Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Edwards, C. Evans, R. Evans, A. Fox and D. Williams.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS.

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There were no declarations of personal interests.

 

3.

CHAIR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS.

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  • The Chair expressed congratulations to Councillor Dorian Phillips who has been awarded the Queens M.B.E. in recognition of his services to sport and the community in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

 

·         Congratulations was also expressed to the following on being awarded the Queens honours:

 

-       An OBE awarded to Mr Nigel Vernon Short from Whitland for his services to the economy in Wales.

 

-       The British Empire Medal awarded to Mr John Nicholas Anderson, Llanelli, Volunteer Examiner, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, for his services to transport during Covid-19.

 

  • Councillor Peter Hughes-Griffiths, with the Chair’s permission wished to report two significant Council achievements:

 

-  In being awarded the RoSPA Leisure Safety Gold Award for a second year running for ‘excellence among companies that primarily offer services direct to guests and visitors during the period of January 01, 2020, to December 31, 2020’. The global awards, one of the most prestigious and recognised schemes in the world, has almost 2000 entries every year and reaches over 7 million employees.  This follows a comprehensive submission of policies and working practices. The outcome of which could be no award or an award at merit, bronze, silver or gold. The highest accolade was achieved.

 

-  In being awarded the ‘Silver inSport Award for disability inclusion’ following a comprehensive presentation to a national panel this morning. This is a national, progressive award scheme that recognises the Council’s inclusive approach to service design and provision, both in the community and in its facilities, including partnership working within the Council and beyond.

 

In reporting the above, Councillor Hughes-Griffiths wished to express his sincere thanks to the Actif Sport & Leisure staff for their hard work hard over recent years in order to reach this point.  Neither award can be achieved without firm foundations resulting in safe and successful practice.

 

 

·         Councillor Hazel Evans, with the Chair’s permission wished to congratulate:

 

-       Mr Gareth Davies from Newcastle Emlyn on being selected to go to South Africa with the Lions squad and subsequently scoring a try and;

 

-       Gareth Thomas who currently plays for the Ospreys, for receiving his second cap and Josh Turnbull having 11 caps for Wales.  Both individuals started their sporting careers at Newcastle Emlyn Club.

 

  • The Leader, with the Chair’s permission provided an update on the vaccine programme and its progress so far as well as addressing the Councils education workforce - teachers, classroom assistants, kitchen staff, bus drivers, Head teachers, Governors, Heads of Service and the Director of Education and all persons who were involved in ensuring the safety, care, and education of the children of Carmarthenshire over the last year.

 

·         The Chair congratulated Dryslwyn Community Shop and Post Office in being awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.  This award, described as the voluntary Service MBE and is the highest award that a voluntary group can win. The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service recognises outstanding work by voluntary groups for the benefit of their local communities. This year it was pleasing to see that one enterprise in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON THE 9TH JUNE 2021 pdf icon PDF 336 KB

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Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 9th June, 2021 be signed as a correct record.

 

5.

DIVERSITY IN DEMOCRACY DECLARATION pdf icon PDF 309 KB

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The Leader in presenting the report stated that the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Council which comprised of members from the Principal Welsh Councils considered a report on the 5th March 2021 on Diversity in Democracy.  The report included that the WLGA Council had unanimously agreed “to foster a culture where all councillors are encouraged and supported to claim any necessary allowances or expenses to which they are entitled, and we ask that you lead and encourage this culture locally.”

 


In addition, the WLGA Council had agree that all councils should commit to a declaration by July 2021 on becoming ‘Diverse Councils’ in 2022, to provide a clear, public commitment to improving diversity” As part of its report the WLGA agreed an ‘outline’ Declaration to:

 

·      Provide a clear, public commitment to improving diversity;

·      Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all;

·      Consider staggering council meeting times and agreeing recess periods to support councillors with other commitments; and

·      Set out an action plan of activity ahead of the 2022 local elections

 

The report proposed that should the Council accept the Declaration, the Democratic Services Committee be tasked with developing an action plan ahead of the 2022 local government election.

