The Community and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 23 February 2026 focused on the draft Corporate Plan and Budget Proposals for the upcoming year. Key discussions included the council's financial settlement from the Welsh Government, proposed savings, and a moderate council tax increase. The committee also reviewed specific budget proposals and corporate plan elements relevant to adult services, housing, tackling poverty, and community hubs, with a particular emphasis on the impact of these proposals on vulnerable residents and the council's commitment to providing essential services.

Corporate Overview and Budget Proposals

Councillor Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation and Performance, presented the council's financial outlook, noting a welcome 4.2% uplift in funding from the Welsh Government. Despite this, a budget gap of £22.6 million remained, which the council planned to close through over £40 million in savings, primarily from back-office efficiencies and a change management programme, avoiding frontline service cuts. Alongside these savings, a council tax increase of 3.9% was proposed, which would likely maintain Cardiff's position as having the lowest Band D council tax in Wales.

The budget proposals detailed significant investment in areas of high demand, including children's services, adult services, and education. Adult services, in particular, were set to receive an increase of nearly £9 million, reflecting rising demand. The council also allocated £2 million towards highways and £1.4 million towards street cleansing and recycling performance from its financial resilience mechanism, responding to public consultation feedback.

Ian Elwood, Head of Finance, provided further detail on the budget, outlining pressures from pay and price inflation, commitments, and demand. He highlighted that adult social care and children's services faced significant demand pressures, with £3.1 million and £3.7 million respectively. Savings of £14.782 million were planned, largely through efficiency and change programmes, with a prudent adjustment for the timing of savings. The consultation process, which received 2,760 responses, indicated public priorities for school and education, supporting vulnerable children and families, and supporting vulnerable adults and older people.

The medium-term financial plan indicated significant future pressures, with an estimated £277.8 million in pressures over the next four years, requiring over £124 million in savings. This would necessitate a review of budget-setting timescales. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan, capital strategy, and treasury management strategy were also presented, outlining investment plans and financial resilience measures.

Proposals Relevant to Councillor Thomson's Portfolio

Councillor Jane Thompson, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Public Health and Equality, presented the corporate plan and budget proposals for her portfolio. She highlighted progress in making Cardiff an age-friendly and dementia-friendly city, with plans to refresh the ageing well strategy. A new housing with care scheme in St. Mellons was nearing completion, and the partnership with the University Health Board remained strong.

Significant progress had been made in recruiting and retaining social workers, with vacancies below the 12% target. The council was also recommissioning its care provision to ensure services were fit for the future. Cardiff's commitment to the Migrant Workers' Charter was noted as a significant step in embedding fair work practices. Strategies for living well with learning disabilities, neurodivergence, and physical disabilities were also being developed and delivered.

Jane Thomas, Director for Adult Housing and Communities, detailed the budget for adult services, which included a base budget of £177 million, with an 8.3% price inflation and £3.1 million in demand pressures. Savings of £3.5 million were planned, contributing to a net budget increase of 4.9%. The presentation outlined a focus on prevention, reablement, and right-sizing care packages to reduce demand. Initiatives included reviewing respite and adult placement schemes, developing step-down services from day centres, and expanding supported living options. The travel training pilot was highlighted as a success in helping individuals with learning disabilities use public transport.

A significant focus was placed on prevention and wellbeing services, with a whole-system approach aiming to resolve issues at the first point of contact. This had resulted in avoided care hours and cost savings. The expansion of the community reablement first approach was planned, embedding reablement into commissioned care services. New proposals included reviewing high-cost packages of care and a deep dive into physical disability services. The development of specialist housing schemes, including the new housing with care scheme in St. Mellons, was aimed at reducing the need for domiciliary care and preventing delays in residential care.

During the discussion, Councillor Mary McGarry raised concerns about potential risks in recharging for day services for mental health, but it was clarified that this related to a new building and a partnership with health services. Councillor Lent inquired about the timing of day provisions to ease taxi transport, and it was agreed that this would be reviewed. The issue of public toilets and their accessibility was also raised, with a potential link to the visitor levy for future enhancements. Councillor McGarry also sought clarification on maximising income opportunities within the savings, which was explained as best use of grant funding and health contributions. The impact of rising costs on older residents with limited incomes was discussed, with assurances that needs assessments and caps on domiciliary care charges were in place. Concerns were also raised about the inclusion of assets like homes in needs assessments for social care, which was confirmed as a reality in certain circumstances. The effectiveness of key performance indicators (KPIs) for age-friendly city initiatives, particularly regarding non-attendees at wellbeing events and demographic breakdowns, was debated, with a commitment to further monitoring and potential inclusion of new indicators. Councillor Lewis also raised the issue of migrant workers' rights and fair pay, particularly regarding travel time and training, which was linked to recommissioning efforts and a potential locality model for care providers.

