Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S.M. Caiach, A.D. Harries, A. James, A.W. Jones, D.J.R. Llewellyn, G. Thomas, W.G. Thomas and J. Williams

Declarations by Officers – All officers in attendance at the meeting declared an interest in Minute 7 – Pay Policy Statement 2017/2018.

·        The Chair extended his condolences to Councillor H.A.L. Evans and her family on the death of her mother, Gene Evans;

·        The Chair expressed best wishes to Mr Simon Allen, Councillor Sue Allen’s Husband following recent surgery;

·        The Chair extended a welcome to members of Council staff within the Education and Children Department’s Youth Service’s Division who had organised the recent Christmas Toy Box Appeal. The Executive Board Member for Communities, and the Chief Executive, referred to the work undertaken by the staff and congratulated them on their effort resulting in 662 children having benefitted from the appeal;

·        The Council’s attention was drawn to the work of the Raise a Smile Charity, in partnership with Sue Ryder, in providing new community healthcare services, ensuring people could receive the required care at the end of their lives in a place of their choice, surrounded by their families. Members of Council were requested to make a donation towards the charity’s work;

·        Congratulations were extended to Mr Steffan Davies from Llandybie who recently became the Welsh Junior Chef of Wales and who would now represent Wales in the Young National Chef of the Year later in the year organised by the Master Chef’s of Great Britain. Mr Davies was also a member of the Welsh Junior Culinary Team which had won two silver medals at the Culinary Olympics in Germany in October 2016;

·        Congratulations were extended to LBS (formerly Llandeilo Builders Supplies) in being awarded ‘Business of the Year’ at the recent Swansea Bay Business Awards;

·        Congratulations were extended to Corey Baldwin from Llandeilo on being awarded his first cap for the Wales Under 20’s team;

·        Congratulations were awarded to Tobey Baldwin from Llandeilo on winning a Gold Medal at the Welsh Sports Hall Indoor Athletic Finals;

·        Congratulations were extended to Côr Merched Sir Gar on winning the Wales Youth Choir Competition and who would now proceed to attend the finals of the Wales Choir Competition. Appreciation was also extended to the Choir’s conductor, Mr Islwyn Evans, for his work and to the Council’s music service for its support;

·        The Chair referred to his recent attendance at a choir evening and extended his appreciation to Councillor Edward Thomas for the warm reception he’d received. He also congratulated Councillor Cefin Campbell on both his participation in the choir and compering the event.

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

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

Consideration was given to the Director of Corporate Services’ report setting out the financial details relevant to the setting of the Council Tax for 2017-2018, together with the Council Tax amounts in respect of the different Council Tax Valuation Bands, as applicable to each of the individual Community and Town Council areas.

It was noted that the recommendations contained within the report were based on the final settlement details received from the Welsh Government and the precepts notified to the County Council by the Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner and the Town and Community Councils.

RESOLVED that in order for the Council to comply with legislative requirements, the report and recommendations of the Director of Corporate Services on the setting of the Council Tax for the financial year 2017/18 be adopted.

[NOTE:

1. Councillors D.C. Evans and K. Madge had earlier declared an interest in this item

2. All officers in attendance at the meeting, declared personal interests in this item, and left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof, with the exception of the Assistant Chief Executive (People Management & Performance) who remained in the meeting to respond to any questions arising on the report, but left prior to the vote being taken, the Democratic Services Officer, who remained in the meeting to take notes, and the Webcasting Officer]

Council was reminded that under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 all Local Authorities were required to prepare a pay policy statement for the financial year 2017-2018 and each subsequent financial year. 

The pay policy statement for a financial year required the approval of full Council and must set out the Authority’s policies for the financial year relating to the remuneration of its Chief Officers, its lowest paid employees and the relationship between the remuneration of its Chief Officers and its employees who were not Chief Officers.

The Pay Policy Statement had been considered by the politically balanced Pay Policy Advisory Panel whose recommendations had been incorporated into the final document for approval by County Council.

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement 2017-2018 be approved in compliance with Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011.

(NOTE: Councillors T. Davies, S.E. Thomas, W.J.W. Evans, P.M. Hughes, D.C. Evans and K. Madge had earlier declared an interest in this matter)

The Council received for consideration a report on the establishment of an all Wales Pension Investment Pool, the Inter-Authority Agreement required in relation thereto together with the establishment of Joint Governance Committee. It was reported that the establishment of the Pension Pool had been endorsed by the Government in November 2016 and would require the consent of all 8 of the Local Pension Fund Authorities in Wales to progress to a formal agreement. If endorsed, by all 8 authorities, it was anticipated significant savings in investment management fees would be achieved, whilst still allowing the individual administering authorities to retain control over the setting of their investment Strategy and detailed asset allocation. Subject to that endorsement, the Pool’s Operator Function would be tendered over the next few months with the successful operator being appointed by the Joint Governance Committee mid-summer 2017 and the initial investment being placed in April 2018

The Council was advised that as part of the Agreement, one of the 8 Authorities would act as the Host Authority and the Accountable Body and Carmarthenshire County Council had been nominated for that role.

The Council was advised that its representatives on the Dyfed Pension Panel had monitored and supported the proposals since their inception and fully supported their presentation to Council for determination.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Council was informed that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 27^th February, 2017 had considered the Draft Carmarthenshire County Council – Well Being Objectives for 2017/18 produced in accordance with the requirements of the Well Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, incorporating the Council’s 2017/18 Key Improvement Objectives published in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009.

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

“that the Draft report be approved”

(NOTE: Councillor K. Madge had earlier declared an interest in this item)

The Council was informed that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 27^th February, 2017 had considered a report on the Partnership arrangements established in West Wales under Part 9 of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the West Wales Population Assessment.

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

“To note the statutory requirements in place within West Wales under Part 9 of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the partnership arrangements to meet those requirements;

That the contents of the West Wales Population Assessment be endorsed”.