Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G.R. Jones, N. Lewis, J. Williams, M. Donoghue, B.A.L. Roberts, S.A. Curry, C. Davies, J. Seward and J.D. James.

·         The Chair announced that he had attended the Carmarthenshire Tourism Awards Celebration event held at County Hall to recognise each of the ten category winners of the competition.

·         The Chair reflected on his attendance at the Actif Carmarthenshire Sports Awards 2024 at a packed Ffwrnes Theatre and was very proud that Llandovery RFC won the Team of the Year for the second year in succession, with Drovers coach Euros Evans winning the High-Performance Sports Coach of the Year . Additionally Carmarthen’s World and Olympic cycling champion Emma Finucane was awarded the Sports Personality of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Chair expressed his delight to learn that the raffle monies and match funding of a very generous sponsor resulted in a very significant sum being raised on the night specifically for his two charities LATCH and Prostate Cymru. He expressed his thanks to all the staff involved for such a professionally organised and enjoyable evening.

·         The Chair stated that he attended a Chairman’s charity evening held at Llandovery Rugby Club and also attended an unique occasion in the company of Cllr Jean Lewis and residents of Trelech to celebrate the ‘Homeguard Social Night’, an event which has been held annually since 1943.

There were no announcements made.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 29^th January, 2025 be signed as a correct record.

Council was informed that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on the 16^th December 2024 (Minute 6 Refers) had considered the Annual Monitoring Report 2023/24 relating to the Adopted Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (2006–2021) which had been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Local Development Plan (LDP) Regulations 2005.

The Annual Monitoring Report provided an overview of the performance of the LDP during the reporting period against a series of monitoring indicators. In accordance with the Council’s statutory duty, the Annual Monitoring Report had been submitted to the Welsh Government and was available to view on the Council’s website by 31st October. The Annual Monitoring Report had been published along with an informal consultation to afford interested parties the opportunity to comment on the key issues raised.

It was noted that the findings and evidence contained within the Annual Monitoring Report would be used to inform the preparation of the Revised LDP 2018–2033.  In this regard it was reported that the Revised LDP had been submitted to the Welsh Government for examination, with the hearing sessions having commenced in October 2024.

RESOLVED:

(NOTE: Councillor S.M. Allen had earlier declared an interest in this item remained in the meeting during the discussion).

Council was informed that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on the 10^th February 2025 (Minute 7 Refers) had considered a report which set out proposals to consult on the draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for the Revised Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan (LDP) 2018-2033 in respect of:

• Planning Obligations
• Affordable Housing

Planning Obligations sought to mitigate the unacceptable elements of a proposed development through a series of conditions pertinent to Affordable Housing, Education, Open Spaces and Highways etc.

Affordable Housing sought to maximise the potential for increasing the supply and variety of affordable homes. 

It was noted that following Council approval, the draft SPG would be subject to a 6-week public consultation. Following the consultation, the representations received, along with any recommended amendments to the SPG, would be reported back through the democratic process ahead of Council consideration and approval. It was noted that the SPG related to the emerging Revised LDP. In this respect it would support the implementation of the emerging Revised LDP, scheduled for adoption in Spring/Summer 2025.

RESOLVED:

(NOTE: Councillors R.E. Evans, P.M. Hughes and K. Madge had earlier declared an interest in this item remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion and voting thereon).

Council was informed that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on the 17^th February 2025 (Minute 5 Refers) had considered the Revenue Budget Strategy 2025/26 – 2027/28 and made a number of recommendations, as detailed within the report of the Director of Corporate Services, for Council’s consideration.

The report summarised the latest budgetary position, providing an update on the budget validation, spending pressures, the Welsh Government final settlement and the responses from the budget consultation. The report highlighted that the Medium-Term Financial Plan’s funding growth in respect of 2026/27and 2027/28 would be significantly lower than 2025/26 and therefore did not match the expected expenditure demand, emphasising that significant budget reductions were to be identified.  It was reported that over the next 2 years 2026/27 & 2027/28, it was estimated that a total of £20m budget reductions would be required based on an annual 5% Council Tax increase.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member for Resources stated that the budget had been the most challenging by far to prepare for many years and reminded members that the council was more than £150m worse off in real terms than a decade ago. That equated to £150m less to spend on essential services like social care, education, highways and so on. The Cabinet Member for resources advised that only 16% of the Council's income comes from the Council Tax. 75% of the rest comes from Welsh Government, which in turn depends on a block grant from the UK Government. It was highlighted that like all other Councils in Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council was facing a challenging time as the huge pressure on public spending continues. 

