Minutes:
Condolences were extended to the family of the late Councillor Alun Davies.
All members of Council stood in silent tribute in memory of Councillor Davies following which tributes were paid by Councillors E. Dole, L.M. Stephens and K. Madge on behalf of each of the political parties.
Condolences were expressed to former County Councillor D. Williams on the death of his wife.
Congratulations were extended to:-
· Meinir Lloyd from Carmarthen (also known as Meinir Hughes Griffiths) on being awarded the T.H. Parry-Williams Medal at the National Eisteddford
· The following persons welcomed into the Gorsedd Y Beirdd at the National Eisteddfod:-
- Elaine Edwards, Carmarthen – former president of UCAC
- Huw Edwards, Llangennech – Broadcaster
- Margarette Hughes – Whitland – contribution to the Welsh Language and Culture
- Eric Jones – Pencader – Steward and Inspector at the National Eisteddfod and Urdd since 1984
- Dr Rhys Thomas – New Inn Llandeilo – contribution to medicine
- Rosemary Williams – Crickhowell – (originally from Llandeilo) – contribution to Welsh Culture in the Abergavenny area.
· The following recipients of Royal Recognition:
- Order of the British Empire MBE
Dr Gareth Collier – Dryslwyn – Consultant Respiratory Physician - Glangwili Hospital for services to lung cancer treatment in Wales;
Tracy Pike – Llanelli – CEO of Carmarthenshire Youth and Children’s Association – Services to young people (llanelli);
Michael James Worthington Williams – Cenarth – services to the automotive industry;
- British Empire Medal – BEM
William Henry Gerwyn Jenkins – Llanelli – services to the Samaritans in Swansea
· The Cottage Pub in Llandeilo on winning the title Countryside Alliance ‘Pub of the Year’
· Ysgol Gymraeg Brynsierfel on being the first Welsh school in Carmarthenshire to receive the Welsh Charter Silver Award
· Staff within the Planning Department on winning the UK Royal Town Planning Institute Excellence in Planning Award for the Natural Environment in respect of the Caeau Mynydd Mawr Special Area of Conservation Supplementary Planning Guidance Marsh Fritillary Project.
· Councillor Ann Davies on gaining a Masters’ Degree in Education and on being appointed Chair-Elect of the Farmers’ Union of Wales, Carmarthenshire
The Chair referred to the number of events he’d attended since commencing his term of office, particularly the Robert Hobbs Memorial Race in Carmarthen won by Marcin Bialoblocki from Poland
The Chair thanked all those in attendance at his recent Civic Service where over £1,000 was raised for his charities – The Wales Air Ambulance and Alzheimer’s Cymru
The Executive Board Member for Culture, Sport and Tourism apprised Council of the recent announcement that Carmarthenshire would, on the 2nd September, 2018 host the Grand Depart of the 2018 OVO Energy Tour of Britain Cycle Race commencing at Pembrey Country Park and traveling through Carmarthenshire on its way to Newport. He referred to a variety of events being held to mark the event and urged all communities, especially those through which the tour would pass, to similarly mark the event and show Carmarthenshire off to the world television audience.
The Executive Board Member for Public Protection apprised Council of the difficulties encountered from recent fly infestations in South Llanelli and to its probable source, being a metal recycling plant in the vicinity of Seaside in the Glanymor Ward. He outlined the actions taken by Council staff and the council’s partners in addressing the outbreak and advised that Natural Resources Wales, being the permit issuing body for the plant, would now be assuming responsibility for overseeing the treatment and removal of waste from the site and to whether any enforcement action should be taken. He also confirmed the owners of the company had taking action to remediate the difficulties and to endeavour to prevent any future outbreak.