Agenda and decisions

Cabinet - Wednesday, 21st January, 2026 4.30 pm

Venue: Steve Greenslade Room, County Hall, Usk

Contact: Democratic Services

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies for Absence
2.	Declarations of Interest
3.	STATUTORY CONSULTATION ON PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE AGE RANGE OF DURAND PRIMARY SCHOOL FROM 3-11 YEARS TO 4-11 YEARS PDF 246 KB View the background to item 3. View the decision for item 3. Division/Wards Affected: Caldicot Purpose: The purpose of the report is to seek Members’ permission to consult with stakeholders on the Council’s intention to change the age range of Durand Primary School from 3-11 years to 4-11 years. The proposal is to replace the LA maintained school nursery with a non-maintained setting based on the school site that is approved to provide funded early education. Author: Sue Hall, Early Years Manager Contact Details: susanhall@monmouthshire.gov.uk Additional documents: 1a. Durand Nursery Consultation Document December 2025 , item 3. PDF 826 KB 1b. Durand Nursery Integrated Impact Assessment , item 3. PDF 646 KB Decision: That Cabinet agree to enter into a statutory consultation process as set out in the School Organisation Code (a document produced by virtue of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013) to obtain the views of consultees on changing the age range of Durand Primary School and replacing the school nursery with an approved non-maintained setting on the school site. That Cabinet agree and approve the attached draft consultation document (appendix 1) which proposes to change the age range of Durand Primary School from 3-11 years to 4-11 years.
4.	SALE OF TWO FARM COTTAGES AT LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS PDF 701 KB View the background to item 4. View the decision for item 4. Division/Wards Affected: Portskewett Purpose: To seek approval for the disposal of two vacant farm cottages located in Leechpool Holdings, Portskewett, identified as surplus to requirements following internal review with services that no longer have an identified need. Authors: Ben Thorpe – Development Surveyor Emily Hayes – Asset Surveyor Contact Details: benthorpe@monmouthshire.gov.uk emilyhayes@monmouthshire.gov.uk Decision: That Cabinet agree that the two cottages are declared surplus to requirements and can be disposed of on the open market to realise a capital receipt and relieve the Council of costs associated with vacant property.
5.	S106 CHURCH ROAD AND CRICK ROAD ALLOCATION OF S106 OFFSITE RECREATION FUNDING PDF 408 KB Division/Wards Affected: Caldicot, Portskewett, Severnside Purpose: To seek Cabinet approval for the allocation of Section 106 offsite recreation funding received from the Church Road and Crick Road developments in Caldicot and Portskewett, towards projects identified as named beneficiaries within these agreements. Author: Colette Bosley, Countryside, Destination & Environment Manager Contact Details: colettebosley@monmouthshire.gov.uk Additional documents: Appendix 1 DM_2018_00880-S106_AGREEMENT_Church Rd , item 5. PDF 5 MB Appendix 2 DM 2018 00696 Section 106 Agreement Crick Rd , item 5. PDF 6 MB Appendix 3 S106 Cabinet Decision 5th May 2024 Church Rd , item 5. PDF 315 KB Appendix 4 Map and Photos S106 , item 5. PDF 761 KB Appendix 5 MUR Stakeholder Highlights , item 5. PDF 287 KB There are a further 5 documents.View the full list of documents for item 5. Decision: That Cabinet approves the allocation of £144,000 from the Church Road S106 offsite recreation contribution to the Caldicot Greenway/Multi-User Route (MUR) project. That Cabinet approves the allocation of £167,000 from the Crick Road S106 offsite recreation contribution to the Caldicot Greenway/MUR project, subject to receipt of funds.
6.	DRAFT REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGET PROPOSALS 2026/27 PDF 576 KB View the background to item 6. View the decision for item 6. Division/Wards Affected: All Purpose: To set out draft revenue and capital budget proposals for financial year 2026/27. To commence a period of consultation on draft budget proposals for a four-week period ending 18th February 2026. Author: Jonathan Davies, Head of Finance (Deputy S151 Officer) Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk Additional documents: 3a. Appendix 1 - Service pressures, investment, efficiencies and reform , item 6. PDF 103 KB 3b. Appendix 2 - Cumulative impact assessment 2026-27 , item 6. PDF 1 MB 3c. Appendix 3 - Directorate impact assessments , item 6. PDF 2 MB 3d. Appendix 4 - 2026-27 Draft Capital budget , item 6. PDF 79 KB 3e. Appendix 5 - Response to WG settlement , item 6. PDF 227 KB 3f. Appendix 6 - Consolidated Fees and Charges Report 2026-27 , item 6. PDF 248 KB Decision: That Cabinet approves the release of its draft revenue budget proposals for 2026/27 for consultation which will run until 18th February 2026. That Cabinet approves the release of its draft capital budget proposals for 2026/27 and indicative capital budgets for 2027/28 to 2029/30 for consultation as set out in appendix 4. That Cabinet note the remaining revenue budget gap of £973,000 at draft budget stage which will need to be resolved in full by the time that the final budget is set by Council in March 2026. That Cabinet notes the implications and current uncertainties arising out of Welsh Government’s provisional Local Government budget announcement as outlined in this report and agree the response to Welsh Government as outlined at appendix 5. That Cabinet recommends the use of capital receipts totalling £2,707,500 to fund revenue costs associated with organisational change that support the draft revenue budget proposals. That Cabinet recommends an increase in discretionary fees and charges of at least 3.8% as outlined in appendix 6, reflecting the prevailing rate of inflation in September 2025.