Agenda and decisions

County Councillor Frances Taylor.

None.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To set out draft revenue and capital budget proposals for financial year 2024/25.

To commence a period of consultation on draft budget proposals for a four-week period ending 15th February 2024.

Author: Peter Davies

             Deputy Chief Executive (S151 Officer)

Jonathan Davies

            Head of Finance (Deputy S151 Officer)

Contact Details: Peter Davies - E-mail: peterdavies@monmouthshire.gov.uk

  Jonathan Davies - E-mail: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approves the release of its draft revenue budget proposals for 2024/25 for consultation to run until 15th February 2024.

That Cabinet approves the release of its draft capital budget proposals for 2024/25 and indicative capital budgets for 2025/26 to 2027/28 as set out in appendix 4 for consultation to run until 15th February 2024.

That Cabinet notes the adverse implications and current uncertainties arising out of the provisional budget announcement of Welsh Government as outlined in this report and agrees the response outlined at appendix 3.

That Cabinet recommends the use of £2.8m of capital receipts to fund revenue costs associated with organisational change that support the draft revenue budget proposals.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with an update on the progress that has been made to deliver the commitments set out in the Community and Corporate Plan 2022-28.

Author: Richard Jones, Performance and Data Insight Manager

Hannah Carter, Performance Analyst

Robert McGowan, Policy and Scrutiny Officer

Contact Details: E-mail: richardjones@monmouthshire.gov.uk  

  E-mail: hannahcarter@monmouthshire.gov.uk

  E-mail: robertmcgowan@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet use this report as part of their continuous monitoring of how effectively the council is delivering its objectives to identify where departments are not on track to meet the targets and identify any remedial actions that may be required.

That Cabinet formally approve the targets for 2023/24.

That Cabinet reflects on the deliverability of the Community and Corporate Plan in light of the budget settlement for 2024/25 and outlook for the following years.

That Cabinet agrees to receive a report in the first quarter of 2024/25 setting out revised measures alongside targets for performance up to 2026/27 taking advantage of in-year work done on becoming a Marmot Region with a move towards improved measurement of outcomes rather than outputs wherever possible.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to seek endorsement of Monmouthshire County Council’s response to the Welsh Governments Phase 2 consultation on a fairer council tax system.

Author: Ruth Donovan – Assistant Head of Finance: Revenues, Systems and Exchequer

Contact Details: Email: ruthdonovan@monmouthshire.gov.uk

                           Tel: 01633 644592

That Cabinet agree Monmouthshire County Council’s response to the Phase 2 consultation questions set out in Appendix One.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To receive, consider and approve the Council’s updated and revised Counter Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Policy.

Author: Jan Furtek, Audit Manager

Contact Details: janfurtek@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet provides comment before approving the revised Counter Fraud, Corruption and Bribery Policy.

All elected / independent members of the Council and council officers to complete Counter-Fraud, Corruption & Bribery training as appropriate to their role in order to increase organisational effectiveness in preventing, detecting and responding to fraud.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: The purpose of the report is to seek Members’ permission to consult with stakeholders on the Council’s intention to increase the capacity of Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni to 420 places through its relocation to the site previously occupied by the former Deri View Primary School.

Members will be aware of their previous commitment to relocate Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni to the Deri View site as part of the band B proposals that involved the establishment the 3-19 School in Abergavenny. This report is to agree the school organisation route that will allow for the relocation and associated increase in capacity.

Author: Matt Jones, Access Unit Manager

Contact Details: matthewdjones@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Members:

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 relocating Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni to the former Deri View Primary site.

Agree and approve the attached draft consultation document (appendix 1) which proposes to relocate Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni to the former Deri View Primary School site which will allow for its increase in capacity to 420 places.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek approval for the repurposing of vacant cottages held within the County Farms Portfolio to support policy objectives such as alleviating pressures with homelessness and to address the reliance on unsuitable temporary accommodation.  

Author: Nick Keyse – Acting Head of Landlord Services

 Ben Thorpe – Development Surveyor

Contact Details: nicholaskeyse@monmouthshire.gov.uk

   benthorpe@monmouthshire.gov.uk  

That Cabinet:

Agrees to the repurposing of the vacant farm cottage in Caerwent, for use as temporary accommodation for homelessness by MCC Housing subject to the necessary approvals to appropriate the cottage.

Agrees to the repurposing of vacant cottages held within the County Farms portfolio to support policy objectives and in particular aspirations around homelessness and children services provision.

That business cases will be submitted for the repurposing of other vacant cottages, for the consideration and approval via delegated authority of the Chief Officer for Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources.