Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

To submit a report by the Head of Corporate Transformation.

The report of the Head of Corporate Transformation incorporating a proposed plan for conducting the public consultation process on the 2018/19 Budget proposals during the period from the week commencing 6th November to 29th December, 2017 was presented for the Executive’s approval.

The Chair reported that the proposed Budget Consultation Plan is similar to the Plan adopted for the same purpose in 2017/18. The Plan takes a cross sector approach with the intention of presenting citizens’ comments through a range of channels and media. The proposed plan has been endorsed by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its Budget meeting the previous week; representatives of Llais Ni (Anglesey Youth Council) and the Citizens’ Panel were present at the meeting and are now considering how they will contribute to the consultation process. In addition, the Island’s youth organisations are considering conducting a collective session instead of meeting separately and the consultation programme will reflect their needs.

The Head of Corporate Transformation said that the Consultation Plan is the product of the work undertaken by the Corporate Engagement and Consultation Board which includes partner representatives such as Llais Ni and Medrwn Môn. The Board has reviewed the public consultation process on the budget from last year and has taken account of comments made by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee with a view to further improving the process this year. The Officer said that he was confident that in taking this cross-sector approach and through making increased use of social media, it will improve citizen participation and response thereby helping shape the budget for 2018/19. The service has made sure that the resources required to support the plan and to be able to respond to increased input by way of social media are in place as part of this year’s process which is a point that was highlighted by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

It was resolved to approve the 2018/19 Budget Consultation Plan to be implemented during the period from the week commencing 6 November, 2017 to 29 December, 2017.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulation and Economic Development.

The report of the Head of Regulation and Economic Development seeking the Executive’s approval for the Authority in its capacity as one of the main partners, to be a signatory of the King Edward Castles and Town Walls World Heritage Site Management and Action Plan 2018-2028 was presented.

The Portfolio Member for Major Projects and Economic Development reported that the Plan as presented updates the Management Plan adopted by the Council in November, 2004. There are no new or additional expectations on the Council from the formation of the Management Plan. Beaumaris Castle is a world heritage and cultural site of significant value. CADW has prepared a new draft of the management plan and action plan which covers the period from 2018 to 2028 and which brings together all the responsible parties thereby enabling a co-ordinated response to site management. The objectives of the management plan coincide with several aspects of the Council’s work in relation to managing the site around Beaumaris Castle principally in relation to planning, tourism and regeneration but also with some specific aspects pertaining to highways, education and heritage. The Council’s Officers have confirmed that the vast majority of the activities associated with the management plan are part of the duties the Authority undertakes as statutory within the existing local planning authority and they will not involve any new financial commitments by the Authority. Bearing in mind the importance of Beaumaris Castle as a cultural and tourist focal point and the resulting economic benefits it brings to the area, he proposed the report to the Executive.

It was resolved to agree that the Isle of Anglesey County Council be a signatory of the King Edward Castles and Town Walls World Heritage Site Management and Action Plan 2018 to 2028 in relation to Beaumaris Castle.

To submit a report by the Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

The report of the Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer on the draft Revenue Budget for 2018/19 was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Finance reported that the initial draft proposals for the 2018/19 Revenue Budget bring the first phase of the budget setting process to a close. This has involved substantial input by Officers and Elected Members in service review meetings and budget workshops which has resulted in the identification of approximately £3.3m of savings. The preparatory work has been challenging with the Council still facing a potential £2m budget shortfall in 2018/19 taking into account all the various pressures it has to contend with in the form of pay inflation, general inflation, national living wage, reduction in grants and others. The schedule of draft savings proposals contains a number of options thereby allowing some degree of flexibility with regard to the decisions that have to be made. It is important that the Council presents a balanced budget for 2018/19 not least because of the financial challenges that are likely to arise in the subsequent years for which the Council must be prepared. The Welsh Government’s announcement of the provisional local government funding settlement although better than expected for Anglesey, still represents a reduction of 0.1% on the 2017/18 settlement. After all the changes, adjustments and new responsibilities have been considered the standstill budget for 2018/19 is £132.337m, an increase of £6.179m on the 2017/18 final budget meaning that the Council in order to be able to balance the budget, will have to meet all the needs from within the services either through cuts, fee increases or further efficiency savings. The proposals include an increase in Council Tax of 4% plus an additional 1% to fund demand pressures within Social Services. The public consultation on the budget proposals will commence forthwith after this meeting and will last until the end of December; the feedback from this process as well as the final settlement figures by Welsh Government will shape the final budget proposals that will be presented to the Executive, to Scrutiny and thereafter to the Full Council for its approval at the end of February, 2018.

The Head of Function (Resources) and Section 151 Officer said that despite the provisional settlement being better than that projected in the Medium Term Financial Plan meaning that the funding gap is £2m instead of £4m, there remain significant risks to the budget. These include pay related pressures – there are particular pressures on public sector pay and if these are not met by Central or Welsh Government, then the costs will fall to the Council. The current 2017/18 budget is forecast to be overspent by approximately £2m mainly due to demand led pressures in Children’s Services; the standstill budget does not make provision for this overspend so work will have to be done to bring the costs of those services which are overspending back into line with the budget. The impact of Brexit on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.