Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor P.M. Hughes.

There were no declarations of personal interests.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 30^th October, 2023 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 a report detailing a new 10-year Leisure, Culture and Outdoor Recreation Strategy for Carmarthenshire which was developed to provide strategic direction for the service moving forward.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the 10 Year Leisure, Culture and Outdoor Recreation Strategy for Carmarthenshire be endorsed.

The Cabinet considered the revenue budget monitoring report which provided the latest budgetary position as at 31^st August 2023 in respect of 2023/24. 

Overall, the monitoring report forecast an overspend for the year at departmental level of £8,730k, with a forecast overspend on the Authority’s net revenue budget of £6,098k.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

7.1    that the Budget Monitoring report be received and the budgetary position and appropriate corrective action taken be noted;

7.2      that, 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 received a report which provided an update on the latest budgetary position for the 2023/24 capital programme, as at the 31^st August 2023 and detailed new projects and virements for noting and Cabinet approval.  Appendix A to the report indicated a forecasted net spend of £91,370k compared with a working net budget of £142,842k, giving a -£51,472k variance. 

The net budget included the original H.R.A. and General Fund capital programmes approved by Council on 1st March, 2023 and slippage from 2022/23. Some of the budgets have also been amended to account for differences in actual grant allocations compared with the anticipated allocations at the time the programme was approved and new grant awards received during the year to date. The main variances within each department were detailed in Appendix B to the report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

8.1   that the capital programme update report 2023/24 be received;

8.2   that the new projects as detailed within the report be noted and

        agreed, to be funded from current year capital charges underspends.

The Cabinet considered a report providing an update on the proposals for developing the governance and enabling for the National Adoption Service for Wales as it assumes responsibility for Foster Wales 2. The report also sought to achieve agreement to signing the Joint Committee Agreement for the proposed Joint Committee.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

9.1      that the update report be noted;

9.2      to agree that the Authority signs the Joint Committee Agreement for          the National Adoption Service and Foster Wales.

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 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 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute Item 11 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as disclosure would put the Authority at a material disadvantage in any subsequent negotiations with third parties and potentially harm the public purse.

The Cabinet considered a report detailing proposals for the disposal of Parc Dewi Sant, Jobswell Road, Carmarthen.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to proceed with the recommendation as detailed in the report.