Agenda and minutes

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

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S.A. Curry, K. Davies, J.S. Edmunds, D.C. Evans, A.D. Harries, C. Jones T.J. Jones, J.G. Prosser, L.M. Stephens and S. Najmi.

 

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor

Minute Number

Nature of Interest

T.A.J. Davies

9. – Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21.

His sister is a Head of Service within Carmarthenshire County Council.

A. Speake    

9. – Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21.

 

He is in receipt of a war disability pension.

S. Allen

10.2 - Modernising Education Programme -Proposal to Change the Nature of Provision at Ysgol Y Ddwylan, Ysgol Griffith Jones, Ysgol Llangynnwr and Ysgol Llys Hywel.

She is an LEA School Governor at Ysgol Llys Hywel.

 

3.

CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair extended his sincere condolences on behalf of Elected Members and Senior Officers to Councillor Tina Higgins and her family on the passing of her husband and also Councillor Ann Davies and her family on the passing of her father.

The Chair extended his congratulations to the following:-

 

·       Mr Nigel James Miller from Kidwelly on being awarded an MBE in the New Years Honour, for services to people with learning difficulties;

 

·       Mr Mark Collins, Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police on being awarded the Queen’s Police Medal;

 

·       Mr Nick Richards-Ozzati from Llangennech on being awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal.

 

·       Angela Hughes, Chief Executive, Wales Air Ambulance on being awarded an OBE for services to Emergency Air Service in Wales.

 

·       Mr John Gwyn Jones who was brought up in Brynaman but had spent over 33 years living and working in South East Asia had received an MBE for services to British Education overseas.

 

·       To Hendy Primary School Choir for winning S4C’s Prynhawn Da annual ‘Carol yr ?yl’ competition.  The Choir entered the competition which was for primary schools in Wales where a member of staff of the school had to compose an original carol.  Hendy Primary school was one of 30 schools to compete in the competition this year, with the 10 best choirs being filmed for the programme. 

 

·       The Chair welcomed Hendy Primary School Choir to the meeting and thanked the teacher, Mrs Sian Lloyd for her work in writing and composing the song.  The Council were afforded the opportunity to listen to the Choir singing the winning song.

 

4.

TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 13TH NOVEMBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 439 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Observations were raised in relation to reference of unanimously stated within the decision of minute numbers 8.2 and 8.4.

 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on the 13th November, 2019 be signed as a correct record, subject to the reference to ‘UNANIMOUSLY’ being removed from minute numbers 8.2 and 8.4.

 

5.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS (NONE RECEIVED).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

 

6.

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS (NONE RECEIVED).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised that no questions from Members had been received.

 

7.

INSIGHT PRESENTATION

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council was informed that a number of pupils from Carmarthenshire Schools had participated at an event which was held at Yr Egin, Carmarthen. The event provided the pupils with an insight into the difficult decisions facing a local authority during budget setting process whilst managing ongoing financial cuts and increasing public demand.

 

This event was held annually, however this year, as the budget proposals were yet to be set, the format had been modified to afford pupils with an opportunity to look at topics, chosen at random and to bring forward recommendations in the role of the Executive Board.  Schools from Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Ysgol Bro Myrddin, QE High, Ysgol Dyffryn Amman, Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Ysgol Coedcae and Ysgol Strade attended the event and provided valuable feedback.

 

The Leader introduced pupils from each of the following schools who, in turn, outlined the presentations they had made at the aforementioned event:

 

  • Maes y Gwendraeth
  • Dyffryn Amman
  • Bro Dinefwr

 

Whereupon the pupils were congratulated on their presentations and thanked for attending.

 

8.

ANNUAL REPORT OF STANDARDS COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 273 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Mr Andre Morgan, Chair of the Standards Committee, who had been invited to present to Council the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for the 2018/19 period.

Mr Morgan thanked the Council for the opportunity of presenting the Annual Report on behalf of the Standards Committee and proceeded to provide an overview of the issues addressed by the Committee during 2018/19. Those included Code of Conduct Complaints, Applications for Dispensation and the Code of Conduct Training for Town and Community Councils.

The Chair thanked Mr Morgan for his presentation and for the work undertaken by the Standards Committee

RESOLVED that the Annual Report of the Standards Committee for the period 1st April, 2018 to 31st March 2019 be received.

 

 

9.

COUNCIL TAX REDUCTION SCHEME 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

[NOTE:

  • Councillor T.A.J. Davies, had earlier declared an interest in this item but remained in the Chamber.
  • Councillor A. Speake, had earlier declared an interest in this item and left the Chamber prior to the consideration thereof.]

