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:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Davies, D. Harries, T. Higgins, G. John, C. Jones and A. Speake.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor

Minute Number

Nature of Interest

P.M. Hughes

11- Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillor Ken Lloyd

Could be a potential supplier

E. Dole

11- Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillor Ken Lloyd

Mother receives Meals on Wheels Service

K. Madge

11- Notice of Motion Submitted by Councillor Ken Lloyd

Daughter works in Social Care

 

3.

CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair reminded members of his forthcoming Charity Concert to be held in Bronwydd Hall on Friday, 4th May, 2018.

 

The Chair congratulated four young girls from Carmarthenshire who were part of the Welsh Baton Twirling Team which competed at the recent World Championships held in Norway

 

Condolences were extended to Councillor Gareth Thomas and his family following the death of his mother.

 

Appreciation was extended to all those involved in the recent Carmarthenshire Cultural Event held to celebrate the County’s cultural heritage

 

Congratulations were extended to:

·        Carol Thomas from Dryslwyn who was recently awarded her 50th Welsh Rugby Cap.

·        Bynea under 15 Rugby Football Team for winning the Carmarthenshire Plate

·        Llanelli Town Council, Carmarthen Town Council  and Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council on receiving awards/commendations at the recent One Voice Wales Innovative Practice Awards.

4.

TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:

Additional documents:

4.1

21ST FEBRUARY, 2018; pdf icon PDF 284 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 21st February, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

4.2

7TH MARCH, 2018. pdf icon PDF 323 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 7th March, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

5.

TO CONSIDER NOMINATIONS FOR THE CHAIR OF COUNCIL FOR THE 2018/2019 MUNICIPAL YEAR

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Mansel Charles be nominated Chair Elect of Carmarthenshire County Council for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

6.

TO CONSIDER NOMINATIONS FOR THE VICE-CHAIR OF COUNCIL FOR THE 2018/2019 MUNICIPAL YEAR

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Kevin Madge be nominated Vice-Chair Elect of Carmarthenshire County Council for the 2018/19 Municipal Year.

7.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS (NONE RECEIVED).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

8.

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS (NONE RECEIVED)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

9.

NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR LIAM BOWEN

“I am submitting a notice of motion requesting that Carmarthenshire County Council creates and supports plastic-free schemes across the County.

 

These Plastic Free campaigns stem from a wider Surfers Against Sewage “Plastic Free Coastlines” campaign against single-use plastics, i.e. plastics we use once and throw away, such as plastic cutlery, drinks bottles and polystyrene takeaway boxes.   Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation charity in Cornwall that aims to protect oceans, seas and beaches.

 

Single-use plastic is a great threat to our natural environment. There are approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic pollution in the natural environment. This weighs 269,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to 1345 adult blue whales. It is estimated that at least 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans every day. A plastic bottle can last up to 450 years in the marine environment and more than 150 bottles can be found on every mile of beach in the United Kingdom. If that does not give you an idea of the scale of the problem, a third of fish caught for food now contain plastic. Plastic is even reaching our food chain.

 

Therefore, I call on Carmarthenshire County Council to:

1.     Reduce single-use plastics in Council buildings and offices including banning plastic cups and straws;

2.     Encourage businesses, organisations, schools and local communities to stop using single-use plastics and to start to use sustainable materials;

3.     Promote the use of sustainable materials instead of single-use plastics at all events supported by the Council;

4.     Support beach cleans and any other events designed to raise awareness of issues relating to single-use plastics under "plastic free” schemes.”

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Liam Bowen:-

 

““I am submitting a notice of motion requesting that Carmarthenshire County Council creates and supports plastic-free schemes across the County.

 

These Plastic Free campaigns stem from a wider Surfers Against Sewage “Plastic Free Coastlines” campaign against single-use plastics, i.e. plastics we use once and throw away, such as plastic cutlery, drinks bottles and polystyrene takeaway boxes.   Surfers Against Sewage is a marine conservation charity in Cornwall that aims to protect oceans, seas and beaches.

 

Single-use plastic is a great threat to our natural environment. There are approximately 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic pollution in the natural environment. This weighs 269,000 tonnes. This is equivalent to 1345 adult blue whales. It is estimated that at least 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans every day. A plastic bottle can last up to 450 years in the marine environment and more than 150 bottles can be found on every mile of beach in the United Kingdom. If that does not give you an idea of the scale of the problem, a third of fish caught for food now contain plastic. Plastic is even reaching our food chain.

