Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P. Hughes.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 1^st July, 2019 be signed as a correct record.

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

Dywedodd y Cadeirydd nad oedd dim cwestiynau â rhybudd wedi dod i law gan y cyhoedd.

The Executive Board considered a report which set out a plan to deliver over 900 new Council homes over the next 10 years. The report outlined when and where the new homes would be built, the resources available and the delivery models that will be used. It also outlined how the plan would support regeneration priorities across the County. The Board was advised that the plan would deliver the greatest increase in the number of Council homes since the 1970’s and return stock levels to those last seen in the 1990’s.  The plan will be funded by a £53m investment from the HRA and external grant funding.  The plan will greatly improve the health and wellbeing of Carmarthenshire’s residents, improve the local economy and create employment and training opportunities for local people in the most deprived areas.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNCIL

6.1.      to re-affirm the key delivery principles for the Council new build             programme, aligning with our successful Affordable Homes             Delivery Plan;

6.2.      to agree the range of delivery models that will be used to build   over 900 new Council homes, enabling us to offer a variety of housing options in different areas of the County;

6.3.      to confirm that the new Council homes will be delivered using the             affordable housing action areas developed as part of the             Affordable Homes Delivery Plan;

6.4.      to agree the priority phasing structure to be used to determine             when the new build sites will be developed;

6.5.      to confirm the criteria to be used to move developments from             Phase B and Phase C into Phase A;

6.6.      to agree the first three year delivery programme for building new             Council homes in the county, investing over £53m and creating             over 300 new Council homes.

The Executive Board considered the Digital Transformation Strategy & Digital Technology Strategy – Annual Report 2019.

It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Digital Transformation Strategy & Digital Technology Strategy – Annual Report 2019 be noted.

The Executive Board considered the Annual Report on the Welsh Language and noted that it was a statutory requirement to report on how the Council implements the Welsh language Standards. An audit had been undertaken which indicated a marked increase in the increase in the number of Welsh speakers at levels three, four and five.

It was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the annual report in relation to the Welsh language and compliance with the Welsh language Standards during 2018-19 be received

The Executive Board Member considered the Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report 2018-19 and noted that the Council has a statutory responsibility to produce this report, in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. Significant improvements have been made in relation to disability, where partnerships have been built with local services. It was noted that the Authority is working closely with Stonewall Cymru to strengthen its monitoring in relevant areas.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Strategic Equality Plan Annual Report for 2018-19 be approved.

The Executive Board considered a report on a proposed Premature and Hospitalised Baby – Pay and Leave Scheme, which aimed to support employees during a very difficult and challenging time.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Premature and Hospitalised Baby – Pay and Leave Scheme be adopted.

The Executive Board considered a report outlining a proposal to delegate responsibility for land held in trust by the Authority to an Independent Panel. The plot of land was adjacent to Pembrey School and had been identified in the Modernising Education Programme as being suitable for development.  However, there was a conflict of interest as the land in question was held in trust by the Authority and in order to resolve the situation, responsibility would be delegated to an Independent Panel.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

11.1    The Executive Board, in its capacity as trustees, delegates its           responsibilities by allowing officers to set up an Independent           Panel to advise the Executive Board in relation to this and any           other trust;

11.2    That Independent Panel members be paid the standard           Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’s rates for co-opted           members;

11.3    That the Executive Board, in delegating its powers, agrees for the           Independent Panel to carry out its own investigations in relation           to the trust that owns the land to which this report relates;

11.4    That the Independent Panel report to the Executive Board with its           recommendations at the end of its investigations;

11.5    That, in the best and sole interest of the trust, the Executive Board            resolves whether to accept or reject the recommendations in any           such report received from the Independent Panel.

The Executive Board considered the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report 2018/19, which had been produced in order to comply with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management in the Public Sector.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report 2018/19 be received.

The Executive Board considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the year-end financial position for the 2018/19 financial year.

The final outturn figures indicated an under-spend for the year at departmental level of £1.3m variance, with overspends in the Communities Department (£549k) and the Department for Education and Children (£747k). 

The main adverse variances for the Department for Education and Children related to school based EVR and redundancy costs, Special Educational Needs provision, Education Other Than At School and the Music Service.  Within the Communities Department the significant variances were within residential and domiciliary care and support for older people and people with physical disabilities. 

It was noted that the Housing Revenue had a slight underspend of £43k.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the budget monitoring report be received.

The Executive Board considered a report providing an update on the final budgetary position for the 2018/19 capital programme as at the year end. The capital programme showed a variance of -£8.056m which would be re-profiled across future years of the programme.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the capital programme update report be received.

The Executive Board considered a report detailing the current financial outlook and providing an update on the financial model covering the next three financial years.  The report outlined proposals for taking forward the budget preparation for the three year period 2020/21 to 2022/23.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

15.1    that the initial budget outlook be received;

15.2    that the proposed approach to identifying the required savings be           endorsed;

15.3    that the proposed approach to the budget consultation be           endorsed.

The Executive Board received a report evaluating the flooding as a result of Storm Callum. The report conformed to a statutory requirement for  Carmarthenshire as a Lead Local Flood Authority.

The Executive Board Member for Environment thanked all the officers involved for their hard work in response to Storm Callum.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

16.1 to agree and endorse the 55 recommendations/actions set out in      the report as a result of the investigations undertaken, as detailed      in the S19 Actions document;  

16.2 that the Leader approach NRW through the PSB with a request      that they attend the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny      Committee to update the Authority on their relevant      recommendations within the report;

16.3 that the Leader write to Leslie Griffiths AM noting the Authority’s      disappointment at the response of NRW.

The Executive Board considered the Flood Risk Management Plan.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the plan be agreed and accepted as a working strategy document for flood management and prioritisation purposes relating to assets owned or under the control of Carmarthenshire County Council.

The Executive Board considered a report outlining measures required to meet the Welsh Government statutory recycling target of 64%. If the target is not met the Authority could face fines of £164,000 for every 1% below target.  The Board was advised that every 1% fine would be the equivalent cost of 3.5 teachers or 6.6 domiciliary care workers.  Further pilot and educational schemes were also in place to help reach the target.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

18.1 to adopt and approve the Restricted Residual Policy 

·       3 residual sack/black bag kerbside limit

·       residual sack/black bag engagement and sorting at HWRCs

18.2 review the policy in 12 months.

The Executive Board considered the Local Toilet Strategy and responses received to the Draft Local Toilets Strategy consultation.  The report contained reference to changing places facilities which aimed to increase the provision for people with individual and/or multiple disabilities who need adapted toilet facilities and it was noted that work was being done at present to increase the number of such facilities available.

The Executive Board noted the request from the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee, that a representative from the committee should attend the Toilet Strategy Study Group. However the Board advised that the Study Group should remain an officer led group. Updates from the group should be presented to the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee as required.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Carmarthenshire County Council’s Local Toilets Strategy be endorsed.

[NOTE:  Councillor P. Hughes-Griffiths had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Board considered a report detailing the proposed transfer of the management and maintenance of land as a recreational area following completion of the Wetlands/Y Morfa recreational scheme.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to grant a 99 year lease of the Monument Grazing Land, Picton Terrace Allotments and Wetlands, Carmarthen to Carmarthen Town Council at a peppercorn rent.

The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business to be considered.