Agenda and minutes

Venue: Chamber - County Hall, Carmarthen. SA31 1JP and remotely. View directions

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors A. Davies and J. Tremlett.

 

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of personal interests.

 

3.

TO SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CABINET HELD ON THE 4TH JULY 2022 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

As provided for by Protocol, the Leader invited Councillor Dot Jones to ask her prepared question in respect of this item.

 

Question by Councillor Dot Jones;

 

In respect of Minute number 9, Cabinet Advisory Panels, “What was the conclusion of the task and finish of the advisory group for school transport?”

 

Response by Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services:

 

“This Panel was intended to be set up just prior to the commencement of the COVID Pandemic in 2020 following a report to the Executive Board on 25th January 2020 on a national change to the Public Service Vehicle Access Regulations which affected services provided by commercial operators for school journeys.  Executive Board resolved to:

 

1)      Make an amendment be to the Authority’s Spare Seats Police to waive the current annual £50 charge, effective form 1st September 2019;

 

2)      Continue to pursue the Welsh Government and the Department of Transport for a change in the application of the Public Services Vehicle Access Regulations to allow bus operators to continue using coaches on school bus routes operated on a commercial basis;

 

3)      An Executive Board Advisory Panel be established comprising of 6 members, on a cross-party basis, together with the Executive Board member for Environment to look at all issues relating to Home to School Transport and to report back to the Executive Board.

 

Following the meeting in January 2020, it generated a national dialogue between the Welsh Government and the UK Government.  The Minister of Economy and Transport issued a statement to confirm the Welsh Government had requested a blanket exemption for school transport services and had also written to the Department of Transport to seek further clarity around existing and future exemptions.

 

However, with the COVID Pandemic hitting the country in March 2020, the advisory panel did not meet, and further national work was undertaken.  The Welsh Government commenced a review of the Learner Travel Measure in 2020 and extended the review in 2021.  In March 2022, the Welsh Government announced that: “There was not time within the current administration to begin a formal process to change the Measure before the pre-election period begins.  Therefore, options for next steps would need to be considered in the next Senedd term.”


 

Given the Learner Travel Measure provides the basis for school transport provision, it is appropriate to await the outcome of the national review when this is picked up during this Senedd term.  Clearly, proposals from the national review will be subject to consultation and progress through the usual democratic process. 

 

As a Council, we need to be pressing the Welsh Government on what the next steps are in terms of the review of the school transport distances and if changes are made, that additional funding is provided to Councils across Wales in order to provide additional capacity.

 

I am aware that the Leader is hoping to meet with the Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters, to discuss the matter.  I would also point out that I  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE BY MEMBERS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

5.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

6.

CABINET VISION STATEMENT 2022 - 2027 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report which appended Cabinet Vision Statement 2022 – 2027.  The Leader, in presenting the 5-year vision statement explained that following the Local Government Elections (May 2022), the new Cabinet had committed to publishing a vision statement ahead of the Corporate Strategy which was due for publication in the Autumn.

 

It was highlighted that the relevant reports and recommendations on specific projects and programmes within the report would be presented through the democratic process over the next five years.

 

The statement provided the direction of travel that this Cabinet wants to focus on to make a difference across the County over the next 5 years. It was reported that work would include liaising with partners to strengthen the economy, increase prosperity, and invest in housing, education, culture, infrastructure, and the environment.

 

It was reported that the results of the ResidentsSurvey and the Staff Survey would be integral to the development of the Cabinet’s policy platforms going forward.  In addition, it was emphasised that in order to further refine the vision statement, a cross-party dialogue with all Members was welcomed and that a number of meetings had already been scheduled over the summer.

 

 

 

Each Cabinet Member present in the meeting was afforded the opportunity to present the vision within their portfolio.

 

As provided for by Protocol the Leader invited Councillor Rob James to ask his prepared question in respect of this item.

 

Question by Councillor Rob James:

 

“Reading the vision document, it reads much like a very long list of to do items or just generic statements such as; work with external bodies and understand what could be done to support residents.  Even a Conservative run Council would say that, it is very lacking on detail and it is remarkably similar to the ‘Moving Forward, the Next 5 Years’, I think is known in the Council the 96 point plan.  In fact, this is a plan with 113 points, so my main question is mainly;

How do we expect the public to give their views on a document when it is lacking in both detail and measurables? It doesn’t say what the future of education you would like it to be, it doesn’t say how you would try to integrate health and social care, it doesn’t say how you will try and build the economy for the future.  As Councillor Lenny described it is not ‘pie in the sky’ it doesn’t actually cover anything to do with prosperity or the inflationary pressures that will be placed on the budget or if you would be able to actually deliver on these promises.”

 

Response by the Leader:

 

“I think that maybe a fundamental misunderstanding on your part in terms of where we are at, at this point and what role this vision statement plays in feeding into our Corporate Strategy.  I would have hoped that the message had been received loud and clear by all Members of this Council, because I had been saying it consistently for the past  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

FREE PARKING DAYS IN TOWNS pdf icon PDF 168 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report which contained information in relation to the cost and resource implications of varying the current arrangements of free parking days along with available options to continue the free parking initiative.

