Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor E. Dole.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 17^th January, 2022 be signed as a correct record.

The Chair advised that no questions on notice had been submitted by members.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

[NOTE: Councillor C. A. Davies declared an interest in this item but remained in the meeting during its consideration]

The Cabinet considered the Recommendations Report, presented by the Chair of the Education and Children’s Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group on the review of the current provision for Early Years Education, Childcare and Play Opportunities. 

It was noted that at its meeting on 14th March 2018, the Education & Children’s Scrutiny Committee agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group to undertake a review into provision for early years education, childcare and play opportunities.  The recommendations contained within the report were formulated by the Group following the consideration of a range of evidence over a series of meetings held between May 2018 and February 2019. The report and recommendations were presented to Cabinet Members on the 7th of October 2019 however Members requested further detail in regard to implications on funding, policy etc.  On the 19th April 2021 an update was provided for consideration. An action from that meeting was to develop a separate paper to include further information in relation to the review of school admission arrangements.

The scope and aims of the Task and Finish Review were:

1. Review Foundation Phase provision

2. Review the Standard of provision

3. Review the provision of play opportunities

4. Review the provision of Childcare

5. 30 Hour Childcare Offer

6. Carmarthenshire Schools Admissions Policy

The Chair of the Education and Children’s Scrutiny advised the Cabinet that during the course of the Education and Children’s Scrutiny Committee Task and Finish Group review, Welsh Government announced that the all-Wales Childcare Offer for 3 and 4 year olds would be rolled-out across Carmarthenshire from January 2019.  This had had a significant impact on the work of the Task and Finish Group, and the recommendations reflected this.

Officers confirmed that should the report be approved, a proposal would be brought to Cabinet in the Summer and a consultation on the revised policy undertaken in the Autumn.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Recommendations Report of the Education and Children’s Scrutiny Committee’s Task and Finish Group to review Carmarthenshire’s Education Admissions Policy be approved.

The Cabinet considered the Education Department’s 10 year Strategy. The strategy set out the vision for the role that education services would play in the future development of vibrant communities and a prosperous economy in Carmarthenshire.

It was noted that the Strategy provided:

·         an overview of strategic thinking over the next 10 years.

·         a collective vision, mission statements and priorities.

·         a steady steer.

·         an insight into the golden thread from international, national and corporate policy

·         contextualised the Business Planning processes and documentation.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to:

7.1       agree that the Strategy and 20 Purpose Pieces met the agreed aims and the Cabinet’s aspirations for Education Services.

7.2       agree to the final version of the Education Department’s 10 year Strategy for launching and publishing.

[NOTE: Councillor C. A. Davies declared an interest in this item but remained in the meeting during its consideration]

The Cabinet considered Carmarthenshire’s 2022-2032 Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), the purpose of which was to detail how the Authority aimed to achieve the Welsh Government’s outcomes and targets outlined in its Welsh Medium Education Strategy (WMES).  The WMES aimed to facilitate an increase in the number of people of all ages able to use the Welsh language with their families, in their communities and in the workplace.

Carmarthenshire’s WESP is a key vehicle for creating an improved planning system for Welsh-medium education.  The WESP will provide the means for the Welsh Government to monitor the way in which the Authority responds and contributes to the implementation of the WMES objectives.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Children advised that the consultation process was undertaken for a total of 8 weeks between the 4th of October and 29th of November 2021.  A total of 862 responses had been received in response to the formal consultation.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the revised 2022-2032 Welsh in Education Strategic Plan be approved.

The Cabinet considered the South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy.  It was noted that the strategy had been commissioned by the Welsh Government and supported by the Welsh Government Energy Service.  It had been developed by the South West Wales Energy Core Group, a sub-group of the Regional Directors’ forum from the four local authorities in South West Wales, with additional support from an Advisory Panel and regional stakeholders.

The overall objective of the strategy was to develop a strategic pathway identifying key interventions to deliver on the region’s ambitions for decarbonising its energy system.  An Energy Vision scenario had been modelled to set out a potential decarbonisation route that would put the region on track to achieve a net zero energy system by 2050.

It was noted that the vision was supported by six regional priorities:

·         Energy efficiency

·         Electricity generation

·         Smart and flexible systems

·         Decarbonise heat

·         Decarbonise transport

·         Regional coordination

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Rural Affairs stated that she would like the logos promoting the four Local Authorities involved with the strategy to be more prominent within the report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to:

9.1       adopt the South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy,

9.2       delegate authority to Officers to make typographical or factual amendments as necessary to improve the clarity and accuracy of the South West Wales Regional Energy Strategy.

The Chair advised that there were no items of urgent business.

THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE CABINET  RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 11 above not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act).

The public interest test in this matter related to the fact that the report contained detailed information about particular business and financial affairs.  In this case, the public interest in maintaining the above exemption under the 1972 Act in respect of this report outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information contained therein, as disclosure could undermine the Council’s position in subsequent negotiations and adversely impact upon the public purse.

The Cabinet considered a report which detailed information in relation to a key strategic project that would bring a redundant property in Carmarthen town centre back into use.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

12.1    that the proposed purchase of the Carmarthen town centre property identified in the report on the terms provisionally agreed be endorsed.

12.2    to delegate authority to the Head of Regeneration and the Head of Administration and Law, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration and Resources, to finalise the purchase terms and complete the transaction.

12.3    to delegate authority to the Head of Regeneration and the Head of Administration and Law, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Regeneration and Resources, to award stage one of the construction process (Appointment of successful contractor and their associated design team) to include carrying out of all necessary surveys, obtaining required reports and investigations and developing the initial design to obtain planning permission and building regulations approval.