 

The Council considered a report on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2020/21 and was advised that in 2013, the Westminster Government replaced the national Council Tax Benefit Scheme with a localised scheme. It was reported that whilst in England, councils operated their own individual schemes, the position in Wales was different with responsibility having been devolved to the Welsh Government and an all-Wales scheme developed, which had been in place since that time. Although the scheme had been established on an all-Wales Basis, each Welsh local authority was required by prescribed Requirements Regulations to formally adopt a Council Tax Reduction Scheme by 31st January each year.

 

The Executive Board Member for Resources reminded members that although it was a single all-Wales scheme, local authorities had to re-adopt the scheme annually if they wished to take advantage of the limited discretionary powers they had to vary the standard scheme in respect of the three areas outlined in the report.

 

Furthermore, since the scheme’s introduction, Carmarthenshire had, in common with most Welsh Authorities, used its discretionary powers and fully disregarded any Disablement Pensions, War Widows Pensions and similar payments when calculating entitlement. Therefore, it was highlighted that by accepting the recommendations contained in the report, Carmarthenshire would continue to disregard those payments.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that for 2020/21 the Council:

 

9.1

Formally adopts the standard all-Wales Council Tax Reduction Scheme provided for in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes and Prescribed Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2013;

 

9.2

Implements the annual up-rating figures (used in entitlement calculations) and other technical amendments included in the Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements and Default Scheme) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2019, due to come into effect in the January 2020;

 

9.3

Continues to exercise its discretion with regard to the limited discretionary elements of the prescribed scheme as outline in the report’s Executive Summary.

 

10.

TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:-

Additional documents:

10.1

MODERNISING EDUCATION PROGRAMME PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF PROVISION AT YSGOL RHYS PRICHARD pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council was informed that the Executive Board at its meeting held on the 2nd December, 2019 (Minute 5 refers) had considered a report on the outcome of the Statutory Consultation undertaken by the Council on its proposal to change the nature of provision at Ysgol Rhys Prichard to Welsh medium.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

that the proposal to change the nature of provision at Ysgol Rhys Prichard to Welsh medium, as laid out in the Statutory Notice be implemented.”.

 

10.2

MODERNISING EDUCATION PROGRAMME PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF PROVISION AT YSGOL Y DDWYLAN, YSGOL GRIFFITH JONES, YSGOL LLANGYNNWR AND YSGOL LLYS HYWEL pdf icon PDF 209 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(NOTE: Councillor S. Allen declared an interest in this item and remained in the Council Chamber during its consideration by the Council).

 

The Council was informed that the Executive Board at its meeting held on the 2nd December, 2019 (Minute 6 refers) had considered a report on the outcome of the Statutory Consultation undertaken by the Council on its proposal to change the nature of Foundation Phase provision at Ysgol y Ddwylan, Ysgol Griffith Jones, Ysgol Llangynnor, Ysgol Llys Hywel from dual stream to Welsh medium.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

that the proposal to change the nature of provision of Foundation Phase provision Ysgol y Ddwylan from dual stream to Welsh medium, as laid out in the Statutory Notice be implemented from 1st September 2020.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

that the proposal to change the nature of provision of Foundation Phase provision Ysgol Griffith Jones, from dual stream to Welsh medium, as laid out in the Statutory Notice be implemented from 1st September 2020.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

that the proposal to change the nature of provision of Foundation Phase provision Ysgol Llangynnor, from dual stream to Welsh medium, as laid out in the Statutory Notice be implemented from 1st September 2020.

 

RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

that the proposal to change the nature of provision of Foundation Phase provision Ysgol Llys Hywel, from dual stream to Welsh medium, as laid out in the Statutory Notice be implemented from 1st September 2020.

 

11.

TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HELD ON THE:-

Additional documents:

11.1

18TH NOVEMBER 2019; pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 18th November, 2019 be received.

 

11.2

2ND DECEMBER 2019; pdf icon PDF 217 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 2nd December, 2019 be received.

 

11.3

16TH DECEMBER 2019 pdf icon PDF 327 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 16th December, 2019 be received.

 

12.

TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule CPR 2(2)(n) and following the receipt of nominations from the relevant political groups it was:

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

 

</AI17>

<AI18>

12.1   the nomination of Councillor Deryk Cundy to replace Councillor Rob Evans, as one of the Labour Group’s representatives on the Dyfed Pension Fund Committee be approved;

 

</AI18>

<AI19>

</AI19>

<AI20>

12.2   the nomination of Councillor Alan Speake to replace Councillor Aled Vaughan Owen, as one of the Plaid Cymru Group representatives on the Community Scrutiny Committee be approved.

 

 

 

Council & Democracy

The Council

Councillors, AMs and MPs

Council departments

Have your say

Committees & Meetings

Strategies and plans