Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

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

1.               Members are requested to identify the item number and subject 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 prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave

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

An apology for absence was received from County Borough Councillor G Caple.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee held on the 20^th December 2023 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 20^th December 2023 as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

To receive a presentation and seek comments from the Joint Consultative Committee, upon the draft 2024/25 Budget Strategy, as agreed by Cabinet.

The Service Director Democratic Services and Communications presented the report to Members to be consulted on and for the Committee to formally respond to the second phase of the Council’s 2024-25 Budget Consultation.

The Service Director advised that the Joint Consultative Committee is requested to comment on the draft 2024/25 Revenue Budget Strategy, as part of the second phase of the 2024-25 Budget Consultation process.

The Service Director Finance and Improvement Services then gave a presentation to Members of the Committee and covered the following areas: Introduction – 2024/25 Draft Revenue Budget Strategy; The Council’s Current Financial Position (2023/24); Phase 1 Budget Consultation – Headlines; Provisional Local Government Settlement 2024/25 – Headlines/Implications for Rhondda Cynon Taf. 

Before continuing his presentation in respect of the Cabinet Proposed Budget Strategy 2024/25; and Next steps and key dates the Chair took the opportunity to comment on headlines and implications for the Council, commenting on difficulties of creating efficiency savings and the stark times that all Authorities were experiencing due to the budget pressures.  The Chair noted that 75.6% of respondents to the consultation accepted a reasonable increase to Council Tax to protect service provision.

The Leader of the Council commented upon the Councils proposed Council Tax level that had been consulted upon, advising that the proposed 4.9% was at the lower end of the spectrum in comparison to other proposed levels across other Welsh Authorities.  The Leader commented on the importance of setting a Council Tax level that remained affordable to residents against the need to protect service provision and delivery.

The Leader continued by referencing the efficiency savings and the ‘cuts’ that were unfortunately needed to be made due to the budget pressures, however provided examples of the opportunities to review and reverse the service delivery for some of the proposals in the future if more affluent opportunities allowed. 

The Service Director continued his presentation by outlining the detail of the proposed Budget strategy and welcomed feedback and comments from members of the Committee. 

The importance of communication was highlighted with Members commenting on the potential of providing useful information explaining how Council Tax is utilised by the Council within future Council Tax notices and it was agreed that such correspondence would be shared in advance with Trade Union colleagues.

The Chair provided comment on a number of areas identified within the proposed budget strategy and spoke of the Councils successful Apprenticeship and graduate scheme and the continued funding in place to support this important scheme.  In respect of the booking charge in respect of the Lido, the Chair commented on the rationale for the fee, adding that this still remained competitive for users.

Mr P Crews (Unison) commented on the impact of the cut to the social care workforce grant commenting on the need to advise Welsh Government of the impact the withdrawal of the grant would have on the Council.  In addition the Member took the opportunity to query the future funding of the Graduate and Apprenticeship scheme, referring to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.