Decision details

The Director, Finance and Digital Services provided Members with an overview of the Council’s performance, both from a financial and operational perspective, based on the first six months of the financial year (to the 30th September 2019).

The Director discussed in detail the Executive Summary of the report, which included financial data and progress against the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities. The Director spoke of the recent announcement from Welsh Government that additional one-off funding would be made available for the preparations for winter and new emergency care measures across the health and social care system. It was explained that once confirmed, the specific impact for Rhondda Cynon Taf would be incorporated into future Performance Reports.

The Cabinet Member, Corporate Services spoke positive of the report and in particular, the £152.226M Capital investment, which included 21^st Century Schools, highways, Community Hubs, agile working, town centre regeneration scheme, extra care, leisure and parks. The Member was also pleased to note that the sickness absence rate was lower than that of the same time in the previous year.

The Deputy Leader echoed the Cabinet Member’s comments and stated that the level of investment was down to robust financial management. The Deputy Leader spoke on behalf of the community about the investment in the local play areas with the Leader commenting that 112 play areas within RCT had been subject to investment.

The Leader spoke of the projected overspend of 1.67M in the quarter and the pressures within Social Care across Wales. The Leader advised that Local Authorities continued to lobby Welsh Government for funding to alleviate the growing pressures.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

Revenue

1.    To note and agree the General Fund revenue position of the Council as at the 30th September 2019 (Section 2 of the Executive Summary) and note that the allocation of additional one-off Welsh Government funding to support preparations for winter and new emergency care measures across the health and social care system will be incorporated into Performance Reports later in the year.

2.    To approve the virements listed in Sections 2a - e of the Executive Summary that exceed the £0.100M threshold as per the Council's Financial Procedure Rules.

Capital

3.    To note the capital outturn position of the Council as at 30th September 2019 (Sections 3a – e of the Executive Summary).

4.    Note the details of the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators as at the 30th September 2019 (Section 3f of the Executive Summary).

Corporate Plan Priorities

5.    To note the quarter 2 position regarding progress made against the agreed Corporate Plan priorities (Sections 5 a – d of the Executive Summary), Other National Measures (Section 5e of the Executive Summary) and comparison of 2019/20 targets set against prior year and ‘All Wales Average’ performance information (Section 5f of the Executive Summary).