Cabinet

5.1 The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 9th December 2025 were agreed as a true and accurate record.

6.1 The update on actions were noted.

7.1 The Head of Financial Services presented the report to Cabinet, making the following points: • The report provided an update on the revenue monitoring, capital monitoring, and budget planning for 2026–27 following the recent settlement announcements. It focused on the current in-year financial position, the capital budget, and assumptions for next year’s budget. • The in-year forecast showed a favourable variance of £151,000, which was an improvement from the previous month. This positive movement was mainly due to Welsh Government funding for the NJC pay award. • The Children and Families service was currently using £635,000 of the £1.9 million transition funding, which was a positive position and provided headroom for any future cost increases. • In Adults Services, the main pressure related to costs at Greenmeadow Farm, which were expected to be a one-off issue for this year. • Neighbourhood and Environment Services were experiencing pressure in recycling and waste due to agency staff costs, plant repairs, and income shortfalls. • The housing benefit subsidy pressure had reduced to £178,000. • Overall, 93% of planned mitigations were expected to be achieved, with the remaining 7% under review. If the underspend continued, reserve transfers would be considered to strengthen financial resilience. • The capital budget had increased from £28.6 million to £38.5 million due to grant additions. Full spend was forecast, although some slippage were likely. Examples of grant allocations included funding for the Cwmbran High School 3G pitch, highways, and coal tips. Slippage would move funding into future years but did not mean the money was lost. • The financial position for schools was better than when budgets were originally approved. Close monitoring was continuing for schools in deficit or near-deficit positions. • The latest settlement for 2026-27 indicated an average uplift of 4.5%, with a minimum of 4%. This results in an assumed increase of £8.6 million year-on-year, which was £3.8 million higher than previously assumed. Specific grants totalling £4 million would be transferred into the settlement, covering costs such as teachers’ pay, NJC pay, and employer National Insurance contributions. • The general capital grant would increase marginally by £119,000 and funding for Extended Producer Responsibility was expected to continue. • The previous budget gap of £2.5 million had now turned into a £2.5 million surplus following the funding update. Proposed uses for the surplus include allowing for a higher pay award, addressing pay grade compression at the lower end, and supporting savings that were difficult to isolate, such as digital and energy savings. After those allocations, a residual amount of just over £1 million remained, which could increase if the final settlement exceeded 4.5%. • The next steps involved determining how the surplus funds would be used. • Members of the Cross Cutting and Business Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be discussing the budget in their February meeting. Public consultation on the budget was also taking place, and the final budget would be presented to Full Council on 3rd March for approval. 7.2 In response to a questions asked, the Head of Financial Services stated: · Although the report showed a drop in reserves, they had been significantly bolstered in recent years due to favourable in-year positions. Overall, there was no undue concern about the reserves position. · Not all reserves were fully committed. The general fund was not fully committed and currently had a forecast balance of £9.2 million, which exceeded the calculated minimum level required and was considered a healthy position. · School balances required close monitoring. While the overall position was positive, individual schools could face financial difficulties, which could impact wider council finances if not managed. · If the financial year ends with a favourable position, this would either replenish reserves or reduce the need to draw on them as currently assumed. Either outcome would strengthen reserves beyond current forecasts, provided no major surprises occurred. · It was always a balancing act to keep reserves high enough to remain prudent while ensuring funds were available for use. The Council would continue to manage this balance carefully. 7.3 The Leader welcomed the improved financial position for both the current year and 2026/27 and thanked everyone involved, including finance teams and departments across the Council, for their hard work. He emphasised that the Council’s calm and collective approach provided a strong foundation moving forward. The Leader looked forward to upcoming scrutiny sessions for constructive challenge and added value. He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to a prudent approach, avoiding short-term decisions that could jeopardise long-term service funding. The Council aimed to manage services effectively, invest in communities, and keep bills as low as possible while maintaining financial sustainability. 7.4 Cabinet agreed to: • Note the updated financial forecast for 2025/26 • Note the Settlement announcement(s) as it affects the Council • Endorse, subject to Scrutiny, the proposals detailed within the report, for subsequent inclusion with the final 2026/27 budget proposals for consideration and approval by Council in March • Note the timetable for the remainder of the 2026/27 budget setting process

