Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

No declarations of personal interest were made at the meeting.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 23^RD August, 2016 be signed as a correct record.

The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members.  However, he had received notification from Councillor D.M. Cundy that he would like to ask a question in relation to agenda item 6 and this would be addressed under the appropriate item later in the meeting.

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

The Executive Board was advised that Section 85 of the Schools Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act requires Local Authorities to prepare and submit a Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) to the Welsh Government for approval.

WESPs detail how Local Authorities aim to achieve the Welsh Government’s outcomes and targets as outlined in the Welsh Medium Education Strategy.  WESPs are 3 year plans and Local Authorities are required to review and submit a revised WESP to the Welsh Government on an annual basis.

The Board considered a report detailing officers’ responses to comments received following consultation on the review of Carmarthenshire’s 2016/17 WESP.

Councillor D.M. Cundy, in accordance with CPR 11.1, asked whether it would be possible for the Executive Board to recommend to Full Council or to a working party to investigate a methodology on how this policy is implemented in law so that it is acceptable for all, allows for a more community inclusive transition of dual stream schools to welsh medium and does not exclude children with special needs or educational difficulties.

The Executive Board Member for Education & Children advised that he had received a consultative document from the Welsh Government regarding the intention to have 1m welsh speakers by 2050.  The document outlined priorities for achieving this target and referred to the need to see a significant increase in the number of people receiving Welsh medium education and who have Welsh language skills as it was only through enabling more people to learn Welsh that the target of 1m speakers will be reached.  An extensive consultation exercise was planned which would provide everyone with an opportunity to put forward their views.  He pointed out that Carmarthenshire has a Welsh in Education Strategic Plan and a Welsh Language in Education Forum which monitors the situation and he therefore queried the need for another panel.    

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to accept the revised Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

The Executive Board considered the draft Policy on the Internal Use of the Welsh Language.  The Welsh Language Measure (2011) placed a statutory responsibility on the Authority to prepare and publish this policy, which aimed to promote and facilitate the use of the language in our day to day work and in our workplace.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Policy on the Internal Use of the Welsh Language be endorsed.

The Executive Board considered the draft Breach Reporting and Response Policy, which had been revised following advice received from the Information Commissioner’s Office.  The draft policy strengthens the Authority’s ability to respond properly to data security breaches involving the loss or accidental disclosure of personal information. 

As a data controller, the Authority is required by law to have in place the appropriate organisational measures with regard to the security of the personal information it handles, which includes having suitable policies in force.

Reference was made to point 3.3 of the policy and it was felt that the word “occurring” at the end of the first sentence should be replace with the word “discovered”.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Breach Reporting and Response Policy be endorsed, subject to the inclusion of the above-mentioned amendment.

The Executive Board considered a report outlining the current understanding of the Brexit vote and the potential implications on the level of European funding received by the county as well as steps being taken to mitigate the immediate impact on Carmarthenshire.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

9.1     that the report be received;

9.2     that the Authority continues to put pressure on the Welsh and UK governments to ensure accelerated spend and continued investment post Brexit;

9.3     to support the WLGA in lobbying for a guaranteed funding commitment from the UK government to meet any shortfall in the European funding allocated to Wales up until the end of the current programming period i.e. 2020;

9.4     that current projects be progressed in order to accelerate their delivery.

The Executive Board considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided an update on the latest budgetary position as at 30^th June, 2016 in respect of the 2016/17 financial year.

Overall the report forecast an end of year overspend of £1,854k on the Authority’s net revenue budget with an overspend at departmental level of £2,710k. The Housing Revenue Account was forecasting an underspend of £404k.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

12.1    that the budget monitoring report be received;

12.2   that Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review their budgetary positions and implement appropriate actions to deliver their services within their allocated budgets.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The Executive Board considered a report providing an update on the capital programme spend against budget for 2016/17 as at the 30^th June, 2016.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

11.1    that the capital programme update report be received;

11.2    that the virements outlined within the report be approved.

THE REPORT RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS IT CONTAINS EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPHS 14 & 17 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 THIS ITEM 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 paragraphs 14 and 17 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 Number 13 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as it would involve the disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and information that reveals that the Authority proposed to make an order or direction under any enactment.

The Executive Board considered a report providing an update and detailing proposals in relation to the Carmarthen West Link Road.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the recommendations, as detailed within the report, be endorsed.