Agenda and minutes

Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors H Boggis, J. Cullwick, J Edwards and S Rees-Owen.

A scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members.  Such research strengthens scrutiny committee work programmes to ensure outcome-based topics are identified. For any scrutiny research requirements please contact scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk

The Members’ Researcher and Scrutiny Officer referenced the research facilities that were available to Members within the Council Business Unit. Members were advised that if they have any specific queries to email them to Scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk.

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

The Chair stated under Declarations of Interest, so it would be formally noted, his thanks to Mr Fish, the Parent/Governor Representative, who had completed his term of office and who had helped and supported insightful questioning not only on this Committee, but on other Committees, and this had been one of the joys of being a County Councillor on Scrutiny. The Chair thanked Mr Fish, the Parent/Governor Representative very much for all his input into the good running of the Scrutiny Committees in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Councillor Yeo also thanked Mr Fish, the Parent/Governor Representative for his service and wished him well for the future.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee held on the 30th November 2021.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 30^th November 2021 as an accurate reflection of the meeting subject to noting the apologies of Councillor Bradwick, which had been given, for the meeting of the 30th November 2021.

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Members’ Researcher & Scrutiny Officer referenced the consultation links, which were available through the ‘RCT Scrutiny’ website. Members were reminded that information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee, which are circulated on a monthly basis.

For Committee members to receive an update in respect of the ‘Kickstart Programme’

The Community Services Manager updated Members of the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee on the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Kickstart Scheme for young people aged 16-24 years which included an outline of the role and responsibilities of the Council as a Gateway body that supports local businesses to access the programme and provided information on the number of Kickstart apprentices offered opportunities within Council services. The Community Services Manager drew Members attention to points 4.10, 4.13, 4.14 and Appendix A & B.

Following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

Councillor Fox fed back how beneficial the scheme had been and the impact it had on some young people and complimented the Officers and the Community Services Manager, on such an in-depth report.

Councillor Bradwick also noted the good report and said it was encouraging to see the young people getting on and thanked the Officers for the report.

The Chair noted item 3.4 of the report with the DWP data showing that in August 2020 there were 4,333 young people claiming Universal Credit in Rhondda Cynon Taf compared with 2,344 in February 2020, a 100% increase in people going on to effectively lose their jobs from the February to the August. The Chair referenced 3.11 of the report and the list of organisations that assisted in trying to get people back into full time employment, noting that one of them was Bridgend College. The Chair queried if there were any other organisations, external to RCT, that had provided support within Rhondda Cynon Taf, other than those on the list.

The Community Services Manager confirmed the list in front of Members was the whole list. Official figures had not been received from the Job Centre or DWP, but there was around 600 plus job opportunities across RCT that had been offered. The Community Services Manager confirmed that the figures in the report were from the point of view of RCT as the gateway body.

The Chair queried if anybody could have been involved in the scheme e.g.

Coleg y Cymoedd. The Community Services Manager confirmed that there was nothing excluding organisations from applying but there was a criterion to be able to apply to become a gateway body, which had been a lot of work, which might have put some people off applying. Additionally, there was a requirement to have a track record and history of being able to administer grants like this one, and they would carry out a due diligence check as part of the process.

The Chair requested clarity on the figures, noting that from the peak in August 2020 to February 2022, those current figures indicated that 353 people had been found permanent employment or training, from the figure of 4,333.

The Community Services Manager explained that the numbers of young people claiming Universal Credit did increase again in October 2020, so even though the figures shown were August 2020, numbers had continued to increase.  It  was towards the end of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

For Committee Members to undertake pre-scrutiny of the proposals in relation to the Council’s draft 2022/23 Revenue Budget Strategy. Presentation to follow.

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, the Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services provided Members with an overview of the Budget Consultation 2022/23 (Phase 2) and updated the Committee on the following 6 areas:

• Introduction – 2022/23 Draft Revenue Budget Strategy
• Council’s Current Financial Position (2021/22)
• Phase 1 Budget Consultation – Headlines
• Provisional Local Government Settlement 2022/23 – Headlines/Implications for Rhondda Cynon Taf
• Cabinet Proposed Budget Strategy 2022/23
• Next steps and key dates

Further to the Service Director’s overview of the Cabinet’s proposed Budget Strategy, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions and feedback their views on each of the following six areas:

• Council Tax
• Schools Budget
• Social Services Funding
• Efficiencies
• Fees and Charges
• Targeted Investment
• Use of Reserves

The Chair asked if it was acceptable for written feedback to also be submitted following the meeting. The Service Director confirmed that the phase 2 consultation runs until 11^th February and all points of clarity and feedback would be welcomed within this timeframe.

