Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 8^th January, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 22^nd January, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members.

The Chair advised that no public questions on Notice had been received.

The Executive Board, in accordance with the 2017/18 Treasury Management Policy and Strategy (adopted by Council on the 6^th February, 2017 – Minute 9 Refers) received an update on the treasury management activities for the period 1^st April, 2017 to the 31^st December, 2017.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.

The Executive Board, in accordance with minute 6 of its meeting held on the 23^rd October, 2017 considered a report on the outcome of the formal consultation exercise undertaken from the 6^th November to 17^th December, 2017 on proposals to increase the capacity of Gorslas Community Primary School from 110 -210 as at 1^st September, 2019, when the new school building was due to be completed. If adopted, the new school would allow for the accommodation of current and future demands for Welsh medium education places whilst also providing space for a 30 place external nursery and facilities suitable for teaching and learning in the 21^st Century.

The Executive Board was advised that the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee had been provided with the opportunity of commenting on the report at its meeting held on the 25^th January, 2018 where it had resolved “to endorse to the Executive Board the publication of a Statutory Notice to implement the proposal to increase the capacity of Gorslas Community Primary School from 110 to 210”

It was reported that should the Executive Board agree to the publication of a Statutory Notice, it was intended to do so the week beginning the 5^th March, 2018. Thereafter, an objection report summarising any objections received by stakeholders would be presented to the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee, the Executive Board and, ultimately, Council for determination.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:-

The Executive Board, in accordance with minute 7 of its meeting held on the 23^rd October, 2017 considered a report on the outcome of the formal consultation exercise undertaken from the 6^th November to the 17^th December, 2017 on proposals to standardise local authority nursery provision in the areas of Burry Port and Pembrey. The proposal would, if introduced, result in age ranges at Ysgol Parc y Tywyn Welsh Medium School being increased from 4-11 to 3 -11 to reflect the 3-11 level provision at the two English Medium Schools in the same catchment area.

The Executive Board was advised that the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee had been provided with the opportunity of commenting on the report at its meeting held on the 25^th January, 2018 where it had resolved “to endorse to the Executive Board the publication of a Statutory Notice to implement the proposal to provide nursery provision at Ysgol Parc-y-Tywyn by increasing its age range from 4-11 to 3-11”.

It was reported that should the Executive Board agree to the publication of a Statutory Notice, it was intended to do so the week beginning the 5^th March, 2018. Thereafter, an objection report summarising any objections received by stakeholders would be presented to the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee, the Executive Board and, ultimately, Council for determination.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:-

(NOTE: Councillors E. Dole and G. Davies had earlier declared an interest in this item)

The Executive Board, in accordance with minute 10 of its meeting held on the 26^th June, 2017 considered an update report on the Community Asset Transfer of Parks, Playgrounds and Amenity Areas within Carmarthenshire. It was noted that Appendix 1 to the report detailed the current position relating to both completed transfers (representing 51% of the assets under consideration) and those currently in the process of being transferred (representing 35% of the assets under consideration). Appendix 2 detailed the highlights of a further consultation exercise undertaken with various stakeholders on the future of 23 assets where Expressions of Interest had not been received as at June 2017. It was noted that subsequent to that date, expressions of interest had been received for seven of those assets, which were now in the process of being transferred, resulting in 16 assets not having received expressions of interest.

Reference was made to Appendix 2 where the Executive Board was advised of the use made of the Llansteffan Beach Playground by the many tourists and visitors to Llansteffan. It was requested to defer a decision on that playground for the present time and request the Head of Leisure to explore grant opportunities and examine the feasibility of the Council retaining responsibility for the playground.

Further reference was made to Appendix 2 and the Executive Board requested to defer consideration of the Maesawelon Playground, at Maesawelon, Dryslwyn on that asset for the present time to enable further consideration to be given to the options available for its future

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

The Executive Board considered a report on the work being undertaken under the auspices of the 2014 Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act on Service Integration, Pooled Funding and Regional Governance Arrangements. It was noted that under the Act, all local authorities were required to establish and maintain pooled fund arrangements in relation to:-

-        the exercise of their care home accommodation functions for adults (by 6^th April, 2018);

-        the exercise of their family support functions;

-        specified functions exercised jointly in response to Population Assessments, where such arrangements were considered appropriate.

It was noted that in accordance with the above requirements, the West Wales Care Partnership, established under Part 9 of the Act, had prioritised the establishments of pooled funding arrangements for older people’s care homes by the statutory deadline, with that approach being consistent elsewhere within Wales.

The report also detailed developments in relation to work being undertaken on Pooled Funds for Adult Home Care Placements, Pooled Funds for Integrated Family Support Services and reviewing the possibility of introducing an Integrated Community Equipment Store on a Regional basis.

