Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor A. Vaughan Owen.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 11^th April 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.

The Cabinet considered the content of the revised 2022-2023 Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP). The WESP is a statutory document that all Welsh Local Authorities are required to produce.

The purpose of Carmarthenshire’s 2022-2032 WESP is to detail how the Welsh Government’s outcomes and targets outlined in their Welsh Medium Education Strategy (WMES) is achieved. The WMES sets out the Welsh Government’s vision for an education and training system that responds in a planned way to the growing demand for Welsh-medium education.

Carmarthenshire’s WESP, a key vehicle for creating an improved planning system for Welsh-medium education provided the means for the Welsh Government to monitor the response and contribution to the implementation of the WMES objectives.

It was reported that the Welsh Government (WG), in its feedback, was supportive of Carmarthenshire’s vision, direction of travel and aspirations. The report sought the Cabinet’s approval to be able to submit the finalised Strategy to WG before the June 24th deadline (now extended to July 4th).

The consensus of the Cabinet was that it was important to facilitate an increase in the number of people of all ages to be able and confident to use the Welsh language with their families, in their communities and in the workplace.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the content of the revised 2022-2032 Welsh in Education Strategic Plan following feedback from Welsh Government (WG) be approved and submit the finalised Strategy to WG before the June 24th deadline (now extended to July 4th).

The Cabinet considered a report on the updated Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Policy.  The Policy had been updated in line with the aims and objectives of the Authority and prevailing legislation - Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 and the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

It was reported that the policy was developed following early consultation with colleagues in community safety and regional VAWDASV (Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence) roles to ensure the content dovetailed into their areas of expertise.  In addition, the policy had been written using gender-neutral language in recognition of the Council’s commitment, to recognise, respect and support its employees’ life choices in a non-judgemental and inclusive way.

Cabinet Members noted that with homeworking remaining a feature in the Council’s Better Ways of Working strategy, the adoption of ‘Safe Leave’ would demonstrate the Council’s ongoing commitment to thinking about how support can be maintained as employees work in different ways.  The Policy included the provision of Safe leave which would provide for up to 10 days paid time off, separate from special leave or sickness absence to anyone experiencing domestic abuse, domestic or sexual violence.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that

7.1the revised version of the Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence Policy demonstrating the Council’s ongoing commitment to tackling all forms of violence and abuse, including domestic abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence be approved and adopted;

7.2the provision of up to 10 days paid ‘Safe Leave’ to assist victims to leave their partners, find new homes and help protect themselves and any dependent children as a consequence of domestic abuse, domestic violence or sexual violence be agreed.

[Note: Councillor A. Davies, having earlier declared an interest, remained in the meeting, took part in the consideration and voted on this item.]

The Cabinet, as a consequence of the recent Local Government Elections, considered a list of notified Outside Bodies in order to determine whether the Council should make/continue to make an appointment to those bodies.  An initial review of the list of outside bodies had been undertaken to ascertain the current status of the existing organisations and nominations had been included as appended to the report at Appendix A.

As part of the review method for representatives to report back on the work of each outside body the report sought to introduce a ‘reporting back’ by way of completing a form - Outside Bodies Councillors’ Annual Report 2022/23 as appended to the report at Appendix D.

In addition to the report, the Cabinet was informed that the Plaid Cymru Group had nominated Councillor Emlyn Schiavone and the Independent Group had nominated Councillor Jane Tremlett for the Hywel Dda Health Board.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

8.1     Members to Cabinet outside bodies following the 2022 Local Government Elections as detailed in Appendix A and the nominations provided verbally in the meeting be appointed;

8.2     that Members appointed to serve on outside bodies be required to report back on meetings of those bodies by way of completing the form appended to the report at Appendix D.

The Cabinet considered a report which detailed the advisory panels established by the previous administration to report on various issues and was invited to review their purpose, functions and membership and to determine which ones it wished to retain and any new panels it wished to establish.

Cabinet Members noted that the Housing Services Advisory Panel, Compact Liaison Panel, Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Task and Finish Panel and the School Transport Panel, established by the previous Cabinet had concluded their work and would therefore be disbanded.

It was reported that in order to avoid any delay in the appointment of members to sit on the Advisory Panels, nominations had been sought from the Leaders of the political groups which were attached as Appendix A to the report.

In respect of the Notice of Motion from Councillor Liam Bowen at the former Council at its meeting held on the 9^th February 2022 referred to the Cabinet; “This Council calls on the Cabinet to further its commitment by declaring a Nature Emergency and establishing a Cross Party Advisory Panel to support this authority’s approach to climate change and nature emergency and incorporate the adoption of the Edinburgh Declaration”, the Cabinet was asked if it wished to agree to formally establish the Panel and if so a report would be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting on the suggested terms of reference and membership.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

9.1     The Advisory Panels to the Cabinet as detailed within Appendix 1 to the report be appointed;

9.2.    a Climate Change Cross Party Advisory Panel be established and that a report including the suggested terms of reference and membership be submitted to the next Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet considered a report which included nominations in relation to two Council owned companies which it operates.  The Governance arrangements for both Companies namely CWM Environmental Ltd. and Llesiant Delta Wellbeing Ltd. require an overseeing role by the Council. The report sought the Cabinet to confirm the appointments as stated in the report to sit on these boards.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

10.1  the Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services as the Council’s be appointed to be a representative on CWM Environmental Shareholders Board.

10.2.the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Services and the following 3 members be on the Llesiant Delta Wellbeing Ltd Governance Group:-

·      Councillor Deryk Cundy (Labour)

·      Councillor Alex Evans (Plaid Cymru)

·      Councillor Hazel Evans (Plaid Cymru)

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