Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daff Davies, Andrew James, Winston Lemon, Alan Speake and Keri Thomas.

There were no declarations of party whips.

No public questions were received.

RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting on Monday 11th January 2016, be noted.

The Committee considered the Revenue Budget Strategy 2016/17 to 2018/19 (Appendix A) which had been endorsed by the Executive Board for consultation purposes at its meeting on 16th November 2015. The Interim Head of Financial Services advised that Welsh Government had announced the provisional settlement earlier that week (9th December) and that Carmarthenshire would see a 1% cut in budget rather than the 3.3% on which the Strategy was based. Whilst the settlement would mean an extra £7.5m for Carmarthenshire, most of this additional funding would be allocated to cover other requirements such the shortfall in efficiency savings and the recently agreed Employees Pay Offer. He added that the extent of the Welsh Government’s protection of schools budgets was as yet unclear, even though the Council’s strategy had been based on there being no protection of school budgets. The Director of Environment and the Public Health Services Manager also gave a brief overview of their respective service areas.

The following issues were discussed during consideration of the report:

Reference was made to the Welsh Government’s settlement announcement and it was asked whether the figures outlined in the budget strategy would change and if so, would this not make consideration of the report irrelevant. The Interim Head of Financial Services strongly advised the Committee to consider and comment on the proposed efficiency savings and charging digests as delivery of the identified savings was essential and these would need to be confirmed early in the New Year. Deferring the report would not allow sufficient time for this.

Reference was made to the Environment Department’s Policy & Performance Division and it was asked whether this, as an administrative function costing in excess of £900,000, should also be bearing significant efficiency savings when front-line services were being reduced or cut. The Director of Environment reminded the Committee that in order for the department to operate successfully, there would always be a need for a back-office function. However, there were always opportunities to make such functions more efficient and that this would be looked at as part of other corporate initiatives to rationalise back-office services, systems and infrastructure. 

It was suggested that there was a dichotomy between the information presented in the report relating to public lighting and the information provided to members at the Environment departmental budget session earlier in the week. It was claimed that whilst the report stated that the proposal was to reduce operating costs without turning lights off, the information at the seminar indicated that the savings might not be achieved and would result in total shut-off of the public lighting system. The Street-Scene Manager clarified that the Welsh Government Invest to Save funding would be used to install LED lighting and timers for part-night illumination during the first two years. The scheme would then be evaluated to assess the extent of its success against expected outcomes. The Director of Environment added that the business case had been developed on the basis that the savings would be realised but an evaluation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Committee considered the Review of locally set fees in relation to the Environmental Health and Licensing Section which included stakeholders views on the proposed fees. The Public Health Services Manager informed the Committee that following its consideration by elected members, the proposed hackney carriage and private hire fees (outlined in Appendix 1) would be advertised for a period of 28 days, as required by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for persons to submit objections. However, she noted that whilst the recommendations outlined in the report were that the new fees be implemented immediately, the political consultation process and period of advertisment would last until the end of March and therefore, it would be preferential for the fees to commence from the 1st April 2016 at the start of the new financial year. The Committee agreed to this proposal. 

It was suggested that proposed increase in charges associated with processing stray dogs contradicted the comments made in the executive summary which suggested that higher charges were in fact deterring owners in neighbouring counties from retrieving their dogs. The Public Health Services Manager informed the Committee that the increase in the charges was being proposed to reflect the dog wardens’ costs as well as kennelling costs. It was then proposed and seconded that the ‘first/part day’ charge fee for processing stray dogs should remain at £60 rather than being increased to £80. Following a vote, the motion was defeated.

It was asked why there was such a significant increase in the charges for safety inspections at sports grounds, from no current fee to a proposed charge of £930. The Public Health Services Manager informed the committee that the legislation relating to this charge only applied to the county’s largest sports grounds/facilities (with capacities of 500+) of which there were three: Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, Richmond Park in Carmarthen and the Ffos Las Racecourse. The proposed charge had been calculated utilising the relevant fees toolkit. 

The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Executive Board that:

7.1       The proposed hackney carriage and private hire fees in Appendix 1 be advertised for a period of 28 days as required by the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for persons to submit objections. Where there are no objections, the fees shall be implemented from the 1st April 2016.

7.2       The remainder of the fees in Appendix 1 be advertised for a period of 28 days and that the reviewed fees be implemented from the 1st April 2016.

Cllr. J.P. Jenkins declared and interest in that he works in the gambling industry.

The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to Executive Board that the amended

Gambling Policy be approved.

The Committee considered the Review of Statement of Licensing Policy noting that the revised Licensing Policy document reflected the results of the consultation and review process. The Public Health Services Manager informed the Committee that sufficient evidence had been provided to justify retaining a Cumulative Impact Policy in relation to Station Road, Llanelli but that the responses received to the consultation justified the formulation of specific proposals for the adoption of a similar Cumulative Impact Policy for Lammas Street, Carmarthen and that a further consultation exercise would be required to look specifically at whether such a cumulative impact policy should be adopted.

The Committee therefore RESOLVED that:

9.1       The report be received.

9.2       The amended Statement of Licensing Policy be approved for consideration by the Executive Board.

9.3       The existing Cumulative Impact Policy be retained for Station Road Llanelli as detailed in Section 10 of the attached policy.

9.4       Further evidence be gathered in relation to the possible adoption of a Cumulative Impact Policy for Lammas Street, Carmarthen as a result of responses to the consultation exercise.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the reason for the non-submission of the Capital Programme Budget Setting 2016/17 – 2020/21 report, be noted.