Agenda item

Derbyn cyflwyniad mewn perthynas â'r ymgynghoriad ar gyllideb 2020/21. 

With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation, the Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services provided Members with an overview of the 2020/21 Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation and updated Committee on the following areas:

·      General approach for 2019/20

·      Consultation

o  Budget

o  Simulator

o  Corporate Plan

o  Council Tax Reduction Scheme

·      Budget Setting Timetable

Following the update, the Service Director indicated that the overview intended to assist Members in formulating their responses to a number of questions to be posed to the Committee, in line with its Terms of Reference and as a consultee as part of the 2020/21 Revenue Budget Strategy Consultation process. The Director added that the feedback provided by Members would be presented to Cabinet alongside the feedback from all other consultees as part of Cabinet agreeing a proposed Budget Strategy for 2020/21.

The Service Director sought feedback from the Committee on a number of areas and the views of Members are noted below.

With regard to Question 1, Members agreed on a less than 3% increase tohelp support the continuation of service provision in the context of rising cost pressures and demand for specific services. However, a Member also fed back that this was difficult to measure against CPI and that ideally, there should not be any increase at all.

In respect of Question 2, the Voting Elected Parent/ Governor Representative raised his concern that other school costs would not receive the same increase in resources. Another Member commented that resources should also be provided to cover an increase in pay for support staff. It was also felt that the same question should be provided as part of the consultation process for Community and Children’s Services and not just in education. Overall, Committee Members agreed that the Council should provide sufficient resources to fully cover increased pay costs in schools throughout RCT.

Discussions ensued and in respect of Question 3, the following points were noted:-

·         A number of Members fed back that fees and charges in respect of Free School Meals should be frozen, whilst all other areas should be increased by 1.5%. However, Members also noted that the assumption cannot be to increase fees and charges every year;

·         Another Member cautioned against increasing the charges for Town Centre Car Parking and it was fed back that there should be no increase to the cost of a resident car parking permit;

·         A Member also cautioned against increasing the fees for Meals on Wheels and noted that the Council needs to encourage more residents to use this service;

·         A Member noted his disappointment that in respect of tourist attractions, the Council charge less fees than other Councils.

In respect of Free School Meals, a Member sought clarification as to how many meals the Council is currently providing. The Service Director answered a number of queries and began by noting that Car Parking Charges vary across the County Borough. In respect of Free School Meals, the Service Director informed Members that following the roll out of Universal Credit, all eligible families will be enlisted on the Free School Meals scheme. Consequently, the Council should see the usage of Free School Meals increase. However, a number of Members questioned if this system was the correct system in Wales and requested further clarification from the Service Director on this point.

Discussions ensued and a Member sought clarification as to whether the charges would be increasing in respect of waste collection on bulky items. The Service Director confirmed that the proposal is to increase the service charge by 1.5%. However, a number of Members raised concerns and fed back that the service should be frozen. Members commented that the charges are increasing yearly, however, the service itself is getting worse.

With regard to Question 4, Committee Members agreed that all Council services are essential and should be protected as part of the 2020/21 Budget setting process.

In respect of Question 5 and efficiency savings, Members agreed that a Council wide efficiency savings target of £6M was a good strategy and that managers should be expected to deliver more efficient services. However, in respect of efficiency savings, the Voting Elected Parent/ Governor Representative cautioned against using this strategy to the detriment of Council staff. Another Member also cautioned against taking this policy too far and emphasised that services and Council staff need protecting. In respect of digital working, a Member emphasised the need to make use of this opportunity and to maximise efficiency savings at RCT.

At this point, the Service Director asked Members if there was any other feedback that they would like to provide on the Council’s budget, as part of Question 6, and Members confirmed that they were happy to continue with the presentation.

Discussions continued in respect of the Council’s priorities for the 2020/21 Budget setting process. Members were informed that the Council focuses on five key areas to maximise resources and deliver improved services:-

1.    Digitalisation;

2.    Commercialism;

3.    Early Intervention;

4.    Independence;

5.    Efficient and Effective Organisation.

Members were asked whether the Council should continue to focus on these areas and Members agreed with this strategy going forward. In respect of investment opportunities, Members were asked whether the Council should continue to invest in the priority areas listed. A Member raised concerns in respect of improving recycling performance and noted that Social Landlords are not engaging with the Local Authority. The Member emphasised that Social Landlords need to work with the Council in order to improve recycling rates across the County Borough.

The Voting Elected Parent/ Governor Representative sought clarification in respect of the Council’s investment in flood prevention schemes and queried where the scheme sits in relation to National Resources Wales. The Service Director confirmed that the scheme provides more capital infrastructure investment in areas particularly susceptible to flooding.

In respect of Council reserves, Members were informed that the Council has used one off reserves (£1.1M for 2019/20) to balance its budget alongside delivering savings early in subsequent years to replenish these reserves.  It does so as part of a medium term financial strategy recognising that managing and balancing its budget is not a one off annual process. Members were asked whether the Council should continue with this strategy and Members agreed on the use of this strategy going forward.  

With specific regard to the questions around the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, the following responses were fed back by Members:

·         Members agreed that 4 weeks is a reasonable period to continue paying Council Tax Reduction when someone returns to work, however, Councillor Bradwick raised concerns in respect of the time delay between a resident losing his or her employment and receiving benefit payments. During this time, the resident will continue to pay Council Tax.  

(At this point, Councillor S. Bradwick declared the following interest “I have a family member in receipt of Council Tax benefit”)

The Service Director informed the Member that he will look at this specific case and emphasised that if there is a change of circumstances then the Council will adhere to make appropriate provisions.

With regard to other questions around the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, the following points were noted:-

·      Do you think that it is reasonable for the Council to continue to totally exclude War Disablement and War Widow’s Pensions income when assessing entitlement to CTR scheme?

o  Yes, these elements should continue to be excluded.

·         Do you think that 6 months is a reasonable period to backdate claims for working age and pensioners?

o  Yes, Members agreed that 6 months is reasonable.

Discussions ensued in respect of the Council’s Draft Corporate Plan 2020-24. Members were informed that the following three priorities are proposed; People, Place, Prosperity. Members were provided with the opportunity to provide their views on these priorities and ideas about anything else that would make a difference to the people and communities of Rhondda Cynon Taf. Committee Members confirmed their agreement with the Council’s approach to the Draft Corporate Plan 2020-24.

In conclusion, the Service Director – Finance & Improvement Services informed Members that the Committee would have opportunity to pre-scrutinise the draft 2020/21 Budget Strategy in January 2020 and the Committee’s feedback would be included in the draft Budget Strategy to be presented to Cabinet in February 2020.

Following discussion, it was RESOLVED that the views of Members as outlined above be fed into the consultation process.