Agenda and minutes

Venue: Chamber - County Hall, Carmarthen. SA31 1JP. View directions

Contact: Kevin Thomas  01267 224027

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor L.M. Stephens

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of personal interest.

3.

TO SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HELD ON THE 20TH JANUARY 2020 pdf icon PDF 331 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 20th January, 2020 be signed as a correct record.

4.

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE BY MEMBERS

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Minutes:

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

5.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

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Minutes:

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

 

 

 

6.

CWM ENVIRONMENTAL LTD LOAN FUNDING REQUIREMENT pdf icon PDF 466 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board considered a report on a request received from CWM Environmental Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary company of the authority) for an £800k loan from the authority to fund the cost of:

 

1.     Relocating its existing offices from Alltycnap Road, Johnstown to its Nantycaws site;

2.     surrendering the lease of the Alltycnap Offices - due to expire in May, 2020;

3.     Acquiring the freehold of an additional 58 acres of land immediately adjoining the Nantycaws Site, to secure the land for the company’s future development.

 

The Board was advised of the terms of the proposed loan, as detailed in the report, which had been supported by both the company’s Board of Directors and the Shareholders Board.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT IT BE RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL THAT it agrees to the granting of a loan to CWM Environmental Ltd subject to the following terms:

 

1.

The total loan to be in the sum of £800k;

2.

The duration of the loan arrangement is to be 10 years in relation to the land acquisition cost and 5 years for the buildings related cost;

3.

Interest on the loan to be charged at 1% above the rate set by the Public Works Loan Board for 10 and 5 years respectively reflecting the security that would be available to the Council;

4.

The funding facility to be operated on a draw-down arrangement – funds only drawn when required;

5.

Approval of the release of the funding to be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services in conjunction with the Executive Board Member for Resources, with the facility to be administered as follows:-

a)    Release of funding only when:

i)                Approved by the Company Board and endorsed by the CWM Environmental Ltd Shareholder Group;

ii)              The Director of Corporate Services was satisfied the loan repayments were provided for within the Company’s Business Plan and were affordable

b)    The conclusion of the detailed loan agreement to be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services

 

7.

REDEVELOPMENT OF ORIEL MYRDDIN GALLERY pdf icon PDF 866 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board considered a report on proposals for the redevelopment of the Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Carmarthen to be jointly funded with the aid of £1m conditional grant offer made by the Arts Council for Wales together with a capital input from the County Council, with the actual cost being dependent upon the chosen redevelopment option. The following four options were presented for the Board’s consideration:-

 

1.     Progress with the existing RIBA stage 3 design, the preferred option – Council capital funding contribution of £890k;

2.     Co-locate with the Carmarthen Hwb in the existing building – Council Capital funding contribution of £890k;

3.     Co-locate with the Carmarthen Hwb on King Street through the purchase/Lease of adjacent buildings to provide the required space – Council capital funding contribution of £1.640m;

4.     Maintain the Status Quo – Council funding of £100k undertaking essential maintenance works.

 

The Executive Board was advised that if it was minded to approve redevelopment proposals for the Gallery, that approval would be subject to the Council allocating funding to the scheme at its budget meeting to be held on the 3rd March 2020

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Council proceed with the redevelopment of the Oriel Myrddin Gallery on the basis of Option 1, subject to the Council allocating funding to the scheme at its budget meeting to be held on the 3rd March 2020.

 

 

8.

NET ZERO CARBON PLAN pdf icon PDF 497 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board was reminded that Council at its meeting held on the 20th February, 2019, had adopted the following Notice of Motion to:

 

1.     Declare a climate emergency,

2.     commit to becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030,

3.     develop a clear plan for a route towards being net zero carbon within twelve months,

4.     call on Welsh and U.K. Governments to provide the necessary support and resources to enable effective carbon reductions,

5.     work with the Public Services Board and Swansea Bay City Deal Partners to develop exciting opportunities to deliver carbon savings,

6.     collaborate with experts from the private sector and 3rd sectors to develop innovative solutions to becoming net zero carbon.

