CCBC costs and cutting

[SteveH]

COUNCILLORS in Conwy will discuss the provisional settlement in detail next week when they meet to discuss the indicative budget for 2023-24.

Conwy?s final settlement is expected to be confirmed by Welsh Government in early March.

The council will meet on March 2 to finalise and agree the budget and council tax for 2023-24.

Cllr Mike Priestley, Conwy County Borough Council?s cabinet member for finance, said: ?Since Welsh Government published their funding for local government on December 14, our Finance Team have been working on the provisional figures to produce a detailed report for councillors to discuss.

?As it currently stands, Conwy will receive a 7.3 per cent increase in funding from Welsh Government. Disappointingly, this is below the Wales average of 7.9 per cent.

"And whilst any increase is very welcome, it?s not sufficient to meet the funding shortfalls that the council faces as a result of national pay awards, price inflation, energy and fuel increases, and service pressures - we?re currently looking at a resource shortfall of over ?21.5million.

?There is still some way to go and more difficult decisions to be made in order for a balanced budget to be presented to council in March.

?But I?d like to thank all the officers and councillors that have contributed to this work so far.?  ref pioneer

[SteveH]

'I feel I'm lying to the public' - Fate of Conwy council HQ debated as doubts shared over future
Councillors fear Bodlondeb could close

The fate of Conwy council?s Bodlondeb HQ was thrown into doubt when one councillor admitted she felt she was lying to the public when making assurances about the building?s future. While Conwy?s leader said a decision on the future of Bodlondeb would only be made through democracy, the council?s new chief executive said a "process" was being followed and options looked at.

The scrutiny meeting discussions revolved around a review of the cash-strapped authority?s assets, as Conwy faces a shortfall of around ?30m in the next financial year. Cabinet member for finance Cllr Mike Priestley also said "no decision whatsoever had been taken regarding Bodlondeb".

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/i-feel-im-lying-public-26071736

[SteveH]

Council tax could rise by 10% as services are cut under Conwy's 'worst financial situation' in years
But cabinet member vows to keep council tax as low as possible

Conwy could increase council tax by 10% to tackle a ?21m shortfall while cutting services by 10% across the board. The council now faces a resource shortfall of ?21,528,000 for the next financial year, but Conwy?s cabinet member for finance has promised to do everything to keep council tax down.

This shortfall is not helped by the annual Welsh Government settlement increase coming in at 7.3%, which is under the national average of 7.9%. Already the authority has asked each of its services to reduce budgets by 10%.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-could-increase-council-tax-26083267

[SteveH]

PCC proposes lower than inflation rate policing precept

Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, has announced that he will ask the Police and Crime Panel to approve a lower than inflation rate increase in the policing precept. This equates to 31p per week (or ?16.29 annually) for the financial year 2023-24. In percentage terms, this means a 5.14% council tax increase for a band D property on last year. Mr Dunbobbin will make the proposal to the Police and Crime Panel at a meeting on January 30, 2023, which will be live streamed on Conwy County Borough Council?s website.

Around half the money for the police budget in North Wales comes from the UK Government and the rest comes from Council Tax. The amount depends on the precept levied by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

The decision to ask for an increase of 31p per week follows a consultation and survey that took place with the people of North Wales over nearly six weeks from 5 December to 11 January, involving over 1,000 responses. Read more here.  https://www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk/pcc-proposes-lower-inflation-rate-policing-precept

[SteveH]

Censorship accusation as North Wales council deletes vote row and 'wardrobe malfunction'
Youtube footage retrospectively edited by Conwy council in a move defended by the local authority

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/censorship-accusation-north-wales-council-26122590

[SteveH]

Council doesn't 'have the resources? to save Gwynedd-Conwy bus service

The T19 service, operated by Llew Jones, runs between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, but will be stopping on February 11.

In addition to gaining about 700 signatures on the petition calling for the T19 to continue, and the route to be subsidised with taxpayers? money, Mrs Finch-Saunders sent three urgent letters to Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, leader of Conwy County Borough Council.

She requested that he cooperate with Welsh Government and Gwynedd Council to save the bus service, such as through:

? Backing the service with taxpayers? money.

? Holding an urgent cabinet meeting.

? Considering the understanding that Gwynedd Council had, by the end of last year, ordered electric buses for use on Traws Cymru services in North Wales, and that some are potentially sat unused in Caernarfon, potentially find a solution by liaising with the leader of Gwynedd Council and Welsh Government to see if at least one electric bus could be offered to Llew Jones for the T19 route.

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23296331.council-doesnt-have-resources-save-gwynedd-conwy-bus-service/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Cambrian]

Sadly, following management structural and political changes over the past couple of years, CCBC's ERF shows very little interest in, or engagement with, public transport whether bus or rail.  Witness the damaged timetable frames with either no info or out of date times.

Incidentally, didn't Llew Jones say the same sort of thing a few years ago about the still running 19 service ?

[SteveH]

People in Conwy face 12.5% Council Tax rise if more savings can't be found
Conwy Council is looking at where further cuts can be made before the final budget is set

The council will set its final budget at a meeting early next month, and Conwy?s finance and resources overview scrutiny committee discussed an updated report this week at a meeting at Bodlondeb. Councillors heard how managers had made 10% cuts across council services with only education and social services being asked to make 5% cuts.

