Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P. Cooper, C. Davies,
R. Evans, D. Harris, D. Jones, B.D.J. Phillips, E. Rees, J. Seward and
G.B. Thomas.

• The Chair reported that he, accompanied by his wife, attended the following events:

-   28^th February – The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen to watch the Carmarthen Youth Opera’s performance of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  The performance was excellent, and both thoroughly enjoyed their time.

-   1^st March - The colourful St David’s Day parade in Carmarthen from St Peter’s Church to Guildhall Square.  The extensive crowd was entertained to the very best of Welsh songs and poetry to celebrate and honour the Patron Saint of Wales.

-   The evening of the St David’s Day celebrations continued at the Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli for the Tri Services Dinner organised by the Llanelli Royal British Legion.

• The Chair announced that the return from the half term holiday provided the children of Ysgol Rhys Prichard Llandovery with the opportunity to enjoy the spring sunshine on their annual circular parade through the town.  Traditional Welsh costumes was worn complete with leeks and daffodils to watch the St David’s flag being raised whilst proudly singing ‘Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau’.

The Chair advised that he had not been notified of any announcements.

The Council received a report, presented by the Cabinet Member for Resources, setting out the financial details relevant to the setting of the Council Tax for the 2025/2026 financial year together with the Council Tax amounts in respect of the different Council Tax Valuation Bands, as applicable to each of the individual Community and Town Council areas.

It was noted that the recommendations contained within the report brought together the authority’s budget requirement and the precepts for the Police Authority and the Town and Community Councils into the consolidated Council Tax amounts in respect of the individual Council Tax Valuation bands.

Members were reminded that the Revenue Budget 2025/26, together with outlook for 2026/27 and 2027/28, and the Five Year Capital Programme (Council Fund) 2025-30 was approved at the Council meeting held on 26th February 2025.

It was reported that in knowing the precept requirements of the Police Authority and all town and community councils, the Council Tax for 2025/26 must be formally set in accordance with statutory regulations.  Adding these increases to the County Council’s own requirement of 8.9% provides an average increase across the County of 8.99% or a Band D equivalent charge of £2,232.06.

RESOLVED that, in order for the Council to comply with legislative requirements, the report and recommendations of the Director of Corporate Services on the setting of the Council Tax for the financial year 2025/26 be adopted.

[NOTE:

1.        Councillors K. Broom, J.M. Charles, M. Cranham, D.M. Cundy, A. Davies, B. Davies, C.A. Davies, T. Davies, T.A.J. Davies, Ll.M. Davies, A. Evans, D.C. Evans, L.D. Evans, N.  Evans, N. Evans, S. Godfrey-Coles, T. Higgins, P.M. Hughes, G. John, A.C. Jones, B. Jones, H. Jones, M.J.A. Lewis, K. Madge, D. Nicholas, M. Palfreman, W.E. Skinner and B.A.L. Roberts had earlier declared interests in this item and, left the meeting;

2.        All officers in attendance were deemed to have a personal interest in this item and left the meeting prior to its consideration with the exception of the Democratic Services Manager, Democratic Services Officer and officers who were facilitating the webcasting of the meeting.

3.        As the Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce had declared an interest in this item and left the meeting, the Leader of the Council presented the report on his behalf.]

The Leader of the Council, as Chair of the Pay Policy Advisory Panel and on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce, presented the report which outlined that under the provisions of the Localism Act 2011. All Local Authorities are required to prepare a Pay Policy Statement which must be agreed and published by the 1^st April every year. The Statement required the approval of full Council and had to set out the Authority’s policies for the financial year relating to the remuneration of its Chief Officers, its lowest paid employees and the relationship between the remuneration of its Chief Officers and its employees who were not Chief Officers.

It was reported that despite the fact that the Council has had to make very difficult decisions recently in relation to the budget, staff salaries were prioritised, with a focus on the lowest salaries.  The Cabinet's Vision Statement sets out the desire to work with the Welsh Government, Public Service partners and Trade Unions to further develop the Real Living Wage agenda, and including the Wage Policy Statement was an important part of that.

Primarily, the lowest paid staff would be supported by ensuring the Voluntary Real Living Wage threshold of £12.60 per hour from 1 April 2025 was reached.  Therefore, the Pay Advisory Panel recommended that this be continued by with a top-up in order to bring the pay rates to £12.60 per hour. This would assist circa 160 of the Council’s lowest paid staff.

It was highlighted that the whilst the Pay Policy Advisory Panel had advised that a review of the Pay Model be undertaken, specifically to address the overlap between grades A to D at the bottom of the Pay Model, it was recognised that due to financial challenges it was not practical to do so. However, it was possible that there would be a significant increase in the statutory National Living Wage in 2026, and in the level of which would be provided in the Chancellor's address in May 2025, therefore it was important that the Salary Model anticipated this and would be amended accordingly.

The Pay  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

RESOLVED that the report of the meeting of the Cabinet held on the 17^th February, 2025 be received.

The Chair advised that there were no public questions.

The Chair advised that there were no questions by members.