Agenda and decisions

Noted.

Division/Wards Affected: Usk and adjoining areas

Purpose: To approve the purchase of a Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) property at Castlewood, Usk, NP15 1SR following receipt of the owner’s intent to sell.

To approve utilising a proportion of the sale proceeds from 21 Castlewood to cover essential works that were directly attributable to the sale of 21 Castlewood.

Author: Louise Corbett, Strategy and Policy Officer

Contact Details: louisecorbett@monmouthshire.gov.uk

To agree to repurchase the property using the available LCHO capital funds.

To retain the property in the council’s ownership on a temporary basis before marketing the property for sale again in 2026. If a purchaser cannot be identified in Spring/Summer 2026, it is proposed that the property is used as temporary accommodation in the interim before selling at a later date.

To agree to improvement works.

To agree to utilise a proportion of the sale proceeds from 21 Castlewood for essential works.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: This report seeks Cabinet approval for additional funding to address essential health and safety works at the former Deri View Primary School, ensuring the building is ready for Ysgol Gymraeg Y Fenni to occupy in September 2026.

Authors: Will McLean, Nick Keyes, Nikki Wellington

Contact Details: willmclean@monmouthshire.gov.uk

nicholaskeyes@monmouthshire.gov.uk

nicolawellington@monmouthshire.gov.uk

To approve a capital budget of £1,918,096, subject to confirmation of a grant from Welsh Government of 65% (£1,246,762), with Monmouthshire’s contribution of £671,334 to be found from existing approved education capital schemes.

That Cabinet approve a capital budget virement of up to £671,334 from the currently unallocated funding within the Abergavenny 3-19 programme. The final value of virement required will only be confirmed upon receipt of the final grant award from Welsh Government.

That in the event that the value of funding from the Abergavenny 3-19 programme is less than required, any shortfall will be met from the unallocated budget within the 2025/26 Schools capital maintenance grant programme

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To inform Cabinet of the UK Government’s new Local Growth Fund (LGF) and seek approval for the granting of investment from LGF for 2026/27 to projects listed in Appendix One of this report.

Authors: Will McLean Strategic Director – Children, Learning, Skills, and Economy

Hannah Jones, Head of Economy Employment and Skills  

Contact Details: willmcLean@monmouthshire.gov.uk

hannahjones@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approves the draft local investment plan (appendix one) and projects contained within.

That Cabinet agree that projects will formally commence upon receipt of the grant award letter and the grant award confirmation being returned to Welsh Government.

That Cabinet agrees that to the extent that this is not achieved by 31st March, that the authority will underwrite the costs associated with staff contracts being renewed/extended from the within the existing budget framework.

That Cabinet agree to continue working arrangements with Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC to continue to serve as Lead Authority for the region through 2026/27

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To update Cabinet with the consultation responses to the draft budget proposals issued by them on the 21st of January 2026 in respect of the Capital and Revenue budgets for 2026/27.

To make recommendations to Council on the Capital and Revenue budgets including the level of Council Tax for 2026/27.

To receive the statutory report of the Responsible Financial Officer on the budget process and the adequacy of reserves.

To receive the Responsible Financial Officer’s Prudential Indicator calculations for capital financing.

Author: Jonathan Davies – Head of Finance (Deputy S151 officer)

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet considers the responses received during the budget consultation period and recommends to Council:

a) The 2026/27 revenue budget as attached in Appendix B.

b) The 2026/27 capital budget and indicative 2027/28 to 2029/30 budgets as attached in Appendix G.

That a 5.95% increase in the Band “D” equivalent Council Tax is applied for County Council purposes for 2026/27.

That Cabinet requests that efforts continue to be maximised to ensure that individuals and households eligible for council tax exemptions or reductions claim the benefit available to them.

That Cabinet endorses the changes to the draft budget proposed within this report, updated following public consultation, scrutiny and the availability of more up?to?date information, including the introduction of additional capital investment of £2 million, phased over three years, to address potholes and improve the condition of the County’s road network.

That Cabinet considers the Responsible Financial Officer’s report on the robustness of the budget process and adequacy of reserves issued under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2003 and an assessment of the current and future financial risks facing the Council.

That Cabinet adopts the Responsible Financial Officer’s recommendation for the Prudential Indicators for capital financing.

That the Medium Term Financial Plan continues to be updated and reported regularly, using the most up-to-date information available to assess cost pressures and risks, the underlying modelling assumptions, any service changes resulting from the programme of change, and the ongoing affordability implications of the Community and Corporate Plan.