Although the Welsh Government were awarded an extra £1.7b in the Autumn Budget, this funding is over two years, and more than half of that goes to the NHS. The share of money Wales receives comes from the taxes paid to the Treasury via the outdated Barnett Formula.

The Cabinet Member for Resources stated that despite the funding floor being raised for nine Welsh Councils in the final budget last week, Carmarthenshire’s final settlement remained at 4.1%. This equated to £25m in cash terms, once grant transfers were included. This uplift was less than half what was needed to maintain services at an acceptable level. This included meeting the higher and growing demand for adult and children services, coupled with extra costs totally outside the Authority’s control – such as inflation, pay settlements, and the Chancellor's National Insurance hike.

The original proposal was for a Council Tax rise of 9.75%. However, the Cabinet Member for Resources announced that following minor adjustments in funding due to Welsh Government’s final budget, published last week, and the Fire Brigade levy being £87,000 less than previously allocated this had now been reduced.  Although it was anticipated that an additional £1.8m would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.3

Council was informed that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on the 17^th February 2025 (Minute 6 Refers) had considered a report which brought together the latest proposals for the five-year capital programme 2025/26 to 2029/30, taking account of the consultation exercise undertaken and the revenue implications arising from the programme.

The Cabinet Member for Resources in presenting the report stated that the proposed gross expenditure on the capital programme for 2025/26 was £94.673m with the projected funding being £42.794m from the County Council’s own resources through the application of borrowing, reserves, direct revenue financing, capital receipts and general capital grant, with the balance of £51.879m coming from external sources. 

The new capital programme would be fully funded over the five years.The Authority’s capital strategy, required by the prudential code for capital finance in local authorities, had been updated and set out the long-term context in which capital expenditure and investment decisions are made. It gave due consideration to both risk and reward and impact on the achievement of priority outcomes. The capital strategy covered expenditure on both Council Fund and HRA capital and was included as Appendix C to the report.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, in presenting the report, highlighted that despite the rising costs and funding cuts, a significant programme of capital investments had been delivered for the people of Carmarthenshire – in schools, in transport links and infrastructure, as well as cultural and leisure facilities.

Members were reminded of some of the major projects delivered and were ongoing from previous capital programmes:

• £96m investment in Canolfan, the first phase of the Pentre Awel programme, including a new leisure centre and swimming pool for Llanelli.
• £40m being spent on the development in the former Debenhams building in Carmarthen.
• Continuing work on the £20m Towy Valley Path from Carmarthen to Llandeilo.
• New schools provided at Pembrey, Gorslas, Five-Roads and Kidwelly, with others planned. 
• Oriel Myrddin being redeveloped, the new County Archives and improvements to the Museum in Abergwili, Parc Howard and Pendine. 
• Also the new Caban at Pendine and major investment in Cross Hands East Industrial Estate and Business Park. 

The new Capital programme included a £188m of investment over the next five years which included:

• £44m for commitment to improve our school buildings and children’s homes.
• £12m toward Disability Facilities Grant to help transform the quality of life for many people in their own homes
• £20m for a new care home at Plas Y Bryn, Cwmgwili - which would save ongoing revenue costs due to the ever-increasing demand and the increasing costs of providing care through the private sector. 
• £2m investment in improving facilities and to comply with statutory obligations at Burry Port Harbour
• £33m for Economic Development projects to boost economic activity
• £61m to improve local economic Highways Infrastructure and Recycling Infrastructure
• £5m for critical digital IT hardware and infrastructure.

The comprehensive detail of the proposed programme is set out in Appendix A to the report.

The Cabinet Member for Resources advised that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.4

Council was informed that the Cabinet, at its meeting held on 17^th February 2025 (minute 7 refers) had considered the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2025/26.

The report had been produced in accordance with the requirements of the revised CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management 2017, whereby the Council had previously agreed to maintain a Treasury Management Policy detailing the policies and objectives of the Authority’s treasury management activities.  It was noted that it was also a requirement that the Council approved a Treasury Management Strategy annually before the start of the financial year to which it related. In addition, under the Local Government Act 2003, the Council was required to approve the Treasury Management Indicators for the coming year.

RESOLVED:

6.5.1   that the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy for 2025-26 and the recommendations contained therein be approved;

6.5.2   that the Treasury Management Indicators, Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement, the Investment Strategy and recommendations therein be approved.

RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 10^th February, 2025 be received.

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

The Chair advised that no member questions had been received.

The Chair stated that the minutes outlined on the agenda under 10.1 – 10.10 were available for information on the Council website.