Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 4^th November 2024 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: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 300 thresholds has been verified. We have not checked the signatures thereafter.  

“We the undersigned petition Carmarthenshire County Council to Scrap plans to charge for parking at Llansteffan beach front (both at the existing car park and the new one planned at the Northern end of the Green).

Converting the car parks at Llansteffan beach front from free to payment car parks will have far reaching and unintended adverse consequences. Most people will park where ever they can to avoid payment. On high days and holidays this ill conceived idea will destroy the strip of Green at the front, clog up nearby roads, make the high street almost impassable for emergency vehicles, block the coastguards access and adversely affect local businesses. As there are no strategies in place to mitigate these inevitable consequences the plans for payment should be dropped. A simple cost benefit analysis would prove that free parking at Llansteffan would be the better long term option.”

[NOTES:

1.    Councillor A. Lenny, having earlier declared an interest in this matter, re-declared that interest and left the meeting during its consideration.

2.    Councillor A.C. Jones, having earlier declared an interest in this matter, re-declared that interest. However, having received dispensation to speak and make written representations on this item but, not to vote, she remained in the meeting but did not vote thereon].

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Ms R. Worrell who, in accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule 10.16, had been invited to present a petition relating to the Council’s proposals to introduce charges at Llansteffan beachfront, as follows:

“We the undersigned petition Carmarthenshire County Council to Scrap plans to charge for parking at Llansteffan beach front (both at the existing car park and the new one planned at the Northern end of the Green).

Converting the car parks at Llansteffan beach front from free to payment car parks will have far reaching and unintended adverse consequences. Most people will park where ever they can to avoid payment. On high days and holidays this ill conceived idea will destroy the strip of Green at the front, clog up nearby roads, make the high street almost impassable for emergency vehicles, block the coastguards access and adversely affect local businesses. As there are no strategies in place to mitigate these inevitable consequences the plans for payment should be dropped. A simple cost benefit analysis would prove that free parking at Llansteffan would be the better long term option.”

Ms Worrell outlined to the Cabinet the rationale for the petition and the signatures received which reflected the concerns of the community regarding the proposals. 

The Cabinet Board Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services advised that the petition had been referred to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at the meeting of the County Council held on 11 September 2024 (minute 14 thereof refers). 

It was reported that the Council had agreed a budget proposal to implement charging at 9 additional car parks within the County from April 2025 to align with its broader strategy to manage parking resources effectively and support investment in local services.  

In order to mitigate against any negative impact on surrounding areas, the Cabinet Board Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services provided a synopsis of the measures to be implemented by the Council, as detailed within the report, and which included the following:

·       Regular Surveys: Conducting regular surveys to gather feedback from residents, visitors, and local businesses about the impact of the new charges.

·       Traffic Monitoring: Using traffic monitoring to assess changes in traffic patterns and parking behaviour in the vicinity of the South Car Park.

·       Displacement Analysis: Analysing any displacement of parking to nearby areas and implementing mitigation measures as necessary, such as additional signage or additional parking orders.

It was reported that the Council remained committed to balancing the needs of residents, visitors, and local businesses while ensuring sustainable and efficient use of its parking resources.  Accordingly, it was considered that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

[Note:  Councillor Hazel Evans, having earlier declared a personal interest in this item, left the meeting before the consideration and voting thereof.]

The Cabinet received for consideration the new Social Housing Allocation Policy for Carmarthenshire to replace the current Emergency Allocation Policy developed by the Communities, Homes and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s Task and Finish Group in 2023 to support the unprecedented demand for social housing in the County.   ThePolicy set out the arrangements for how the Authority would allocate social housing in Carmarthenshire in a fair and transparent manner.

The findings of the 12 week consultation exercise concluded at the end of May 2024, together with the draft policy had been considered by the Communities, Homes and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee at its meetings on 8th July 2024 and 1st October 2024, respectively.

The Cabinet was appraised of the main changes recommended to the new policy as a result of the consultation exercise, as detailed within the report and which had been incorporated into the new Policy.  An assurance was provided that all changes had been scrutinised by Legal Counsel who gave praise to the policy intent and the scheme in general.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the new Social Housing Allocation Policy for Carmarthenshire be approved.

The Cabinet received for consideration the Draft Local Authority Social Services Annual Report 2023/24.

The report had been developed in accordance with the statutory requirement for the Director of Social Services to report annually to Council on the delivery of services and performance, as well as plans for the improvement of the whole range of social services. The Annual Report examined each service area within Social Care and demonstrated how service strategies, actions, targets and service risks would be addressed and delivered operationally by the service based upon the approved budget.

In considering the report, the Cabinet conveyed its gratitude to the staff working across the health and social services for their sterling contributions in this area.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the  Draft Local Authority Social Services Annual Report 2023/24 in Carmarthenshire be approved.

The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 31^st August 2024, in respect of 2024/2025.

Overall, the monitoring report forecast an overspend for the year at departmental level of £19.5m including school budgets, with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £10.2m.  At high level, the overspend was, in the main, attributable to school budget deficits, further pressures within childrens services, high levels of demand and complexity within adult social care.

The Housing Revenue account set out at Appendix B to the report, forecast an overspend of £1.975m for 2024/25.  The Cabinet acknowledged the ongoing work to manage the expenditure position and noted that the situation would be reviewed as the significant issues identified become clearer from a financial perspective.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED:

The Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the latest budgetary position for the 2024/25 capital programme, as at 31 August 2024 and detailed new projects and virements for Cabinet to note and approve.  The report indicated a forecasted net spend of £110,557k compared with a working net budget of £138,329k, giving a -£27,772k variance. 

The net budget included the original H.R.A. and General Fund capital programmes approved by Full Council, and slippage from 2023/24. Some of the budgets had also been amended to account for differences in actual grant allocations compared with the anticipated allocations at the time the programme was approved, new grant awards received during the year to date and virements approved.

Appendix B to the report detailed the main variances within each department.

The report detailed the new projects and virements to be noted and approved for the current year.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

The Cabinet received for consideration the draft Modernising in Education Programme (MEP) Strategy which provided an investment and school organisation programme in line with Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The MEP Strategy was endorsed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 29 January 2024 (minute 7 thereof refers) and a comprehensive public consultation was subsequently held between 12^th February 2024 and 13^th March 2024 to gather the views of all stakeholders on the draft MEP Strategy.  In light of the consultation feedback, including consideration by the Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 26 June 2024, the Cabinet reviewed the following changes to the MEP Strategy as detailed within the report:

• Amendment to the wording pertaining to Carmarthenshire’s Primary Educational Principles

• Addition of Appendix 2 – Presumption against the closure of rural schools

·       Suggested omission/amendment to wording in various sections of the MEP Strategy to make more concise, remove repetition and ensure relevance to the Strategy

·       Revised Illustrative Flow Charts for Strategic Review and Statutory Proposals

The Cabinet conveyed its gratitude to the officers involved in the development of the strategy and emphasised the need for Welsh Government to provide appropriate financial structures to enable the Authority to deliver a high standard of education, under strong leadership in the best possible buildings and operating within budgets that are sufficient.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the updated Draft Modernising Education Programme Strategy be approved.

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