8.1 The Executive Member for Children, Families and Education introduced the report and made the following comments: • A review of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) provision across the county borough had been completed, and had identified a gap in Welsh-medium provision, where students requiring ALN support were being placed in English-speaking environments, which was not appropriate. • To address this, it was proposed to create a new Welsh medium ALN Learning Resource base at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw, to accommodate 10 primary-level pupils. • Secondary-level provision would be considered later. • If there were surplus spaces, neighbouring authorities could be offered the option to buy in. • The approach benefited both Welsh-medium and English-medium provision by freeing up spaces in English-speaking settings. • As this was a new learning resource base, a public consultation was required, subject to approval by Cabinet today. 8.2 The Head of Resources & Planning, Education added the following: • The process followed the standard statutory consultation procedure. • If approved today, the consultation would begin and the results would be brought back in February or March and at that stage, Cabinet would decide whether to proceed to the statutory objection period. • A final decision on the proposal would be made after the objection period concluded. 8.3 The Leader welcomed the report which focused on providing support for children with Additional Learning Needs, which was currently in high demand. He stated that children should receive education in the language of their parents’ choice. He thanked the Officers and Executive Member in preparing the proposal which was a positive step that would free up capacity elsewhere and enable children to receive support in a Welsh-medium setting. 8.4 Cabinet agreed to approve commencement of the statutory consultation process on the proposed creation of a new Welsh medium ALN Learning Resource Base at Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw.

9.1 The Executive Member for Adult Services and Housing presented the report and made the following points: • The report seeks Cabinet approval for awarding a new contract for care and support at two older persons’ extra care schemes Ty George Lansbury and Ty Cae Nant. • Both schemes aimed to help older people maintain independence while receiving tailored support within their communities. • The current contracts end in March 2026 and an open tender process was carried out to find a provider to deliver high-quality, person-centred care aligned with Council priorities. • The Council prioritised quality and social benefit over price, reaffirming its commitment to putting residents at the heart of decisions. • Details of the tenders could not be disclosed yet due to the mandatory waiting period before announcing the successful bidder. 9.2 The Contracts & Performance Officer added the following: • The purpose of the report was to seek approval to award care and support contracts for two extra care schemes located in the Cwmbran area. Both schemes offer similar extra care services. • Following a service review in 2025, adjustments were made to the service model. At Ty George Lansbury, the core commitment would be reduced from 280 day hours per week to 224 hours per week. At Ty Cae Nant, the day commitment would increase from 112 hours to 168 hours per week. Night provision and activity support would remain unchanged. The changes would not result in any overall reduction in services received by tenants. • An open tender exercise was carried out in June 2025 by the Council’s procurement partner. The tender evaluation was based on three criteria: price (40%), quality (50%), and social value (10%). The quality assessment included written responses and presentations, while the social value criteria was linked to specific outcomes and measures. • Tender A scored higher on price and quality, while Tender B scored higher on social value. Both tenders scored highly overall, and the evaluation panel was confident in both providers’ ability to deliver services to a high standard. • The tender exercise resulted in an overall saving compared to current costs. • Officers recommend that Cabinet awards the care and support contract to Tender A. 9.3 The Executive Member for Adults and Housing expressed his pride in the Council offering this service, highlighting that it meets the needs of individuals for whom residential or nursing care was not suitable, and staying in their own home was also not the right option. The service provided a valuable middle ground and offered a diversity of choice, which was important to cater to what people wanted from life. He emphasised that the service was tailored and closely aligned with the wishes of individuals, making it a significant offering. 9.4 The Leader emphasised that supporting people to remain independent was key. He welcomed the report’s strong emphasis on quality and social value over price alone, highlighting the importance of prioritising those factors in decision-making. 9.5 Cabinet agreed: • That the contract for care and support services at Ty George Lansbury and Ty Cae Nant Extra Care schemes be awarded to Tenderer A as they scored highest in price and quality following the recent open tender exercise. • That Tenderer B be held as first reserve, if for any reason that Tenderer A withdraws, as they are also able to deliver the contract.

10.1 Cabinet agreed to the exclusion of the press and public from the meeting as the report was not for publication because in accordance with paragraph 14 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 (As Amended By The Access To Information Variation Wales Order 2007) it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and the public interest in maintaining the exemptions outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.