Decisions

That Cabinet approve to proceed with the CoCoRE 5G Testbed pathfinder project as a partner with Welsh Government as Lead Body.

Cabinet to receive the update and acknowledge the significant activity and progress that has been made in less than a year and to support the future plans for the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the County, to reduce the deficiencies in digital infrastructure that are seen across the County.

Cabinet to approve Officers engagement in further dialogue with Welsh Government, to optimise the additional investment, in order to maximise the spread of connectivity across the County and alongside other digital infrastructure investment as outlined in the report.

Cabinet recognise a net revenue forecast deficit of £10.37m with some £6.83 million of this directly associated with the extraordinary financial pressures attached to COVID-19.

Cabinet continue to make strong representations to Welsh Government for full

reimbursement of £6.83 million leaving Council with a sum of £3.54 million to address as a true in-year pressure.

An in-year budget recovery plan to address the forecast overspend of £3.54 million is drawn up for Cabinet consideration in September.

Cabinet notes the extent of movements in reserve usage contained in appendix 1.

Cabinet agrees that the 2019/20 year-end one-off surplus of £1.8 million be set against this year’s forecast pressure of £3.54 million leaving a residual sum of £1.74 million as a minimum to address by way of an in-year recovery plan.

In taking the approach set out in 2.5 above, Cabinet recognises the extraordinary nature of the current year and accepts that a further sum of £1.8 million will need to be found as part of the budget setting process for financial year 2021/22.

Cabinet considers the forecast capital outturn spend of £52.118m, introducing a £134k underspend, and the presumptions made around net financing consequences, as outlined in appendix 1.

Cabinet recognises that these numbers will have to be reconsidered in the event that Welsh Government falls short of expectation in compensating the Council or pressures such as pay award settlements are agreed at levels beyond our planning assumptions.

That Cabinet note the overspending position for 2019/20 of £116k and early indications of an overspend in 2020/21 in the region of £350k. This deficit should be reduced further through the potential recovery of income loss shortfalls from Welsh Government.

Given the likely reduced numbers of customers due to Covid-19, the service should remain closed for residential visits until the end of December 2020. Continuing with a two site strategy is not viable in the short or medium term and therefore the service will adopt a one-site approach at Gilwern. A further report will be presented to Cabinet in autumn 2020 which will consider the long term future of the service.

That grants be awarded as per the schedule of applications.