Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 24^th April, 2023 be signed as a correct record.

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

The Chair advised that two public questions had been received.

"Under plans for the new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board projects that 68% of Glangwili General Hospital's workforce will be transferred to the new hospital. This equates to 2,625 members of staff, based on 2022 numbers. Glangwili Hospital is one of Carmarthen's biggest employers.

Given the Council has responsibilities for our towns, what impact do you believe this will have on Carmarthen town?"

"Under plans for the new Urgent and Planned Care Hospital, Hywel Dda University Health Board projects that 68% of Glangwili General Hospital's workforce will be transferred to the new hospital. This equates to 2,625 members of staff, based on 2022 numbers. Glangwili Hospital is one of Carmarthen's biggest employers. Given the Council has responsibilities for our towns, what impact do you believe this will have on Carmarthen town?"

Response by Councillor Darren Price, Leader of the Council:-

“Thank you Mr. Evans. As you are aware, the decision to restructure hospital care in South West Wales will of course be one that will be taken by the Health Board, and ultimately, if approved, funded by the Welsh Government. Clearly you have an obvious interest in this topic, I would suggest that it might be worth your while engaging directly with the Health Board on the matter.

However, this is an issue that is clearly of interest to the local population, as Glangwili has been, and will continue to be, an important part of the fabric of the town.  Indeed local elected members in Carmarthen have long campaigned to both retain and develop Glangwili Hospital – in fact, the campaign to do so was launched and led by local Plaid Cymru councillors in the town – two whom are now Cabinet members, and are sat in the chamber this morning.

When news of the proposed hospital reorganisation broke in March 2018, Cllr Alun Lenny, the then Town Mayor, called a public meeting and organised an on-line petition which attracted over 5,000 names in a very short time. This was supported by all parties on the Plaid-led Town Council.  

Cllr Gareth John was then tasked by the Plaid Cymru group on the county council to prepare a detailed response to the consultation by Hywel Dda Health Board into the transformation of clinical services. As a result, in June 2018, a 14-page detailed response was submitted to the Board. In arguing the case for Glangwili, it pointed out that almost half (48%) of the population in the Health Board area live in Carmarthenshire, and Glangwili is located very close to the centre of the county.

Indeed, only last year, Plaid Cymru town Councillors in Carmarthen and the Senedd Member Adam Price called on the Health Board to protect services, and A&E provision at Glangwili, as part of any reorganisation of healthcare within South West Wales.  

However, as you are aware, we now find ourselves in a situation whereby the Health Board is considering 3 sites for the new planned and urgent care hospital which sit outside Carmarthen town, albeit the proposed sites do sit within the county boundary.

I understand that the Health Board are required, and are planning, to undertake further work, to better understand the economic impact of their proposed changes to hospital configuration as part of the business case process, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.1

“In its response as a statutory consultee, Natural Resources Wales highlights the risk that 'significant sections of [the Towy Cycle] path would be affected by flooding' and requests a Flood Risk Management Plan. When will this be completed and be made publicly available?”

[NOTE: Councillor C.A. Davies declared an interest in this item.]

“In its response as a statutory consultee, Natural Resources Wales highlights the risk that 'significant sections of [the Towy Cycle] path would be affected by flooding' and requests a Flood Risk Management Plan. When will this be completed and be made publicly available?”

Response by Councillor Ann Davies, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Planning Policy:-

“I have already declared an interest in this item as I farm and own land along the Towy Valley and as such I have a personal interest in the Towy Valley Cycle Path Project. I haven’t sought dispensation from the Standards Committee as I feel I am too close to the path which comes directly through our land. I leave the chamber or any committee when this project is discussed and I will not be leaving today as there can be no discussion on the matter because of my interest. But I can however thank you very much for your question and let you know that your question has been referred to the relevant department for a response which will follow to you in writing. But I cannot discuss this matter. Thank you.”

There was no supplementary question.

Note: In order to be considered at a formal meeting each petition must include 50 registered elector signatures for paper copies and 300 register elector signatures for e-petitions. The total number of Carmarthenshire Electoral Signatures up to the 50 thresholds has been verified. We have not checked the signatures thereafter.

“We the undersigned, request immediate action from Carmarthen County Council to plan, finance and construct toilets at Burry Port Harbour east and Burry Port harbour west. Petition to rectify the absence of adequate and accessible public toilets at Burry Port Harbour.”

Further to minute 9 of Council held on the 10^th May 2023 the Chair welcomed to the meeting Mrs. Katherine Start who had been invited to present to, and address the Cabinet on, the following petition relating to toilets at Burry Port Harbour:

“We the undersigned, request immediate action from Carmarthen County Council to plan, finance and construct toilets at Burry Port Harbour east and Burry Port harbour west. Petition to rectify the absence of adequate and accessible public toilets at Burry Port Harbour.”

Mrs. Start outlined to the Council the rationale for the petition.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism advised that the issues raised in the petition would be investigated by the department and a report would then be presented to a future meeting of the Council’s Cabinet.

Following the presentation Mrs. Start formally handed the petition to the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the petition be received and that a report on the issues raised be submitted to the Cabinet in due course. 

