Performance Scrutiny Committee - People

On 14 January 2025 the Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered the draft 2025-26 budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (a plan of spending and income over several years) for the council's People service areas. Members made comments and recommendations to pass to the Cabinet, including on community centre charges, short term care beds, community outreach and National Insurance increases. The Cabinet will consider consultation feedback before agreeing a final budget in February.

1. Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan 2025-26

   Decided

   The minute records these comments and recommendations from the Committee to the Cabinet: reduce community centre charges or offer short term financial support; invest in community outreach in Children's Services, Adult Services and Prevention and Inclusion; increase short term beds rather than reduce them (proposal C1); noted concern about National Insurance increases; requested the cost of placements outside the county in Children's Services; and asked to receive the agendas and recordings of the Place and Corporate scrutiny budget meetings. These are recommendations to the Cabinet. The minute does not record a Cabinet decision.

   Why

   The budget gap before savings is £4.329m for 2025-26. The Cabinet report says rising costs and demand have created the gap, including an estimated £4.5m rise in costs for the council's own staff from increased Employers' National Insurance. Ministers have said the UK Treasury will fund these costs, but the detail is unlikely to be confirmed before February, so there is a risk that funding will fall short.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - CR Budget & MTFP, Item 4.1 - 25-26 Budget and MTFP Cabinet report, Item 4.2.1 - Appendix 2 - Budget Pressures & Investments, Item 4.3.1 - Appendix 4 - New Budget Savings for Consultation, Item 4.3.2 - Appendix 10 - New Budget Savings for Consultation v2, Item 4.4.1 - Appendix 6 - Fees & Charges

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. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

2. 3

   Minutes of Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the meeting held 26th November and 10th December 2024 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Draft Minutes - 26.11.24, Draft Minutes - 10.12.24
3. 4

   Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan 2025-26

   Minute

   The Head of Finance gave an overview of the report and the Heads of Service gave an update on their respective service areas. Members questioned the Officers and Strategic Directors on the content of the report – to access a full recording of the comments made please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Democratic meetings / Cyfarfodydd democrataidd. Comments and Recommendations: • The Committee recommended reducing community centre charges or offering short term financial support. • The Committee recommended investment into community outreach in Children’s Services, Adults Services and Prevention and Inclusion. • Proposal C1 - The Committee recommended looking to increase short term beds rather than reduce them. • The Committee noted their concern with National Insurance increases. • The Committee requested the cost of out of county placements in Children’s Services. • The Committee requested to receive the agendas and recordings of the Performance Scrutiny Committee – Place and Corporate’s Budget and MTFP meetings.

   Part of an issue followed across 5 meetings

   Papers: Item 4 - CR Budget & MTFP, Item 4.1 - APPENDIX A, Item 4.1 - 25-26 Budget and MTFP Cabinet report, Item 4.2 - Budget investments APPENDIX 2, Item 4.2.1 - Appendix 2 - Budget Pressures & Investments, Item 4.3 - Budget Savings for Consultation APPENDIX 4, Item 4.3.1 - Appendix 4 - New Budget Savings for Consultation, Item 4.3.2 - Appendix 10 - New Budget Savings for Consultation v2, Item 4.4 - Fees and Charges APPENDIX 6, Item 4.4.1 - Appendix 6 - Fees & Charges
4. 5

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   • Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that there are no updates. • Forward Work Programme The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the next meeting, scheduled for the 18th February on Regulated Services has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for later in the work programme. The following meeting is due to take place on the 25th March for Key Stage 4 outcomes and Welsh in Education Strategic Plan Report 23-24. • Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser informed Committee that the outstanding outcomes have been chased for a response.

   Papers: Item 5 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 5.1 - Actions, Item 5.2 - FWP, Item 5.3 - Outcomes Monitoring

5. Meeting Recording

   Minute

   Please click here to watch the recording.

   Part of an issue followed across 16 meetings

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.

• David Fouweather, ChairConservativePresent
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Carmel Townsend, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• David Mayer, Committee MemberGreenSent apologies
• Debbie Harvey, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Janet Cleverly, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• Stephen Marshall, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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