Councillor Fox referred to the additional investment and commented that the areas highlighted for additional funding were completely justified and was in full support of them. Councillor Fox also fed back that it was particularly pleasing to see the proposal for the minimum rate of pay increase to £10 for the Council’s own staff and commissioned social care staff, above the Real Living Wage rate of £9.90, and emphasised this was the real living wage level calculated on the true cost of living, as opposed to the national living wage. Councillor Fox added that Rhondda Cynon Taf needed to lead by example and this proposal would improve the lives of some of the lowest paid in employment.

Councillor Evans referred to the Council Tax slide and stated that it was good to see such consistent year-on-year low council tax rises and highlighted that the proposal for 2022/23 would equate to an increase of 20p per week for a Band A property and an increase of 30p a week for a Band D property. Councillor Evans fed back that the 1% proposed increase was the right decision for people at this time and struck the right balance between affordability of Rhondda Cynon Taf residents to pay and the range of services provided, and also considering the other budget strategy proposals that will see additional investment in schools, social care and a number of frontline services.

Councillor Bradwick referred to car parking charges and supported the freeze in prices and also supported the approach to the delivery of efficiency savings that do not impact on frontline services, noting the positive position where £16.5M of efficiencies had been delivered in the past 3 financial years. Members of the Committee were also in agreement with the position in respect of efficiencies. Councillor Bradwick also requested clarification on whether pest control fees would be frozen and the Service Director fed back that the proposal is for pest control fees to be increased by 2.5%. Councillor Bradwick and Councillor T  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

For Committee members to consider the 2021/22 Mid-Year Treasury Management Stewardship Report

The Service Director – Finance Services began by explaining that the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee had responsibility for scrutinising the Treasury Management activity, as set out in the Committee’s terms of reference, and the report provided Members with opportunity to scrutinise information that was presented to Council on the 24^th November 2021. The Service Director added that the Council report was attached at Appendix 1 and this detailed the Council’s treasury management activity during the first 6 months of the current financial year, 2021-22.

The Service Director provided an overview of Section 4 of the report, General Economic Background, and set out that the economic recovery from the pandemic dominated the first half of the financial year alongside easing of restrictions, the on-going roll-out of the vaccination programme and the continuation of Government initiatives to support the economy such as a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough) that remained in place until 30^th September 2021. The Service Director also indicated that the Bank Base Rate is one of the main determinants of the rate of interest the Council receives on its short-term investments and for the first half of the year the rate was 0.1% and noted that this was increased to 0.25% on the 16^th December 2021.

The Service Director went on to provide an overview of specific information included in other sections of the report. For Section 5, Borrowing Activity and Results, the Committee were informed that the 2021/22 estimated borrowing requirement was £19.3M at March 2021 and based on the Capital Programme at that time, and indicated that this had increased slightly to £21.0M as at September 2021 due to revised delivery timescales for particular projects. It was also confirmed that no external borrowing had taken place during the first half of the financial year and there was no budget variance being reported for net capital charges, which had a budget for 2021/22 of £19.95M.

For Sections 7 to 9, that set out Prudential Indicators, the Service Director confirmed that for the period April to September 2021, the Council operated within the prudential limits approved by Council in March 2021.

For Section 11, Investment Strategy, Activity and Results, the Service Director fed back that the return on investments was 0.01% for the first six months of the year, this reflective of the Council’s low risk strategy, and indicated that this compares favourably with the benchmark return of -0.08%.

For Section 12, Treasury Management Advisors, the Service Director fed back that the initial period of the contract the Council has in place with Arlingclose to provide Treasury Management Advisory Services expires in March 2022 and work is currently underway to assess whether or not to extend for up to a further 2 years.

For Section 13, Training, the Service Director provided a brief overview of the webinars Council officers have attended that had been hosted by Arlingclose and also a virtual on-line strategy meeting between Arlingclose and Council officers and also the training session provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chair thanked Members for attending what had been an interesting meeting and reflected that the Officers had given Members lots to think about. The Chair felt that Members must congratulate the Officers as some of the reports were full of technical detail and had been conveyed in a way that was understood.

Councillor Bradwick wished Mr Fish, the Parent/Governor Representative, all the best for the future.

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency

There was no urgent business to report.