Appendix 1, Appendix 2, Appendix 3, Appendix 4, Appendix 5
5. 5

   Any Other Business deemed urgent by the Chair

   Minute

   No other business deemed urgent

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.

• Bill Smith, Vice-ChairLabourPresent
• Clive Jones, ChairLabourPresent
• Andrew Barry, Committee MemberIndependentSent apologies
• Brent Carter, Cabinet MemberLabourPresent
• Claire Jones, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Clive Tovey, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• David Isaac, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• David Jones, Cabinet MemberLabourPresent
• Declan Sammon, Committee MemberDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Gareth Lewis, Cabinet MemberLabourPresent
• Gareth Richards, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Geraint Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Gillian Preston, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Ian Thomas, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Jeremy Davies, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• John Thomas, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Julia Jenkins, Committee MemberIndependentAbsent
• Lee Davies, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Lisa Mytton, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Louise Minett-Vokes, Cabinet MemberLabourPresent
• Michelle Jones, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Michelle Symonds, Committee MemberIndependentPresent
• Paula Layton, Committee MemberDowlais and Pant Community IndependentsPresent
• Scott Thomas, Committee MemberLabourAbsent

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