Agenda and decisions

Ward/Divisions Affected: All

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to provide a Volunteering Policy, which is applicable to all service/business areas including schools.

Author: Sally Thomas, HR Manager

Contact Details: sallythomas@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That the Volunteering Policy be accepted and circulated to all service/business areas and commended to governing bodies for adoption as soon as possible.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To review fees and charges made for services across the Council and identify proposals for amending charges with effect from April 2018.

Author: Mark Howcroft – Assistant Head of Finance

Contact Details:  markhowcroft@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That the proposed fees and charges for 2018/19 identified for each type of chargeable service made, as outlined in Appendix 1, be adopted.

That the increase in charges takes effect at a date no later than 1st April 2018 with any pressures resulting from increases taking place after this date to be managed by Chief Officers within their respective directorate budget allocations.

That Chief Officers effectively manage the budget pressures highlighted by services not increasing charges in line with the 2.5% increase assumed in the 2018-22 MTFP. Consideration should also be given to the cost effectiveness and administrative costs that result from implementing small increases to existing charges.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To highlight the context within which the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will be developed for 2018/19 to 2021/22.

To agree the assumptions to be used to update the MTFP, and provide an early indication of the level of budget savings still to be found.

To update Members with the implications arising out of the provisional settlement announcement of Welsh Goverrnment.

To consider the 2018/19 budget within the context of the 4 year Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to be incorporated within the emergent Corporate Plan

To provide detailed draft proposals on the budget savings required to meet the gap between available resources and need to spend in 2018/19, for consultation purposes.

Author: Mark Howcroft - Assistant Head of Finance

Contact Details: markhowcroft@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That the budget assumptions outlined in paragraphs 3.11 to 3.16 in the report are agreed and updated during the budget process should better information become available.

That Cabinet acknowledges the draft response to the Welsh Government on the provisional settlement (Appendix 3).

That Cabinet approves that the consultation period and opportunity to present alternative proposals ends on 31st January 2018.

That the budget process (as outlined in paragraphs 3.6 onwards) is adopted including member budget scrutiny and consultation conducted with select Committees and consultation with JAG, schools budget forum and other relevant fora.

That Cabinet approves the release of the draft budget savings proposals for 2018/19 for consultation purposes.

That Cabinet agrees to continue to work on the areas required to balance the 2018/19 budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), through wider targeted activities that sit within the remit of Future Monmouthshire.

That Cabinet agrees to include the Future Monmouthshire budget of £200,000 as a base budget consideration from 2018/19 given the key role that Future Monmouthshire plays in facilitating a more sustainable and financially affordable future for Council activities.

To consider formal adoption of the Foundation Living wage as a financial planning assumption rather than Government Living wage. For 2018/19 the rates are £8.75 ph and £8.40 ph respectively. This would have a potential brought forward cost from 2019/20 pressures of £83.5k.

Cabinet agreed to remove Blue Badge and breakfast club saving aspects from proposals being consulted on.  Cabinet required 4.95% Council tax increase to be a revised financial planning assumption for 2018/19 (up by 1%), but retained 3.95% Council Tax increase for the 3 years thereafter.

Cabinet resolved to provide a second response to Welsh Government on the budget intentions recognising the Chancellor’s autumn statement.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To outline the proposed capital budget for 2018/19 and the indicative capital budgets for the three years 2019/20 to 2021/22.

Author: Mark Howcroft – Assistant Head of Finance

Contact Details: markhowcroft@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet issues its draft capital budget proposals for 2018/19 to 2021/22 for consultation purposes as set out and referred to in Appendix 2.

That Cabinet confirms a capital strategy, which seeks to prioritise the Council’s existing Future Schools programme and other commitments whilst also continuing to finance a minimum core capital programme, recognizing the risks associated with this approach.

That Cabinet reaffirms the principle that new schemes can only be added to the programme if the business case demonstrates that they are self-financing or the scheme is deemed a higher priority than current schemes in the programme and therefore displaces it, and reviews capital priorities where appropriate.

That Cabinet agrees to maximize the use of capital receipts when received to fund the capital programme (therefore reducing the need to borrow) and/or set aside to repay debt as outlined in paragraph 3.11.

That Cabinet agrees to the sale of the assets in accordance with the Asset Management Plan and identified in the exempt background paper in order to support the capital programme, and that once agreed, no further options are considered for these assets.

Cabinet requested £300k be added to the Disabled Facilities Grant.