 

In response to a comment raised regarding the possibility of holding evening meetings in order to offer an alternative option which may appeal to a wider cross section of the community, the Leader stated that in addition to the action plan ahead of the 2022 local government election, as a matter of course, at the beginning of an Electoral Term, a survey is circulated to all Councillors seeking their individual preferences including the times of meetings. 

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

 

5.1Carmarthenshire County Council commits to being a ‘Diverse Council’ and endorses the WLGA Council Diversity in Democracy declaration to:-

 

·       Provide a clear, public commitment to improving diversity;

·       Demonstrate an open and welcoming culture to all;

·       Consider staggering council meeting times and agreeing recess periods to support councillors with other commitments; and

·       Set out an action plan of activity ahead of the 2022 local elections.

 

5.2. the Democratic Services Committee be tasked with developing an action plan ahead of the 2022 local government election.

 

6.

TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD IN RESPECT OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS

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6.1

SKILLS AND TALENT PROGRAMME, SWANSEA BAY CITY DEAL pdf icon PDF 332 KB

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6.1.            SKILLS AND TALENT PROGRAMME, SWANSEA BAY CITY DEAL

 

The Leader informed Council that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 5th July, 2021 (minute 8 thereof refers) had considered a report detailing a proposed Business Case for the Skills and Talent programme, within the suite of 9 Swansea Bay City Deal projects, that would deliver a skills training solution offering the best value sustainable skills infrastructure to develop the future workforce for the region.

 

It was reported that the development of a comprehensive and forward-thinking skills programme would be vital to the overall success of the City Deal Portfolio.


 

The City Deal funding would fund a programme team to develop a Skills Barometer for the region, the Barometer would identify the skills gaps that exist in the region and identify the new skills required to meet the existing and future needs of the 8 City Deal projects across the five key themes of Construction, Digital, Energy, Health and Wellbeing and Smart Manufacturing.  The programme would be delivered across the four phases as detailed within the report.

 

Council noted that the overarching aim of the programme would be strengthen collaboration and increase investment that would significantly boost the quality and quantity of trained and skilled individuals through the intervention of the programme.

 

RESOLVED that the following recommendations of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

6.1.1 to approve the proposed Business Case for the Skills and Talent programme and its formal submission to the Portfolio Management Office in accordance with the City Deal Implementation Plan to secure City Deal funding approval;

 

6.1.2 that delegated authority be granted to the Head of Regeneration, in conjunction with the Executive Board Member – Leader, to make any minor amendments to the business case as necessary to obtain approval at local, regional and national governance.

 

6.2

SIGNATORY TO THE PLACEMAKING CHARTER pdf icon PDF 422 KB

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The Deputy Leader informed Council that the Executive Board, at its meeting held on the 5th July, 2021 (minute 7 thereof refers) had considered a report which sought endorsement for the Council to become a signatory of the Placemaking Charter Wales.

 

The Deputy Leader presented the report which outlined the context and purpose of Placemaking, its role and status in national and local planning policy as well as the content of the Placemaking Wales Charter. The Charter had been developed by the Design Commission for Wales and the Welsh Government in collaboration with the Placemaking Wales Partnership, which was made up of stakeholders representing a wide range of interests and organisations working within the built and natural environment.

 

It reflected the collective and individual commitment of these organisations to support the development of high-quality places across Wales for the benefit of its communities. It included the six placemaking principles that those who signed-up would agree to promote as part of their support for placemaking.

 

RESOLVED that the following recommendation of the Executive Board be adopted:-

 

6.2.1 that the Placemaking Charter Wales be endorsed with Carmarthenshire County Council becoming a signatory.

 

7.

TO RECEIVE THE REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HELD ON THE:-

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7.1

1ST JUNE 2021 pdf icon PDF 317 KB

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UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 1st June, 2021 be received.

