Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with an update of the arrangements the Council is continuing to have in place to identify, manage and mitigate risks in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Author: Peter Davies, Chief Officer for Resources

Contact Details: peterdavies@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet endorse the arrangements the Council continues to have in place and the risks that are being actively managed in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose:

To update members with regard to the performance for the Outdoor Adventure Site for2019/20 and to inform members on progress made with the action plan which was designed to enable the service to move to become a more financially sustainable model.

To provide an assessment of the potential impact of COVID19 on the service for 2020/21.

Author: Ian Saunders, MonLife Chief Operating Officer

Marie Bartlett, MonLife Finance and Resources Manager

Contact Details: iansaunders@monmouthshire.gov.uk; mariebartlett@monmouthshire.com.uk

That Cabinet note the overspending position for 2019/20 of £116k and early indications of an overspend in 2020/21 in the region of £350k. This deficit should be reduced further through the potential recovery of income loss shortfalls from Welsh Government.

Given the likely reduced numbers of customers due to Covid-19, the service should remain closed for residential visits until the end of December 2020. Continuing with a two site strategy is not viable in the short or medium term and therefore the service will adopt a one-site approach at Gilwern. A further report will be presented to Cabinet in autumn 2020 which will consider the long term future of the service.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Members with an ‘early year’ forecast of the revenue and capital outturn position for the current financial year. The forecast is heavily caveated given current lack of clarity from Welsh Government on compensating payments to recognise the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Council.

To provide an update on the financial impact of COVID-19 on the Council and to outline the timetable for a budget recovery plan to be developed.

Author: Peter Davies, Chief Officer for Resources

Contact Details: peterdavies@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Cabinet recognise a net revenue forecast deficit of £10.37m with some £6.83 million of this directly associated with the extraordinary financial pressures attached to COVID-19.

Cabinet continue to make strong representations to Welsh Government for full

reimbursement of £6.83 million leaving Council with a sum of £3.54 million to address as a true in-year pressure.

An in-year budget recovery plan to address the forecast overspend of £3.54 million is drawn up for Cabinet consideration in September.

Cabinet notes the extent of movements in reserve usage contained in appendix 1.

Cabinet agrees that the 2019/20 year-end one-off surplus of £1.8 million be set against this year’s forecast pressure of £3.54 million leaving a residual sum of £1.74 million as a minimum to address by way of an in-year recovery plan.

In taking the approach set out in 2.5 above, Cabinet recognises the extraordinary nature of the current year and accepts that a further sum of £1.8 million will need to be found as part of the budget setting process for financial year 2021/22.

Cabinet considers the forecast capital outturn spend of £52.118m, introducing a £134k underspend, and the presumptions made around net financing consequences, as outlined in appendix 1.

Cabinet recognises that these numbers will have to be reconsidered in the event that Welsh Government falls short of expectation in compensating the Council or pressures such as pay award settlements are agreed at levels beyond our planning assumptions.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide an update on activity following approval of the Digital Infrastructure Action Plan (Appendix A) in September 2019.

Author: Cath Fallon, Head of Enterprise and Community Animation

Michael Powell, Rural Programmes Manager

Contact Details: cathfallon@monmouthshire.gov.uk

michaelpowell@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Cabinet to receive the update and acknowledge the significant activity and progress that has been made in less than a year and to support the future plans for the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the County, to reduce the deficiencies in digital infrastructure that are seen across the County.

Cabinet to approve Officers engagement in further dialogue with Welsh Government, to optimise the additional investment, in order to maximise the spread of connectivity across the County and alongside other digital infrastructure investment as outlined in the report.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide an update on the ‘Connected Communities in the Rural Economy’ (CoCoRE), 5G Testbed pathfinder project.

Author: Cath Fallon, Head of Enterprise and Community Animation

Contact Details: cathfallon@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve to proceed with the CoCoRE 5G Testbed pathfinder project as a partner with Welsh Government as Lead Body.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to make recommendations to Cabinet on the Schedule of Applications for the Welsh Church Fund Working Group meeting1 held on the 30^th June 2020.

Author: David Jarrett – Senior Accountant – Central Finance Business Support

Contact Details: davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That grants be awarded as per the schedule of applications.