 

It was reported that the Council’s free parking policy aimed to increase footfall in towns by providing free parking in its pay & display car parks on up to five separate days each year to support events or campaigns in each town.  Currently, applications for the free parking days were submitted on-line and must have the support of the appropriate Town Council and Town Centre Management Group. Following internal consultation, the applications were put forward for Cabinet Member approval.

 

Cabinet noted that based on independent reports commissioned as part of the Council’s Ten Town initiative, representatives of rural towns had sought to increase the number of free parking days over and above the current 5 free-parking days per annum that the Council had in place.

 

Following consideration of the report and all the options available, it was proposed that the options 5 and 6 of the report be endorsed, this was duly seconded.

 

As provided for by Protocol the Leader invited Councillor Rob James to put his prepared question in respect of this item.

 


Question by Councillor Rob James:

 

“I am sure that the Cabinet would agree with me that it has been a difficult period for local businesses, and I think that free parking has been argued for a long period to be a possible mechanism for boosting local business as support.  As you can see from the report there is also a very large variation where Carmarthen Town in particular generated 70% of all parking charges for the entire County.  Would the Cabinet be willing to work with us to see if we can develop a proposal for a 1-hour free carparking in selected car parks across the County to ensure that we can support the local businesses as you roll out this pilot.  I think a 1- hour free would be a very simplistic policy and would be very much understood by the public, it wouldn’t be this discrepancy about different days and different times, and I think it would actually increase footfall into the towns.”

 

Whilst accepting the question on this occasion, the Leader asked that questions be put as submitted in future in accordance with the requirements of the Protocol for Non-Executive Members’ Attendance at Formal Cabinet Meetings.

 

Response by the Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services:

 

“The Council has continued to support local businesses and town centres over several years, both before, during and beyond the pandemic.  In consultation with every town centre the Council has provided five free car parking days to support events, the Council has provided further support with extended periods of free parking throughout weekdays in every town.  Free parking is provided in:

 

8.

STREET NAMING AND PROPERTY NUMBERING POLICY pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In response to the notice of motion and subsequent resolution of the Council on the 13th October 2021 [minute number 9.1 refers], the Cabinet considered a report which outlined information in relation to the Draft Street Naming and Property Naming Policy appended to the report.

 

The policy provided a framework for Carmarthenshire County Council to operate the Street Naming and Numbering function effectively and efficiently for the benefit of Carmarthenshire residents, emergency services, businesses, and visitors.  In addition, the policy ensured that the Council reflected the relevant legislative powers and duties, including The Welsh Language Act 1993, the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, the Well Being of Future Generations Act 2015 and Sections 17 to 19 of the Public Health Act (1925).

 

It was reported that the aim of the Policy was to provide advice and guidance to developers and existing property owners when considering new developments, property conversions, or single in-fill plots, as well as changing the name of an existing property. It also provided guidance to Community or Town Councils on the legal framework for operation of the Street Naming and Property Numbering function and the protocols for determining official street names and property numbers.

 

Cabinet Members were pleased to note that the policy recognised the importance of promoting the Welsh Language and in relation to property and street names would promote and adopt a Welsh name that was consistent with the heritage and history of the area.

 

In addition, Cabinet noted that following Council approval, a full public consultation would be undertaken and that any representations received would be reported back for Council deliberation ahead of the intended adoption of the Policy.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that:

 

8.1      the Draft Street Naming and Property Numbering Policy for a period of public consultation of 28 days be approved;

 

8.2      any representations received to the consultation, along with officer recommendations, be reported back to the Councilfor deliberation.

 

9.

CARMARTHENSHIRE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FOR LEARNING (CSCFL) (FORMERLY THE MODERNISING EDUCATION PROGRAMME) ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered a report on the Carmarthenshire Sustainable Communities for Learning (formerly the Modernisation Education Programme) – Additional Learning Needs.  The report sought Cabinet approval on a realignment to the Capital Programme to facilitate urgent works to increase specialist spaces for pupils with Additional Learning Needs / Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

 

It was reported that an urgent matter in relation to Autistic Spectrum Disorder provision had arisen that required the Cabinet to make an adjustment (virement) to the capital programme in order to address this urgent need.

 

Cabinet noted that currently there was no provision in the capital allocation specifically for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Band A or B and B of Carmarthenshire’s Sustainable Communities for Learning (Formerly Modernising Education Programme) Programme.  The total budget cost to carry out the urgent works for September 2022 as outlined in the report was £1.76 million and given that the budget costs were significant, a virement approval was necessary.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that a virement in the capital programme to allow these urgent works to be undertaken as a matter of urgency

 

10.

ANY OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

11.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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.

 

12.

UK GOVERNMENT LEVELLING UP FUND - LLANELLI PROPOSAL

Minutes:

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 respect of this report outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained therein as disclosure would risk prejudicing the interests of businesses currently occupying the premises in question and undermine the Council’s position when seeking to acquire land for the project.

 

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The Cabinet considered a report which provided information in relation to the Llanelli Constituency and Transport theme funding bids which had been prepared for submission to UK Government’s round 2 Levelling Up Programme.

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the applications for submission in respect of the Llanelli Constituency and Transport theme, as detailed in the report, for UK Government’s round 2 Levelling Up Programme be endorsed.

 

 

 

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