Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of personal interest.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 5^th July, 2021 be signed as a correct record.

“Two reports have been conducted into the Authority’s Planning Department - one by Wales Audit and the second by external consultants. It is believed that the reports are highly critical of the performance of the Department. Can the Leader of Council outline when the findings of these reports will be published?”

“Two reports have been conducted into the Authority’s Planning Department - one by Wales Audit and the second by external consultants. It is believed that the reports are highly critical of the performance of the Department. Can the Leader of Council outline when the findings of these reports will be Published?”

Response by Councillor Emlyn Dole, Leader of the Council:-

“Thank you for your question.

As you will know, every Local Authority in Wales is subject to routine external review from Audit Wales throughout the year. As part of its annual programme of work our Planning Service was identified for review in 2019/2020. Also, Local Authorities often implement their own independent reviews for departments and services and in 2019 Carmarthenshire County Council commissioned an independent review of its own Planning Services. We have recently received a report from Audit Wales outlining the review of their findings.

Audit Wales will publish the report on their website in early August. This is standard practise for all reports they present. We have already shared the final report with staff within the Planning Division. The full report will also be presented to our Audit Committee for discussion on the 24^th of September and to Planning Committee.”

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

The Board considered the Revenue Budget Outlook 2022/23 to 2024/25 which provided details of the current financial outlook and outlined proposals for taking forward the budget preparation for the next three financial years.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

6.1  that the initial budget outlook be received;

6.2  that the proposed approach to identifying the required savings be

       endorsed;

6.3  that the proposed approach to the budget consultation be noted.

The Board considered the annual report of the Director of Social Services on the performance of social care services in the county for the year 2020/21.  The report comprised an overview of performance in 2020/21 as well as an assessment on future provision, together with strategic priorities for 2021/22.  The report also outlined the challenges of an unpresented year due to COVID 19 and highlighted those areas to be developed in the current year.

There is a 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.

It was noted that the report was currently still in draft form and would be finalised prior to submission to Council.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the Annual Report of the Statutory Director of Social Services on the Performance of Social Care Services in Carmarthenshire 2020/21 be approved.

The Board considered a proposed policy setting out the approach to be adopted by the Neighbourhood Team within Environmental Protection with regards to the investigation of complaints of anti-social behaviour and breaches of tenancy relating to Council housing properties.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Anti-Social Behaviour and Breaches of Tenancy Policy be approved.

The Board considered a report outlining a proposal for the disposal of Site 4, Burry Port through an open procurement procedure, in order to enable the delivery of a commercial leisure led scheme.  The land in question formed part of the Burry Port Masterplan

Permission was requested to grant delegated authority to the Head of Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Board Member for Resources, to negotiate and document appropriate terms for the sale of the land.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

9.1      that Site 4, Burry Port, as detailed in the report, be disposed of through         an open procurement procedure in order to deliver a commercial leisure           led development scheme;

9.2      that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Regeneration, in     consultation with the Executive Board Member for Resources, to       negotiate and document appropriate terms for the sale of the land.

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 BOARD 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 respect of this report outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information contained therein as disclosure would put the authority at a material disadvantage in any subsequent negotiations with third parties and potentially harm the public purse.

The Executive Board considered a report proposing the disposal of land at Pencrug, Llandeilo. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

12.1 that the land at Pencrug, Llandeilo, as identified in the report, be disposed

       of on the terms set out in the report;

12.2 that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Regeneration, in

        consultation with the Executive Board Member for Resources, to finalise

        terms for the sale of the land.