Agenda item

Councillor A.G. Morgan declared an interest In that he leases an industrial unit in Delta Lakes, Llanelli. 

The Committee considered the performance management report which provided an overview of how the Chief Executive’s and Resources Departments had performed last year. The report included information relating to:

·       Heads of Service Overview of Performance (Report A)

·       Improvement Plan Monitoring – Combined Actions and Measures Report (Report B)

The following issues were discussed during consideration of the report:

An update was requested in relation to the Hub in Llanelli, the Skype pilot and the future use of Ty Elwyn. The ACE Regeneration & Policy stated that visitors to the Hub had been surveyed and the majority preferred it as a location for the Customer Services Centre. It was hoped to replicate the model in Ammanford and Carmarthen. There had been some problems with the Skype pilot in terms of connectivity in some rural areas and also some complaints about lack of privacy. It was hoped to secure funding to expand the scheme across rural Carmarthenshire. The Head of Corporate Property advised that the refurbishment of the ground floor at Ty Elwyn was due to be completed in the next few weeks with a small reception area and office accommodation. Ty Elwyn would also be a single location for the Children’s Services Teams. There would also be an opportunity to base a police presence in the building. Cashiers were currently still located in Coleshill but would re-locate to the Hub when it was made ready.

Reference was made to the Rural Poverty Study looking at issues that affect rural communities. In response to a question, the ACE Regeneration & Policy confirmed and that the study would be used to ensure that funding went to the right areas. She agreed to circulate the study to the Committee.

It was asked whether or not the Audit section had enough resources. The Head of Audit, Risk & Procurement advised that the team currently comprised 9.4 FTE and that he would not want fewer resources than that. The Director of Corporate Resources added that they were actually looking at increasing the resource in light of issues that had arisen over the last year.

The Procurement Fitness Check was referred to and it was asked what issues remained unresolved as well as the overall direction of travel. The Head of Audit, Risk & Procurement stated that a focus group of Committee members would be meeting shortly to look in detail at the current position in Procurement. One of the main issues that remained unresolved related to category management which was the model used by the National Procurement Service (NPS) and not feasible with a team of 6 FTE in the Corporate Procurement Unit. Welsh Government also had 1 officer for every £10m spend. The Chief Executive was looking at opportunities to collaborate with Pembrokeshire in terms of category management. In response to an additional question, the Head of Audit, Risk & Procurement agreed to include a detailed analysis of Fitness Check in the Procurement Annual Report being presented to the Committee early in the New Year.

Reference was made to the Corporate ICT Strategy finalised earlier in the year which included implementing a “Bring your own device” policy. It was asked if this still the intention. The Head of IT & Central Support Services advised that he did not subscribe to the latter, preferring instead that officers were supplied with Council equipment. He was looking at commonalities with Pembrokeshire. Carmarthenshire would need to revisit the Corporate ICT Strategy. The ACE Regeneration & Policy added that there were significant information governance and security issues with a “Bring your own device” policy and the Corporate Management Team would be reviewing the issue as part of the new ICT Strategy being developed by the Head of IT & Central Support Services .

It was noted that the Payroll section had co-located with Human Resources. The Director of Corporate Services confirmed that the new arrangements were working well.

The high level of occupation of the Council’s 400 industrial units was welcomed. It was asked however if the number of units was sufficient, particularly in rural areas where it was extremely difficult to get planning permission to develop outbuildings and new builds. The Head of Corporate Property advised that bids were being made for European funding for small industrial unit developments in the future and in rural areas. In response to an additional question about the potential to develop former schools into industrial units rather than residential use, he stated that some former schools, such as White Mill, had been sold for business use.

The poor condition of the units in Glanaman was referred to and it was asked if anything was proposed to improve them. The Head of Corporate Property confirmed that these units were amongst the 4% unoccupied and that they in poor condition. A bid to the proposed draft capital programme included proposals to refurbish and extend the estate as well as funding for development of further start up units for small businesses.

In response to a question about asset transfers in the Rural and Town areas of Llanelli, the Head of Corporate Property noted that Llanelli Rural Council, having accepted the asset transfers of parks in Swiss Valley and a few other places, had recently indicated that it was not interested in any further transfers. Llanelli Town Council had also confirmed that, whilst it was willing to support the funding of certain maintenance activities, it was not willing to accept transfer of those assets. It was intended to keep discussions open to try to encourage more transfers. He added that any parks or playgrounds that had not received an expression of interest by the end of March 2016 would be reported to the Executive Board and then the current policy was then to consult on ceasing to maintain those facilities not transferred. He also noted that some facilities were being transferred to clubs and sporting associations, not just to Community and Town Councils.

RESOLVED to receive the report.