Agenda and decisions

Noted.

Noted.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide the latest six-monthly update of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), reflecting updated assumptions, risks, and strategic context. The report outlines the projected budget gap for 2026/27 and the medium term and outlines the context for developing a balanced budget.

Authors: Jonathan S. Davies - Head of Finance (Deputy Section 151 Officer) 

Peter Davies - Deputy Chief Executive, Strategic Director Resources (Section 151 Officer)

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet note the updated projected revenue budget shortfall of £11.5 million for 2026/27 and a cumulative shortfall of £37.4 million over the medium term period to 2029/30.

That Cabinet note the outline budget setting timetable as outlined in Appendix 1.

That Cabinet note the progress against the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) delivery plan, as detailed in Section 13 of Appendix 1.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with an update of the progress against the Councils revenue budget for the 2025/26 financial year.

Author: Jonathan Davies, Head of Finance (Deputy Section 151 officer)

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet note a forecast revenue budget underspend of £29,000 at update 2.

That Cabinet note that this represents a £1.323 million improvement since the initial financial update, reversing a previously forecast overspend of £533,000 and restoring £761,000 of the Council’s budget contingency.

That Cabinet note that the improvement is primarily driven by changes in Social Care where the ability to maximise the impact of grant funding to meet core expenditure has benefited the forecast.

That Cabinet note the budgetary risks that are inbuilt into this forecast, namely:

· Demand for high-cost services such as Social Care and Additional Learning Needs remains volatile.

· Inflation continues to be higher than anticipated.

· Only 90.4% of the £10.7m saving targets are expected to be met, down from the previously forecast 92.1%.

· Debt recovery rates are declining, especially in Council Tax and Social Care.

· The growing

That Cabinet note the projected increase in the deficit on cumulative schools’ reserves, as detailed in Appendix 4 of this report, amounting to £2,970,000, an increase of £135,000 compared to the previous forecast. School balances are expected to close the financial year at a deficit of £7,061,000, with eighteen out of thirty-five schools anticipated to have a deficit balance.

That Cabinet note that schools which are budgeting to end the 2025/26 financial year in a deficit balance are required to bring forward recovery plans by October half term to ensure that the proposed actions to address their budget shortfalls are instigated.

That Cabinet note the forecast Capital budget expenditure for the year of £59.79 million, alongside projected slippage of £8.14 million. No significant variances are anticipated at the current time with a minor underspend of £19k reported.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek approval for the proposed scope and arrangements for Monmouthshire’s forthcoming Panel Performance Assessment (PPA), including confirmation of the panel chair and next steps for panel member appointments.

Author: Matthew Gatehouse, Chief Officer – People, Performance and Partnerships

Contact Details: matthewgatehouse@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve the draft scope for the Panel Performance Assessment as set out in this report.

That Cabinet confirm the appointment of Beverley Smith as Chair of the Panel, and instruct the Chief Officer for People, Performance & Partnerships to finalise the remaining panel membership in consultation with the Leader and WLGA.

That Cabinet agree the proposed timing for the assessment as the week commencing 23rd February 2026.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: The Inclusion Service, within the Children, Learning, Skills and Economy (CLSE) Directorate has developed a new Inclusion Strategy and an updated ALN Policy to shape our work with children and young people in schools and settings in Monmouthshire.

The purpose of this report is to provide Cabinet with an opportunity to consider the Inclusion Strategy and the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Policy to ensure that they are fit for purpose and meet the local priorities as outlined in the Learning Place section of the Community and Corporate Plan.

The EOTAS (education other than at school) Policy is also included as this was being developed at the time scrutiny.  The EOTAS Policy sits as an appendix to the ALN

Policy.

Author: Dr Morwenna Wagstaff, Head of Service: Inclusion

Jacquelyn Elias, Principal ALN Officer

Contact Details: morwennawagstaff@monmouthshire.gov.uk

 jacquelynelias@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet give permission for publication and wider dissemination of the Inclusion Strategy and Additional Learning Needs Policy.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: This report sets out the key conclusions of the recent review of parking services in Monmouthshire carried out by AtkinsRealis and invites Cabinet to agree the proposed strategic objectives for the Council’s parking strategy as well as the proposed actions for the Council in response the review’s recommendations.

Author: Daniel Fordham, Regeneration Manager

Contact Details: danielfordham@monmouthshire.gov.uk

To agree the strategic objectives for the Council’s parking strategy as set out in paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8.

To agree the proposed MCC actions in response to the recommendations made in the Monmouthshire car parking review, as set out in table 1.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek approval of Monmouthshire’s Draft Destination Management Plan 2025-2030 and proposed Destination Management Partnership arrangements.

Author: Nicola Edwards, J/S Destination Manager

Contact Details: nicolaedwards@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve Monmouthshire’s Destination Management Plan 2025-2030 and proposed partnership arrangements.