Conwy County Borough Council

The committee approved an in-year business case to fund TRACK for the rest of 2026/27 after UKSPF ended and the new Local Growth Fund was found to exclude this pre-16 intervention work. The £163,000 one-off funding will come from general balances while officers seek a sustainable replacement source for 2027/28.

Cabinet approved a minor update to the reimbursement of expenses policy to reflect the HMRC mileage rate increase from 45p to 55p, backdated to 2026-06-04. Delegated authority was also given to finance officers to keep the policy aligned with future HMRC changes.

The committee renewed Councillor Chris Hughes' dispensations in the same terms as previous years for matters relating to Colwyn Bay Conservation and Environment Federation and Together for Colwyn Bay. For Together for Colwyn Bay, the dispensation applies unless the matter relates to funding above £500, in which case he may speak but must leave before debate and vote; no voting dispensation was granted.

Cabinet approved three bridging loans for schools facing financial challenge: £136,774 for Ysgol Bro Gwydir, £293,394 for Ysgol John Bright, and £156,000 for Ysgol Penbryn subject to engagement with the council's finance SLA. Members linked the support to recovery plans, enhanced monitoring, and the wider funding formula review.

Members approved using £121,000 from the Fit Conway carbon reduction budget as match funding for LED lighting upgrades in Abergele and Conwy Bay. Officers said the scheme costs around £300,000 in total, is supported by a Sports Wales grant for the balance, and should save about £25,000 a year in energy costs.

Cabinet approved a minor amendment to the reimbursement of expenses policy to reflect the HMRC increase in mileage rates from 45p to 55p and agreed to backdate it to 2026-06-04. Delegation was also given to the Strategic Director of Finance and Resources to amend the policy for future HMRC changes, reducing the need for repeated cabinet approvals.

The meeting was a short planning session focused on one zoo-related application affecting green wedge land. Members discussed whether the proposal would harm the openness of the designated green wedge and noted that mitigation measures would be secured as conditions. No clear procurement spend or contract award was discussed, but the decision may lead to condition-driven works or compliance activity.

The meeting was a short Planning Committee session focused on two planning applications: a junior football club facility at School Bank Road, Rhos, and works at Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay. Members discussed community benefits, green wedge considerations, and conditions/mitigation measures, and both applications were approved unanimously. No clear procurement decisions, contracts, or spending approvals were identified in the transcript beyond these planning outcomes.

Cabinet considered the 2025/26 outturn and 2026/27 quarter one budget position, with pressures in social care, housing, and pay discussed alongside healthy reserves. Members approved capital programme revisions, a spend-to-save LED lighting scheme, continued funding for TRAC from general balances, and a major local growth fund award for the ARAS redevelopment. A policy update extended probation for new starters to five months to match forthcoming legislation, and the meeting also noted wider public-sector change around policing and the possible abolition of PCCs.