Agenda item

Council was presented with the report as it is bound by Statute to specific timescales for Council Tax setting and is also required to make certain defined resolutions. The recommendations that form the major part of this report are designed to comply with those Statutory Provisions.

The recommended resolutions also draw together the Council Tax implications of precepts proposed by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent and Town and Community Councils, thereby enabling the County Council to establish its headline Council Tax levels at the various property bands within each Town or Community area.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrats expressed relief that the proposals to reduce school budgets and impose VAT on Sports Clubs were discarded. Concern was noted about increasing pressures on Children’s Services in view of the upward national trend in children being taken into care.   Councillor Watkins called on the Conservative and Labour Groups to communicate with their parties to call for improved funding to address the root causes.

The Leader of the Opposition commented that the budget could have been better planned and, referring to the lowest settlement in Wales, queried what rigorous challenge had been made.  There was an unexpected £4.8m received from Welsh Government which allowed the proposal to cut school budgets to be abandoned, and suggested that schools were panicked unnecessarily. Additionally, fines of up to £180,000 for not achieving recycling targets are predicted.

Councillor D. Batrouni proposed, as an amendment to the recommendation, to include a Council Tax increase of 150% on second homes vacant for 6 months. The amendment was seconded by Councillor T.Thomas.

A Member sought clarification on the number of such homes.  The Cabinet Member for Innovation, Enterprise and Leisure stated that other councils consider that second homes qualify for business rates, and claim small business rate relief from them.  Councils that put the proposal into operation previously lost money. Councillor Batrouni referred to a report that stated the opposite; that all councils made money.

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment to the recommendations was defeated.

Concerns were expressed about the late withdrawal of a 2% cut to school budgets, cuts to the Youth Service and also about a proposal that schools can take out loans to cover deficit budgets. 

It was welcomed that no services will be discontinued.  Council was reminded that an offer was declined of help from the Labour Group to speak to Welsh Government about the low settlement in Monmouthshire

The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Neighbourhood Services responded to criticisms levied at Waste Services that services have been improved, and there should be no fines thanks to a successful advertising campaign.  During the flood crisis, waste has been accepted from other counties.  The Cabinet Member urged Councillor Batrouni to contact her direct with concerns about waste services.

The Leader of the Independents observed that we are agreeing a deficit budget and referred to the additional costs arising from the recent floods and promises to provide funding for damaged infrastructure.  Pressures in Social Care and Children’s Services were also commented upon.  Support was given to an unified approach to Welsh Government about the low settlement.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People explained that this budget protects schools by fully funding pay and pension increases (£2.9m).  The proposal to cut £800,000 from school budgets was not a preferred option. Schools with deficits are being worked with.  Schools that plan investment are able to utilise loans. £1.5m has been added for additional learning needs.  The school estate is being renewed in both secondary and primary phases.  Budget is committed to local services that improve physical activity and wellbeing.  The Cabinet Member agreed that it is disappointing that Welsh Government has failed to introduce a funding floor but thanked the Leader for making robust representations.

It was suggested that Welsh Government consider more appropriate recycling targets.

The Leader referred to his attendance at a forum of local councillors held to make the case again for better funding for Monmouthshire to Rebecca Evans, Minister for Finance, and Julie James, Minister for Local Government but there are no current plans for the distribution formula to be reviewed.  The rise in Council Tax of 4.95% is regrettable.

The Chair of the Economy and Development Select Committee agreed public tolerance of Council Tax increases is at a limit and that the funding formula needs to be reviewed.  All Members are invited to a Economy and Development Select Committee Workshop on 31^st March 2020 at 2.00pm with the Welsh Local Government Association to examine the funding formula in detail.  He supported the provision of more information to residents to explain how money for services is spent throughout the year.

Upon being put to the vote, Council resolved to accept the recommendations as per section 2 of the report.