Committees request rethink of proposed cuts to schools, lifeguards and fly-tipping enforcement

Yesterday, Bridgend Council’s Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee discussed a report summarising feedback from the council’s scrutiny committee on 2023-24 council budget proposals (pdf).

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Here’s a summary of the main points of concern:

• The proposal to cut RNLI lifeguard funding in Porthcawl by £38,000 was criticised in light of financial support for golf tournaments. As these cuts would be focused at Rest Bay – popular with surfers, but with strong rip tides – it was a potentially dangerous decision.
• The council should reduce its reliance on agency staff.
• A large proportion of projected cuts beyond 2023-24 have not yet been found and present a high risk to the council.
• Removing all funding from fly-tipping enforcement is counterproductive and could cost the council more money to deal with clean-ups.
• The cost of making school staff redundant as a result of the proposed 2% cut to the school budget could outweigh the proposed savings.
• There’s ongoing concern that not all primary schools are ready to provide universal free school meals (part of a Labour-Plaid Cymru agreement at the Senedd). Bringing them up to the level needed to meet expected demand adds to budget pressures.

Some of the recommendations put forward by the scrutiny committees include:

• The proposed 2% cut to the school budget is halved to 1%.
• Talks should start with Porthcawl Town Council and Parkdean/Trecco Bay over possible financial contributions to lifeguard services. One committee suggested pausing a proposal to switch recycling vehicles to biofuel, using the money saved to continue to fund the lifeguards.
• A review should be undertaken of the council’s financial reserves.
• The budget-setting process (known as BREP) should start as soon as possible in the next financial year.
• There should be more joint working across council departments, with external agencies and with town & community councils, with calls for the Town & Community Council Forum to be strengthened.

Nothing has yet been decided, with the final budget on course to be ready later this month.