Further to minute 9.1 of Council held on the 28th September 2022 the Cabinet considered a report on the comments received during the subsequent consultation period on the Draft Street Naming and Property Numbering Policy.  Six responses/comments had been received as detailed in appendix 1 to the report and it was noted that none had required a specific amendment to the draft Policy which was therefore recommended for adoption.  

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Draft Street Naming and Numbering Policy be adopted.

The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 28^th February 2023 in respect of 2022/2023. Overall, the monitoring report forecast an overspend for the year at departmental level of £6.159m with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £470k. At a high level, this was due to a combination of:

·       nationally negotiated pay offers (as yet unresolved) at much higher levels than budgeted, for which additional governmental funding had not been provided;

·       overspends in service areas driven by increased demand combined with reduced grant funding versus previous years, particularly Learning Disabilities and Childrens Service;

·       a sustained reduction in commercial income, covering car parks, leisure centres and school meals;

·       capital financing underspends due to scheme delays and reduced need to borrow.

The Housing Revenue Account was predicted to be underspent by £850k for 2022/23. This would be reviewed as the significant issues identified became clearer from a financial perspective.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

8.1 The Budget Monitoring report be received, and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted;

8.2 in respect of significant overspends on specific budget areas Chief Officers and Heads of Service critically review options available to them to address the ongoing impact.

The Cabinet considered a report which provided the latest budgetary position for the 2022/23 capital programme, as at the 28^th February 2023 and detailed new projects for noting and Cabinet approval.

It had been reported as part of the December monitoring cycle that £56,878k had been slipped to future years and had been incorporated into the new Capital Programme 2023-2028, which brought the general fund working budget more in-line with the projected outturn for the year. HRA budgets remain unchanged.

Departmentally a net spend of £54,673k was forecast compared with a working net budget of £93,787k, giving a -£39,115k variance.

Some budgets had been amended to account for differences in actual grant allocations compared with the anticipated allocations at the time the programme had been approved, and new grant awards received during the year to date.

It was noted that Appendix B detailed the main variances within each department.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

9.1 the capital programme update report 2022/23 be received;

9.2. the new projects as detailed within the report be noted and agreed.

The Cabinet considered a proposed Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2023-28 which the Council was required to produce and publish in accordance with the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011 and the subsequent Welsh Language Standards. The 5-year strategy established how the Council proposed to promote the Welsh language and facilitate the use of the Welsh language more widely in Carmarthenshire.

The County’s Welsh Language Strategic Forum, which had been the main vehicle for the Strategy’s planning as well as its scrutiny, was thanked for its contribution.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the proposed Welsh Language Promotion Strategy 2023-28 to increase the number of Welsh speakers and promote the use of the Language across Carmarthenshire be approved.

The Cabinet considered a proposed Policy on Awarding Grants and the Welsh Language for the Council in order to ensure consistency across grant schemes. The Policy had been prepared in order to comply with the Welsh Language Standards (The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011). Carmarthenshire County Council’s compliance notice stated that it must ‘produce and publish a policy on awarding grants’ that requires us to consider the effects that awarding a grant will have on ‘opportunities for persons to use Welsh’, and on ‘not treating Welsh less favourably than English’. The Policy detailed the Council’s commitment to administering Grants in accordance with the Standards and explained the way in which the Council would pass on these duties to the

applicants.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the proposed Policy on Awarding Grants and the Welsh Language be approved.

The Cabinet considered the proposed Corporate Asset Management Plan 2023-2028 the purpose of which was to capture at a high level the asset implications of property issues experienced by services brought about by various factors such as changes in local and national agendas, financial pressures and shifts in client needs. Where appropriate, the detailed property requirements of various services were captured in Service Asset Management Plans. The Plan also provided an overview of the Council’s non housing asset portfolio in terms of running costs, sustainability, and maintenance matters, culminating in an action plan to cover the significant property related schemes.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the proposed Corporate Asset Management Plan and Summary 2023-2028 be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report which provided an update following a review of the Authority’s current Cycle to Work and Car Loans scheme.

The Cycle to Work scheme had been set up eleven years ago and deemed to be out of date. Enhanced technology within the cycling industry had not only led to increased purchase cost of traditional road bikes but the option to purchase new electric bikes had also become more attractive.

The current Car Loans (Assisted Car Purchase) scheme had been in operation since 1998. It was contained within the Council’s Conditions of Service and any change to the current scheme or consideration of removal would require consultation with the recognised Trade Unions.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

13.1 that the limit for bike and accessory purchases under the Cycle to Work Scheme be increased from £1,000 to £3,500;

13.2 that the term of the agreement under the Cycle to Work Scheme be extended from the current 12 months to 24 months for purchases more than £1,000;

13.3 that, due to increasing costs and inflation, the maximum loan advance under the Car Loan Scheme be increased from £7,350.00 to £9,999.00 with effect from July 1^st  2023.

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 item as the report 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. 15 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 as disclosure would put the authority at a material disadvantage in any subsequent negotiations with third parties and potentially harm the public purse.

Further to minute 10 of the Executive Board meeting held on the 16^th December 2019 the Cabinet considered a report detailing requests by the developer of the above site to 

·       extend the land agreement for a further 12-month period;

·       consider a further reduction in the purchase price to reflect exceptional unforeseen abnormal costs;

·       to incorporate a further area of land within the leased area to address ecological issues required by legislation.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the request for a reduction in the purchase price be not entertained.