Agenda and decisions

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek approval of the Social Partnership Duty Report 2025, setting out how the Council will build on existing practice, and work collaboratively with trade unions, to ensure compliance with the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023. 

Author: Philippa Green, Head of HR

Contact Details: philippagreen@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve the Social Partnership Duty Report 2025, to enable the report to be published, under the statutory duty.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To inform members of progress on the final stage of the Shire Hall Museum Monmouth which is a significant initiative for our authority, transforming Shire Hall into an accessible destination within Monmouth's historic heart.

To propose the next phased approach to the new provision with the adaption and refit of Shire Hall creating new galleries, learning and community spaces, and enhance the visitor welcome.

To approve the financial budget for the delivery stage of the project.

Author: Tracey Thomas – Head of Service Culture, Community Learning and EventsMonLife

Stacey Jones – Performance, Finance and Resources Manager MonLife

Contact Details: traceythomas@monmouthshire.gov.uk

staceyjones@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet note the progress of the Development Phase, which includes RIBA stage 3 (a developed design) incorporating the Monmouth Museum Collections and a Community Learning Facility.

That Cabinet approve the final phase to realise the Shire Hall becoming a flagship sustainable cultural destination and community facility.

That Cabinet approve a £300,000 capital contribution from capital match to facilitate the next phase of works.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek Cabinet approval of Monmouthshire’s, Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan for 2025 to 2028.

To similarly seek Cabinet approval of Monmouthshire’s All Wales Play Opportunities Grant Capital Funding programme for 2025/26.

Author: Nicholas John, Head of Leisure and Wellbeing.

Rebecca Hall, Play Development Lead.

Contact Details: nicholasjohn@monmouthshire.gov.uk

rebeccahall@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve Monmouthshire’s Play Sufficiency Assessment and Action Plan for 2025 to 2028.

To receive an annual update of the Play Sufficiency Action Plan.

That Cabinet approve the proposed prioritised schemes to benefit from the All Wales Play Opportunities grant 2025/26 Capital Grant for Play Spaces and Playgrounds across Monmouthshire.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with information on the Authority’s final financial results for the 2024/25 financial year in respect of the revenue budget, capital programme, and associated reserves position.

To update Cabinet on the early indicative progress against the 2025/26 revenue budget.

Author: Jonathan Davies, Head of Finance (Acting Section S151 officer)

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet recognises:

A gross revenue budget surplus at outturn of £1,239,000 prior to transfers to reserves, representing a 0.6% variance against the budget.

After accounting for approved transfers to/from earmarked reserves of £742,000, the final net surplus stands at £497,000, which will be added to the Council Fund.

The surplus reflects a significant improvement of £2.83 million compared to the previous financial update. This positive variance is largely due to an unbudgeted grant of £1.19 million from the Welsh Government in March 2025, alongside favourable service budget positions resulting from effective budget recovery actions.

The Council’s continued financial discipline, combined with late grant funding has enabled the replenishment of reserves in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Despite the positive outturn, significant cost pressures remain in Social Care, Additional Learning Needs, Waste, Passenger Transport, and Homelessness/Housing, with a combined overspend reported for the year of £4.6 million. While some of these were addressed in the 2025/26 budget, these areas continue to pose financial risks.

An increase in school reserve deficits of £3.19 million during the year, resulting in a cumulative year-end deficit of £4.09 million. Fifteen schools were in a deficit balance at year-end. Several schools continue to face structural budget challenges, which are being addressed through recovery plans.

Total capital expenditure for the year was £48.81 million, with a gross underspend of £2.73 million, primarily due to underspends in Infrastructure and Property Maintenance and the receipt of additional unbudgeted grants that have offset core budgets.

Capital slippage requests total £25.03 million, which includes £1.3 million that can be allocated out of the underspend achieved and will be re-purposed to create a capital contingency budget for 2025/26 to mitigate scheme risks or address emerging capital priorities.

There are early indications of cost pressures against the 2025/26 revenue budget, exceeding the £850,000 contingency held. Prompt mitigation by services will be required to ensure a balanced outturn position is achieved.

That Cabinet approves:

The strategy to replenish reserves as outlined in Section 7, including the allocation of the £497,000 year-end surplus to the Council Fund.

The use of £3.68 million in capital receipts to fund eligible revenue expenditure under the Welsh Government’s “flexible use of capital receipts” direction (Appendix 3).

The capital slippage requests of £25.03 million (Appendix 1 - Section 4), acknowledging the factors that delayed project delivery.

The capital budget revisions detailed in Appendix 5, reflecting finalised grant funding awards for the year.

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.

Author: Jonathan S. Davies Head of Finance (Acting Section 151 Officer) 

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet note the updated projected revenue budget shortfall of £13.6 million for 2026/27 and a cumulative shortfall of £38.0 million over the medium term.

That Cabinet note the outline budget setting timetable as outlined in Appendix 1. 2.3.

That Cabinet note the progress against the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) delivery plan, as detailed in Section 14 of Appendix 1.