Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L. Bowen; P. Edwards; A. Fox and S. Najmi.

There were no declarations of personal interests.

·       Councillor Handel Davies expressed his congratulations to Mr Wyn Jones from Llandovery on being selected to play for the Lions rugby team on their forthcoming tour to South Africa;

·       Councillor Rob Evans expressed his congratulations to Dafen School, Llanelli on being awarded the status of ‘First Global EntreCompEdu Pioneer School” out of the 52 countries taking part in the project from January 2021 to May 2021

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 12^th May, 2021 be signed as a correct record.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 19^th May, 2021 be signed as a correct record.

The Council was informed that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 24^th May 2021 (minute 8 refers) had considered a report on proposals for the introduction of Draft Local Development Orders (LDO) for Ammanford and Carmarthen Town centres to simplify the planning process by removing the need for certain types of planning applications (excluding listed buildings) allowing developers to progress with more speed and certainty whilst reducing costs. If adopted, the proposals would require submission to and approval by the Welsh Government.

RESOLVED that the following recommendations of the Executive Board be accepted

“8.1    to consider the representations received in respect of the Draft Local Development Orders (LDO) for Ammanford and Carmarthen Town Centres.

8.2     to approve the recommendations of the report.

8.3     to approve the submission of the LDO (inclusive of the recommendations of this report, and evidence updates) to the Welsh Government for agreement (subject to a satisfactory EIA).

8.4     to grant officers delegated authority to make non-substantive typographical or factual amendments as necessary to improve the clarity and accuracy of the LDO and to update the evidence base and make any consequential changes to the LDO, and to ensure any additional matters of legal compliance are also integrated”.

Councillor John James referred to minute 7 of the Executive Board Meeting held on the 26^th April regarding the development of the former Grillo Site at Burry Port and to the impact of coastal erosion in the area and to any possible affect that could have on the site’s development. He accordingly extended an invitation to the Leader of the Council to meet with him on site within the next 28 days to view the sites.

The Leader of the Council accepted the invitation and assured that the site was correct for development and the current cleaning and ground works were all part of its development. He confirmed arrangements for the visit would take place in the next few days.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 26^th April, 2021 be received.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 24^th May, 2021 be received.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

“CCC are struggling to enforce parking violations on zig zag yellow lines outside our schools in Carmarthenshire putting children at risk from severe injury or death.

Can I ask the Executive Board Member “What can be done by CCC to enforce parking restrictions outside schools and ensure pupils in all schools in Carmarthenshire be safe when arriving on a school day and leaving at the end of the day?”

Carmarthenshire County Council are struggling to enforce parking violations on zig zag yellow lines outside our schools in Carmarthenshire putting children’s lives at risk from severe death or injury.

“What can be done by Carmarthenshire County Council to enforce parking restrictions outside schools and ensure pupils in all schools in Carmarthenshire are safe when arriving on a school day and leaving at the end of the day”

Response by Councillor Phillip Hughes – Executive Board Member for Public Protection:-

Thank you Councillor Evans for your question.

Working with our partners in the statutory agencies, the County Council employs a range of measures and interventions to support the safety of all road users, particularly young people. A broad mix of engineering, enforcement and education initiatives are employed to help reduce the risk to the young and old.

For example, from an engineering perspective, over the last four years we have invested over two and a half million pounds in Safe Routes to Schools by working with communities to bid for and secure grant funding from the Welsh Government. We have also continued our investment in active travel linkages to encourage people to walk and cycle more, aimed at reducing the amount of travel by car.

From an education perspective, our road safety education programme includes specific training for young people such as road safety training in schools, which includes, safe walking and cycling. Also training is given for motorists along with road safety campaigns and media releases through social media to highlight the dangers of parking on school keep clear markings

Our Walk to School programme for example encourages parents to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school with children. Walking to school benefits pupils, parents, the school and the local community:

·        It develops pedestrian and road safety skills;

·        Reduces traffic congestion around the school gate;

·        Pupils arrive at school more alert and on time;

·        Less emissions helping to improve air quality;

·        It also promotes moderate physical exercise.

With regards to enforcement, the County Council has worked with Go Safe and the Police to undertake speed reduction initiatives. For example, a Speed Indication Device is deployed and where motorists are speeding, Roads Policing will stop motorists who exceed the speed limit, the motorists will be offered the choice of a fine with penalty points or alternatively speak to the children and a County Council Road Safety Officer.

From a parking perspective, again the County Council works with schools and the police with joint visits to schools and of course as you mention, the deployment of the camera car. When the car was introduced, the Council worked with school children to promote the initiative, indeed, a competition was organised with school children to name the car and encourage responsible parking behaviour. A year two pupil from Ysgol Brynsierfel won the competition and the car was named ‘Iolo Patrolo’.

Since it was launched, the camera car has been deployed at a range of locations across the county to address road safety  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.1

The Chair stated that the minutes outlined on the agenda under 11.1 – 11.3 were available for information on the Council website.