Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E. Dole.

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 considered the Council’s draft Annual Report 2015/16 and Improvement Plan (2016/17) which provided information on the Authority’s services and how it was performing.  Under the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure the Authority was required to publish an Improvement Plan as soon as was reasonably practicable after the commencement of the financial year and to publish an Annual Report on past performance by the end of October each year.

The Authority combined these two documents which enabled the previous year’s results to be evaluated and future outcomes to be agreed.  Combining both in a single document was seen as good practice by regulators.

Reference was made to the excellent achievements made by the Authority over the past year. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Council’s Annual Report for 2015/16 and Improvement Plan 2016/17 be approved.

The Committee considered a report summarising the responses received following a consultation exercise undertaken to gather views on the Authority’s proposed new fees structure for Animal Establishments.

Following consideration of the responses it was deemed necessary that, in the instance of home boarding licences, a further review of the fees charged for this category was necessary.  The reason for this decision was the fact that these operators have a maximum number of animals they are allowed to board in their own homes i.e. 5 for dogs and 6 for cats.  Inspections of these properties are far less onerous and time consuming than other licensed establishments.  In many of the other licensed premises there was a sliding scale of fees depending upon the number of animals.

It was therefore proposed that the fees set using the toolkit remain as previously reported for all licensed establishments other than for those who board animals in their own home. For those who board animals in their own home it was proposed that new applicants be charged a licence fee of £242.00 as outlined in the fees toolkit.  For currently licensed establishments and for any renewals it was proposed to reduce this fee by 50% to £121.00 in view of the fact that for an initial application a pre licensing visit is undertaken to ascertain the suitability of the premises which would also necessitate extra initial administration.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the proposed licensing fees for animal establishments be approved for adoption, subject to the amendment of the fees for home boarders.

[NOTE:  Councillor L.D. Evans and G.O. Jones, having earlier declared an interest in this item, left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof.]

The Board was advised that, under the current Premature Retirement and Redundancy Discretionary Compensation Policy for Teachers, those made redundant with five or more years of pensionable service are awarded three added years to their pension entitlement.

These benefits are paid in full by the Local Authority as the “compensating authority” in cases o efficiency or redundancy added years i.e. not funded from the school’s budget.  The discretionary compensation payments are payable by the employer for the life of the pensioner.

Carmarthenshire was the only Welsh Local Authority still awarding added years and it was proposed that the added years be removed from the Premature Retirement and Redundancy Discretionary Compensation Policy for Teachers.  This would bring the policy in line with the Authority’s Discretionary Compensation Policy (Local Government Pension Scheme).

UNANIMOSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the updated Premature Retirement and Redundancy Discretionary Compensation Policy for Teachers be endorsed for adoption.

The Board was advised that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda.

The Executive Board considered a report on the proposal to change the age range of Betws Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years of age and was reminded that at its meeting held on the 28^th July, 2014 (minute 12 refers) it had resolved to formally consult on the proposal.  A formal consultation exercise was undertaken from the 7^th December 2015 to the 29^th January 2016, with the responses thereto detailed within the report.

In April 2016 approval was given by the County Council for the publication of the Statutory Notice.  The Notice provided objectors with 28 days in which to forward their objections in writing to the Council.  The Statutory Notice period ended on 2^nd June, 2016 and no objections were received.

The Executive Board was advised that as this proposal had commenced under the Authority's previous arrangements for determining school organisations, the Executive Board was provided with the opportunity of commenting and recommending to Council whether or not to implement the proposal detailed in the Statutory Notice.  Unfortunately, due to the constricted statutory process it had not been possible to consult with the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee at this stage.  However, at all previous stages the Scrutiny Committee had unanimously resolved to proceed with the proposal to change the age range of Betws Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11.

If Council decided to implement the proposal, the age range of Betws Primary School would change from 4-11 to 3-11 from 1^st January, 2017.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the proposal to change the age range of Betws Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 be implemented, as detailed in the Statutory Notice, effective from 1^st January, 2017.

