Savings pot will be a "godsend" for council

Caerphilly Council's headquarters in Tredomen — Caerphilly Council’s headquarters in Tredomen

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s savings pot will be a “godsend in future years to come”, a senior councillor has said.

The council has more than £140 million in useable reserves – which is one of the highest levels in Wales.

But the cabinet member for finance, Councillor Eluned Stenner, has said the reserves are more important than ever.

What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?

A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.

It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.

Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:

Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces

Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.

_{Last updated October 13, 2023}

Cllr Stenner said: “In regards to sitting on reserves, we’ve never been in more uncertain times as we are at the moment and I think those reserves are going to be a godsend in future years to come.

“So thank goodness we’ve got something to fall back on.”

The council’s general fund is a contingency pot set aside for emergencies, much like the coronavirus pandemic or an economic crash.

The council’s general fund dropped from £15 million to £10 million in 2020/21, but this is still significantly higher than most Welsh councils.

The leader of the council’s Plaid Cymru group, Cllr Colin Mann, said the £15 million in the general fund last year was “too high”.

Cllr Mann said he had difficulties understanding why the council is sitting on the funds.

He said: “The general fund is far higher than Cardiff, which is a much bigger authority than we are.

“I wonder what the justification is.

“I accept the fact that we need reserves, it’s the sheer amount.”

The council’s head of financial services, Stephen Harris, said that some reserves were particularly high in order to meet future obligations, including insurance.

He said: “I want to remind members certainly on capital reserves, you agreed to set aside £24.5 million for the place-shaping agenda.

“That is waiting there to be used.”

CCBC

Savings pot will be a “godsend” for council

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