Proposals Relevant to Councillor Sangani's Portfolio

Councillor Singhani, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Public Health and Equality, was absent, and Jane Thomas provided clarification on the definition of marginalised groups in the context of the budget, explaining it referred to those who traditionally faced difficulties accessing mainstream health and care services, such as refugees, asylum seekers, and prison leavers. The discussion acknowledged that people with disabilities could also face marginalisation in accessing services.

Proposals Relevant to Councillor Bradbury's Portfolio

Councillor Chris Bradbury, Cabinet Member for Tackling Poverty and Supporting Young People, reported positive news regarding the money advice service. He confirmed that £700,000 in core service funding had been secured, safeguarding jobs and ensuring the continuation of vital advice services. The advice line had handled 50,000 calls, supported 7,000 people with Universal Credit, and identified over £14 million in additional weekly benefits.

Helen, from the benefits assessment team, explained that the benefit restructure referred to the migration of legacy benefits to Universal Credit, leading to a reduction in caseloads for housing benefit assessments. This was a planned transition, and staff were being redeployed to alternative roles, avoiding redundancies. The funding for the money advice team was being supplemented by £301,000 from the empty homes reserve, which was seen as a strategic use of funds to prevent homelessness by supporting with budgets and rent arrears.

Proposals Relevant to Councillor Thorne's Portfolio

Councillor Lynda Thorne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, presented progress in addressing the housing emergency. She highlighted the end of the use of leased hotels for emergency accommodation and the successful introduction of new housing schemes. Rough sleeping had significantly reduced, and 82% of threatened homelessness cases were being prevented.

The council was recommissioning its Floating Support Service and Young Persons Accommodation Mediation Service to sustain tenancies. The specialist accommodation gateway was being expanded to ensure older people and individuals with disabilities could access suitable homes. The council remained on track to deliver 2,800 new affordable homes by 2035, with 331 new council homes delivered in the current year. Investment in existing homes included a focus on energy efficiency, with solar panels being installed on bungalows. Fire safety in high-rise blocks remained a priority, with ongoing improvements to sprinkler systems and fire doors.

Helen, from Homes and Neighbourhoods, detailed significant investment in the responsive repairs unit, including £1.7 million from the HRA to strengthen capacity, particularly for the dry homes team to address damp and mould cases. New plumbers and IT system overhauls were also planned. An investment of £1.1 million was being made in tenancy services and anti-social behaviour teams to provide additional support and strengthen enforcement. A new Housing Customer Excellence Unit was to be launched in 2026 to improve complaint handling and service improvement.

Regarding homelessness, despite progress, pressures remained high, with 571 families, nearly 1,000 single people, and 245 young people in temporary accommodation. Investment in two new prevention officers was planned to work within prisons and co-locate with probation officers to better support individuals at risk of homelessness. Two additional young persons prevention officers would also be recruited to focus on mediation and keeping young people at home where safe. Major changes to Wales' homelessness and allocation system were anticipated from 2027, including a focus on prevention, duty to retain, personal housing plans, and the abolition of the priority need and intentionality tests, which would increase demand on services.

During the discussion, Councillor McGarry raised concerns about vacant posts within the landlord inquiries team, which were deemed not fit for purpose and were being repurposed. The creation of new operative posts was clarified as adding capacity to existing teams. Councillor Lewis inquired about the solar panel programme, noting that it was currently focused on bungalows and suggesting a broader rollout to other council properties, exploring potential funding opportunities. The issue of the housing waiting list and its reduction was debated, with an agreement that a KPI should be introduced to track the number of people allocated homes from the waiting list, acknowledging that this would not directly equate to a reduction in the overall list due to ongoing demand. Councillor McGarry also revisited the use of the empty homes reserve, questioning what more could be done to bring empty homes back into use. Councillor Thorne confirmed that efforts were ongoing, including council tax premiums and a working party, which had resulted in approximately 170 homes being brought back into use.

Proposals Relevant to Councillor Bridgeman's Portfolio

Councillor Lee Bridgman, Cabinet Member for Community Hubs and Regeneration, reported that hubs and libraries continued to thrive, with over 1.6 million visits and a 98% satisfaction rate. New facilities were being opened, including a community space within the Tegroes community living scheme. The council was pushing ahead with family, local history, and wellbeing programmes, and exploring new income opportunities through room hire and events. The contribution of volunteers was highly valued, and further funding had been secured to support volunteer mentor roles.

Way Forward

The committee agreed to pass on several points to the relevant Cabinet Members. These included:

• A recommendation to review the timing of day provisions to improve the seamlessness of taxi transport for individuals with learning disabilities.
• A request to review communications regarding public toilets and their accessibility.
• A recommendation to include access for ethnic minorities to adult social care within the corporate key performance indicators.
• A recommendation to develop a KPI on new people attending wellbeing events and to ensure existing KPIs break down the demographics of attendees, including ethnic minority status and first language.
• A recommendation to introduce a KPI on the number of people allocated housing from the housing waiting list.
• A recommendation to explore funding opportunities for solar panel projects on council homes to reduce energy costs.

The committee also noted points regarding bus infrastructure, the definition of marginalised groups, and the ongoing development of the housing programme.