Issue - meetings

The Leader presented his fifth Annual Report to the Council covering the period 2019/20 and looked back upon the achievements of the Council over the previous 12 months (copies of which had been provided to Councillors in advance of the meeting). He advised that whilst it was not his intention to go through the report in detail, he would like to highlight the following Council’s achievements over the year (including a video presentation) prior to commenting on the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the county and the scale and measure of the Council’s response.

The Council viewed the video.

The Leader reminded the Council that only a year ago it had hosted the final stage of the OVO Women’s Tour of Britain when thousands of people had lined the county’s streets to cheer the cyclists on their 79 mile race through Carmarthenshire. Hosting the race had provided the opportunity to showcase the county’s beautiful scenery and the warm welcome that awaited visitors to the county. The Council had also set aside £20,000 for its Events Support Scheme for organisations and community groups to hold their own events. Those included Carmarthen’s St David’s Week, Llandovery Sheep Festival, Llanelli Pride and Gwyl Canol Dre.

He considered one of the Council’s proudest achievements over the year had been the “Moving Carmarthenshire Forward” Report. Over 60% of the county’s population lived in its rural areas and the council had a dedicated portfolio to represent the needs of those people. The Ten Rural Towns Initiative outlined the long-term strategic vision for the regeneration of the county’s rural communities by securing economic, cultural, social and environmental sustainability for those towns i.e. Llandovery, St Clears, Whitland, Newcastle Emlyn, Laugharne, Cwmamman, Llanybydder, Kidwelly, Llandeilo and Cross Hands. However, in light of Covid-19, it was realised, more than ever, that the need to look locally, and in supporting and developing that economy the county would become even more resilient and robust.

The Council’s plans to increase its housing stock across the County would also support the rural strategy. Over the next five years the council had committed to invest £150m to build 900 new council homes across the county, with many of those being in the rural areas where there had been a shortage of housing for many years. Work was also underway in Pembrey and Bryn, Llanelli to build 300 homes before 2022 and, although, work on those had been halted at the start of the lockdown, the sites were beginning to re-open and work had restarted.

The Authority had renewed its commitment to climate change, becoming the first local authority in Wales to publish a climate change action plan outlining how it would be net zero carbon by 2030. The Plan was ambitious and the Council was committed to its success. A more energy- efficient vehicle fleet was being purchased and the council was collaborating with other bodies to deliver wider change and renewable energy generation on council owned land. To date, more that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6