Agenda and minutes

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

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 15^th January, 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.

Cabinet considered a report which had been prepared following the decision at County Council on the 9th of March 2022 to prepare a second deposit version of the Revised Local Development Plan (LDP) and the Plan’s subsequent publication for public consultation.

The report detailed the ongoing challenges procedurally in meeting the requirements in relation to the habitat regulations arising from the National Resource Wales guidance on phosphate levels in protected riverine Special Areas of Conservation and water quality and the need to ensure that the preparation of the Plan and the consideration of its scope and content was procedurally compliant in legislative and regulatory terms.

This report sought authorisation to undertake a further consultation on the following supporting documents:-

•  Integrated Sustainability Assessment (including 1st Addendum); and

•  Habitat Regulations Assessment (including 1st and 2nd Addendums).

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED 

6.1      to approve the content of the Integrated Sustainability Assessment (including 1st Addendum) and the Habitat Regulations Assessment (including 1st and 2nd Addendums) for formal public consultation as supporting documents to the Revised Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (LDP);

6.2      to approve the submission of the documents and responses received during the consultation as part of the examination;

6.3      to grant officers delegated authority to make any typographical or amendments as necessary in order to enhance clarity of meaning.

[NOTE:  Councillors L.D. Evans and A. Vaughan-Owen had previously declared an interest in this item.]

Cabinet considered the Modernising Education Programme (MEP) Strategy following its recent review.

County Council resolved in 2010 that the MEP be reviewed every two years or otherwise as required to ensure consistency with the timeframe of the national 21st Century Schools Programme (renamed Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme (SCfLP)).

A central feature of the MEP since its inception is the necessity to retain flexibility at its core to ensure that the programme remains current and responsive to changes in the education policy framework and the needs of constantly developing society and communities. This was truer than ever in the current climate/post pandemic. A review of the MEP was currently being undertaken, in line with the requirement to submit a strategic outline programme for the new rolling programme by March 2024.

Consequently, a new MEP Strategy has been developed to direct the future delivery of the new Modernising Education Programme. It is guided by a set of strategic objectives and underpinned by the department’s purpose pieces and educational principles to ensure cohesion with the 8 Education Priorities for 2022-2025 and the Education Sir Gar 2022-2032 strategy. The MEP strategy includes a set of viability and investment criteria to ensure an appropriate and transparent method of developing school organisation and investment proposals.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the revised Modernising Education Programme (MEP) Strategy be endorsed. 

[NOTE:  Councillor G. Davies, having earlier declared an interest in this item, took no part in the consideration and determination thereof.]

Cabinet considered a report detailing the fact that Councillor Glynog Davies serves as a LA Governor and Chairperson on the Governing Body of Brynamman Primary School. His current term of office ends on 31st January and he has expressed an interest in being re-appointed to the post for another term of office.

Under normal circumstances, LA Governor appointments are made by Councillor Glynog Davies himself in his role as Cabinet Member for Education, Young People & the Welsh Language. However, in view of the circumstances, it was being brought before Cabinet for consideration.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that Councillor Glynog Davies be re-appointed to the post of LA Governor at Brynamman Primary School for another term of office.

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.

9       ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Chair advised that, in view of a declaration of interest made in respect of agenda item number 11, he wished to vary the order of remaining business on the agenda and take agenda item 12 next, followed by agenda item 11.

[NOTE:  Councillor H.A.L. Evans, having earlier declared an interest in this item, left the meeting prior to the consideration and determination thereof.]

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 10 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.

Cabinet considered a report detailing the proposed sale of land in relation to a residential development at Myddynfych Farm, Bonllwyn, Ammanford.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the sale of the land be agreed, on the terms and conditions as detailed in the report.

Following the application of the public interest test it was UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in Minute 10 above, to consider this matter in private, with the public excluded from the meeting as disclosure could undermine the current landowner and Council’s positions in any other negotiations regarding this and other similar properties in the county, to the detriment of the public purse and put at risk this and other similar regeneration projects.

Cabinet considered a report detailing a proposal to purchase a property in Carmarthen Town Centre.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

9.1            that the proposed purchase of the leasehold interest of the Carmarthen town centre property identified in this report be endorsed, subject to the purchase terms being approved, within the agreed parameters, by the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources;

9.2            that authority be delegated to the Head of Regeneration, Policy & Digital and the Head of Administration & Law, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture & Tourism and the Cabinet Member for Resources, to finalise the purchase terms and complete the transaction.