Decisions

To seek approval of the 2024-27 Procurement Strategy.

As detailed in the recommendation.

As detailed in the recommendation.

To provide an update report on the Community Asset Transfer, Cambrian Aquatics.

That up to a maximum of £150,000 be made available to cover the predicted shortfall in 2024/25 subject to Cambrian Aquatics willingness to run the baths and a report be brought back to Cabinet no later than December 2024 before the budget for 2025/26 is set.

The Annual Performance Report sets out an analysis of how well the Council has performed against our Well-being Objectives, Priorities and Sub-priorities at the end of the financial year 2023/24 of our Council Plan (2023-28). The Annual Performance Report also provides a summary of performance regarding other key areas of focus within the Council, i.e. Public Services Boards.

As detailed in the recommendation.

As detailed in the recommendation.

To present the Strategic Equality Plan 2024/28 for approval prior to publication.

As detailed in the recommendation.

To present an update report on social value.

As detailed in the recommendations.

To share the findings of an Audit Wales review into Homeless Prevention at Flintshire Council and seek approval to provide formal Organisational Response to Audit Wales.

As detailed in the recommendations, along with an additional recommendation of:

(3)       That formal thanks be passed on to the Homelessness and Prevention Service Team for their work undertaken on the challenges faced on a daily basis.

As detailed in the recommendations.

As detailed in the recommendation.

As detailed in the recommendations.

As detailed in the recommendations.

To present the NEWydd Catering & Cleaning Ltd Business Plan 2024/25 for endorsement.

As detailed in the recommendations.

To provide an update on the performance of the in-house provider services in respect of the Regulation for Inspection of Social Care Act (RISCA).

As detailed in the recommendation.

To present and seek endorsement of a proposal in relation to future arrangements between the Council and NEWydd Catering & Cleaning Limited.

As detailed in the recommendations.

To seek agreement that Flintshire County Council adopts the Corporate Parenting Charter: ‘A Promise for Wales’.

As detailed in the recommendations.

To present the 2022/23 annual report for the Strategic Equality Plan.

As detailed in the recommendations.

As detailed in the recommendations.

As detailed in the recommendations.

Cabinet is asked to support the commissioning of a public consultation on whether the premium levels for long term empty properties and second homes should be varied from April 2025

To advise on Flintshire’s approach to safeguarding children and young people through Contextual Safeguarding.

As detailed in the recommendation.

(a) That the Audit Wales report into Homelessness Services at Flintshire County Council be noted; and

(b) That the suggested responses to the recommendations of Audit Wales be supported.

Councillor Ted Palmer declared a personal interest as a Council Tenant.

That the update be noted.

(a) That the work being undertaken by the Housing and Prevention Service be noted and supported; and

(b) That the draft Homeless Accommodation Policy be approved.

That the pilot stages and next phase of the DRS testing before the Council moves into a fully functional and fully live DRS environment be noted.

(a) That the Forward Work Programme be noted;

(b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; and

(c) That the Committee notes the progress made in completing the outstanding actions.

That having considered the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023/24 (month 9) report, the Committee recommends:

(a)       that Cabinet rejects the Governance carry-forward request;

(b)       that Cabinet commissions a risk assessment of rejecting the Planning, Environment & Economy carry-forward request; and

(c)       that any carry-forward request should be risk assessed against elements of other portfolio budgets.

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as the following item was considered to be exempt by virtue of paragraph 15 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

To consider the Forward Work Programme of the Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

(a)       That the Forward Work Programme be noted; and

(b)       That the Democratic Services Manager, in consultation with the Committee Chair, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises.

To inform the Committee of progress against actions from previous meetings.

That the Committee notes the progress which has been made.

To review and comment on the cost pressures, proposed cost reductions, and associated risks.

That both sets of minutes be approved as a correct record.

None.

To provide the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023/24 (Month 9) report and the Capital Programme 2023/24 (Month 9) report.

That having considered the Capital Programme Monitoring 2023/24 (month 9) report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters to be raised with Cabinet.

To set the Council Tax charges for 2024-25 as part of the Council’s wider budget strategy.