 

In accordance with the Council’s resolution, the Executive Board considered a report setting out a route towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030.

 

The Executive Board noted that the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on the 15th November, 2019 had recommended the Executive Board endorse the plan.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT:-

 

8.1

The Net Zero Carbon Plan outlining a route towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 be adopted,

8.2

Delegated authority be granted to Officers to make typographical or factual amendments as necessary to improve the clarity and accuracy of the Net Zero Carbon Plan.

 

9.

MODERNISING EDUCATION PROGRAMME (MEP) APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT FEDERATION PROPOSALS (LOCAL AUTHORITY LED) pdf icon PDF 399 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board considered a report detailing proposals on the introduction of a process for the determination of school Federation proposals. (Local Authority led proposals) and, in particular, delegating that determination to the Executive Board Member for Education and Children.

 

The Board was advised that the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting held on the 23rd January, 2020, had recommended the determination of the outcome of federation proposals should be undertaken by the Executive Board and not by the Executive Board Member for Education and Children.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the approval for the implementation of School Federation Proposals (Local Authority Led) be delegated to the Executive Board Member for Education and Children.

10.

(DRAFT) CARMARTHENSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL STRATEGIC EQUALITY PLAN 2020-2024 pdf icon PDF 418 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board considered the Council’s Draft Strategic Equality Plan 2020-24, produced in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 that included a new Public Sector Duty, replacing the separate duties on race, disabilities and gender equality. It was noted that the General Duty of the Act covered the undermentioned protected characteristics, with its aim being to ensure public authorities and those carrying out a public function considered how they could positively contribute to a fairer society through advancing equality and good relations in their day-to-day activities:-

 

·       Age

·       Disability

·       Gender reassignment

·       Marriage and civil partnership

·       Pregnancy and maternity

·       Race

·       Religion or belief

·       Sex

·       Sexual Orientation

 

The General Duty was compatible with the requirements of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, with equality and cohesion featuring strongly as two of the seven well-being goals.

 

The Board noted the Plan had been endorsed by the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on the 27th January.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT IT:

 

10.1

Approved the (Draft) Strategic Equality Plan for implementation from April 2020;

10.2

Agreed to the (Draft) Strategic Quality Objectives and the development of a detailed action plan to underpin those Objectives;

10.3

Agreed to further engagement with external partners and stakeholders at two events hosted by the Equality Carmarthenshire forum, which brings together organisations and individuals representing the protected groups

 

11.

SCHOOL TRANSPORT REVIEW ADVISORY PANEL pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Board, was reminded that at its meeting held on the 20th January, 2020 it had agreed to establish School Transport Advisory Panel comprising the Executive Board Member for Environment together with 6 members on a cross party basis. In accordance with that decision, the Board considered a report on the Panel’s proposed Terms of Reference together with the following proposed membership, as nominated by the Council’s political groups:-

 

Plaid Cymru Group (3)

Councillors Mansel Charles, Ann Davies, Ken Howell.

 

Labour Group (1)

Councillor Dot Jones

 

Independent Group (1)

Councillor Irfon Jones

 

New Independent Group (1)

Councillor Louvain Roberts

 

Cllr D Cundy, in accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule 11 referred to the cross party membership of the School Transport Advisory Panel and asked whether it should not comprise 2 members from each political group and its meetings webcast in the spirit of honesty, openness and transparency.

 

The Executive Board Member for Environment reminded the Board of the change in government legislation which had resulted in the current situation. She confirmed the proposed membership of the Advisory Panel was cross party, with representatives from each of the council’s political parties. Whilst meetings of the Advisory Panel were not public meetings, and there were no plans for them to be webcast, its recommendations would be presented to the Executive Board, meetings of which were webcast

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference and membership of the cross party School Transport Advisory Panel be approved.

12.

ANY OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS THAT BY REASONS OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE CHAIR DECIDES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS A MATTER OF URGENCY PURSUANT TO SECTION 100B(4)(B) OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1972.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

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