 

7.2

21ST JUNE 2021 pdf icon PDF 443 KB

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UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 21st June, 2021 be received.

 

7.3

5TH JULY 2021 pdf icon PDF 296 KB

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UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Executive Board held on the 5th June, 2021 be received.

 

8.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS (NONE RECEIVED).

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9.

QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS:-

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9.1

QUESTION BY COUNCILLOR EDWARD THOMAS TO COUNCILLOR HAZEL EVANS, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT

“On the 25th June, we received the very welcome confirmation that the Llandeilo By Pass was still part of Welsh Government Plans to ease the very significant traffic congestion and air pollution problems in the town. 

 

The majority of people in Llandeilo were glad to hear this announcement which confirmed the previous budget commitment to build the bypass.

 

Will the Executive Board Member agree that this is welcome news and will the Executive Board Member also commit the County Council to continuing to work with Welsh Government to deliver the bypass and to also support the introduction of supplementary measures within the town centre to improve air quality and address the dangers to pedestrians of very narrow footways, reviewing parking restrictions to support local businesses and improvements to the streetscape, following completion of the bypass.”

 

 

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“On the 25th June, we received the very welcome confirmation that the Llandeilo By Pass was still part of Welsh Government Plans to ease the very significant traffic congestion and air pollution problems in the town. 

 

The majority of people in Llandeilo were glad to hear this announcement which confirmed the previous budget commitment to build the bypass. 

 

Will the Executive Board Member agree that this is welcome news and will the Executive Board Member also commit the County Council to continuing to work with Welsh Government to deliver the bypass and to also support the introduction of supplementary measures within the town centre to improve air quality and address the dangers to pedestrians of very narrow footways, reviewing parking restrictions to support local businesses and improvements to the streetscape, following completion of the bypass.”

 

Response by Councillor Hazel Evans – Executive Board Member for Environment:-

Thank you for your question Councillor Thomas.  I think the announcement by the Deputy Minister that the Llandeilo bypass is not part of the Welsh Government road review is excellent news and very welcome. The Welsh Government made an agreement with the Plaid Cymru as part of a budget agreement in 2016 for £50m to be earmarked for the Llandeilo bypass.

The case for the bypass as the most appropriate option for relieving the pollution, congestion and danger to pedestrians caused by the strategic traffic movement through the Town is very clear. We as an authority responded to the consultation and made very strong reasons why the bypass is the only long-term option. We know that the road running through the centre of Llandeilo is the trunk road from Swansea to Manchester which carries a huge amount of very large vehicles which adds to the danger for pedestrians.

In 2013, when there was gas pipe work in Llandeilo traffic were diverted to the narrow roads which increased the pollution levels in some streets by as much as 220% but it also makes it more dangerous to walk around the Town.

Further appraisal work is underway, consultation was due to have been held last April but had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, let’s hope that when restrictions are eased this will again take place.

The County Council will commit to working in partnership with Welsh Government to deliver the bypass, and will also commit to working on supplementary works which would not be possible without the bypass such as, widening footways improving the public realm and other measures to support local businesses.

I will arrange for a further letter to be drafted to Welsh Government on behalf of the Council confirming this.

There were no supplementary questions.

10.

TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEES:-

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In accordance with Corporate Procedure Rule CPR 2(2)(n) the following nominations had been received from the Labour Group and it was:

 

10.1 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the nomination of Councillor
Bill Thomas to replace Councillor Amanda Fox as one of the Labour Group’s representatives on the Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee be approved.

 

10.2 UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the nomination of Councillor
Rob James to replace Councillor Bill Thomas as one of the Labour Group’s representatives on the Education and Children Scrutiny Committee be approved.

 

11.

MINUTES FOR INFORMATION (AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON THE WEBSITE)

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Minutes:

The Chair stated that the minutes outlined on the agenda under 11.1 – 11.9 were available for information on the Council website.

 

 

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