Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Fiona Walters.

There were no declarations of interest.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 5^th December 2023 be signed as a correct record.

The Committee received the Council’s Scrutiny function – Annual Report 2023/24 which provided an overview of the work undertaken by Scrutiny during the year.

The report captured the achievements of Scrutiny in 2023/24 and provided an insight into how Scrutiny has been able to influence positive change, in the interest of Carmarthenshire residents.  Copies of each individual Scrutiny Committee Annual report and the overview report would be available to view on the Authority’s Scrutiny webpage.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Function’s Annual Report for 2023-24 be received.

The Chair presented the Democratic Services Committee Annual report for 2023-2024.

The Chair advised that the report gave  a brief synopsis of the role of the Committee and the work it had undertaken during the year.  He thanked Cllr Lewis Davies who Chaired the Committee prior to November 2023 for diligence and leadership and he extend his thanks and appreciation to the whole Committee for their time,dedication and support during the year, and to the Democratic Services Team for the advice and guidance they have given to Councillors, Statutory Co-opted Members, Officers and the public

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Democratic Services Annual Report for 2023-2024 be approved and circulated to all members for information.

The Committee received the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) Draft Annual Report 2025/2026.

The report outlined the  details its proposals on the payment of remuneration and allowances from 1st April 2025 and included consultation questions should the Committee wish to put forward any observations.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED

1.    that the draft determinations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales in their draft Annual Report for 2025/26 be received.

2.    that the Chair be authorised to submit a response to the IRPW on behalf of the Committee, if requested.

The Committee considered a forward work plan for the 2025 municipal year.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Forward Work Plan be approved.

The Committee received an update on the completion of learning modules accessed by members on the corporate ThinQi learning platform.

The Lead Business Partner (Learner Services) briefed the Committee on the report and advised that updated completion rates were now available. He referred to the report and recommended that the three actions put forward as recommendations be considered and approved by the Committee.

Reference was made to the ‘flow’ of some e-learning modules and it was suggested that support sessions could be provided to help members complete some modules.

A statement was made in respect of a course completion badge having been revoked, and the Lead Business Partner advised that the Learning and Development Team were currently undertaking updates to the system and would arrange for status updates to be checked.

A statement was made regarding the important role of Group Leaders in encouraging their members to undertake the required modules.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received and that the following recommended actions be approved: -.

·         provide regular reports on learning completions by members, on a bi-annual reporting basis as well as sharing individual data reports (unredacted) with group leaders and their party members

·         provide additional support sessions for members to access and complete the learning modules available via the ThinQi catalogue. This would  enable a greater level of completions of learning modules by members. Frequency and timing of support sessions would need to be agreed

·         a reminder to be sent out to members to complete essential modules and the members Induction. These reminders to be sent by the Chair of Democratic Services and Group Leaders.