Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors F. Akhtar, P. Edwards,
C. Evans, R. Evans, C.J. Harries, A. James, T.J. Jones, G. Thomas and
A.D.T. Speake.

There were no declarations of personal interests.

The Chair provided an update on the activities and events that he had attended representing the Council, these included:

• the official opening of two primary schools in exciting new modern buildings – Penrhos in Llanelli and Trimsaran, and at the same time pupils were attending Burry Port’s new school for the first time;
• the opening of the new cycle course in Pembrey Park, an exciting scheme which would be a valuable resource for children and young people;
• the opening of an afternoon of events in Burry Port efficiently arranged by Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council to mark 90 years since Amelia Earhart landed off the coast near Pwll;
• the start of the Ammanford 10k race on 8^th July 2018, with approx. 300 people taking part in the fierce heat; 
• afternoon tea at Llanarthne Community Hall to raise money to create a permanent memorial in the village to remember those parishioners who lost their lives during the wars;
• memorial woods were opened at Coed Ffoslas by the Princess Royal, and also event at the Prince Phillip Hospital with the League of Friends to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of the NHS; 
• the 150^th anniversary of the Heart of Wales line was celebrated with a visit by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall;
• many other events throughout Carmarthenshire including Civic Services, Summer Fairs, Carmarthen River Festival, University of Wales Trinity Saint David graduation days.

Congratulations were extended to Mrs Pat Thomas the current Chair of Dyffryn Cennen Community Council and Mrs Beryl Owens who were nominated for a Jo Cox Cymru Community Champion Award for their work in the Trap / Llandyfan area.

Congratulations were extended to Cylch Meithrin Felinfoel who were the first in Wales to be awarded the Safonau Serennog Gold Award by Mudiad Meithrin.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 13^th June, 2018 be signed as a correct record.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

Would the Executive Board Member with responsibility for public protection give a statement on the actions the council has taken to tackle the fly infestation in Llanelli, including when the Council became aware of the infestation, when it responded, and details of any specialist advice it has sought?

The Chair informed the Council that this question had been withdrawn.

Wales’ largest supply teaching provider paid two directors almost £1 million over two years.  Yet supply teachers’ pay and conditions are well below those of permanent staff.  This unfairness has prompted a demonstration in Cardiff on 7^th July.

What is the Executive Board member for Education & Children doing to arrange for the commissioning and deployment of supply teachers via alternative arrangements including via direct employment?

“Wales’ largest supply teaching provider paid two directors almost £1 million over two years. Yet supply teachers’ pay and conditions are well below those of permanent staff. This unfairness has prompted a demonstration in Cardiff on 7^th July. What is the Executive Board member for Education & Children doing to arrange for the commissioning and deployment of supply teachers via alternative arrangements including via direct employment?”

Response by Councillor Glynog Davies, Executive Board Member for Education and Children:-

I would like to start off by saying that supply teachers are an essential resource for our schools. They of course, step into the breach when teachers are ill and therefore ensure that the teachers continue the absence of the regular teacher at the school.  But of course, we do need supply teachers when our teachers go on courses and those training courses are an essential part of the development of those individuals.  It is important that our teachers develop their skills and therefore you can see that the supply teachers are an essential part of the success of our education system.

Finding good individuals, competent and qualified teachers can be very difficult, at times it can be impossible, so it is important to have some kind of system in place.

I am ready to admit this morning that there are difficulties, so can I assure Councillor Bill Thomas that myself and the department are taking note of the point and the work of the Welsh Government.  We do want to see an answer to this issue of this difficult position.  We have distributed the documents and guidelines which have been released by the Welsh Government and ESTYN.  You can have copies of those if you would like.  But what is important is that teachers are qualified for the work.

What is Welsh Government doing? What is Labour in Wales doing to ensure fair play for supply teachers?  A ministerial workforce was established in June 2016, then there was a report in February 2017 which was updated by Kirsty Williams, the Cabinet Secretary for Education in September of last year.  Welsh Government is looking for alternative models for employing supply teachers. 
It is currently the UK’s government which determines the pay scale and terms of reference for supply teachers.  It could, and I hope it does, become a Welsh Government responsibility.  We have been told that the earliest that this responsibility can be transferred is September of next year.  A year this September. 

