The Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Flintshire Connects Service Review and Future Operating Model, a Council Tax Policy Framework for s13a Discretionary Discounts, the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2026/27, Revenue Budget Monitoring 202526 Month 4 and Capital Programme Monitoring 202526 Month 4, the Corporate Self-Assessment 202425, and the Annual Performance Report 202425. The committee approved a recommendation to adopt a peripatetic model for future delivery of Flintshire Connects, and supported a Medium Term Financial Strategy bid for a ring fenced annual budget provision of £15,000 from 2026/27 to fund future discretionary council tax awards. The committee also approved the findings of the Corporate Self-Assessment 2024/25, and the opportunities for improvement identified within it.

• Flintshire Connects Service Review and Future Operating Model The committee supported recommendation 3, to adopt option 3, a peripatetic model¹ as the preferred model for future service delivery, and recommendation 4, to introduce the changes as soon as possible in 2025-26. The committee also noted the intention to consult all elected members on the geographic location of community surgeries. The review of Flintshire Connects was undertaken because of reducing footfall at the centres. The review presented three options:

1. Continue to provide a face-to-face service across five centres (no change)
2. Full closure of face-to-face services
3. A peripatetic model

The report noted that with just 7.90 full time equivalent (FTE) Customer Service Advisors, Flintshire Connects did not have enough employees to continue to operate the same opening hours across all five centres. The report stated that option 3, a peripatetic model, would increase the service's reach, provide broader reach to serve customers who have barriers to visiting existing locations, increase flexibility to target support where it is needed most, improve customer relationships, provide a more responsive service, and increase job satisfaction.

• Council Tax Policy Framework for s13a Discretionary Discounts The committee supported recommendation 2, that scrutiny supports the inclusion of a Medium Term Financial Strategy bid for a ring fenced annual budget provision of £15,000 from 2026/27, to fund the cost of future discretionary awards for cases that meet the criteria as set out in the revised policy framework.

The report set out suggested revisions to the council's policy framework for awarding discretionary discounts to council taxpayers under provisions set out in section 13a of the Local Government Finance Act 1992². The policy sets out the principles on how discretionary discounts may apply in respect of any amount of council tax liability and the criteria and procedures when considering applications for locally defined s13a discounts. The refreshed policy introduces a new provision to consider s13a discretionary discount awards in cases of exceptional financial hardship, as well as s13a awards in exceptional circumstances, such as significant damage to property because of fire, flooding or storm damage.

• Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2026/27 The committee considered and commented on the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget 2026/27 report. Any specific matters were noted and reported back to the Cabinet on 16 September.

The report provided an update on the council's concerning budget position for the 2026/27 financial year. In July, the Cabinet and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee were advised of an additional budget requirement for the 2026/27 financial year of £28.916m.

Since July, there have been some changes to the additional budget requirement, and these are set out in the table below:

The report also noted ongoing risks, including teacher pay, NJC (Green Book)³ pay, homelessness, social care, and streetscene and transportation.

• Revenue Budget Monitoring 2025/26 (Month 4) and Capital Programme Monitoring 2025/26 (Month 4) The committee considered and commented on the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2025/26 (Month 4) and Capital Programme Monitoring 2025/26 (Month 4) reports. Any specific matters for attention were noted and reported back to the Cabinet when it considers the report.

The Revenue Budget Monitoring report provided the first detailed overview of the budget monitoring position for the 2025/26 financial year. It showed the following projected year end positions:

Council Fund

• An operating deficit of £6.452m (this reduces to £3.748m with the full utilisation of the remaining £2.704m budget risk reserve).
• A projected contingency reserve balance as at 31 March 2026 of £0.803m (after taking account of previously approved allocations including those approved as part of the 2025/26 Budget).

Housing Revenue Account

• Net in-year revenue expenditure is forecast to be £0.635m higher than budget.
• A projected closing balance as at 31 March, 2026 of £2.777m

The Capital Programme Monitoring report summarised changes made to the Capital Programme 2025/26 since it was set in December 2024 to the end of Month 4 (July 2025), along with expenditure to date and projected outturn.

The Capital Programme has seen a net increase in budget of £43.758m during the last quarter which comprises of:

• Net budget increase in the programme of £30.716m
• Introduction of Carry Forward from 2024/25 of £13.042m

Actual expenditure was £15.445m.

Capital receipts received in the first quarter of 2025/26, total £0.076m.

• Corporate Self-Assessment 2024/25 The committee accepted and approved the findings of the Corporate Self-Assessment 2024/25, and approved the opportunities for improvement identified in it.

The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 sets out a duty to report on performance and states 'A council must produce a self-assessment report in respect of each financial year. The report must set out its conclusions on the extent to which it met the performance requirements during that year, and any actions it intends to take, or has already taken, to increase the extent to which it is meeting the performance requirements.'

Key areas of improvement that have been identified for focus for delivery during 2025/26 are:

1. Delivery and completion of the Council's Vision and Values
2. Review of the Workforce Strategy
3. Delivery and completion of the Performance Management Framework
4. IIA training for senior managers and members to embed the process and ensure in-depth reviews are undertaken when making strategic decisions
5. Corporate oversight of partnerships
6. Delivery of the Digital Strategy
7. Customer and Community Feedback
8. Embed and improve understanding of risk management and the Council's risk appetite
9. Corporate oversight of progress against audit actions and recommendations
10. Complete the Policy Framework and develop a process to enable corporate oversight of policies

• Annual Performance Report 2024/25 The committee supported the Annual Performance Report for 2024/25 noting the performance achieved during the year.

The Annual Performance Report provides a high level overview of how well the council has performed at the end of the financial year 2024/25. The Report provides a summary of performance for 2024/25 of the following areas:

• Key achievements of the Council
• Areas of Improvement
• Council Plan Performance
• Budget Monitoring
• Social Value
• Risk Management
• Annual Governance Statement
• Corporate Self-Assessment
• Regulation, Audit and Inspection
• Strategic Equality Plan
• Welsh Language
• Partnership and Collaboration / PSB
• Climate Change

Overall, 2024/5 performance against the Council Plan Objectives has been positive. Our overall progress against the activities / actions (140) identified in the Council Plan for 2024/25 was:

• Good (green) progress was achieved in 75% (105) of activities.
• Satisfactory (amber) progress was achieved in 24% (34) of activities.
• Limited (red) progress was made in 1% (1) of activities