The Board was advised that both Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion County Council’s had approved their reports on pooled funding and it was now being requested to consider approving the report’s recommendations, in principle, to the regional approach to pooled funds for care homes, pooled funds for Integrated Family Support Services and reviewing Community Equipment Stores

Councillor D. Cundy, in accordance with CPR 11.1 expressed concern at the proposed pooling arrangements, the establishment of a virtual budget and the need for robust scrutiny and control mechanisms. As the intention would be for pooled funds to be fully operational from 2019-2020, he expressed the view that there appeared to be no defined implementation date and that the Council would have to continue to deliver its care services on a day to day basis funded from allocated budgets. He therefore asked “Can assurances be given that current arrangements of allocated funding for County Council run Care Home Provision in Carmarthenshire, and particularly in Llanelli, which run into many millions of pounds, are ring fenced and are not subject to the regional pooling of funds”.

The Executive Board Member for Social Care and Health advised that during 2018/19, the pooled fund would operate as a single reporting arrangement for externally commissioned placements for older adults. The ambition for 2019-20 and beyond was for ‘in-house’ provision to be brought within the scope of the pooled fund arrangement. That would require the establishment of appropriate revenue costs for individual in-house placements. There were currently no plans to consider capital within the pooled fund. On that basis, investment decisions in relation to the provision of in-house accommodation would remain with the local authority. The Council was firmly committed to further capital investment in its current Care Home provision, making sure it fully complimented any new provision, particularly in the Llanelli area.

The Head of Regional collaboration referred to the proposal for the establishment of a virtual  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Executive Board was advised that Council at its meeting held on the 10^th January, 2018 adopted a Notice of Motion “that all care leavers should be exempt from council tax up to the age of 21 (with the discretion of extending the age up to 25 in exceptional circumstances”. In accordance with that decision, the Board considered a report detailing proposals under Section 13A of the Local Government Act 1992 (introduced in 2004) to relieve Care Leavers of their Council Tax liabilty (after any other reliefs or discounts) but without any need for means testing.

The Executive Board was advised that if the report were adopted by the Council, the proposed policy would provide the following three categories of assistance:-

·         Where a care leaver was personally responsible for payment of Council Tax, either exclusively or jointly with another person (for example as a joint tenant or where living with a partner) – the Council Tax liability, net of any other discount or reduction, would be waived in full, leaving nothing to pay;

·         Where a care leaver was not personally liable to pay Council Tax but the person they were living with would be entitled to the 25% Sole Occupier Discount if the care leaver was not living with them. In such situations, the care leaver would be disregarded when counting the number of residents, and a 25% discretionary discount applied to ensure the liable person was not disadvantaged by providing for a care leaver;

·         Where the proposal related to the situation where a care leaver who was previously cared for elsewhere, had moved into Carmarthenshire and was personally liable to pay council tax to this council. It was proposed that where such cases came to the attention of the Council Tax Section, the care leaver’s status would be verified by the Council’s corporate parenting team. A recommendation as to the award of any discount for that individual would then be prepared and submitted for consideration to the Executive Board Member for Resources.

The Executive Board was also advised that whilst the Notice of Motion to Council referred to extending the waiver to care leavers up to the age of 25 in exceptional circumstances, it was also being proposed that, given the very low numbers involved, the policy be applied to all care leavers up to 25 that were still engaged with the corporate parenting team. The overall cost could be accommodated for within the allowance built into the Council Tax Base calculation

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT IT BE RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL THAT it adopt a policy for waiving the Council Tax Liability of Care Leavers aged from 18 up to 25 years of age.

The Executive Board considered a report on changes to the composition of some of its advisory boards following recent changes to the overall political composition of the Council

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

(NOTE: Councillor P.M. Hughes, having earlier declared an interest in this item left the meeting during its consideration by the Executive Board)

The Executive Board considered the Environmental Protection Sections 2017/18 Service Delivery Plan produced in accordance with the requirements of the Food Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Executive for local authorities to produce an annual Service Delivery Plan in the format prescribed in the relevant Framework Agreements. The Plan provided an outline of the Council’s service aims and objectives, including links to corporate objectives and plans, defined its infrastructure, economy and organisational structure together with the scope and demands on Environmental Protection Services.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Environmental Protection Section’s 2017/18 Service Delivery Plan be approved.

THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE BOARD RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item as the report contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 15 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as it would involve the disclosure of exempt information contained in the report which could undermine the Council’s position in subsequent negotiations and adversely impact upon the public purse.

The Executive Board considered a report on proposals for the establishment of a new Hwb Service within Ammanford Town Centre replicating that currently provided within Llanelli Town centre.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the acquisition and development of a town centre building to provide a new Hwb service in Ammanford Town Centre, and the allocation of the necessary revenue and capital resources required, be approved.