In the latest version of the report, Conwy's finance officers modelled several separate scenarios, including Council Tax rises of 7.5%, 10%, and 12.5%, bringing in an additional ?4.6m, ?6.24m, and ?7.78m respectively. A previous model for a 15% Council Tax rise was excluded from the latest report, which would have generated ?9.3m.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/people-conwy-face-125-council-26179871?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Conwy organisations urged to apply for share of Shared Prosperity Fund

CONWY County Borough Council is inviting organisations to submit applications for projects to be supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UKSPF is a central pillar of the UK Government?s Levelling Up agenda and will provide ?2.6bn of funding for investment across the UK by March 2025.

Conwy has been awarded an allocation of more than ?20m to invest and spend by March 2025.

The overarching objective of the fund is to build pride in place and increase life chances and the UKSPF aims to achieve this through three investment priorities:

? Community and place.

? Supporting businesses.

? People and skills.

In addition, funds are available to support adult numeracy (the ?Multiply? programme).

Conwy County Borough Council is working alongside the other North Wales local authorities to administer and manage the programme on a regional basis.

READ MORE:  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23309705.conwy-organisations-urged-apply-share-shared-prosperity-fund/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Conwy Council chief defends underused flagship HQ building saying 'world has moved on' since Covid
Chief executive Rhun ap Gareth said the council's situation now is much different to three or four years ago

New chief executive has defended the council?s decision to move staff to its state-of-the-art ?58m flagship Colwyn Bay building ? a decision taken years before his leadership began. Chief executive Rhun ap Gareth has also claimed the sale and fate of the council?s Bodlondeb HQ is still undecided, despite intense speculation during an ongoing review of Conwy?s estate.

Read more https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/conwy-council-chief-defends-underused-26237858


Welsh Government offices site in North Wales to be sold for affordable housing project
The site on Dinerth Road in Rhos-on-Sea had originally been developed as a potential emergency hospital

Conwy council took a lease out on the buildings in 2011 - but the 400 local authority workers left the site in 2018 after the new Coed Pella offices were opened in the centre of Colwyn Bay.

Now Welsh Government?s finance minister Rebecca Evans and minister for climate change Julie James have agreed to the transfer of the site to the Land Division portfolio ?pending sale of the site for residential use?.

Read more  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-government-offices-site-north-26250040

[SteveH]

The issues facing Conwy council as it battles to balance the books amid funding shortfall
Chief executive says authority needs more money beyond the extra ?15m received as part of the Welsh Government settlement

Conwy council's new chief executive has opened up on the pressures of the job after five months at the helm, suggesting Conwy needs more help from Welsh Government. Chief executive Rhun ap Gareth listed housing, homelessness, and social care as some of the biggest challenges facing Conwy.

But the chief executive also took aim at the Welsh Government after another below average Local Government Settlement. Despite a Welsh average increase of around 7.9%, Conwy received only 7.3%, not helping the ?19m funding gap and 10% authority-wide cuts in services it must make. Only education and social services escaped the 10% rule and are being asked to make 5% cuts.
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/issues-facing-conwy-council-battles-26248325


Clwyd West MS challenges Welsh Government on council tax hike in Conwy
WITH Conwy County Borough Council considering a 12.45 per cent council tax rise in April, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has urged Welsh Government to undertake an independent review of the local government funding formula in Wales.

This, he said, ?always seems to leave some North Wales councils worse off than their South Wales counterparts?.

Speaking in the Senedd this week, Mr Millar said residents living in Conwy are concerned about the proposed hike, which is substantially more than the five per cent increase for most councils in England.
cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23328017.clwyd-west-ms-challenges-welsh-government-council-tax-hike-conwy/

[SteveH]

CONWY County Borough Council?s  new chief executive has opened up on the pressures of the job after five months at the helm, suggesting Conwy needs more help from Welsh Government.

Chief executive Rhun ap Gareth listed housing, homelessness, and social care as some of the biggest challenges facing Conwy.

But he also took aim at the Welsh Government after another below average Local Government Settlement. 

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23333350.conwy-chief-executive-says-conwy-needs-money/

[Meleri]

I have just watched the CCBC Cabinet meeting that took place this morning & it looks like we will all be paying between 9.9 & 10% rise in our Council Tax, this will be determined on 2nd March at the full council meeting. There is no price cap on what Councils in Wales can charge, in England it's 5%.

What did come to light at this meeting was 15 of the young men housed in the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Dolgarrog were found to be minors, so came under Social Service responsibility. CCBC had to pay ?500 per week for each, so given they were there for 3 months it cost CCBC ?90,000. I would be interested to know if the Home Office is going to reimburse CCBC & also interested to hear what fellow members of the forum think, given all the service cuts we are facing in the future to balance the budget.

[SteveH]

I have just watched the CCBC Cabinet meeting that took place this morning & it looks like we will all be paying between 9.9 & 10% rise in our Council Tax, this will be determined on 2nd March at the full council meeting. There is no price cap on what Councils in Wales can charge, in England it's 5%.

What did come to light at this meeting was 15 of the young men housed in the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Dolgarrog were found to be minors, so came under Social Service responsibility. CCBC had to pay 500 per week for each, so given they were there for 3 months it cost CCBC 90,000. I would be interested to know if the Home Office is going to reimburse CCBC & also interested to hear what fellow members of the forum think, given all the service cuts we are facing in the future to balance the budget.

I have queried it with a local councillor, will let you know what is said.

[norman08]

Better asking millar on his chat tonight. Mind you you won?t get a real answer off him.