 

Therefore, I call on Carmarthenshire County Council to:

1.     Reduce single-use plastics in Council buildings and offices including banning plastic cups and straws;

2.     Encourage businesses, organisations, schools and local communities to stop using single-use plastics and to start to use sustainable materials;

3.     Promote the use of sustainable materials instead of single-use plastics at all events supported by the Council;

4.      Support beach cleans and any other events designed to raise awareness of issues”.

 

The motion was duly seconded

 

The proposer and seconder of the Motion were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Motion.

 

A number of statements were made in support of the Motion.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Motion be supported.

10.

NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR ROB JAMES

“I call on the Executive Board to introduce an e-petition page on the Council website similar to that used by National Assembly for Wales and Parliament.”

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Rob James:-

 

“I call on the Executive Board to introduce an e-petition page on the Council website similar to that used by National Assembly for Wales and Parliament”.

 

The Motion was duly seconded.

 

The proposer and seconder of the Motion were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Motion.

 

A number of statements were made both in support of and against the Motion with Council being reminded that at its meeting held on the 17th June, 2015 it had accepted the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Working Group with recommendation 23 thereof relating to on-line petitions. Council was advised of electronic software difficulties currently preventing the introduction of a bi-lingual on-line petition facility and that representations would be made to the Council’s software suppliers to facilitate its early introduction.

 

The Chief Executive advised whilst the Council’s Corporate Procedure Rules allowed for the submission of petitions, its policies and procedures in place with regard thereto would need to be reviewed to cater for on-line petitions.

 

RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion be not supported.

11.

NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR KEN LLOYD

“In light of the recent notice by the RVS to withdraw its Meals on Wheels provision of around 60,000 meals per annum to approximately 214 residents of Carmarthenshire, I call on the Executive Board to explore ways of minimising the impact of this withdrawal, after full consultation with users, carers and other interested parties. Following such consultation, to bring proposals to this Council that will reassure members that all steps are being taken to ensure that there will be no diminution of the nutritional and social elements of this vital lifeline service going forward.”

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(NOTE: Councillors E. Dole and P.M. Hughes having earlier declared interests in this matter left the Council Chamber during its consideration and took no part in its determination).

 

Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Ken Lloyd:-

 

“In light of the recent notice by the RVS to withdraw its Meals on Wheels provision of around 60,000 meals per annum to approximately 214 residents of Carmarthenshire, I call on the Executive Board to explore ways of minimising the impact of this withdrawal, after full consultation with users, carers and other interested parties. Following such consultation, to bring proposals to this Council that will reassure members that all steps are being taken to ensure that there will be no diminution of the nutritional and social elements of this vital lifeline service going forward.”

 

The Motion was duly seconded

 

The proposer and seconder of the Motion were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the motion.

 

A number of statements were made in support of the Motion.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Motion be supported.

 

12.

NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY COUNCILLOR JEFF EDMUNDS

“We are all encouraged and support the plans to build new homes in the Carmarthenshire area and the vehicle to drive this initiative is the formation of the Local Housing Company.

 

Associated with this programme is the creation of jobs and apprenticeships that will as a consequence promote growth within the local economy. I’m sure that we all agree to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency employed in the construction and delivery of our new homes and build programme.

 

To this end we must satisfy ourselves that the approach we take will maximise all the benefit that can be driven to both support the creation of new homes and growth within our local economy. Therefore we ask the Executive Board to explore the possibility of creating our own workforce to be employed in the design and build of these properties as we feel this will add value to the whole concept. We can work in collaboration with Coleg Sir Gar on an apprenticeship programme going forward that will provide for a skilled workforce with job security for the foreseeable future.”

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Jeff Edmunds:-

 

“We are all encouraged and support the plans to build new homes in the Carmarthenshire area and the vehicle to drive this initiative is the formation of the Local Housing Company.

 

Associated with this programme is the creation of jobs and apprenticeships that will as a consequence promote growth within the local economy. I’m sure that we all agree to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency employed in the construction and delivery of our new homes and build programme.

 

To this end we must satisfy ourselves that the approach we take will maximise all the benefit that can be driven to both support the creation of new homes and growth within our local economy. Therefore we ask the Executive Board to explore the possibility of creating our own workforce to be employed in the design and build of these properties as we feel this will add value to the whole concept. We can work in collaboration with Coleg Sir Gar on an apprenticeship programme going forward that will provide for a skilled workforce with job security for the foreseeable future.”

