Issue - meetings

For the Committee to receive a presentation on progress.

That the progress of the  Cross-party working Group on Local Government Finance be welcomed

The Chief Executive gave background information and provided a presentation on the Cross Party Working Group on Local Government Finance which covered the following key points:

• context
• origins
• terms of reference
• planning the work of the Group
• our developing position
• what next

            Councillor Ian Roberts said the meeting which had been held between the cross-party delegation and the Minister in February had been positive. He referred to service pressures and cited the need for Welsh Government  to provide funding to meet teachers’ pay awards which had been delegated to local authorities and on the need to cap local funding for Out of County placements.   He also referred to the need for indexation for inflation, the cost for new legislation, and the longer term review of the funding formula.  Councillor Roberts thanked all who had attended the meeting and advised that a further meeting was scheduled next week.  The Chief Executive advised that the focus of the Group was to provide an evidence base for improved national funding.

            Councillor Patrick Heesom said there was a need for Members to have greater accountability and involvement in budget monitoring of expenditure.  In his response Councillor Ian Roberts explained that Members were welcome to send any further suggestions on the budget to the Chief Executive, Cabinet Members, or Finance Team. 

During discussion it was agreed that the presentation slides would be sent to the Cross-party Working Group with the agenda for the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the progress of the  Cross-party working Group on Local Government Finance be welcomed