Here in Carmarthenshire we are currently part of a pilot scheme financed by Welsh Government which helps those teachers that just become newly qualified.  The aim is to give them some help and assistance to get onto the career ladder, to get that first job is so important.  We want to increase our teaching capacity.  There are 11 Counties have shown an interest in this pilot scheme and I am very proud to say that we in Carmarthenshire are one of those.  It is a scheme that we are  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.2

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Mr Ian Jones, Head of Leisure, who had been invited to give a presentation to Council on the upcoming Tour of Britain.

The presentation provided an update on the benefits and opportunities associated with the Tour of Britain 2018 which would be starting in Carmarthenshire on 2^nd September 2018. The presentation included an update on the event management plan which aimed to maximise promotional opportunities for the County. 

The Head of Leisure explained that the Tour of Britain, known as the Ovo Energy Tour of Britain for sponsorship purposes, was a multi-stage cycling race, conducted on British roads, in which participants race across Great Britain to complete the race in the fastest time.  The route of the Tour of Britain race involved the first stage starting from Pembrey Country Park, onwards to Carmarthen, up the Tywi Valley and from Llandovery on to the end of the stage in Newport, Gwent. 

In order to gain a better perspective of what the Tour of Britain involved, Members were afforded the opportunity to watch a short video clip of the 2017 Tour of Britain.

Based on 2015 data from the Economic Impact Survey on the stage 1 route from Beaumaris to Wrexham, the potential economic impact of this race could provide an injection of £4.5m into the economy providing an excellent opportunity for the County.  In addition, the event would be broadcasted live throughout 125 countries worldwide.

The Head of Leisure provided a detailed account of the Stage 1 route as charted on the map within the presentation.  The event had been communicated to all Town and Community Councils encouraging them to all get involved, which in turn had generated many positive responses and ideas, these would be formalised and entered into the event management plan.  

A considerable amount of promotion and activation work had been undertaken within schools and communities in order to raise the awareness and gather momentum in readiness for the start of the event.  Specifically designed t-shirts for volunteers and polo shirts for staff would promote the event.  In addition, a professional cycling shirt, which was on display, had been designed to commemorate the Tour of Britain in Carmarthen and would be available to buy online via the Tour of Britain section of the Council website.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session, following which the Chair thanked the officers for an excellent and informative presentation.

“I ask this council to ratify this motion that blue recycling bags are upgraded to a thicker more durable type”. This being more cost effective and fit for purpose.

“I ask this council to ratify this motion that blue recycling bags are upgraded to a thicker more durable type”. This being more cost effective and fit for purpose.

The Motion was duly seconded.

The proposer of the Motion, supported by his seconder, was afforded the opportunity of speaking in support of the Motion and outlined the reasons for its submission, as set out in the Motion.

A number of statements were made against the Motion.

Following a vote, it was

RESOLVED that the Notice of Motion be not supported.

The Council considered the Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) 2018 which sets out the objectives, policy and strategy framework for managing the highway network which complies with the recommendations of the new Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure – A Code of Practice.  In addition, in line with the code of practice, the HAMP sets out the adoption of a risk based approach to target resources to areas where they would be most needed and where investment would derive greatest value.

The Executive Board Member for Environment explained that the HAMP contained four key parts which included the strategy and policy, a management framework, an annual statement of condition and investment all of which would guide the development of a maintenance manual for the various elements comprising of the highway assets as set out in the report.

It was asked, if there was any significant reason why the HAMP had not been to the Environmental and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee?  The Director of Environment explained that Part 4 had yet to be developed as a Maintenance Manual which would detail the way individual elements would be managed and that this area would be more appropriate for scrutiny to get involved in.