 

The Motion was duly seconded.

 

The following amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor L. Evans and duly seconded:

 

“We are all encouraged and support the plans to build new homes in the Carmarthenshire area and the vehicle to drive this initiative is the formation of the Local Housing Company.

 

Associated with this programme is the creation of jobs and apprenticeships that will as a consequence promote growth within the local economy. I’m sure that we all agree to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency employed in the construction and delivery of our new homes and build programme.

 

To this end we must satisfy ourselves that the approach we take will maximise all the benefit that can be driven to both support the creation of new homes and growth within our local economy.

 

We will continue to work in collaboration with Coleg Sir Gar on an apprenticeship programme going forward that will provide for a skilled workforce with job security for the foreseeable future.”

 

The Chief Executive was asked by the Chair to provide advice on the amendment and indicated that the amendment did not, in his view, negate the motion.

 

The Proposer and seconder of the Amendment were afforded the opportunity of speaking in support thereof and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Amendment.

 

A number of statements were made both in support of and against the amendment and the motion following which it became the Substantive Motion and the Council

 

RESOLVED that the Substantive Motion be supported.

 

13.

EXECUTIVE BOARD RECOMMENDATION - CARMARTHENSHIRE WELL-BEING PLAN: THE CARMARTHENSHIRE WE WANT pdf icon PDF 171 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council was informed that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 26th March, 2018 (minute 6 refers) considered a report on Carmarthenshire’s Well-being Plan: The Carmarthenshire We Want 2018-2023’ which had been developed by the Public Services Board with a view to its publication by May 2018, in accordance with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. It was noted that the Council was a statutory member of the PSB (along with the Hywel Dda University Health Board, Natural Resources Wales and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service) and that before the Plan could be published it had to be approved by each of the Board’s statutory Members.

 

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

 

that the Carmarthenshire Well-being Plan – the Carmarthenshire We Want – 2018-2023 be endorsed”

14.

TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HELD ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:-

Additional documents:

14.1

26TH FEBRUARY, 2018 pdf icon PDF 267 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the above meeting be received.

14.2

26TH MARCH, 2018. pdf icon PDF 190 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the above meeting be received.

15.

DEMOCRATIC SERVICES COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION - INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL FOR WALES (IRPW) ANNUAL REPORT (FEBRUARY, 2018) pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council was informed that the Democratic Services Committee, at its meeting held on the 9th March, 2018 (minute 6 refers) had considered the IRPW’s determinations and recommendations contained within its Annual Report Published in February, 2018 with a view to making recommendations to Council for inclusion within the Councillors and Co-opted Members’ Salaries and Allowances Scheme for 2018/19.

 

Reference was made to recommendation 4 to “publish details of the amounts reimbursed to named members for reimbursement of care costs (Option 1). It was suggested that option 2 be adopted and that the total amount reimbursed by the authority during the year be not attributable to any member”

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the following recommendations of the Democratic Services Committee be adopted subject to recommendation 4 being amended to option 2:

 

17.1

note that the IRPW has determined to increase the  basic salary in 2018/19 for elected members of principal local authorities  to £13,600;

17.2

note that the IRPW has removed the two tier arrangement for executive member and committee chair salaries;

17.3

maintain existing arrangements in 2018/19 in respect of :-

·       the salary paid to the Chair and Vice-Chair of Council (currently level 2)

·       rates of reimbursement for subsistence costs and  the current practice of all overnight accommodation for members being arranged through the Democratic Services Unit

·       the current practice of noting arrangements for Joint Overview Scrutiny Committees with other Authorities,  and including these Committees within the Council’s scheme in the event the Council decides to establish Joint Committees during the 2018/19 municipal year and to pay a salary;

·       payment of Co-opted Members’ Fees being  capped at  10 full day (or 20 half day) meetings;

 

17.4

publish details of the amounts reimbursed to named members for reimbursement of care costs [option 2];

 

17.5

accept the remaining IRPW recommendations and determinations for 2018 and incorporate them within the Council’s existing Councillors’ and Co-opted Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2018/19.

 

16.

MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule CPR 2(2)(n) the following nominations had been received from the Plaid Cymru Group and it was:

 

RESOLVED

 

17.1

to note that Councillor Jeanette Gilasbey to replace Councillor Ken Howell on the Community Scrutiny Committee.

17.2

to note that Councillor Kim Broom to replace Councillor Hazel Evans on the Audit Committee.

 

 

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