The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 23 February 2026 to discuss the draft Corporate Plan and budgetary proposals for the upcoming financial year. Key decisions included the approval of a 3.9% council tax increase and a £12.7 million inflation commitment for children's services, offset by planned savings. The committee also reviewed proposals related to education, supporting young people, and the overall corporate overview of the council's financial plans.

Corporate Overview and Budgetary Proposals

The committee received a comprehensive overview of the draft Corporate Plan and budgetary proposals for the upcoming financial year. Councillor Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, presented the council's financial position, highlighting a welcome 4.2% increase in funding from the Welsh Government, which was higher than anticipated. However, a budget gap of £22.6 million remains due to increased demand for services, particularly in education, adult, and children's services.

To address this gap, the council proposes a combination of savings and a council tax increase. Over £40 million in savings have been identified, primarily from back-office efficiencies and a change programme, aiming to avoid cuts to frontline services. The proposed council tax increase is 3.9%, equivalent to £1.15 on a Band D property, which is expected to be one of the lowest increases in Wales.

Significant investment is planned for areas identified as priorities through public consultation, including supporting vulnerable children and adults, education, schools, and young people. One-off funding initiatives are also allocated to highways (£2 million), street cleansing (£1.4 million), and child-friendly city initiatives (£400,000). The committee noted the importance of the Financial Resilience Mechanism, a £4.5 million contingency fund.

Officers presented detailed financial information, including the medium-term financial plan, capital strategy, and treasury management strategy. The delegated schools budget is set to increase by 4.2%, with no savings being sought from this budget. However, officers acknowledged the ongoing financial challenges faced by schools, particularly concerning Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and pupil numbers.

Concerns were raised about the timing of savings delivery, with a £1.4 million timing adjustment included as a prudent measure. The committee also discussed the projected surplus in school balances, contrasting with previous predictions of deficits, and the factors contributing to this improvement, including additional grant funding and the potential impact of specialist ALN places.

The committee expressed concerns about the uncertainty surrounding pay awards and national insurance costs, and the timing of grant clarity, which makes forward planning difficult for both the local authority and schools. They also sought reassurance that the relationship between officers and headteachers/governors in managing budget deficits is constructive and collaborative.

Children's Services

Councillor Ash Lister, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People, presented the budget proposals for Children's Services. The budget includes an £8.9 million net increase, bringing the total to £116 million, primarily to address inflation and demand pressures. Savings are linked to the Striving for Excellence strategy, focusing on prevention and early help to reduce reliance on high-cost statutory interventions.

The committee questioned the realism of efficiency savings, particularly those rated as amber or red, and sought clarification on the £1.5 million efficiency figure. Officers explained the planned changes, including improvements to front-door services, joint care planning with health colleagues, and a review of how children with additional needs are supported.

Discussions also covered the accommodation strategy, with a £665,000 allocation for bringing care in-house, and the need to secure further funding from Welsh Government. The Single View of the Child project was highlighted as a key initiative for improving safeguarding and service delivery, with operational benefits already being seen at the front door.

Concerns were raised about the 60% Key Performance Indicator (KPI) target for care leavers achieving three consecutive months in employment, education, or training, with officers explaining the complexity of the situation and the impact of new Welsh Government criteria. The committee also discussed the workforce strategy, aiming to reduce social worker vacancy rates from 15% to 11.2%, and the initiatives being implemented to achieve this, including Grow Your Own schemes and working with recruitment agencies.

The collaboration between Children's Services, Education, and other partners on ALN and the Single View of the Child was also a focus, with emphasis on clear pathways and smooth transitions into adult services.

Education

Councillor Sarah Merry, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, presented the proposals for the Education portfolio. The delegated schools budget will increase by £19.57 million, with no efficiencies being sought from schools. A £1 million saving that would have been taken from the School Organisation Planning budget will instead be met from central budgets to further protect school funding.

The committee discussed the financial challenges faced by schools, the lack of specific KPIs in the Corporate Plan to address these, and the support provided through Local Finance Management Officers. The potential impact of reallocating surplus places to fund ALN provision was debated, with officers acknowledging that this could create financial challenges for some schools while alleviating pressures elsewhere.

The £1 million efficiency savings within the centrally retained education budget were discussed, with officers expressing confidence in their achievability through catering, grant maximisation, and the Storey Arms initiative. The development of a city-wide reading strategy, aimed at closing the disadvantage gap, was also highlighted.

The committee sought further information on the refreshed attendance strategy and how targets are set, particularly in light of universal free school meals for primary pupils. The community-focused schools strategy, building on best practice in the Southern arc, was also discussed, with officers confirming it is under development and will be tailored to specific areas of the city.

Concerns were raised about the monitoring of children educated at home (EHE), with a request for more frequent visits and a breakdown of reasons for EHE, particularly for children with ALN. Officers noted that 6% of EHE children have ALN needs and that the EHE grant has remained static at £99,000 for several years.

Supporting Young People

Councillor Peter Bradbury, Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Tackling Poverty & Supporting Young People, presented the proposals for supporting young people. The Youth Services budget has been maintained, with new spaces opening at Cardiff West High School and Eastmoors. The Play Sufficiency Assessment is showing positive results, with increased pupil involvement in playground leadership and the development of Play shacks and Play streets.

The committee noted the integration of the Play Sufficiency Assessment into the Local Development Plan and the Corporate Plan. Discussions also covered the balance between core budget and grant funding for Youth Services, with officers indicating that some funding has already been shifted to the core budget.

The committee expressed interest in the Into Work programme and the role of the Virtual Head Teacher in supporting care leavers, requesting further operational details. The importance of engaging young boys in sports and community activities was raised, with officers highlighting successful initiatives in Ely and Eastmoors, and also noting a rising concern about young girls not in education, employment, or training.

The committee agreed to write to the relevant Cabinet Members to convey their comments and observations from the meeting.