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Agenda and decisions

Venue: County Hall, Usk - Remote Attendance. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

2.

Declarations of Interest

3.

To consider the following reports (Copies attached):

3a

REVENUE & CAPITAL MONITORING 2021/22 FORECAST OUTTURN STATEMENT - MONTH 2 pdf icon PDF 677 KB

Division/Wards Affected: All

 

Purpose: To provide Members with an updated forecast of the revenue and capital outturn position for the current financial year.

 

Authors: Peter Davies, Chief Officer for Resources

Jonathan Davies, Acting Assistant Head of Finance (Deputy S151 officer)

 

Contact Details: peterdavies@monmouthshire.gov.uk

jonathandavies@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

·         That Cabinet recognises an overall net revenue forecast deficit at month 2 of £9.02m, which can be attributed to forecast deficit of £6.48m that is directly associated with the extraordinary financial pressures attached to Covid-19, with a further £2.53m relating to the pressures on the Council’s core service delivery.

 

·         That the forecast deficit on core service delivery of £2.53m is managed through an immediate budget recovery plan recognising the risk that targeted and planned cost reductions will be challenging in the current operating environment and given that the Council will as always look to minimise impact on service delivery. 

 

·         That Cabinet can be reasonably assured based on continued dialogue with Welsh Government and the funding received since the outbreak of the pandemic, that all Covid-19 associated cost pressures and income losses eligible to be met by the Welsh Government Covid-19 Hardship fund will be funded to the end of September 2021.

 

·         That Cabinet note that there remains significant Covid-19 related cost pressures and income losses forecast after the end of September 2021 of approximately £2.5m which presently have no funding commitment from Welsh Government.  The Council prudently set aside reserve funding at the end of 2019/20 and 2020/21 totalling £2.6m for specific Covid-19 related pressures which were yet to materialise and in the event that funding commitments from Welsh Government fall short of meeting the additional expenditure and income losses incurred. Given the Councils comparatively low level of reserve cover, and the financial challenges over the medium term and beyond, recourse to this funding should be seen as an absolute last resort after exhausting all other alternative possibilities.

 

·         Whilst the Council is grateful for the funding commitments made to date by Welsh Government through the Covid-19 Hardship fund to the end of September 2021, Cabinet will look to make strong representations to Welsh Government for further clarity on funding for the ongoing pressures post September both in the form of continuing to respond to the direct impact of the pandemic but just as importantly, the wider and longer lasting indirect impact of the pandemic on Council services, particularly where this is now becoming evident in the areas of Homelessness, Children’s services, Adult social care and Children’s additional learning needs.

 

·         That Cabinet recognise the ongoing risk of the awaited outcome of pay negotiations for both teaching and non-teaching staff and that this will present a further pressure if pay awards are over and above the 1% budgeted for.  Current indications are that we will see at the very least a 1.75% increase in pay for teachers with effect from September 2021, and a full year effect of at least a 1.5% increase in non-teaching staff.  Welsh Government have been clear that no compensating funding is anticipated and given that the Minister confirmed via the final settlement that this already took into account any subsequent pay award.

 

·         Cabinet recognises the extraordinary nature of the current Council operating environment as a result of the pandemic and accepts that it will be some  ...  view the full decision text for item 3a

3b

REGIONAL COLLABORATION: GWENT PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD pdf icon PDF 732 KB

Division/Wards Affected: All

 

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with an overview of proposals to create a single Public Service Board for Gwent, and the related development of delivery arrangements in Monmouthshire which will ensure that partners do not lose focus on the issues that matter most to the people and communities of Monmouthshire.

 

Author: Sharran Lloyd, Community and Partnership Development Manager

Richard Jones, Performance Manager

 

Contact Details: sharranlloyd@monmouthshire.gov.uk

richardjones@monmouthshire.gov.uk

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

Cabinet endorses the proposal to create a Gwent-wide Public Service Board and the subsequent development of partnership arrangements in Monmouthshire.

3c

To consider whether to exclude the press and public from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business in accordance with Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 12 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act. (Proper Officer's view attached). pdf icon PDF 149 KB

3d

ICT SECURITY AND RESILIENCE

Division/Wards Affected: None

 

Purpose: This report is to approve additional investment to enhance cyber security arrangements across both the Education and Corporate networks.

 

Author: Sian Hayward, Head of Information Security & Technology

 

Contact Details: sianhayward@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Decision:

Resolved:

 

That Cabinet agrees the recommendations as set out in the report.