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Executive Members (with Portfolios): Councillors: Anthony Hunt – Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Leadership Richard Clark – Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children, Families and Education Peter Jones – Executive Member for Corporate Governance and Performance Sue Morgan – Executive Member for Resources David Daniels – Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing Mandy Owen – Executive Member for Environment Joanne Gauden – Executive Member for Economy, Skills and Regeneration Fiona Cross – Executive Member for Communities Officers: Nigel Aurelius – Deputy Chief Executive Rachel Beale – Personal Assistant to Leader and Deputy Leader Niall Flack - Apprentice Democratic Services Officer Delyth Harries - Monitoring Officer and Assistant Chief Legal Officer Jade Harvey - Senior Democratic and Member Services Officer Rachel Jowitt - Strategic Director, Economy & Environment Dave Leech – Strategic Director, Adults and Communities Jason Lewis - Director – Corporate Services Gavin Newman - Team Leader Highways & Enforcement Jason O’Brien – Strategic Director, Children and Family Services Mark Thomas - Deputy Chief Officer Highways & Climate Change Other: There was one Member of the Press in the Public Gallery.
2.1 Apologies were received from the Chief Executive.
3.1 There were no declarations of interest.
4.1 The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 July 2023 were agreed as a true and accurate record.
5.1 There were no actions arising from the previous meeting.
6.1 The Executive Member for Resources introduced the report which outlined the anticipated outturn for 2023/24 and made the following points: • The initial forecast of the revenue budget indicated a potential net revenue budget underspend of just under £1 million against the net budget of £223 million. • Although the forecast outlines the reduction of reserves for specific projects and pre-approved revenue budget support overall levels were still in excess of levels held prior to 2020. • In relation to Capital spend, budget holders were currently indicating a spend in line with budget but cost pressures were being experienced in the development of projects. • It was important to note that this was a projection and variations could occur and it was vital to maintain financial discipline and a prudent level of reserves given the challenges ahead. 6.2 The Deputy Chief Executive highlighted key areas of the report drawing Members attention to the following: • The report outlines the principal forecast variances and the reasons for Departmental pressures or alternatively Departmental underspends. • The current mitigation forecast which showed an encouraging position with service areas continuing to work to ensure successful implementation of the approved activities. • A need to maintain a focus and financial discipline during the remainder of the year given the financial challenges ahead. 6.3 The Leader thanked Officers and the Executive Member for their hard work and financial discipline. He said it was important to note that an underspend of £1million against a budget of £223million was less than 0.5%. However, an underspend was better than overspending which would have an impact on services, although at this point in the financial year it was only a projected underspend and given the complexity of services that the Council run that position could change. 6.4 The Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing commented on the underspend within the Adult Services budget and in particular highlighted that an element was due to not being able to recruit staff which is a national issue in Social Care. 6.5 Cabinet agreed to note and approve the initial financial forecasts and actions outlined in the report.
7.1 The Executive Member for Environment highlighted the key points of the report which provided details of the prioritisation tool developed by Transport for Wales and the Council to ensure that active travel schemes developed would have the highest impact for local communities and encourage the transition from car to active travel. 7.2 The Deputy Chief Officer Highways & Climate Change provided Cabinet with details around the prioritisation tool and the local factors that had to be considered. He drew members attention to appendix 3 of the report which provided an indicative list of schemes for design and delivery in 2024/25, which Cabinet were being asked for approval to bid for funding for those schemes in line with the Active Travel Guidance. 7.3 Members thanks Officers for their work on this and were pleased to see the expansion of active travel routes throughout the borough. 7.4 Cabinet agreed to approve the prioritised long list of Active Travel schemes to form the 15 year delivery plan for the County and the adoption of the method used which is in line with the Active Travel Act Guidance and funding bid requirements which is highlighted in Appendix 2 of the report. Cabinet agreed to approve that if there was a proposed deviation from the prioritised list of active travel routes to be funded, that it will only take place following sign off from the Executive Member via a formal report Cabinet agreed to approve the list of Active Travel funding bids for 2024/25 as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report.
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