(a)       That the 2024/25 Council Tax be set based on a 9.0% uplift in the County Council charges, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b)       That the continuation of the policy of not providing a discount in the level of 2024/25 Council Tax charges for second homes and long-term empty homes be endorsed.  Also, where exceptions do not apply, to charge the Council Tax Premium rate of 75% above the standard rate of Council Tax for designated long-term empty dwellings and 100% for second homes from 1^st April 2024;

(c)       That approval be given for designated officers to issue legal proceedings and appear on behalf of the Council in the Magistrates’ Court for unpaid taxes; and

(d)       That Cabinet reviews the Council Tax premium scheme for long-term empty properties and second homes over the next 12 months.

To set a legal and balanced budget for 2024/25 on the recommendation of Cabinet.

(a)       That the recommendations of Cabinet for balancing the budget for 2024/25 be approved, based on the alternative option set out in paragraph 1.25 of the report; and

(b)       That the level of Council Tax for 2024/25 as recommended by Cabinet be approved, based on the alternative option for an overall annual increase of 9.0%.

Local Authorities are required each year to set aside some of their revenue resources as provision for the repayment of debt. The report presents the Council’s draft policy on Minimum Revenue Provision.

(a)       That the following be approved for Council Fund (CF):-

·         Option 3 (Asset Life Method) be used for the calculation of the MRP in financial year 2024/25 for the balance of outstanding capital expenditure funded from supported borrowing fixed as at 31^st March 2017.  The calculation will be the ‘annuity’ method over 49 years.

·         Option 3 (Asset Life Method) be used for the calculation of the MRP in 2024/25 for all capital expenditure funded from supported borrowing from 1^st April 2016 onwards.  The calculation will be the ‘annuity’ method over an appropriate number of years, dependent on the period of time that the capital expenditure is likely to generate benefits.

·         Option 3 (Asset Life Method) be used for the calculation of the MRP in 2024/25 for all capital expenditure funded from unsupported (prudential) borrowing or credit arrangements, including MIM. The calculation will be the ‘annuity’ method over an appropriate number of years, dependent on the period of time that the capital expenditure is likely to generate benefits.

(b)       That the following be approved for Housing Revenue Account (HRA):-

·         Option 3 (Asset Life Method) be used for the calculation of the HRA’s MRP in 2024/25 for the balance of outstanding capital expenditure funded from debt fixed as at 31^st March 2021. The calculation will be the ‘annuity’ method over 50 years.

·         Option 3 (Asset Life Method) be used for the calculation of the HRA’s MRP in 2024/25 for all capital expenditure funded from debt from 1^st April 2021 onwards. The calculation will be the ‘annuity’ method over an appropriate number of years, dependent on the period of time that the capital expenditure is likely to generate benefits.

(c)       That MRP on loans from the Council to NEW Homes to build affordable homes through the Strategic Housing and Regeneration Programme (SHARP) (which qualify as capital expenditure in accounting terms) be approved as follows:-

·         No MRP is made during the construction period (of short duration) as the asset has not been brought into use and no benefit is being derived from its use.

·         Once the assets are brought into use, capital (loan) repayments will be made by NEW Homes. The Council’s MRP will be equal to the repayments made by NEW Homes. The repayments made by NEW Homes will be classed, in accounting terms, as capital receipts, which can only be used to fund capital expenditure or repay debt. The capital repayment / capital receipt will be set aside to repay debt and is the Council’s MRP policy for repaying the loan.

(a)       That the draft Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 be approved; and

(b)       That delegated authority be given to the Corporate Manager (People and Organisational Development) to update the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 during the year to reflect any changes required by legislation, Government policy or national negotiations so that it remains accurate and current.

None received.

None received.

None received.

None.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The following Members declared a personal interest on the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25 (agenda item 11) due to closely associated people employed by the Council: Councillors Chris Bithell, Gillian Brockley, Mel Buckley, David Coggins Cogan, Adele Davies-Cooke, Dennis Hutchinson, Christine Jones, Simon Jones, Roz Mansell, Hilary McGuill, Ted Palmer, Andrew Parkhurst, Carolyn Preece, Kevin Rush, Dale Selvester and Linda Thomas.

On Council Fund Budget 2024/25 (agenda item 7), Councillor Hilary McGuill declared a personal and prejudicial as a Board Member of NEW Homes.  Councillors Glyn Banks and Ted Palmer declared a personal interest on the same item.

To present to Members the draft Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25.

That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2024/25 be approved.