The Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on 9 October 2025 to discuss a range of topics including a review of the Flintshire Connects service, budget monitoring, and agency staff recruitment. The committee will also receive updates on joint funded care packages and the Flintshire and Wrexham Public Services Board.

Revenue Budget Monitoring

The committee will be presented with the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2025/26 (Month 5) report, which provides an overview of the budget monitoring position for the 2025/26 financial year for the Council Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The projected year-end positions are:

• Council Fund: Operating deficit of £5.366m (reducing to £2.662m with full use of the budget risk reserve).
• HRA: Net in-year revenue expenditure forecast to be £0.699m higher than budget.

The report highlights a number of significant movements since Month 4, including:

• A £0.252m underspend in Out of County Placements due to new and ending placements and legacy income from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).
• A £0.100m overspend in Streetscene and Transportation due to increased agency costs.
• A £0.140m underspend in Planning, Environment and the Economy due to vacancy savings and drawdown of balances.
• A £0.158m underspend in Governance due to an increase in the council tax collection fund.
• A £0.561m underspend in Central and Corporate due to reduced short-term borrowing costs and income from investments.

The report also notes a request for £0.155 - £0.165m from the Contingency Reserve to fund the first 12 months of a three-year SharePoint implementation project.

Several in-year risks and emerging issues are being tracked, including council tax income, out of county placements, waste recycling infraction charges, and homelessness. The report also provides an update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) impact and the achievement of planned in-year budget reductions.

Off 'Matrix' Agency Staff Recruitment

The committee will discuss a report on Off 'Matrix' Agency Staff Recruitment, following a request from the Governance & Audit Committee. The report aims to explain the process for recruiting agency staff outside of the council's standard Matrix SCM^1 arrangement. The report states that the council's Agency Workers Policy V4 (April 2024) dictates that agency workers should only be engaged through Matrix SCM when there is a sound financial and business need. However, the policy acknowledges that there may be instances where Matrix SCM is unable to supply the necessary skilled workers, and in these cases, off-matrix recruitment is permitted if certain requirements are met, including Chief Officer approval and consultation with a HR Business Partner.

The report identifies five main risks associated with off-matrix agency placements:

1. The Agency Workers Policy is not sufficiently detailed.
2. Management information is not available or adequate to oversee compliance.
3. Value for money cannot be evidenced.
4. Reporting to the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee is not adequate.
5. Financial, employment and procurement risks have not been captured on InPhase, the council's risk management system.

The report outlines a number of agreed actions to mitigate these risks, including revising the business case for off-matrix agency staff, reviewing and amending the Agency Worker Policy, and establishing a shared folder for business cases.

Flintshire Connects Service Review and Future Operating Model

The committee will discuss the Flintshire Connects Service Review and Future Operating Model, following a call-in of the Cabinet's decision on 16 September 2025. The call-in was requested by several councillors, including Councillor Mike Peers, Councillor Carol Ellis, Councillor Linda Thew and Councillor Marion Bateman.

The Cabinet approved Option 3, a peripatetic model, as the preferred model for future service delivery. This model focuses on deploying staff to community outreach locations and part-time centres.

The reasons for the call-in include:

1. Concerns that Option 3 does not fully reflect the outcome of the Members workshop held on 24 June 2025, which advised retaining some presence within existing locations.
2. A belief that frequent closures of Connects centres have contributed to a decline in footfall.
3. A concern about the impact Option 3 will have on existing connects centres.
4. A lack of detail in Option 3 regarding financial costs, staffing costs, and potential community outreach areas.
5. A belief that all members should have the opportunity to contribute to the new operating model.

The committee will consider the call-in and decide whether to refer the decision back to the Cabinet for reconsideration or refer the matter to full Council.

Flintshire and Wrexham Public Services Board (PSB) Annual Report 2024/2025

The committee will receive the Flintshire and Wrexham Public Services Board (PSB) Annual Report 2024/2025. The report outlines the steps taken to meet the local well-being objectives set by the PSB, which are:

• Build flourishing communities by reducing inequalities across environment, education, employment, income, and housing.
• Improve community well-being by enabling people of all ages to live healthy and independent lives.

The report highlights the work of the three outcome boards established by the PSB: children and young people, our communities, and our workforces. It also provides examples of partner projects and initiatives, such as Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (EPEC) and Project SEARCH.

Joint Funded Care Packages - Update Report

The committee will receive an update on the latest position regarding outstanding Continuing Health Care (CHC) invoices raised by the Council for payment by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The report notes that regular meetings continue between Council Officers and Health Board staff to facilitate payment processes. As a result, the number of outstanding invoices has reduced.

The Chief Officer for Social Services and the East Area IHC (Integrated Health Community) Director of Nursing for BCUHB are scheduled to meet to find a negotiated resolution to outstanding invoices and to establish the principles for the resolution of these disputed payments in the future.

Action Tracking

The committee will be informed of progress against actions from previous meetings.

Forward Work Programme

The committee will consider its Forward Work Programme. Items to be scheduled include:

• Acquisition of land for Flintshire cemeteries.
• North Wales Coroner Annual Update.
• Out of Hours Service performance.
• An update on mitigation options for homelessness.
• Illegal Fly Tipping in Queensferry.
• Synthite Ltd, Mold – to report on lessons learnt following on-site incident.

The committee will also review its Terms of Reference.

Minutes

The committee will be asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2025¹ as a correct record.