Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 18^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.

The Cabinet received for consideration the Councils Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) produced in accordance with the requirements of Section 10.7 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 that required all Local Authorities to publish their local flood risk management strategy and plan. The Strategy was supported by a more tactical plan clarifying where the authority was in terms of flood and coastal erosion risk management and where it wanted to be by 2030 and how that would be achieved.

The Cabinet noted the plan was the second strategy produced under the Act (the first one being in May 2013) with its main purposes being to:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT the Carmarthenshire County Council’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) be approved for publishing.

The Cabinet considered a report on the adoption of the Authority’s 2024/26 Local Toilet Strategy and associated actions produced in accordance with Part 8 of the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017, that placed a duty on each local authority in Wales to prepare and publish a local toilet strategy for its area. It was noted that while there was no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide public toilets, and the duty to prepare a strategy did not in itself require local authorities to provide and maintain public toilets themselves, they were however required to take a strategic view on how those facilities could be provided and accessed by the local population. In doing so, it was envisaged local authorities would consider a full range of options for making facilities available to the public.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Local Toilets Strategy 2024/26 be approved.

(NOTE: Councillors C. Jones and A. Lenny having previously declared an interest in this item, re-declared that interest and left the Council Chamber during its consideration)

The Cabinet considered a report produced in accordance with S19 of the Flood and Water Act 2010, on the outcome of an investigation undertaken into the flooding of approximately 34 properties in Llansteffan from 2 storms over the 2023/24 new year period. It was noted the investigation had concluded with 10 actions relating to Flood Risk Management, 6 recommendations relating to Community Resilience, and 11 actions relating to Operation and Maintenance and that the Council would manage the delivery of those actions via the multi-agency project group which it would continue to chair in the short term. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT the report be approved.

The Cabinet considered the Council’s Draft Annual Report for 2023-24 on the Corporate Strategy 2022-2027 produced under the provisions of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 where it was required to publish an Annual Report on its Well-being Objectives.  In addition, under the Local Government and Elections Act (Wales) 2021, the Council had a duty to report on its performance on a self-assessment approach. The report aimed to meet both those requirements in the one document.

The report provided information on the following basis for each Well-being Objective, as well as the Thematic and Service priorities:

• Overview of progress – provides a succinct overview of our progress against the overarching measures for each Well-being Objective, linking this to the importance of that objective.
• In Summary – provides an overview of our progress against each of our Thematic and Service priority areas.
• How are we Doing? - provides a breakdown of the progress made against our key measures as detailed within the Corporate Data Suite. A detailed overview of all measures is provided in Appendix 5.
• Progress Against Outcomes – provides content on activity from across the organisation which relates to or addresses that outcome.
• Is Anyone Better Off? – this section provides case studies or good news stories relating to the ‘So What?’. The focus is to highlight what difference we have made to the lives of our residents and service users through our activity.
• How can we do Better? – this section provides a summary of the identified areas for improvement and serves to ‘close the loop’. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that Carmarthenshire County Council’s Draft Annual Report for 2023-2024 be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report prepared under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 that placed a duty on councils to arrange for a panel to undertake and respond to a corporate, organisational level assessment, at least once during the period between two consecutive ordinary elections of councillors to the council, of the extent to which the council is meeting its performance requirements, defined as being the extent to which a council:

• is exercising its functions effectively;
• is using its resources economically, efficiently, and effectively; and
• has effective governance in place for securing the above.

The Cabinet noted that in accordance with the Acts requirements, a scoping document had been prepared providing an introduction to Carmarthenshire, and the Council and taking account of any challenges that have been highlighted in the self-assessment including, findings from the recent audit, inspection or regulator reports. The scoping document would inform the selection of the Panel to undertake the assessment together with a detailed Terms of Reference for the assessment, which would then be agreed between the Panel and Council. It was proposed that the PPA would be undertaken in Carmarthenshire between 10-13 June 2025.

The Cabinet, in considering the report was requested to add the following additional recommendation for Council’s consideration:

“To approve that the Leader and Chief Executive have delegated authority to confirm the appointment of the Panel and the Terms of Reference for the assessment following discussion with relevant stakeholders”

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT IT:

Cabinet considered the Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report which provided an update on the treasury management activities from 1st April 2024 to 30^th September 2024.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT the report be approved.

The Cabinet, in accordance with the decision of Council held on the 11^th September 2024 considered a report on the Notice of Motion at that meeting relating to Fair Trade where it resolved to:

• “Reaffirm our commitment to supporting Fairtrade and the Fairtrade campaign within Carmarthenshire.
• Recognise and celebrate the achievements of Fairtrade towns within our county, which have been pivotal in advocating for Fairtrade and ethical consumerism.
• Support a Fairtrade Steering Committee, to oversee and coordinate Fairtrade activities and initiatives across Carmarthenshire.
• Appoint a Cabinet Member as a Champion for Fairtrade, who will actively promote and advocate for Fairtrade principles and initiatives within the Council and the wider community.

The Cabinet was advised that in response to the resolution it was proposed that:

1. The Council will review its current arrangements and seek to re-affirm its commitment
2. The Council will work with the community lead multi-agency Carmarthenshire Fair Trade Group (as noted below) and support promotion of good practice and achievements. 
3. A community lead multi-agency Fairtrade Committee for Carmarthenshire already exists and it is proposed that Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen (if agreed as the Fairtrade Champion) joins this group and ensures links into relevant Council services. 
4. Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen be appointed as the Council’s Fairtrade Champion.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

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