The Executive Board considered a report on the proposal to change the age range of Bynea Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years of age and was reminded that at its meeting held on the 28^th July, 2014 (minute 12 refers) it had resolved to formally consult on the proposal.  A formal consultation exercise was undertaken from the 7^th December 2015 to the 29^th January 2016, with the responses thereto detailed within the report.

In April 2016 approval was given by the County Council for the publication of the Statutory Notice.  The Notice provided objectors with 28 days in which to forward their objections in writing to the Council.  The Statutory Notice period ended on 2^nd June, 2016 and no objections were received.

The Executive Board was advised that as this proposal had commenced under the Authority's previous arrangements for determining school organisations, the Executive Board was provided with the opportunity of commenting and recommending to Council whether or not to implement the proposal detailed in the Statutory Notice.  Unfortunately, due to the constricted statutory process it had not been possible to consult with the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee at this stage.  However, at all previous stages the Scrutiny Committee had unanimously resolved to proceed with the proposal to change the age range of Bynea Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11.

If Council decided to implement the proposal to change the age range of Bynea Primary School would change from 4-11 to 3-11 from 1^st January, 2017.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the proposal to change the age range of Bynea Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 be implemented, as detailed in the Statutory Notice, effective from 1^st January, 2017.

The Executive Board considered a report on the proposal to change the age range of Pembrey Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years of age and was reminded that at its meeting held on the 28^th July, 2014 (minute 12 refers) it had resolved to formally consult on the proposal.  A formal consultation exercise was undertaken from the 7^th December 2015 to the 29^th January 2016, with the responses thereto detailed within the report.

In April 2016 approval was given by the County Council for the publication of the Statutory Notice.  The Notice provided objectors with 28 days in which to forward their objections in writing to the Council.  The Statutory Notice period ended on 2^nd June, 2016 and no objections were received.

The Executive Board was advised that as this proposal had commenced under the Authority's previous arrangements for determining school organisations, the Executive Board was provided with the opportunity of commenting and recommending to Council whether or not to implement the proposal detailed in the Statutory Notice.  Unfortunately, due to the constricted statutory process it had not been possible to consult with the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee at this stage.  However, at all previous stages the Scrutiny Committee had unanimously resolved to proceed with the proposal to change the age range of Pembrey Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11.

If Council decided to implement the proposal, the age range of Pembrey Primary School would change from 4-11 to 3-11 from 1^st January, 2017.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the proposal to change the age range of Pembrey Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 be implemented, as detailed in the Statutory Notice, effective from 1^st January, 2017.

The Executive Board considered a report on the proposal to change the age range of Pwll Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 years of age and was reminded that at its meeting held on the 28^th July, 2014 (minute 12 refers) it had resolved to formally consult on the proposal.  A formal consultation exercise was undertaken from the 7^th December 2015 to the 29^th January 2016, with the responses thereto detailed within the report.

In April 2016 approval was given by the County Council for the publication of the Statutory Notice.  The Notice provided objectors with 28 days in which to forward their objections in writing to the Council.  The Statutory Notice period ended on 2^nd June, 2016 and no objections were received.

The Executive Board was advised that as this proposal had commenced under the Authority's previous arrangements for determining school organisations, the Executive Board was provided with the opportunity of commenting and recommending to Council whether or not to implement the proposal detailed in the Statutory Notice.  Unfortunately, due to the constricted statutory process it had not been possible to consult with the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee at this stage.  However, at all previous stages the Scrutiny Committee had unanimously resolved to proceed with the proposal to change the age range of Pwll Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11.

If Council decided to implement the proposal, the age range of Pwll Primary School would change from 4-11 to 3-11 from 1^st January, 2017.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the proposal to change the age range of Pwll Primary School from 4-11 to 3-11 be implemented, as detailed in the Statutory Notice, effective from 1^st January, 2017.

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 items as the reports 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 Number 14 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).

The Executive Board considered a report seeking approval for the use of capital receipts to undertake junction improvement works in connection with a key redevelopment scheme.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the use of the specified capital receipts to undertake the junction works detailed in the report be approved.