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

“that the Highway Asset Management Plan 2018 be approved”

Council was reminded that at its meeting held on the 22^nd February, 2017 (Minute 16 refers) had adopted the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2017/18. In line with that policy, the Executive Board at its meeting held on the 2^nd July, 2018 (Minute 12 refers)received the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report which outlined the Authority’s Treasury Management activities in 2017/18 and summarised the activities that had taken place during 2017/18 under the headings of: Investments; Borrowing; Treasury Management Prudential Indicators; Prudential Indicators; Leasing and Rescheduling.

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

“ That the Annual Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report 2017/18 be received”.

At the request of the Chair, this item was deferred to the next Council meeting.

In relation to minute 14, School Uniform Grant, it was raised that since the Executive Board meeting held on the 4^th June 2018, the Welsh Government had announced a new scheme that increased the allowance from £105 to £125 per pupil in reception year and year 7.  It was asked if the Executive Board Member for Education could ensure that the £15k already allocated was retained to improve upon the WG scheme, by extending the offer to pupils in other years.

The Executive Board Member for Education reported that in light of the Welsh Government’s new proposal to increase the grant which would include sport equipment and clothing, the Authority would be withdrawing the original proposal and would be reconsidering the use of this funding.

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

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

RESOLVED to note that Councillor Fozia Akhtar to replace Councillor Andre McPherson on the Licensing Committee.

[Note: At this point in the proceedings the meeting was adjourned to enable Mr D. T. Davies OBE MM and his family to enter the Chamber]

[Note: Council reconvened in the Chamber at County Hall, Carmarthen at 11:35am]

The Chair welcomed to the Council Chamber Mr David Tom Davies OBE, MM, along with his family and friends.  

The Chair referred to the unanimous decision made by Council at its meeting held on 13^th June 2018 (minute 11 refers) to confer the Freedom of the County of Carmarthenshire on Mr David Tom Davies OBE MM in recognition of his long and distinguished record of public service in Welsh Local Government.

Mr David Tom Davies, universally known as ‘D.T.’, served as a Councillor for the Llandeilo and surrounding area from 1970 to 2003.  Mr Davies was first elected as a County Councillor of the former Carmarthenshire County Council in 1969 which continued beyond the local government reorganisation that took place in 1974 with Dyfed County Council officially coming into existence in 1976.

During his period on Dyfed County Council, Mr Davies served as Chairman of the Council in 1981-82 and as Chair of the Education Committee for many years. His career continued through another period from the reorganisation of local authorities twenty years later becoming the first Chair of the current Carmarthenshire County Council in 1996. 

Mr Davies had also been a member of Llangathen Community Council for over 40 years and was a member of the board of governors of Ysgol Tre-gib.   He was instrumental in the establishment of the National Botanic Garden in Llanarthne and subsequently Aberglasney Gardens. 

The Council was apprised of notable events in Mr Davies’ life story which included a period of time when he was captured as a prisoner of war at the Battle of Crete 1941 and spent three years as a prisoner in Austria, then Hungary. He had also been held prisoner at the barbaric concentration camp of Zemun, near Belgrade.

Councillor Cefin Campbell, who currently served the Llanfihangel Aberbythych ward, was amongst those who nominated Mr Davies for the Honorary Freedom.  Cllr Campbell spoke of Mr Davies’s selfless commitment to his community and his respectful ability as a Chairman, as well as his remarkable determination and resilience during his wartime service.

In addition, it was acknowledged that today, Mr Davies was celebrating his 100th birthday.

In order to acknowledge and recognise his huge contribution to public service in Carmarthenshire it was proposed to bestow upon Mr Davies the Freedom of Carmarthenshire.

The Chief Executive referred to the scroll which set out the following citation:-

“County of Carmarthenshire - In recognition of eminent and outstanding public service rendered to the county, at a meeting of Carmarthenshire County Council held on the 13^th day of June, 2018 it was resolved that the Freedom of the County be granted to D.T. Davies in witness whereof the common seal of the Council of the County of Carmarthenshire was hereby affixed this 11^th day of July in the presence of Councillor J.M. Charles, Chairman of the Council and Mark James, Chief Executive of the Council.”

The Chair thereupon formally bestowed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.